Tagged: Gita

Reader Remark: Predestination

From article: http://bkgyan.com/2013/06/04/going-deeper-into-predestination/

In Gita, it is said, put your effort but don’t have expectations for its reward.

This simple explanation applies even now.

Predestination is the reward (which is not just based on our effort) and our role is to perform to our level best.

It is like driving a car, you have the right to drive but the destination is not in your effort, it depends upon how fast the car in front of you moves and how the whole traffic is in that road, and everyone knows how long it takes to reach the destination inspite of the traffic, still the person-driver has to drive the car.

The driving effort is in our hands and reaching the destination depends upon the karma-fate of individual or the whole society/traffic. Both goes together – self effort and fate,they cannot be separated.

??????……..

Dear soul,
If we divide “traffic” and “my car” with “my destination,” we will have a problem.
In your phrase: “Put your effort but don’t have expectations for its reward.”
WHo is putting effort?
“I”
For what? 🙂
I guess, it is not for the sake of “making effort” right? There is a purpose.

If I don’t want to call that purpose with its real name: “expectations” then “I am” just kidding myself. Making myself believe that “my” effort does not have an expectation.

As long as there is a “my effort,” there will ego and with that, we cannot pretend that expectations will not exist.
Ego and expectations arrive at the same time.

“Self effort” is just a nice phrase. “Fate” is what you get when there is an “I” lingering around.
The issue is separation. The traffic and the cars and your car are all part of the same thing. They are not separated but only in a separating mind.

Best wishes!

Spiritual teachings: All according to our consciousness

spirituality

As mentioned before, Spirituality is one. However, it is “explained” in many ways according to the audience, the experiences of the “teacher,” and the time.

Spiritual teachings are not meant to be the same for everyone, even though there may be a common beginning.

Just like a seed transforms into a tree, we could see that there are different branches on that tree. All different but still belonging to that same tree.

In history, there has been many spiritual teachers. Interestingly enough, many teachings have been placed into a religion. When that happens, the spiritual teachings become interpreted by their followers.

For instance, the Bible. It is composed of many different books. Christ did not write anything. His disciples wrote everything there is in the “New Testament.” As a matter of fact, the main writer was Paul. Christian teachings are based on Paul’s understanding of Christ teachings.

The same, we can see with other well known religious scriptures such as the Gita. There are many interpretations of the Gita by different “gurus” and even the origin of those scripture is unknown.

However, when any scripture is made for the “masses” that is for “everyone,” then the depth of that scripture needs to be changed for that level of understanding.

Christ spoke to the masses. Buddha spoke to the masses.

In Brahma Kumaris, the “Murli” was spoken to a small group of people without further spiritual training and education. The “main engine” was love to God. However, that love was according to what these people knew about love. As we progress in spirituality, love acquires a complete different meaning. Something which is completely unknown for the “masses.” Something which is only known as we go through the path.

Therefore, a “teaching” has to meet the student. Otherwise, it will not be understood.

Once a spiritual teachings needs to go to the masses, it has to change and depth will not be there.

It is a this time, when we need to use a deeper realization to be able to see through it and find the deeper jewels according to our own experience.

Spirituality is a very personal path once the groundwork has been initiated and it is stable.

Our level of commitment will give us the key for greater understanding.

For instance, some spiritual teaching could teach us about the need to “tolerate.” We need to tolerate that person, that situation, etc.

Some other teaching will teach us that there is no need to tolerate when there is love in us.

Some other teaching will teach us that when there is no “I” there is no “you” to tolerate or “you” to love.

Who is right? Which teaching is better?

Those 3 teachings are right. But they represent different levels of understanding and experiences.
Once we see that spirituality is one but explained in different ways by different teachers, we could have that openness to learn and to experience spirituality as it is, to be open to the “truth” not as a “final product” as in a dogmatic view, a religious dogma; but rather, as growth. It is the seed growing to become a tree. That tree cannot be described through a teaching, for we do not know how that tree will look like. All we know is that it will become a tree, but no what kind of tree.

As our consciousness grows, so our understanding.
This growth happens only when we are open to grow. That is our particular time for growth.

Who is the real author of Bhagavat Gita? – By: BK. T.D Joseph

Article by: BK. T. D. Joseph, Bangalore, India tdjaum(AT)gmail.com – If you have questions or remarks about this article, please contact the author.
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Suppose you heard a great joke attributed to somebody. Prima facie, you know that this particular joke was cracked originally in some joyous occasion, but never in a funeral house! Because jokes are designed to make people laugh, not to make them mourn as happens in a funeral house. Similarly, if you really know the essence of Bhagavat Gita, you will immediately come to know whether it was delivered, as conventionally believed, in a physical battle-ground, or in some other time by somebody other than Krishna.

