Essays on approaches for spirituality in practice (SiP). Some essays are simple, some need a bit of in-depth reading. But, all essays are for people who wish to have simple explanation of many things we deal with in day to day life. I try to stay away from subjects like religion, re-incarnation, Karma as a destiny, etc. Instead I try to apply the principles of scriptures – mostly Bhagawath Geetha – as they apply to day to day life. The essays are non-denominational.
Om/ Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam / Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat Om – Sacred syllable, also representing Vedic Philosophy in its entirety. I worship Lord Shiva with three eyes, full of fragrance and one who blesses all with prosperity; one who nourishes all beings. I am tied in bondage to my body and fear of death like the squash remains tied to its vine even after it is fully ripe. Please release me from this bondage, not from my connection to immortality.
This is a very often chanted prayer song (Mantra) in Vedic worship services. In theological terms, the above prayer song dedicated to Lord Shiva is often translated as seeking freedom from death at least as long as possible and seeking “Amrutham” or elixir that provides eternal life or immortality.
Such prayer is closely connected to our desire or “attachments” to worldly possessions such as our body, life, etc. and seeking more of it. This is somewhat surprising and strange indeed. Also, why seek an elixir for eternal life in a heaven that no one can describe after having been there! Such interpretation and translation may also take away from the true and well-intended inner and philosophic meaning behind such prayer songs?
It is a matter of nature and our observation that almost all fruits as they ripen tend to release and wither away from the stem holding the fruit, connecting it to its parent tree or plant. See the figure of an apple and two varieties of oranges. As they ripen they fall off or easily separate from their stem. The best time to pluck any tree ripened fruit is when it is almost ready to fall off from its stem and severe its connection! The only exception would seem to be the squash variety. Pumpkin, Butternut squash, Spaghetti squash, etc. fall in this category. Please see image below of a squash from my garden, months after harvesting it from its vine. Even after such long time of separation, this full grown or ripe squah is still very firmly attached to its stem! It required considerable effort to cut it away the stem . Even then a portion of the squash is still attached or bonded to the stem! Another image shows a squash literally rotting away and yet firmly attached to its stem. As human we exhibit such bondage to our material body and physical possessions. Even at the last moment, at ripe old age when the body is withering away or just before death and after a long life, we still do not want to give up our bondage. We are petrified of our death! This prayer song seeks liberation from such attachment, fear and the pain and suffering it causes?
Why this prayer for the elixir of immortality – Amrutham? Either it is seeking protection for more bondage and longer life here in this life or another form of bondage in another place (i.e.) heaven!
The single truth that Vedic Philosophy repeatedly clarifies is that anything and everything is part of nature (Tat Thwam Asi). Anything and everything exist as the enabled and as evidences, the enabler being the invisible, eternal and omnipresent laws of nature (i.e.) Brahman. Hence everything is Brahman (Sarvam Brahma Mayam). Instead of seeking a mythical potion of immortality, the prayer is perhaps more intended to remind us of this self-evident truth: That all of us are mortal, only when viewed as mere evidence or the enabled. Everyone is immortal as inseparable parts of the eternal laws of nature (I am Brahman: Aham Brahma). This is also declared in the Vedas by addressing its students “Ye, Children of Immortality (Amrthasya Puthraha)! — Shvetashvatara Upanishad, Chapter II, Verse 5. It is the same perspective conveyed in BG: 2.20: The enlightened person – one who sees his own self simultaneously as the enabled and the enabler behind them – is neither born nor dies at any time. Such a person has no beginning (such as birth), end (death) or return. Hence the person is unborn, eternal, permanent and ancient (transcends through time or generations). Thus, when the body is slain, the person is not slain.
The enlightened person referred to here is one with a clear understanding of anything as a two sided coin: Enabled (Cognitive) and the Enabler (Brahman), the in-cognitive! For more discussions on this two-sided coin analogy and many other essays please see the book: Spirituality in Practicehttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BV49NPNQ
Following are comments posted in Amazon to date, all with ***** ratings!
Spiritual guidance and years of wisdom asking important questions This author has transformed the way I think about life and its many blessings and challenges. I have read other works by Dr. Subbu Subramanian and this one, Spirituality in Practice, that weaves together science and spirituality is a true gift to us all. It is a culmination of many years of writing and wisdom. Choose to read an essay at a time or the whole book at once and you will walk away with many lessons and understanding and most of all questions you can apply to your daily life and relationships.
