MIRACLES V

THE LAW OF NATURE

While doing Vipassana another law of nature was presented. As we could feel the subtlest of sensations in our body, we were told -

Now when you get angry, or when emotions like hate or jealousy start to infest your mind, just start observing the sensations in your body and observe them with an objective mind and understanding of ‘anicca’ (or impermanence). You will realize that negative emotions generate a kind of burning sensation inside your body. However, it subsides when you start focussing on the sensation itself.

Why did you feel the sensation?

Because, the Law of the Nature says – If you try to harm someone else, you end up harming yourself first, and then only are you able to harm someone else.

The question was raised in one of the discourses – Do heaven and hell exist for real, where a person goes after death?

Goenkaji jokingly said, “See, I have not died. So I don’t know.”

Then on a serious note he continued, But, every human being is punished for his/her deeds on the earth itself. A person, who has told a lie, is punished at each instant. He is always tensed – what if, my lie gets revealed. That is his punishment. His conscience is punished at every moment. He does not have inner peace. He is not able to get a peaceful sleep at night.

SOME SNAPS OF DHAMMATHALI

Here you can find pics of the place which I had visited. Living in this place in the scorching heat, I realized that we possess enormous endurance levels, which can be harnessed once we train our brains.

Here's the link.

http://www.thali.dhamma.org/photos.shtml

Have a look !

LAST DAY

The seventh day was the one when the vow of Arya Maun was broken (at least formally), and we were allowed to interact with one another.  We came to know that our one of our guruji was a गृहस्थ and had also come here only for the seven day period. With a smile, he told us, “अगर तुम लोगों ने मौन का पालन अच्छे से किया होता, तो आज तुम्हारी आवाज़ में एक अलग तेज होता... खैर कोई बात नहीं ... लेकिन यह बात बहुत अच्छी है कि तुम्हे अभी विपश्यना के बारे में पता चल गया... आगे तुम अपनी ज़िन्दगी में कभी भी इस ज्ञान को बेहतर ढंग से सीखने आ सकते हो |”

That day, we were taught one last technique known as ‘mangal-maitri’(मंगल-मैत्री). In this technique, we were required to focus our attention on the people whom we want to be happy and think about their well-being. As they explained, the human mind has enormous potential and if we think good of someone, good will happen. The positive vibrations of a focussed mind are far more potent than the wishes sent with an unfocussed mind.

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

Today, when I watch the documentary The Secret, I find that above statements are being reaffirmed by the modern scientists and/or philosophers. In fact, there is a branch of science known as Noetic Science. Its objective is to understand the various concepts of philosophy and religion from a scientific perspective. You can google it to know more about it. I read about it in Dan Brown’s novel The Lost Symbol.

There are critics of these studies as well, who are willing to put forward their logics to disregard the findings. But, even if these experiments are not very good proofs, your own experience is a proof that no one else can disregard.

I believe in what I am saying, and if someone wants to choose to not agree with me, it’s okay. Some day truth will be dawned on them, because, however hard you try to discard or disregard, the truth remains truth.

If the modern science cannot prove the above science, it is because the modern science is not capable enough to understand this ancient and powerful science. If you recall from history, there have been times when many concepts were supposed to be superstitions, false beliefs or miracles. However with time things got changed. Who could have thought that the earth is round; that it is not the centre of the solar system; that humans could fly on planes.  

Ancient India has a wisdom for all of us. The need of the hour is to embrace and propagate this wisdom. Interestingly, other nations recognize our wisdom and learn from us; unfortunately most of us do not. We are progressing as a nation where materialistic things are in abundance (which may be essential). But, we are lagging behind on gathering a spiritual quotient. We have less or no INNER PEACE.

It is time that we start embracing our ancient heritage and learn from it and propagate it. That will not only help our nation progress in the right direction, but also reduce our inferiority complex as a nation. We will stop the blind imitation of other nations and take pride in being Indians.

To conclude, I would like to put down Rudyard Kipling’s poem If which, according to Khushwant Singh, is a poem which carries the essence of Bhagwad Gita. I have not read Bhagwad Gita much. But, I can say this  that If carries the essence of some of the concepts of Vipassana Meditation. When the poem was taught to us in high school, I never really understood its importance. It is now that I see the depth in it.

“If you can keep your head when all about you 

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; 

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, 

But make allowance for their doubting too; 

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, 

Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies, 

Or, being hated, don't give way to hating, 

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; 

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, 

But make allowance for their doubting too; 

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, 

Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies, 

Or, being hated, don't give way to hating, 

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master; 

If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim; 

If you can meet with triumph and disaster 

And treat those two imposters just the same; 

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken 

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, 

Or watch the things you gave your life to broken, 

And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings 

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, 

And lose, and start again at your beginnings 

And never breath a word about your loss; 

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew 

To serve your turn long after they are gone, 

And so hold on when there is nothing in you 

Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, 

Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch; 

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; 

If all men count with you, but none too much; 

If you can fill the unforgiving minute 

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run - 

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, 

And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

- Rudyard  Kipling

मंगल-मैत्री कामना 

अज्ञान का अन्धकार दूर होए, 

सब पर ज्ञान का प्रकाश फैले, 

सबका मंगल होये, 

सबका भला होये ||   :)

(This was my attempt to narrate a valuable experience. What I have narrated is just a drop in this huge ocean. My intent was to arouse a curiosity about this ocean of knowledge. If you want to know more about Vipassana, explore http://www.dhamma.org/ And, if there is something you want to ask me, shoot the question at http://www.facebook.com/curious.tramp)