The Essence of Gita

MOVE FROM THE EPHEMERAL TO THE ETERNAL is the thread that runs throughoutThe Gita, as detailed below:

• “Be firmly attached to the Supreme Soul alone,” (2:48, 72; 8:7; 12:6, 7; 10:15; 14:4; 18:62) abandoning all attachment to the results and the temporary security, such as body, objects and relatives. (2:71; 9:33; 18:66)

• Treat “alike” all pairs of opposites such as “heat and cold,” “friend and foe,” “honor and dishonor” which comprehend the entire possibility of experiences in life—physical, mental and intellectual respectively.—Gita 2:14, 38, 45; 12:17-19; 14:24, 25; 18:54.
And this is called Sanatana Dharma or ETERNAL DUTY.—12:20; 14:27

A message of this sort makes no sense in a literal war-field as the listener is ordered to treat “friend and foe alike,” hence would not have been delivered as a prelude to a great war between two conflicted armies. Besides, participants of the so-called war were also not literal. For example, names of the key persons, such as 100 sons of Drutarashtra start with Du which means evil—Duryodhana (one who uses money for evil purposes), Dussasana (one who breathes out evil commands) … etc. No parents would name their children this way from birth before their character unfolds. The weapons purportedly used in Mahabharata War are also prophetic in nature, which would exist only in our period. So is the case with the number of soldiers killed in the war, which is so great a number that can also happen only in our time. [The place where the war was supposed to have taken place, Kurukshetra, is a small village in India which could not have accommodated even a fraction of that army.] Thus, the prophetic nature of Mahabharata (of which Gita is claimed to be a part) picturises a future global situation, climax of the Iron Age, which is actually the time we are now living in, where weapons of mass destruction are a reality and the evils such as “lust, anger and greed” are the actual rulers of the present world system of things.

Who authored Gita?

In its chapter 3, verse 3 says: “O sinless one, at the onset of creation, a two-fold path of spiritual discipline was given by ME to this world: the path of Self-knowledge (Gyan Yoga) for the contemplative, and the path of unselfish work (Karma Yoga) for the active.” Then verse 24 says it is He who sustains the three worlds. Thus these verses clearly identify the author of Gita as the same as the Author of the universe, who is also called “Supreme Ruler of the Universe” and “the Father, the Well-Wisher and the Friend of all beings,” from which SHIVA, the most appropriate personal name of God derives. (Gita 5:29; 9:17; 10:1). [This may remind one of JEHOVA, which also has those two phonetic parts, ‘SHI’ & ‘VA’, meaning Redeemer] He is also called “the origin and the dissolution,” (Gita 9:18) which are the basis of the symbol of Siva Lingam (Lin, Sanskrit, equivalent of laya which means dissolution; gam, from agamaman, which means arrival / comimg). Thus Siva Lingam is a pointer, which stands for that entity which destroys [the heaven-turned hell, now existing on earth] and re-creates [the hell into heaven on earth] that happens at the end of every Kalpa (cycle of 5000 years).—Compare Gita 9:7; 8:17; 4:1-8)

Now who is the actual recipient of the message?

If major elements are all symbolic, then the recipient also should be symbolic. Though various forms of addressing are used, one particular addressing, “O sinless one,” used in Gita 3:3 suggests that Gita message will be actually conveyed, in detail and in absolute clarity, to a group of people whose hallmark will be purity, who will appear on the world scene toward the end of the Iron Age. God Himself identifies them as those “who are rejoiced to hear ME,” those “who know ME as the Supreme Lord of the universe, and are undeluded and free from ALL SINS,” “who are worshipping ME with loving ecstasy [or intoxication],” ‘whose minds remain absorbed in ME and whose lives surrendered unto ME and who always enlighten each other by talking about ME and remain ever content and delighted.’ (Gita 10:1, 3, 8, 9). In other words, God is the ultimate Doer of Good, and so are his children who “do good to all beings,” taking delight in doing so.” (Gita 5:25; 12:4) Those who associate with Brahmakumaris can testify that this description perfectly fits with them.

Why is it called “eternal duty”?

The above-mentioned subject matter (sermon) of Gita is called “eternal duty,” because it is reinforced at the end of each Kalpa (cycle of 5000 years). This is in fulfillment of God’s own promise that He would reincarnate at the end of each Kalpa when there is a sharp decline of righteousness and religiousness on a global scale, which we are experiencing now. (Gita 4:7; 11:18) This means God, the Supreme Father of all souls, has already arrived in our time, has been repeating the Gita, and reestablished Adi Sanatan Devi- Devata Dharm (the Original Eternal Deity Religion), which gets continued in Satyug (Golden Age) and Tretayug (Silver Age) in the next Kalpa / Time Cycle.

Those who associate with Brahma Kumaris experience first-hand the exposition of the essence of Gita through their daily morning class called Murli. By their adherence to this, they naturally become pure, the white-clad Pandavas in a spiritual sense, who fight against vices [the real enemy of man, according to Gita 3:34, 37; 16:21] of Maya as to remain “firmly attached to Supreme Father,” thus to enter into the Golden Age that is already on the horizon!

