Letter # 56: “The First Step”
In the Vedic creation story, Spirit is eternal and thus never needs to be created; only the material does. When Spirit desires to create, He begins with the three qualities that will colour all the rest that is to come. The three guna or qualities are goodness (sattva), passion (rajas), and ignorance (tamas). “This material world is a transformation of the material qualities, yet no-one could possibly explain it perfectly, even in a lifetime as long as that of Brahma. No-one in the material world is perfect, and an imperfect person could not describe this material universe accurately, even after continued speculation.” SB 5:16:4
The Sanskrit word guna at its most basic means thread, but is often translated as qualities. The three qualities, or threads, intertwine in the mind continuously. There are moments when we glimpse in that “rope” of the mind, the thread of goodness (kindness, love, compassion, peace, balance, order, alertness, thoughtfulness, purity or being). In next moment we could experience the mode of passion (a desire for acquiring new things, lording it over, and fear of losing something that one already has, all of which lead to activity). In the next moment, we could experience the mode of ignorance (darkness, negativity, dullness, slowness, inertia, delusion, or self-destructiveness). These qualities play in the mind continuously, like the changing colours of a chameleon.
In the Vedic scheme, the Divine gifts the material world to the “living forms” for fulfillment of their desires. Because the Divine created these modes, they are also divine, even though they might not be wholly pleasant. The material world is not wholly pleasant. It’s like a school, which can be both pleasant and unpleasant. Which raises the question, what is there to learn?
When a person graduates from school, he goes off to live his life in the world. If he doesn’t pass he would get a chance to repeat grades, or subjects, or go to night school. You could use this analogy to say that when a person graduates from this material world he goes off to the Spirit World. If he doesn’t graduate, he is re-incarnated to learn more.
Lord Krishna states, “This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto me can easily cross beyond it.” BG 7:14.
I’m intrigued over the parallel between Lord Krishna’s statement and the first two steps of the Twelve Step Program, a spiritual program meant for alcoholics, but which can benefit us all. The first two steps are:
1. We admitted we were powerless, that our lives had become unmanageable. “This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome.”
2. We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. “But those who have surrendered unto me can easily cross beyond it.”
The jnani Yogi, or the wise one, admits to powerlessness: “It serves to break down mental pride. We must realize how poor and powerless we are …” Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj: “I Am That”. P 110.
The bhagat, or devotee, sings: “Tis ka hukam bujh sukh hoe. Tis ka Nam rakhu kanth paroe.” This verse is translated as: “Happiness comes by understanding Gods Will; String his Name and wear it in your throat.” Sacred Sukhmani 13:14 P 140.
As it’s the first day of the New Year, it’s a good time to reflect on the First Step; and to think about the Second Step, as we walk into 2008.
The Sanskrit word guna at its most basic means thread, but is often translated as qualities. The three qualities, or threads, intertwine in the mind continuously. There are moments when we glimpse in that “rope” of the mind, the thread of goodness (kindness, love, compassion, peace, balance, order, alertness, thoughtfulness, purity or being). In next moment we could experience the mode of passion (a desire for acquiring new things, lording it over, and fear of losing something that one already has, all of which lead to activity). In the next moment, we could experience the mode of ignorance (darkness, negativity, dullness, slowness, inertia, delusion, or self-destructiveness). These qualities play in the mind continuously, like the changing colours of a chameleon.
In the Vedic scheme, the Divine gifts the material world to the “living forms” for fulfillment of their desires. Because the Divine created these modes, they are also divine, even though they might not be wholly pleasant. The material world is not wholly pleasant. It’s like a school, which can be both pleasant and unpleasant. Which raises the question, what is there to learn?
When a person graduates from school, he goes off to live his life in the world. If he doesn’t pass he would get a chance to repeat grades, or subjects, or go to night school. You could use this analogy to say that when a person graduates from this material world he goes off to the Spirit World. If he doesn’t graduate, he is re-incarnated to learn more.
Lord Krishna states, “This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto me can easily cross beyond it.” BG 7:14.
I’m intrigued over the parallel between Lord Krishna’s statement and the first two steps of the Twelve Step Program, a spiritual program meant for alcoholics, but which can benefit us all. The first two steps are:
1. We admitted we were powerless, that our lives had become unmanageable. “This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome.”
2. We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. “But those who have surrendered unto me can easily cross beyond it.”
The jnani Yogi, or the wise one, admits to powerlessness: “It serves to break down mental pride. We must realize how poor and powerless we are …” Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj: “I Am That”. P 110.
The bhagat, or devotee, sings: “Tis ka hukam bujh sukh hoe. Tis ka Nam rakhu kanth paroe.” This verse is translated as: “Happiness comes by understanding Gods Will; String his Name and wear it in your throat.” Sacred Sukhmani 13:14 P 140.
As it’s the first day of the New Year, it’s a good time to reflect on the First Step; and to think about the Second Step, as we walk into 2008.
God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May the Forces of Universe bring you harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.
I wish to state my my gratitude to you for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, please feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.
Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008
"Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."
Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)
References:" The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" (As translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0)"; The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" by Srila Prabhupada (ISBN 0-89213-268-X); "I Am That" Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.
posted by Dr. Jas Bhopal @ 8:31 AM
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2 Comments:
A reader wrote: "Thank you for regular bits of wisdom in your letters."
A reader wrote: "I am glad to receive these spiritual email letters as they are very true and uplifting. I need to ask you a favour. Do you have any books or references you can give me on Basic Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. I am currently going through a basic book on this I got from chapters bookstore about 10 days ago. Please let me know."
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