Good advice for living day to day This book is not an easy read but well worth the time and effort. In fact you might find yourself returning to it to clarify a point or cement some of it teachings into your mind. The author introduces the reader to the basics of spirituality, then to Vedic philosophy then puts it together with how our spirituality affects/interacts with each other and the world around us. I enjoyed this book and will be reading it again.
A book perfect for healing Whether you’re braving an emotional stress or Simply wanted to cleanse yourself from negativity, this book will help you get past that hurdle. It’s nicely written to declutter your mind. Great read!
Summary Comments from the Forewords published in the book: The author has admirably succeeded in linking the ancient wisdom of Vedic philosophy to the needs of the modern world – Prof. S. Rangan, School of Management, Babson College.
As a practicing psychiatrist, I find several aspects of this book applicable to individuals struggling daily with existential challenges. – Prof. Matcheri S Keshavan MD, Harvard Medical School.
This book is an amazing accomplishment and culmination of outstanding efforts to bring forth an enriched guide to new aspirants interested in the spiritual path or existing seekers needing additional guidance to continue in their spiritual journey. Essays contained in this book provide a wonderful kaleidoscopic view into the world of spiritual knowledge and wisdom– Jnana Yoga Study Group.
This book contains a collection of 76 short essays (each 2 to 8 pages long). Each essay can be read one at a time for the reader to gain something useful to reflect upon.
This book will be a great gift to anyone – for college graduation, birthdays, wedding gift, house warming gift or special occasions like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s day, Father’s Day, Christmas gift, ….
This book could also be a nice addition to the coffee table, fostering meaningful conversations with visitors to every home.
This book contains many sketches and illustrations that make it easy to discuss Philosophy, Spirituality and what is life, etc. in simple language with any one, especially with children and youngsters in the family, among friends, students in a class room, or adults with pressing emotional and social concerns.
Life is not an aimless journey but full of potentials enriched by the soul within and the universe at large. We are alone if we choose to be, but we are also seamlessly part of everything since that is the way it is. True knowledge is not feeling isolated as individuals. True knowledge is to see us as part of the eternal and ever-present universe. The goal is to feel good through self-compassion but also work towards peace and harmony of all, limitlessly.
We are subjective when we see ourselves as a droplet of water. We become objective when we see ourselves as part of the whole, a larger body of water. We become increasingly objective when we are under self-control (in our physical perceptions), with non-attachment (in our emotions), and liberated in our thoughts from all that bind and isolate us as “I” or individuals (like drops of water).
We gain true knowledge when we realize that all that is cognitive and all their enablers (laws of nature) are like two sides of a coin, like the waves on the surface and the deep ocean below coexisting, inseparable, and enabling the other.
To keep the discussion simple and easy to follow, the book is written as a collection of essays. Each essay could be read as an individual item or as part of a stream, depending on the reader’s time, motivation, and personal needs of the moment. However you choose to read, we hope you gain some nugget of value each time, that uplifts your spirits and a positive outlook on life.
Finally, a word of thanks to all the readers, especially those from the younger generation. You are the reason for whom this book is written. Even if a few among you learn to look at life in its larger context, an integral part of the universe at large, rather than being shackled by the limitations and constraints as isolated individuals or belonging to a small family, narrow social, religious, or political groups, my gratitude to you for that transformation and the joy it will bring forth for all around you.
Valentine’s Day is the day for the celebration of love, joy and romance – all uniquely human qualities. We wish you a very Happy Valentine’s Day. Hope your day is full of cheer, gratitude for all that you have and the cohesion and bonding with all those you love.
Perhaps you should consider this book as your Valentine’s Day gift to some one special in your life?
Please also spread the word and encourage your network of friends to get a copy each. I sincerely hope that more people will read and benefit from this book. I truly believe this book should also be a coffee table item in every home as a ready reference to browse through, to clarify our mind off the concerns and confusion we face once in a while. It is natural to be upset, concerned or confused. It is the loved one with true knowledge who provides the comfort and guidance with understanding and with objectivity.
I say the above, not because I am the author; but because I am convinced in the contents of the book and their usefulness.
Dear all: Our new book titled: Spirituality in Practice is now available for pre-order on Amazon. The Kindle version is scheduled for release in Feb. 10, 2023. I hope you will pre-order the book and show your support.