The Mahabharat story is being played now in this Iron Age (Kaliyug). Let us listen to the divine versions of God delivered at this time, and imbibe them so that we can take part in ushering in the Golden age (Satyug) where all the people would be healthy, wealthy and wise.

Is God REALLY omnipresent? By: BK T.D. Joseph

Article by: BK. T. D. Joseph, Bangalore, India tdjaum(AT)gmail.com – If you have questions or remarks about this article, please contact the author.
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There are many people who believe that God is omnipresent. Is He really present everywhere? If yes, can the following questions satisfactorily be answered?

1.If He is omnipresent, how will He distinguish Himself and others—inanimate and animate?
2.If He is omnipresent, where will evil or sin exist, as He is the source of all goodness and holiness?
3.When hard-core sadists enjoy inflicting pain on others, or carnivorous animals hunt and eat innocent animals like lambs, what happens to His presence in the pain-giver and the recipient?
4.If God is omnipresent, before breathing his last why should Jesus cry out: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”? (Mark 15:33; Luke 23:46)
5.The English word ‘religion’ comes from Latin word ‘religare’ which means to re-unite. Religions are helping people [who were separated from God] to re-unite with Him. How can the separation and re-union with God be possible, if He is omnipresent? Hence can religions really teach He is omnipresent?

Bible says God resides in a particular place (Mathew 6:9). So does the Quran (Surah al-Mulk 67:17) God is quoted as saying He is “the minutest of the minute,” and yet He is the “Supreme Divine Being” residing in “Supreme Abode.” – Gita 8:9, 10, 21.

This is a fact supported by our experience too. Supreme Soul, our Heavenly Father is “SPIRIT,” declare the Bible and the Bhagavat Gita. (John 4:24; Gita 14:3, 4) Hence we, His children, are the exact representation of His very being, and are spirits or souls in this costume called bodies. (Gita 8:3) Just like the Supreme Soul resides in a particular place, our souls too reside in a particular place, something that everyone can feel for themselves. Close your eyes and be aware of your true Self. You can easily experience the body as the human (container) where the Being resides.

The Being, which is YOU, situated just above and behind the eyes (center of the forehead) within the brain. This is like driver’s seat from where You do your thinking, analyzing, and directing every movement of the vehicle—your body—through the 5 physical sense organs. You are the POINT OF CONSCIOUSNESS within the body, which is called by many names: Soul, Spirit, Atma, Inner-Self, Pure-Consciousness … etc. Thus what is true of our Heavenly Father is true of us also—He is not present everywhere in the macro universe, just as one’s soul is not present everywhere in his body, the micro universe.

Still, why do some people believe that God is omnipresent? This and variant of this teaching Tat Tvam Asi [Sanskrit] which means “You are THAT (God),” may have originated from an innocent desire to fight egoism and to help people to view everyone equally, and thus to instill in them compassion towards one another. However, was that extreme assertion really necessary as others too—including atheists—can show compassion towards fellow humans? These teachings may have helped a very few.

However, their unforeseen results eclipse all their benefits. Look at the opposite fruitage of these teachings on those who believe it. These teachings obviously imply that God and sin are INSEPARABLY connected. ‘If God is omnipresent, or I am THAT, then sin should also exist in God, just as it does in me,’ one may feel. Hence instead of feeling motivated to fight against vices, one may feel licentious to do whatever he feels like! This may also be fanned by stories of gods whose lust and greed make interesting reading. As a result, people go casual about everything, and become self-centered, which is called “sin.” (Gita 3:13) If God resides within everyone, how can one [in whom God resides] perform wicked acts against another human [in whom too God resides]?

Any belief should be tested by the fruits it produces. The above two teachings are prevalent in Bharat. What have they produced? Very few may have become more spiritual believing God is everywhere or they are Gods, whereas vast majority are gone opposite. For example, Bharath is synonymous with over-population. At the root of over-population lie lust, instant gratification and utter disregard for the welfare of others / future generation. If LUST is not fulfilled, ANGER arises; if it is fulfilled GREED arises. And it is these three vices—“lust, anger, and greed”—that Holy Lord calls as “gate of hell.” —Gita 16:21.

Certain qualities can be omnipresent, but their source need not be all-pervasive. Sun, even while it is not omnipresent, its qualities such as heat and light are pervasive in all direction. Similarly, God is not omnipresent, but His qualities are omnipresent. For example, His wisdom is seen in all His works; His power is seen in each and every atom; and His justice is seen in never-failing mechanism, Law of Causation, functioning everywhere in Nature. Knowing this can make people responsible-minded, not licentious!

