Symphony
© Sabari Ganesh; “All Rights Reserved”
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The
crux of Sanathana Dharma is Adwaitham. It indicates singularity of the Aathma. The
worldly experience of any individual driven by ego, is the perception of
multiple entities and the universe; hence Dwaitham. Transcending individual
ego; a person matures to Vishishtadwaitham. The stature of enlightened human
being is to remain transfixed in the unity at the substratum. The developments
in atomic science eliciting homogeny at the sub-atomic level minimises the
conflict of ideas in the minds of the atheists too.
Any
commoner perceives three distinct phenomenon - The Paramaathma; the Jivaathma
and the Universe. Scientific developments based solely on intellectual
reasoning disappoints in assisting man to surpass duality; hence the
indispensability of the Veda. The practical application of the Veda is the
focus of the Dharmasastras. Every activity of man is streamlined by the
Dharmasastras. The activities to be performed by the common man as propounded by
the Dharmasastras are found to be profoundly contradicting!
For
instance; Sumptuous meal during religious celebrations like Deepavali, while complete
fasting on certain occasions like Ekadasi; Social performance of art forms during
temple festivities, whereas maintaining inaction of the senses on specific days;
Polytheistic rituals to please multifarious deities whilst Vedanta propounding
Adwaitham that transcends name and form. An incisive contemplation indicates
that the extremes in activities counselled, is the unique feature and sublime perspicacity
of the Dharmasastras.
Psychologically,
the nature of human mind is to remain in oscillation between opposites. Any
practice thrust upon is perceived as curtailing freedom and every opportunity
seized to surpass. The human mind is designed to extraneous flow towards
sensual pleasures. The Veda has proclaimed that Adwaitham is the ultimate
truth; however is impossible for the one driven by senses to gain real time
experience. The objective of the Veda is to pioneer the commoner from the intelligible
to the inexplicable in mind and word.
The
elegance of the Veda is in its focus and ability to intertwine the human mind
entangled in sensual pleasures with the thought and remembrance of the unity at
the substratum; thereby effectively guiding it towards realising the ultimate
truth. Activities though sensual, when performed in an organised and sensible manner,
that alternates the extremes effectively, as decreed by Dharmasastras, in
remembrance of the ultimate; balances the weigh-scale of psychological
steadiness. It is termed moderation.
Attaining
moderation in attitude, articulation and actions is the vital link that connects
the known materialistic worldly experience called Dwaitham and the unknown
ultimate termed Adwaitham; the eternal substratum. The ability of the common
man, to gain control over the senses systematically, thereby expressing a
measured behaviour, that minimises the wavering quest of the mind, to remain in
peace is the result of successful implementation of the Vedic principles in
one's life.
Accomplishment
of moderation on every aspect that includes the sensual and religious
exercises, effectively minimises the vacillation of mind to analyse and
comprehend the inherent impermanency of selfish materialistic pursuits. The
result is the ability gained by the person to utilise every available resource
and energy on activities that benefit humanity and in the course; cherish emotional
contentment. The satisfaction experienced by a person in moderation gradually
and inadvertently withdraws the mind from sensual pursuits.
The
psychological discipline demonstrated by a person through measured behaviour in
attitude, expression and activities exerts a positive influence on the observers
to confine and channelise their efforts in the betterment of the society. The
primary effort to achieve moderation is to rationalise acquisitive amenities based
on inevitable necessity. Peace of mind achieved by downplaying materialistic
comforts grants psychological freedom to remain stable even during phases of inevitable
emotional turbulence of sorts.
The
materialistic developments experienced in the recent times originated from the
west. India has always been known and identified for its spiritual elegance and
prosperity. Agriculture was the prime activity of the people in India, a
century ago. Money had their real value in material. Even so, the use of money
was only among the celestial layers of the realm. Trade elsewhere was executed
in the barter system. The property of any person; though segregated based on
Varnaashramaas was similar and simple.
The
barter system of trade based on mutual coincidence of needs, eventually negated
the possibility of illegitimate hoarding of the food grains and consumables. Every
activity of people was flavoured with religious fervour. The temples were
centers of trade, tradition and culture. The surplus food was offered to the
divine and distributed to the people visiting the temples. When every activity
was performed with the remembrance of the supreme divinity, ethical stature was
effortless and vivid.
Art
forms of the region - Lalithakala, in the purpose of revivifying the mind, performed
as decreed by Gandharva Veda; were spun with divine tales and traditional lore
that constantly reminded the commoner the ethical values of life and liability
to the divine. The education too was based on the Ashtaadasa Vidhya that hailed
the supremacy of the divine. When Artha and Kaama were encapsulated by Dharma
to aspire Moksha; simplicity in practice was effortless and the wavering of
mind minimised.
The
intellectual development of today's people has only resulted in accumulation of
materialistic luxury, sacrificing the subtle niceties of traditional values and
customs. The invention of paper money and valuations of every product based on
it, has resulted in immoral and irrational accumulation of wealth. The evident
result is the colossal scrapping of activities that fulfilled the basic needs
of people. The social divide and the resultant intensification of ego are the
prime causes for the proliferation of evil in a society.
The
greatest folly of mankind is the public demonstration of one's affluence. India
has always been identified as the land of sages and saints. Even the kings of
ancient India were dependent on and guided by these sages, who inhabited the
forest in a hermitage. The primary quality of the wise is to minimise
materialistic comforts. The ability of the human mind to remain focused on the
eternal reality is the result. The accumulation of property merely results in
losing one's peace of mind for fear of theft, injury or calamity.
Moderation
of passion in any field is the solution to and rationale behind a contented
life. The limit is highly individualistic though is determined by the
fulfilment of the basic needs. The reason being, anything that is imposed by
force would trigger the natural human instinct to oppose. The result is the
orchestrated functioning of the body, mind and intellect devoid of negative
qualities; realising the inherent impermanency of materialism; eventually
marching towards eternal bliss in symphony. Aparigraham!