Equally important, after reading the book, I request you to post your comments that will surely encourage others to get a copy, read and benefit from it.
I will be very grateful, if you can spread the word about this book as a valuable resource, for everyone in your network of contacts.
This book is more like a seed. How much it grows into a plant and yields a large canopy of warmth and comfort for many is very much in your hands!
Following is a brief reproduction of a few sections from the book.
With gratitude and best wishes
Krishnamoorthy (Subbu) Subramanian.
Life is not an aimless journey but full of potentials enriched by the soul within and the universe at large. We are alone if we choose to be, but we are also seamlessly part of everything since that is the way it is. True knowledge is not feeling isolated as individuals. True knowledge is to see us as part of the eternal and ever-present universe. The goal is to feel good through self-compassion but also work towards peace and harmony of all, limitlessly.
We are subjective when we see ourselves as a droplet of water. We become objective when we see ourselves as part of the whole, a larger body of water. We become increasingly objective when we are under self-control (in our physical perceptions), with non-attachment (in our emotions), and liberated in our thoughts from all that bind and isolate us as “I” or individuals (like drops of water).
We gain true knowledge when we realize that all that is cognitive and all their enablers (laws of nature) are like two sides of a coin, like the waves on the surface and the deep ocean below coexisting, inseparable, and enabling the other.
To keep the discussion simple and easy to follow, the book is written as a collection of essays. Each essay could be read as an individual item or as part of a stream, depending on the reader’s time, motivation, and personal needs of the moment. However you choose to read, we hope you gain some nugget of value each time, that uplifts your spirits and a positive outlook on life.
Finally, a word of thanks to all the readers, especially those from the younger generation. You are the reason for whom this book is written. Even if a few among you learn to look at life in its larger context, an integral part of the universe at large, rather than being shackled by the limitations and constraints as isolated individuals or belonging to a small family, narrow social, religious, or political groups, my gratitude to you for that transformation and the joy it will bring forth for all around you.
What makes someone take the time to clear the boulder and the fallen rock to make the driving safer for others? Is it unattached active engagement? Please see: https://sipractce.com/2018/01/01/on-altruism/ I wrote this blog post wishing all readers a Happy New Year in 2018! It is truly serendipitous that I came across this video five years later, on Facebook this morning: https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=721192209512930
Happy New Year – 2023 everyone! Wishing each of you and everyone in your families the very best of health and happiness as the new year rolls in. Please keep in mind that life is always a balancing act between (a) our Physical / material conditions (b) our emotions or social conditions and hence how we relate to each other and (c) our thoughts or conditioning of the mind and the peace / harmony that comes with it inside each of us as well as with everything that surrounds us. We call the third leg as Spirituality in Practice!
I am a bit behind in posting this New Year greetings since I was away on travel most of Dec. and in the first week of January. This travel gave me a chance to visit Dharamsala at the foot hills of Himalayas. An amazing and serene experience to this peaceful Buddhist and Hindu sanctuary, where every house seems to be built on hill side and every road is a narrow lane built on a steep slope! The food was amazing. Our host was the most delightful blessing for us in our life! When we were there the Buddhist Monastery where his holiness the 14th Dalai Lama lives celebrated the 33rd anniversary of his receiving the Noble Prize. It was nice to be part of the large throng of audience and also enjoy the butter tea served for every one!
We also had the chance to visit Chinmaya Mission at Sidhbari, 12 Km from Dharamsala. Situated and administered by Chinmaya Tapovan Trust in Sidhbari, Himachal Pradesh, this is the second of Chinmaya Mission’s Vedantic institutes in India. It is a well laid out and welcoming facility, relatively quiet at this time as all the residents and monastics were away for the winter season. I had a chance to read one of the quotes by Swami Chinmayananda, founder of the Chinmaya Mission: “Don’t go to the peak to meditate; reach the “peak” in meditation”. This call to action in our daily life is indeed Spirituality in Practice.
We are in the process of compiling the blog posts into a book titled Spirituality in Practice. We expect this book to be published by end of February, 2023! Stay Tuned !!
I am glad to share with you the attached pre-publication info.
Each of you has been a part of this journey as I have been working on the contents of this book for well over a decade now.
This book is due for publication before the end of the year.
I shall send you details on the book after it is published, hoping it will receive a wide reception and reading by you and your large network of family and friends.
As of now, please let me know if you have any inputs after reading the attached.