What is wisdom? – By: BK T.D. Joseph

Article by: BK. T. D. Joseph, Bangalore, India tdjaum(AT)gmail.com – If you have questions or remarks about this article, please contact the author.
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Wisdom characterizes everything what God does, says the Bible. (Proverbs 8:22–31) Jesus said: “Be wise as serpent,” which means to perceive and avoid danger, and escape from it. (Mathew 10:16) “He succeeds in everything he does” as “his delight is in the law [Shrimat] of God.” (Psalm 1:2, 3) Wisdom means “hatred* of evil, pride and arrogance.” (Proverbs 1:7 & 8:13) “Constancy in the knowledge of the self is wisdom.”—Bhagavat Gita 13:12.

* “hatred” is not in the sense of human emotion. For example God says “I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated.” (Malachi 1:2,3) Here “love” is used in the sense of choosing, and “hate” in the sense of rejecting. (Romans 9:10-13; compare also Deuteronomy 21:15; Mathew 6:24; 10:37; Luke 14:26. It simply means treating something as less important, as implied by Jesus when he said: “Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.—John 12:25.

These verses, put together, give the following characteristics of wisdom:
• living in constant awareness of SOUL-consciousness
• preventing ego (root of which is body-consciousness) from taking precedence in all our actions
• taking delight in application of God’s Shrimat in all aspects of our lives
• avoiding danger/wastage to self and others
• experiencing constant success.

Here noticeable aspect of a wise person is that he acts out of soul-consciousness—God as Supreme Soul, and humans are individual souls—and is ruled by DELIGHT in Shrimat and RECOGNITION of valueless of ego.

This is interesting! Because, if you have delight in God’s Shrimat and recognize the valuelessness of ego, the whole world will prove to be powerless against your will-power to remain pure. Bible reports, in Genesis chapter 39, about an ordinary man, named Joseph, who was employed at the house of the Chief of Pharao’s palace guard in ancient Egyptian Empire. There he was continuously tempted by his master’s wife to commit adultery with her in all secrecy and safety. This was an unusual, tricky situation where his yielding could have brought him promotion and other material benefits, and his refusal would have landed him in great trouble. Yet he flatly refused to commit adultery.

This was a very great act as there was no law given against adultery at that time! [Law against adultery was given centuries later—Exodus 20:14]. Because he was aware of his original qualities, the source of which was his Heavenly Father, about whom he always had a loving remembrance, he discerned rightly that all women are his sisters; and sexual act with his master’s wife would destroy his purity, peace and joy, and more importantly it would hurt his loving Heavenly Father. Thus he CHOSE (or loved) God’s friendship and REJECTED the approval of the temptress and its attendant transient benefits. Though his refusal to commit adultery landed him in temporary trouble, his purity was ultimately paid off—he became the Prime Minister of Egyptian Empire, and he is remembered in history as a diamond against sexual advances. Obviously, one is paid by his work, not for his work.

If you do not keep your delight in God’s Shrimat and recognition of valuelessness of ego constantly burning, even a small, powerless spark is more than enough to bring you down flat, even though you may have all the favorable circumstances not to slip. Typical example is King David, the most brilliant leader of ancient Israel, who also wrote many devotional songs of God which form the part of Bible. David had many “concubines and wives.” (2 Samuel 5:13; 12:7-8, Chronicles 3:1-9; 14:3)

Hence, a sexual temptation, in his case, was out of question. Yet, he arose “one evening” from his bed and saw, from the roof of his palace, wife of his soldier, bathing. Inflamed with passion, he maneuvered matters in such a way that he not only committed adultery with her, but also arranged the murder of her husband, skillfully transferring him to the battlefront, and took her as his wife permanently. (2 Samuel 11) See, one who excelled as a very powerful military leader and king who led many successful conquests of fierce armies, failed miserably in the conquest of his own bodily organs. All because he lost his original delight in God’s Shrimat and ceased to be aware of the valueless of ego, and became fond of sleep even during the day time (which is the sign of him having become tamopradhan).

How fortunate Baba’s children are! They get up very early in the morning, and do what is called Amrit Vela Yoga (Nectar Time Meditation) for about 45 to 60 minutes between 2 a.m. to 5 a.m.—a meaningful and delightful time they engage in a private chit-chat with Shiva Baba, our Heavenly Father. Then they have, among many other programs, daily Murli-class, at 6.30 a.m., in which His Shrimat is explained. Positive / powerful / pure thoughts obtained from Baba’s Murli are the seeds they sow for the day ahead and for an elevated destiny in the Golden Age that is soon to replace the present Iron Age filled with agony and distress.

Remember! When you remember Supreme Soul as your Heavenly Father, and you as His child, you are actually RE-MEMBERING yourself into His family! There is no other act wiser than this, nor more beneficial than this in this short period called Confluence Age!

Are you in a conflicted relationship?– By: BK. T.D Joseph

Article by: BK. T. D. Joseph, Bangalore, India tdjaum(AT)gmail.com – If you have questions or remarks about this article, please contact the author.
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Can you be happy despite some conflicted relationships you may have been caught in? If you understand the nature of people and the nature of time we live in, you will form an answer yourself.

