Religion: Blending of Morality and Spiritualism
Let us try to simplify this mystifying jargon about unity and duality. It is from a single elemental entity that these diverse forms which we see and sense have emanated. Duality appears real because we have lost sight of the fundamental unity that pervades the diverse-looking creation. This is an obvious illusion which pundits call maya. Living ever in the awareness of the fundamental unity, the true Reality, is to overcome this illusion. Illusion is the product of imagination, and can only be dispelled by correcting the imagination, by living in the company of those who are ever aware of the single Reality, God.
How can we belong to God? By giving up what made us part company with Him: maya. After all, maya is the handmaid, the creature, of God; so submit unreservedly to God, so that you will not get into the clutches of maya. Maya works through desire and doubt; these fail in assailing one who is ceaselessly in nama-smarana.
Nama, God's name, is changeless, but His forms are changeful. Form does not mean only the visible shape, it includes all that the mind and imagination can envisage. Nama has no equivalent, it is immaculate, unique. What is perfect is satisfying, that is, it gives peace, which means lack of upsets and disturbances. That philosophy, that religion, alone is acceptable which definitely yields contentment. Religion is true blending of right behaviour or morality and spiritualism.
Man's desire for more and more physical comfort leads to devising more and more amenities. Experience shows that this is an insatiable search that never yields contentment; on the contrary, it whets the desire for yet more amenities, a dissatisfaction in life, and destroys peace of mind. Knowledge which can only secure employment must be imperfect. It can only provide means of sustenance; the study and knowledge which bring peace and contentment are quite a different thing; so what is popularly known as 'education' need not be given paramount or undue importance.
Looking at the misery prevailing in this world, one may well doubt whether happiness, contentment, joy, can ever be found. The doubt, however, is baseless, for, on festive occassions we do assume, for the time being, utter freedom for worry. The only thing to do is to continue the worry-free attitude for all time.
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