With best wishes to each of you and everyone in your families for a Happy Holiday season.
With warm wishes
Subbu
Spirituality in Practice – SiP
A Collection of Essays
Exploration for peace and harmonywithin as well as collaboration and cohesiveness with all that surrounds us.
This is a collection of essays on life in general. In our rush to do better, feel better and be happy, we tend to miss a large part of who we are, what we already have, and the happiness which is natural and within us all the time. When we stop, look around and “smell the roses” on hand, then it becomes easier to do better in whatever we are doing. Good feelings and genuine happiness also come forth as naturally as the water flows downstream or the rain soaks the dry earth, or plants grow on their own nourished by rainwater! This is Spirituality in Practice (SiP)!
I was born in a village and raised in rural towns in India. I moved to larger cities for higher studies and work and to the USA for graduate studies at MIT, Cambridge, MA., USA. My long professional career created opportunities to interact with many people and their families across the globe. My upbringing in the villages and small towns in rural India has been a source of reference for comparison and connectedness with many cultures and their way of life I witnessed across the globe while progressing through life. I have personally witnessed poverty and affluence in many continents. I have experienced the culture and way of life at all layers of society. My interactions with many professionals and their families from many nationalities and cultures have enriched my global view. This personal experience and exposure have impelled my study of Vedic Philosophy and its universal appeal.
SiP is always a work in progress. While perfection is the goal, we need to keep the “I” or ego in check to gain the most of it. For peace and harmony within as well as collaboration and cohesiveness with all that surrounds us! So, we have named our blog site: Spirituality in Practice — SiP! This compilation of essays started as a series of blog posts over ten years ago at www.Sipractce.com. There are over 200 essays on this blog site. They have been edited and condensed into 78 essays presented in this book.
This book starts with an overview of spirituality and to address many questions about this topic. This overview also lays the foundation to understand and treat spirituality as a tangible and real aspect of everyone’s daily life. We recognize spirituality as a non-denominational process exhibited through our thought and actions. We recognize that spirituality is one of the three legs of a stool required for a stable life, along with material/physical and emotional/social aspects as the other two legs. When we focus primarily on the material aspects of life or seek comfort through family and social groups, our life suffers from instability since we ignore spirituality as something that belongs to religious people with a monastic or secluded way of life. We hope to shatter this paradigm and false notion and present spirituality in practice as an essential for everyone’s life.
A collection of five essays forms the introductory section. Through these essays, we glide into an analytical approach, the basis for any philosophical study. Then we enter the realm of Vedic Philosophy and its relevance for daily life. We address the basics of Vedic Philosophy through a series of twenty-three essays. Spirituality in practice is far more engaging and applicable in various contexts in daily life. We explore this application-oriented discussion of Vedic Philosophy in the next chapter containing forty-nine essays.
In the end, we hope the reader leaves with a few takeaways: Vedic Philosophy is not abstract and metaphysical. The concepts proposed in Vedic Philosophy provide a simple yet comprehensive framework to describe and understand anything we wish to study or learn about. Life is not an aimless journey but full of potentials enriched by the soul within and the universe at large. We are alone if we choose to be, but we are also seamlessly part of everything since that is the way it is. True knowledge is not feeling isolated as individuals. True knowledge is to see us as part of the eternal and ever-present universe. The goal is to feel good through self-compassion but also work towards the peace and harmony of all, limitlessly. We are subjective when we see ourselves as a droplet of water. We become objective when we see ourselves as part of a larger body of water. We become increasingly objective when we are under self-control (in our physical perceptions), with non-attachment (in our emotions), and liberated in our thoughts from all that bind and isolate us as “I” or individuals (like drops of water). We gain true knowledge when we realize that all that is cognitive and all their enablers (laws of nature) are like two sides of a coin, like the waves on the surface and the deep ocean below coexisting, inseparable, and enabling the other.
To keep the discussion simple and easy to follow, the book is written as a collection of essays. We use simple schematics or illustrations to bring out the “model” behind the thoughts codified in Vedic Philosophy. We do not follow a single text or set of references, but it should be clear that all the materials contained in this book are from a large body of scripture collectively known as Vedic literature. Some interpretations and all the figures are original. The principles and framework outlined in the essays to convey the Vedic Philosophy are adapted from Vedic literature and many books written in English and Tamil to translate and convey their meaning by scores of authors.