People generally act or react under the weight of many factors such as sanskar, environment, time, current values, experiences … etc. Hence they are like those six famous blind men who tried to describe the elephant. All six of them were correct in their own way—they were describing according to their experience. Hence some kind of conflict is inevitable.

Another factor is that, in general, people’s immediate concern is their own convenience, rather than truth. Without knowing this, we may try to assert truth and get into trouble with people. This can be illustrated with a story. A rich man had a daughter who was very ugly-looking, hence was finding it difficult to get her married. In desperation, he had her married to a blind man. And they were leading a happy married life. Years passed. One day, rich man had a visitor who was his childhood friend. When he saw the rich man’s son-in-law, he suggested that there is a capable doctor in his city who can cure this type of blindness. Rich man became sad within, and began to resist the idea. If you were his friend, you would assert your point with more and more force and will end up in troubled relationship with the rich man. For you do not know that the reason behind his refusal is his convenience—he is afraid of the possibility that once cured of his blindness, his son-in-law may abandon his wife. Who knows there is something like this hidden in those who oppose you?

Why are you bothered about a speck in other’s eyes when you have a plank in your own eyes? Jesus asked humorously. Behind the humor there is a fact which speaks of human nature in general: people are more inclined to see other’s mistake than theirs. This is the reason why when you make a mistake, you can find 101 excuses and not even one in the case of others. As others are aware of your mistakes, you lose your freeness of speech when you offer a suggestion/correction to them. They may resist, and you will assert; conflict ensues.

Relgious teachings too contribute. For example, the teachings such as God is omnipresent, or “I am THAT [God],” would make people think that sin originates from God; as a result, they would be less motivated to fight against it. So is the case with its contrasting teaching that Satan is responsible for our sins—this too does not make people responsible-minded. Hence people take things more and more casually, become more and more insensitive, engage in loose-conduct and act thoughtlessly towards others, all of which results in conflicted relationships.

All other species have a collective sanskar where as each human is carrying a unique sanskar, carried over from previous births. (Gita 3:33; Mathew 12:35) Hence every one would act or react differently; and there is no basis for expectation with regard to others’ behavioral pattern towards you. Like gasoline and fire that are bound to react destructively upon contact, differences in sanskar are bound to cause conflict in relationship. Jesus’s own family members who were in a better position than others to believe in him, did not do so. (John 7:5) Instead, they were trying to defame him saying: “He is out of his mind.” (Mark 3:21) Hindu epic Ramayana shows Rama, despite being an Avatar, was hated by Kaikeyi the last of King Dasaratha’s three wives and a queen of Ayodhya. She effectively conspired to get him go into exile moments before his coronation as King of Ayodhya so that her own son should become the king. “The righteous detest the dishonest; the wicked detest the upright,” declares the Bible (Proverbs 29:27) “The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them.” (Psalm 37:12) If one has a satvik sanskar (love of righteousness) and the other is tamasic (love of unrighteousness), conflict is unavoidable. If you are in such a conflicted relationship, how can you cope with that difficult situation?

First, look for their track-record, and find out whether they have the habit of learning from their mistakes and going forward. If not, do not try to reason with them! It is interesting to note that famous scriptures ask us to be detached observers (rather to solve), wishing them well in our heart and to “keep away” from them so that we may not learn to be like them and endanger ourselves. (Proverbs 22:24, 25) Words and actions are manifested thoughts. Hence no use reacting to the symptoms—their words and actions. At the root of their thought lies the lovelessness or a painful past, an aspect of themselves they don’t like, or they may have been seriously hurt by other people. They are simply addressing their pain in the wrong (unhealthy) way, having a conflict with you. Instead of resolving it, they are hiding it. If they get in your face, leave or just ignore them and continue doing what is good for you. (Gita 16:22) Their action is their Karma, and your response is your Karma. Hence it is not wise to respond to those who enjoy causing/having conflict with you, you become a party to their Karma.

Nature’s way is to let the people learn from experiences—primarily from others’ experiences [which are like an ocean around us], and those recorded in the scriptures and story/history books, and secondarily from own experiences. Confronting or correcting the contentious is not our job. “They will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead,” declares Jesus. (Luke 16:31). “If one wants to see the truth, he can see it without any external help; if he does not want to see the truth, he cannot see it even with external help,” said Vidura to Dhritarashtra in Mahabharata Epic. Just like a child being afraid of the dark, some adults are afraid of the light. They make themselves unhappy—it is actually their choice, and their loss. Hence it is pointless to get affected by what they do to you. “Perfection means not getting affected by anything.” (Murli 1.11.1971) “Even if someone defames you, you must not become angry. Never try to reason with him.”—Murli 21.02.2013

