Symphony

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!