The origins of Vedic Philosophy are not well known. They are treated as self-evident truths. The authors of Vedic literature are many. Our salutations to all these visionaries. We present this collection of essays with great regard and reverence to all of them. Our gratitude and reverence are also for many Saints like Adi Sankara and modern-day teachers such as Ramana Maharishi, Saint Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda, and many others. This author was introduced to formal studies in Vedanta by Swami Chinmayananda through his lectures. “Studies in Vedic Philosophy should not be an abstract intellectual exercise” was his repeated guidance through his lectures. Instead, all such studies should lead to their understanding and application in our daily life. The theme of this book – Spirituality in Practice – originated from this guidance!
Author Biography: Dr. Krishnamoorthy (Subbu) Subramanian was born and raised in Nannimangalam, a rural village in Southern India. After his high school graduation at Board High School, Lalgudi, Tamil Nadu, he received his undergraduate degree from Osmania University, Hyderabad, India. He obtained his Ph. D from MIT at Cambridge, MA. USA in 1977. He has over 45 years of experience working in the global manufacturing sector. His work has focused on research, new business development, innovation, and mentoring. He has worked with people at all professional levels from many nations and continents, from hundreds of companies and scores of universities. He is a distinguished fellow of two professional societies: ASME and SME. He has received the coveted Eugene Merchant Medal for Manufacturing. His professional work has been published extensively. He has authored the book: The System Approach – A Strategy to survive and succeed in the Global Economy and co-authored another book: Thriving in the 21st Century Economy – Transformational Skills for Technical Professionals. Now he serves as the President of STIMS Institute (www.STIMSInstitute.com), an advisory, consulting, and mentoring services organization that partners with businesses and universities around the world.
Dr. Subramanian is deeply versed in Hindu traditions, culture, and way of life in rural India. His upbringing by his grandparents and growing up in rural Southern India was a formative experience. He has witnessed poverty and affluence and experienced the way of life at all layers of economics in society. His interactions with professionals and their families from many nationalities and cultures have enriched his global view. This personal experience and exposure have impelled his study of Vedic Philosophy and its universal appeal.
He was introduced to studies in Philosophy through a few lectures at MIT by Swami Chinmayananda in the early 1970s. He has pursued self-study since the early 90s, which continues today and hopefully forever. He teaches classes for youth and adults on the theme of Spirituality in Practice (SiP). He explores the nuances of SiP in daily life through mentoring and volunteer work. He is the President of AASAI (American Association for Social Advancement of India http://www.aasai.org/), a non-profit charitable organization. He is married to Dr. Durga Subramanian. Their immediate family includes their son Ganesh, daughter-in-law Jessica, and two lovely grandchildren Asha and Niraj. They live in Bay Area, CA. USA.
We have posted thus far 200 essays on this topic: Spirituality in Practice.
Many of you have read and commented on several of these essays. Many have been kind and positive with your feedback.
In any effort there are three steps of System Thinking: AWARENESS: What is Spirituality and how it is relevant and/or useful in our daily life? ANALYSIS: How can we apply our knowledge and understanding to develop an inner harmony as well as peace and collaboration with the world around us? This is the strengthening of our “Spiritual” leg, one of the three legs of stability for our life – the other two being material/physical and Emotional/social. Our essays in the past ten plus years have focused on this: Spirituality in Practice. SYNTHESIS: Can we develop an aggregate or integrated view of the above understanding, as a ready reference for everyone, especially the young and for our future generations?
Above framework has guided me to compile and edit all our posts into a collection of 75+ essays. On more than one occasion, I have been encouraged to publish such compilation as a book. Please let me know of your thoughts? All inputs must be free, open source and without any copy right limitations.
I shall resume posting more blog essays starting from Jan. 2023. Best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving!
Vedic Philosophy is thousands of years old. Our awe and wonder of Vedic Philosophy (Vedas, Upanishads, BG, Athma Bodha, ….) knows no bounds, when we truly internalize its summary (see below) and its profound implications and usefulness. We have arrived at the this synopsis through a series of essays and other materials posted in this blog site under the banner of Spirituality in Practice. It has been truly a journey of study, learning, sharing and reflections. This is our 200th essay on this blog site, starting from April 2010. My sincere thanks to all readers, those who have offered their comments on line and off, as well as for the few who have engaged me in personal discussions over the years.