Bhagavat Gita, the Hindu Scripture, stresses even-mindedness and sakshibhav (detached observance) throughout its chapters, and calls it as “supreme devotion.” (Gita 18:54) [Gita advocates non-violence (16:2), not a literal warfare, and identifies “sin” as our real enemy (2:69; 3:37, 39, 41, 43; 18:66)]. In literal war-field, even-mindedness or detached observance makes no sense; hence Gita must have been originated from omniscient Supreme Father, The Father of all fathers and Preceptor of all sages (Gita 14:1, 4; 7:10; 9:13, 17) who has put in place the impeccable Law of Causation (popularly known as Karma Principle) through which the righteous and the unrighteous would receive appropriate and proportionate rewards either in this birth or in the next. “The Supreme Lord” tells us what each one is going to inherit: “The Satvik (the wise and the pure) go upward; the Rajasic (the greedy and the passionate) stay in the middle; and the Tamasic (those hurting others) go downward.”— Gita 14:18.

We will not understand what this means unless the Real Sermonizer of Gita, Shiva Baba, the Supreme Soul, Himself reveals it. (Gita 10:23) His revelation, through His Murlies, shows that just like in a day of 24 hours, man passes through three states (wakeful, dreamy and deep-sleep), history too passes through similar states—first a period of soul-consciousness, then a period of declining consciousness, and finally its opposite (body-consciousness). History repeats itself every 5000 years (Gita 9:7, 21), of which the first half, figuratively called Day, or Heaven on earth, (made of 1250 years of GOLDEN age + 1250 years of SILVER age), is the period where the Satvik live in soul-consciousness, manifesting divine qualities. And the other half is called Night or Hell on earth (made of 1250 years of COPPER age + 1250 years of IRON age) where the Rajasic and the Tamasic, having fallen into body-consciousness, live manifesting opposite of divine qualities in declining order, resembling dreamy and deep-sleep states respectively.

Thus quality-wise we have four Ages—Golden, Silver, Copper, and Iron. The more the quality one develops, he goes “upward.” The lesser the quality, one goes to the “middle.” The emptier the quality, one goes “downward.” In simpler terms, there are three categories of people—the pure (those making themselves and others happy), the impure (those making themselves and others unhappy, and the mixed (those who neither help nor hurt others, but are concerned only about their own well-being with no regard for others).—Gita 14:17.

When the history passes through one Kalpa (cycle of 5000 years), the pure are born in the upper part of the cycle, the impure are born in the lower part; and the mixed are born in the middle. The higher the stage happier the people, and the lower the stage more miserable they will be. The greater the love towards God, the greater the co-operation from Him. (Gita 7:17; Murli 18/1/1970) This is perfect justice. God is not saving you, but your virtues do. He is not lowering your status, but your vices do. Each one is given according to the measure of qualities he has developped. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more,” declares Jesus.—Mark 4:25.

Shiva Baba teaches that in the present period called Confluence Age [where the running Iron Age and incoming Golden Age confluence], with knowledge, meditation and simple Rajayoga, the soul has the power and understanding to perform the right actions, which is the foundation of the Golden Age that is to come very soon. He also presents the unique concept of “number-wise,” the principle of perfect justice—one receives in proportion to the degree of effort he has put in. His often-quoted statement is: LET THOSE WHO CAME LAST GO FAST. The story of Sudama who gave all he had—a handful of rice—has the significance that he surrendered “body, mind and wealth” [tan, man, dhan] to God in the Confluence Age and in return he received the inheritance of jivanmukti for 21 births; i.e., in the upper part of the Kalpa.

Shiva Baba asks us to be always joyful. This shows that omniscient Father knows that it is possible to be always joyful despite conflicted relationships which are very much part of present life, linking ourselves with Him, the ocean of peace. The glory of Shiva Baba is that though He is “minuter than the minutest” in size, He is the one who gives “brilliance to all bodies”—inanimate and animate and is “infinite in power.” (Gita 8:9; 11:19) Just as we, after removing rubber insulation, connect the copper wire to power source, remove the envelope of ego, and connect the soul to this infinite power source. This will compensate for any loss of joy caused by conflicted relationships we may have. “When you find the FATHER, you will have found everything, and you become the master of three worlds… You swing on the swing of supersensuous joy. You swing in God’s lap being lost in His love and remembrance” in contrast to the sorrow we experienced for last “63 births.”—Murli 20.11.1985

Therefore, the fact that we are having some conflicted relationships need not be a source of worry for us. Actually it is the other way around; we have to sympathize with them. It is like we have a delicious meal set before us whereas those who oppose us, like flies that go to trash, enjoy petty joys of selfishness. They never enjoy the real happiness that comes from making others happy. (Acts 20:35) Yet, we can copy the zeal they show in loving unrighteousness into our loving the righteousness. (Gita 3:25) Hence we need not ask why they behave with me like this—actually it should be their worry! Relatives and friends are actually one of the false sources of security—they come, remain for a while and disappear after some time. Hence in effect, their support or opposition makes no difference. Remember, today’s newspaper is tomorrow’s trash. Hence let it pass! At the same time, let us use their opposition or non-cooperation to our advantage. A ship’s sea-worthiness improves in adverse weather conditions. So is our worthiness when we are around difficult people.