Vedic Philosophy provides a simple framework to study, analyze, observe and practice in any aspect of whatever we do in personal and professional life. In summary, Vedic Philosophy states that: Everything in the Universe exists in five realms or conditions (Pancha Kosha):
Material Object
All that is perceived; Anything one can study and manage through Materials Sciences.
Living Object
All that can grow, born, live and die. Anything one can study, learn and manage through Life Sciences.
Emotional person (individual, family, society, nation, …..)
Life – experience, governed by the duality of like/dislike, happiness/sorrow, friend/enemy, good/bad, evil/noble, etc.
This is the subjective universe – of impulsive action and reaction.
This is also the world that comprises all fields of human endeavors: Arts, Music, education, sports, religion, politics, career, economics, culture, society, family, ….
Intellectual being – Analytical Person (rooted in contemplation, analysis and reasoning).
Any subject understood as influenced by three sets of connectors (Guna) and their underlying Knowledge, Bias and Ignorance.
Objective – with sincere effort to understand the cause and effect. When our effort fails, we persevere while also accepting the reality as it is, as part of nature (Brahman).
Brahman (eternal, objective, omnipresent, intangible forces of nature). Brahman is incognitive. It is visible through the above four realms. It is the cause, the forces of nature behind all the effects perceived or understood through all our perception, feeling and thought.
“I think, therefore I am” is a philosophic thought that recognizes the first four layers or conditions. “I am, therefore I think” states the Vedic Philosophy. It includes the fifth layer. This realm is also stated as “I am consciousness” – Pragjnanam Brahma; “I am Brahman” – Aham Brahma. All five layers co-exist like the visible relentless waves and the invisible deep ocean and the wind currents, which enable the waves!
One can arrive at this knowledge or understanding as the end point of sustained study. One can also gain this knowledge instinctively, as the starting point. That is truly immaterial.
Above is a simple and yet profound understanding of any and all aspects of the universe. It is a framework, a starting point for our study, comprehension and understanding of anything. It is a simple basis for Maintaining / Managing Equilibrium in all Activities of our Life/ Living (MEAL)!
June 21, 2022 is celebrated as the International Yoga day! Perhaps it is appropriate to celebrate this special day with some reflection and contemplation – Jnana Yoga! In this essay we focus on “Who am “I”?” – us the human beings? Also how Yoga and Meditation can serve us far more profoundly, much more than merely as fitness routine or practices to calm our mind.
Pancha Kosha: Five sheaths, generally refer to the five conditions applicable to any human being. It is one of the most profound formalism found in Vedic Philosophy. Human is described as five layers each separate, contained inside the other. Perhaps a closer analytical look would suggest something more. Consider the layers of onion. Each layer is different from the one inside of it. Yet aren’t they all part of the same onion, a vegetable across all layers? We can think of the same in a cabbage or in any flower which blooms with many layers of petals. Why is this important? We don’t consume only certain layers of onion and discard all the rest. We should not think of any sheath more valuable or less valuable. They are all parts of the human condition. In fact the five sheaths are also called Upadhi : Condition.
Pancha Kosha: Five layers or conditions of human beings (According to Vedic Philosophy)
The first layer or condition of the human is our physical body. This condition is enabled by the food (Annam) we consume. Hence it is called Anna Maya (Material layer or condition)
The second layer of the human is the ability to live. This condition is enabled by the air we breathe (Prana). Hence it is called Prana Maya (Living being). As a living being we are no different from plants and animals, which also live and grow. Our primary organs like heart, lungs, etc. function and keep us alive. Our sense organs function and we have the sight, sound, smell, feel, taste, etc. We could move through life passively, reacting and responding to our environment. All humans, animals and even plants operate at this level.