I have seen BKs [Brahmakumaris and Kumars] who live their lives emitting divine qualities despite having opposing family members (especially life-partners) who are like live volcanoes, and difficult work environment. When I asked one of them how this is possible, his answer was really inspiring and golden: “Having a contrast always in front of me is a blessing as it reminds me, free of cost, what I should not be! Also it is their choice to make themselves unhappy, and it is their loss. And I am conscious of the time we live now—this is the fag end of the Iron Age where people, in general, will be Tamopradhan—devoid of any good qualities. Though the world may have many rulers, there are actually only three rulers in the world at this time—“Lust, Anger, and Greed”—which rule over both—the rulers and the ruled alike. (Gita 16:21) And I can see the Golden Age on horizon.”

“You Can Drive Out Evil Spirits” By: BK T.D Joseph

Article by: BK. T. D. Joseph, Bangalore, India tdjaum(AT)gmail.com – If you have questions or remarks about this article, please contact the author.
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When harshly criticized by Pharisees (literally means “the separated ones) even for the good he was doing, Jesus did not take it personally, but simply reiterated the LAW OF CAUSATION [Karma principle] saying: People act good or evil according to the good or evil they have “stored up” [sanskar] in them. “The mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (Mathew 12:33) However, nothing will go unaccounted—you will have to reap the consequence for even an “empty word” you utter. (Mathew 12:37) Then, he made the following comparison:

“When an impure spirit [sense of duality] comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits [vices] more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”—Mathew 12:43-45.

This comparison contains a great truth about how an individual becomes wicked and hints at the sequence. Further, Jesus observes that what happens to an individual happens to a generation too. To complete the picture, Siva Baba says that it has already happened to 63 generations that make up the 3rd and 4th ages [copper age and iron age] which are figuratively called NIGHT or hell on Earth, of which we are in the last generation. Let us now examine how an individual brings in seven evil spirits/vices into his life and their sequence:

In sanskrit, the word for vice is vikaar, which means deviation. From what does a person deviate? From being “whole” (Mathew 5:48), or from the true perception that God the Father is the Supreme Soul and all humans are individualized souls who share the same qualities with their Father! Jesus declared our heavenly Father is the SPIRIT (John 4:24). Hence we, his children, are the exact representation of His very being, thus we are also spirits or souls in a costume called body. Thus we have life before and after this life, and we only change bodies. (Compare Luke 16:30, 31; Mathew 6:19-24; 22:32; 11:14) “Just as a person puts on new garments after discarding the old ones; similarly, the soul acquires new bodies after casting away the old bodies.” (Gita 2:22) The only difference is that God is the Master Seed, or Supreme Soul, hence immutable and unlimited in qualities whereas we, His children, are limited in qualities. (1 Timothy 6:16; Gita 5:29) “As the Seed, so is its fruit.” (Murli 2.2.1970) So long as a person is in awareness that he is a soul having same qualities as his Heavenly Father, it is easy and natural for him to manifest spirit’s qualities such as wisdom, purity, peace, love, happiness, bliss and power. This is what to LIVE means, when one is in tune with his own nature. EVIL is opposite of LIVE, when one deviates from his very nature and goes away from it. EVIL, in the Bible, means worthless. (Matthew 7:17-19) Let us see how a person become evil or worthless.

Rally of evil spirits

When one forgets the fact that he is a soul, and thinks he is body, “an impure spirit” or an illusion of duality, develops, thus lives in body-consciousness (or lives to enjoy the physical senses; and due to this change in consciousness, the soul is no longer master of those senses. It is pulled by them and gradually becomes their slave), he begins to feel separated, EGO appears, (and WISDOM disappears).

In EGO, he feels more important; he wants to add pleasure/things, DESIRE [among desires, sex-lust is more dominant] appears, and (PURITY disappears).
When he sees others having what he desires, ENVY appears, (PEACE disappears).
If desire is met with obstacle, ANGER appears. In anger one shows utter disregard towards danger/loss to himself and to others (LOVE disappears).
If desire is fulfilled, GREED appears, (HAPPINESS disappears)
As he gains, ATTACHMENT appears (BLISS disappears)
In attachment, one feels FEAR of loss (POWER disappears)

Thus one illusion that I am the body, I am the doer, and I am the possessor (Gita 2:71; 3:27; 5:8; 18:53) brings vices one after the other. With those seven powers of soul becoming nil (or Tamo meaning darkness), life became tamopradhan (devoid of any good qualities). Besides, he seldom realizes that pleasure always comes with an attachment of pain. (Gita 18:38) Hence those vices are aptly called evil spirits.

After comparing that generation to a man having seven evil spirits, Jesus said something positive: “The light of the body is the eye: therefore when your eye is single, your whole body also is full of light; but when your eye is evil, your body also is full of darkness…. If your whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle does give you light.”—Luke 11:34-36.