First Layer Second Layer Ignorant Turbulent Tranquil Human Body Living Person Third Layer (Emotional Being) Anna Maya Prana Maya Manon Maya
YOGA as a physical fitness routine helps to tune the physical body and manage cardiovascular fitness.Yoga routines are also considered useful to improve and tune many other physiological functions of the living person. Hence YOGA is valuable in managing the fitness and functioning of the first two layers. The outer layers of onion feel stronger and taste different. Similarly, the human condition also begins to differ from plants and animals! We have the third layer or condition of the human body. It is the layer of emotions that we feel such as happiness/sorrow, love/hate, like/dislike, sadness, depression, unbridled joy, euphoria, etc. This is the layer where our brain plays an active role governing our emotions and feelings. We acquire “experiences”. These experiences result in subjective, impulsive reactions, responses and behavior. We live a life of emotional roller coaster. This layer or condition fostered by our active mind is called Manon Maya (Emotional Being). Then we come to the fourth layer, when we ask the questions “Where do my “experiences” come from? They are like the relentless waves. How can I manage them with a calm and stable mind? At least for a few minutes? For longer durations? As a way of life?” This human condition (sheath) where we engage in analytical reasoning is called Vignana Maya (Reflective person). Vedic philosophy and the scriptures provide a simple and lucid set of answers to these questions. They help to manage the equilibrium in life and all its activities (MEAL). https://sipractce.com/2011/05/25/anatomy-of-our-experiences-objectivity-the-end-result/
It leads to a life of faith in God and service to others. Such a manner of living with self-control is achieved through Bhakthi Yoga. It also leads to divinity in our behavior and way of life. This is achieved through the practice of Jnana Yoga. In these pathways – Bhakthi and Jnana Yoga – the word “Yoga” itself acquires a meaning different from being a mere practice for physical fitness. Here Yoga means “Union with the self”. It is enabled by reflection and contemplation, essential elements of “meditation”!
Our mind and hence our capacity to think distinguishes us as human beings from the animals and plants. This is the third layer – Manon Maya (Emotional Being).This capacity of the mind to think and hence feel (the emotions) and the bias that come with it is unique to the human being! The fourth layer helps to elevate any human being from being an ordinary nobody, to a special somebody! They set the standards for others to follow! But, this opportunity to be special is within each of us. We desire to be special through our needs and wants in the third layer as an emotional being. We become special by managing our needs and wants objectively in the fourth layer as a reflective and analytical person!
We desire to be special through our needs and wants in the third layer as an emotional being. We become special by managing our needs and wants objectively in the fourth layer as a reflective and analytical person!
Now we are at the fifth layer: Ananda Maya (the layer of bliss)! Where did the layers of onion come from? They grew from another onion. It is part of nature! How did the onion grow in its layers? That is how onions grow. It is part of nature. Where did our human body come from? Like an onion grew from another onion, it grew out of the mother’s womb. Where did the life processes – breathing, digestion, assimilation, organs and their function, etc. – come from? They are all part of nature. Where did all these likes/dislikes and all other feelings come from? It is all part of human nature. Our skill or power to harness our mind, to seek right from wrong, subjective vs. objective helps us to constantly learn new things and travel through the journey of life with peace and tranquility. This is the fourth layer or condition. Where does it all come from? It is all part of nature! Wow! It is amazing! Everything I know and all that I don’t know are all part of nature. Sarvam Brahma Mayam. I am part of nature (Aham Brahma).This knowledge or awareness is the fifth condition or layer of human beings – the state of bliss (Ananda Maya). https://sipractce.com/2020/01/16/enlightened-living-progression-from-self-control-to-total-self-control-to-un-attached-active-engagement/
Fifth Layer: Joyful living (Layer of bliss): Ananda Maya
Everything I know and all that I don’t know are all part of nature. Sarvam Brahma Mayam. I am part of nature (Aham Brahma).This knowledge or awareness is the fifth condition or layer of human beings - the state of bliss (Ananda Maya).
Our knowledge and scientific studies provide cause and effect reasoning to many of the questions. They are all achieved as part of the fourth layer (Analytical reasoning). All our education in any field is to refine our objectivity to arrive at cause and effect reasoning. That is why we get Ph.D (Doctor of Philosophy) as the highest degree awarded in any field of study! But those answers, immense they may be, still address only a tiny fraction to explain what we know as nature. In all other cases we simply have to admit “it is part of nature”; “It is the way it is” https://sipractce.com/2015/05/02/astu-so-be-it/ This is not an admission of limits of science, but more an acknowledgement of the grandeur of nature!
We should not condition our mind to think that the fifth layer is unattainable except for a few. It would be like rejecting the wallet full of money in your pocket and feeling that you are poor! Few examples: A poor man lives a life of peace and contentment because he knows why he is poor, but he is also happy to manage his life within his means and resources. A rich man on the other hand does not know the limits of his greed and hence unable to enjoy all the wealth he already has! In addition, the fear of losing what he has makes him more unhappy and perturbed while he is also ignorant of the joy of giving what he has to the poor and needy! In both cases it is a simple matter of tuning our mind to the fourth and fifth layers as the starting points!
The state of bliss (Ananda maya) exists in all of us all the time. Those who explore it intensely come to realize it. While the ocean is full of salt water, few who reach the ocean and taste it realize that sea water is salty. But, it would be incorrect to say that only that drop of ocean water which has been tasted by someone is salty. As another example: in a field full of bananas, we would not say that the sweet bananas are only those tasted by someone! “All of us as part of nature are all evolved; let me open my mind and explore these questions”. In other words we treat the fifth layer as the starting point and then move into the fourth, third layers, etc. This is the process of self-reflection (i.e.) Meditation!
Through such meditation, we can rejoice in peace and tranquility anytime and all the time. It is part of nature. All it requires is a subtle shift in our focus. When we shift our focus from the surface waves we can visualize the calm blue ocean supporting all the waves! When we shift our focus from individual events and incidents, we can see the larger pattern prevailing (fourth layer) as an undercurrent of all the perturbations of life (third layer). We appreciate and relish life the way it is in the big picture (living in the fourth layer), while also experiencing momentary happiness and sorrow (as part of the third layer)! No one escapes from any of the four layers. It is easy to see that.
Moving across the five layers or conditions (Pancha Kosha.): We begin with our body acquired through birth. Through internal or self-reflection we become progressively aware of being a living object, emotional person, capable of reflection and analysis – all part of the larger Universe (Inward Focus). Yoga and Meditation are the means for such self-reflection. While the five layers remain the same, as self-awareness increases, we gain an expansive view of life and everything around. We see ourselves increasingly as part of the larger Universe (Outward Focus). This awareness – increasingly inwards or expansively outward – is suggested by Vedic Philosophy: You and the Universe are one and the same: Thath Thwam Asi!
This awareness - increasingly inwards or expansively outward (either right or left) - is suggested by Vedic Philosophy: You and the Universe are one and the same: Thath Thwam Asi!
Yoga and Meditation at the third and fourth layers are joyful exercises to reflect on Subjectivity (bias) Vs. Objectivity (unattached and neutral outlook). Meditation on the fourth and fifth layers is further enhancement of this joy to visualize the play of nature and its marvels we see as life. In this level of contemplation our calm and quiet mind learns to smell the rose, while also recognizing the thorn which is part of any rose. It accepts the joy of cherishing the fruit on hand instead of being fixated on the perfect imagined fruit elsewhere. The rose and the fruit are mere analogs for our physical health, comfort, economic condition, relationships, emotional upheavals and intellectual quests. In every case, we learn to enjoy what we have while learning the limits of what we need and why or what we truly do not have. We see the same in others around us. We learn to care and share with others limitlessly. We are not just individuals with limits. Instead we are an inseparable part of the wide open infinite: Children of Immortality.https://sipractce.com/2010/07/07/family/
Through Yoga and Meditation we learn to enjoy what we have while learning the limits of what we need and why or what we truly do not have. We see the same in others around us. We learn to care and share with others limitlessly. We are not just individuals with limits. Instead we are an inseparable part of the wide open infinite: Children of Immortality.
All five layers of human condition are integral and inseparable – all are part of nature. It is for our mental convenience we look at them as five layers. Birth and death of the body (second layer) is part of any living object, which includes plants and animals. The nature which enables our “gross body” is also responsible for our “causal body”. The laws of nature that enable them are universal, beyond these conceived bodies. One need not hang on to the causal body after death, looking for its liberation after cycles of “reincarnation”. We can let go of that causal body here and now! It truly liberates us instantly! Such liberation comes from a genuine acceptance that everything is part of nature (Sarvam Brahma Mayam).
Buoyancy is conceived only through all that floats! It has no birth, cycles of birth, reincarnation or liberation! Our causal body, which enables all the four layers, is like buoyancy. It merely exists! It is the fifth layer! Why is this important? Causal body, Karma, reincarnation and eventual liberation are all concepts very much needed at the basic level. They are like crutches to support oneself to stand up in the pursuit of self-reflection, non-attachment and objectivity. They are like scaffolding put up to build a skyscraper. Our eventual goal is to be free of crutches and scaffolding to stand on our own strength of non-attachment and objectivity. Yoga and Meditation are the means for that liberation.
Spirituality In Practice 