Interestingly, Jesus here contrasts the evil spirit with eye that is single. He also says if your eye is not single, “your body also is full of darkness” or tamopradhan. Eye that is single means you see only the substratum, the spirit, [or “Spirit sees the Spirit”—Murli 25.01.1970], rather than the varied forms which appear, remain for a while and disappear after some time. It is like seeing the invisible artist rather than puppets or wires in a puppet-show. In other words, you live in awareness of the following:

(1) A supreme CONSCIOUSNESS behind the macro universe [or your heavenly Father the Supreme Soul],
(2) An individualized CONSCIOUSNESS behind the micro universe called your body [or your soul, the master of your senses] and
(3) A never-failing/meticulous mechanism of action and reaction behind all happenings [or the Law of Causation].

Such a single outlook of seeing the substratum of everything destroys “duality and sin.” (Gita 7:28, 29), and makes one’s whole body full of light, as there will be a rally of brilliant virtues, or good spirits. (Luke 11:34) God, the Supreme SPIRIT dwells in “LIGHT.” (Psalm 104:2; 1 Timothy 6:16) He is shown as sitting in a throne, in front of which there are “seven lamps” which are called “the seven spirits of God.” (Revelation 4:5) The Revelation, the last book of the Bible, written in signs and symbols (Revelation 1:1) equates lamps with spirits of God. Lamp is something that can be seen even from a distance, hence symbol of core qualities of God, which are, like heat and light of sun, inherently seen in his works or action. Let us see how a re-alignment of thinking brings in virtues one after the other.

Rally of good spirits

When you come out of forgetfulness, and remember that you are the child of God, hence a soul in a costume called body, the illusion of duality disappears (Gita 18:53-56; 5:17), you return to truth; WISDOM resurfaces. You begin to view every one as souls and “treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.” (1 Timothy 5:1, 2) In such a wise course, PURITY appears. Purity is the mother of peace. (Mathew 5:8, 9) Thus PEACE appears. In peace, you are serene, and objective; hence feel the presence of same pure consciousness deep within yourself and within all others, and act/react accordingly, which is LOVE.
This makes you do good to others for the sake of goodness, not for anything in return. (Luke 6:32-36) In such an unselfish love, there appears HAPPINESS. “There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.” (Acts 20:35) When such happiness become stronger and stronger by repeated acts of selfless giving, you become benevolent like your heavenly Father, “taking delight in the welfare of all beings.” (Gita 12:4) You begin to experience soulful BLISS (Psalm 22:8; 37:11; Isaiah 58:14), which is, unlike happiness experienced through your 5 senses, mind and intellect. (Gita 5:24-26) In bliss, you experience POWER beyond what is normal as you are now linked to the Supreme Dynamo. (2 Corinthians 4:7). This is like building your house with “seven pillars.”
(Proverbs 9:1) With those seven powers of soul becoming dominant, life becomes Satopradhan (sato means seven; pradhan means bharpoor, or full), hence full with 7 powers.

When man forgot the Divinity within (Luke 17:21) and started seeking pleasure and happiness outside, he started a course of being extrovert—going further and further away from Divinity within and its inherent seven powers. The more he accumulated the more miserable he became. Hence the sensible course is to take a U-turn and come back to realize the Divinity within and to live accordingly, manifesting its fruitage. Such a course of life is called “following the wheel” as exemplified in King Janaka. (Gita 3:16, 20) It is compared to “coming to one’s senses” in the Bible.—Luke 15:11-31.

We are like long-lost children who have now found our Sweet Heavenly Father. Now reinforcing our love for Him is more important than anything else in our lives. For those who have already done, it is like more than a romance of superlative degree. “Each day, during the early morning hours of nectar, He gives blessings.” “Weakness can never come to those who continue to take these blessings.” (Murli 28.09.1981) “The more humble, the more successful you are. Humility means ego-less, considering yourself an instrument of God. Such an attitude helps one not to commit sin.” (Murli 13.02.1970; 26.10.1971; 27.09.1971.)

Living in soul-consciousness is at our best interest. Immediate benefit is that virtues produce positive chemicals in our body, and our immune system get strengthened, which ensures a life healthy and hale (in contrast to the vices that produce toxins which weaken our immunity). Ultimate benefit is that such ones, depending upon the degree of effort they put in, have the prospect of living in Golden Age and Silver Age as deities, becoming even world rulers—“BapDada is giving you an open offer.” (Murli 17.12.1979) This change-over is something that is going to happen in our generation.

The present Confluence age (the small period between the Iron age—hell on earth, and the Golden & Silver Ages—Heaven on earth), is the end of Time for all souls. A time to close/settle all past ‘karmic’ accounts of many births accumulated throughout the Copper and Iron ages, and start afresh on a clean slate, for a new show, a new act, a new beginning.