Three Features of Bhagavat Dharma

    The root meaning of Dharma is " Characteristics" We can divide the crested world into three: Plant kingdom,animal Kingdom, and human kingdom. There certain plants which are developed in intelligence than the most undeveloped animal species,but as they cannot move from place to place they are included in the plant kingdom. So the main difference is that animal can move whereas plants cannot. . Some people say that the human beings is a rational animal.  But they are neither plants nor animals- they are a different kind of being.

 One who follows human dharma is a human in the true sense of the term, otherwise how can the use of the term be justify ? if there are no longer any landlord. Human dharma is Bhagavat dharma. 

(A) Vistara : Human beings seek psychic expansion. Not wishing to confined in one place, they seek expansion on all sides.  This is vistara.

(B) Rasa : Rasa means " flow " An unbroken Cosmic flow is in extensive motion in this universe. This flow has created the universe and maintain it. Regarding Parama Purusa ( GOD) it has been said : Rasa vae sah- " He is the embodiment of rasa" He is the universal flow.  That's way it is said : " Human existence is an ideological flow." So the old concept of the human as a rational animal degrades human dignity. Human beings have certain characteristic in common with plants and animal-they eat, sleep etc. - but they does not mean they are plants or animals. 

(C) Seva : (Service) Human beings have the inherent quality of serving others. Service , however is unilateral. That is I give everything to Parama Puarusa ( God) and wish for nothing in return. I only want to merge in Parama Purusa , the most valueable treasure in the universe, and so I give away the most valueable thing of mine- my every existence. But if I do not pay the full price , I will not ge the precious object.

Vistara , Rasa and Seva are parts of manava dharma, or Bhagavat dharma, and in this Bhagavat dharma lies the excellence of humanity. It is the Supreme dharma of humans. That's way it has been said that it is better to follow one's own human dharma than the dharma of other beings.  

  

 The Minimum Qualifications for a Sadhaka

A practicenor of manav dharma must also possess certain minimum qualifications as indeed must all people in all walks of life. A gardener for example,should know how to dig with a spade.  Try as you may , you will never be able to rain a crow to speak like mynah bird or a chandana. It is one the basis of these qualifications that is decided who should be accepted and who should be rejected, because everything is not to be taught to all. 

 Parvati's questions and Shiva's answers constitue the theoritical side of Tantra. One of Parvati's questions was particularly pertinent.  A spiritual practioner must possess certain minimum qualifications. 

(1) Human Body:  This means that whoever has been endowed with a human body is eligible to follow the path of spirituality".

What is gyana - knowledge ? The internal assimilation of any external object other than one's own self is called " the process of knowing". Suppose there are two types of mango - a langda amngo and a himsagar mango. A certain person assimilates both and discovers that each has its unique qualities and defects and thus differentiates a large mango from a himsagar one. When people assimilate anything of this universe and make it their own, it is called supreme or absolute knowledge or self realization. This doesnt happen in the external world but takes place internally- the external world is internalised and assimilated. Self- knowledge is the real spiritual knowledge. because  self knowledge means realization of Brahma. Where does Parama Purusa reside ? He resides within one's " I" feeling. To know the " I" of the "I" feeling means to know Parama Purusa. That is way it has been said that by attaining self knowledge, one attains salvation.

What is salvation ? people use words like moksa ( salvation) and mukti ( liberation) very casually.  Mukti means the state of liberation from all these bondages. When one attains liberation of a permanent nature it is acalled "vimukti" or "moksa" or "salvation".  But after exhausting one's acquires virtue enjoys the fruits there of in the supra mental level. There is no separate world named heaven or svarga. When one's virtue is exhausted , when the ritual of one's acquied samskara is over, one is born on earth to serve the unrequited samskaras. And according to the nature of the samskaras imbibed, one may be reborn as a dog , or one may also get human life. Heaven is the stage between the two lives lived as human beings. No-one acquires heaven permanently because no one acquire virtue- that is a mere figment of the imagination. 

Thereafter in order to requite the unserved or base samskaras one is reborn as a human being or even as an animal. What is gained by all that ? Where there is no desire for attainment of heavenly pleasure, where there is no other consideration except elevation to the levelof Parama Purusa, human beings attain leberation. That is people become one with Prarama Purusa by the grace of Parama Purusa.  

 " Brahmavid brahmaeva bhavati" One who realizes Brahma become Brahma.  Now the question aries, who is entitled to salvation ?

" Sukrutaeh manavo bhutva" . Here  Sukrutaeh manavo bhutva means - attaining a human frame by virtue of one's own noble deeds" . Human beings are creatures dominated by intellect. Those guided by mere inborn instincts are called " pasu" or animals.  That's way I say repeatedly that I strongly object to human beings be rational animals ? They are certainly not animals. When one acquires a human body what should one do ? One should guide one's inborn instincts along the proper path. This only can be done after acquiring a human body.

  Human beings control their inborn instincts with the help of their intellect. this makes them worthy to be called human beings. That's way Shiva says " Sukrutaeh manavo bhutva - one attains the human body by virtue of one's own noble deeds".

 When good deeds are done by those who have controlled the inborn instincts the intellect develops to some extent. When such people discover that there is no money in their pockeys ,they certainly will not enter a hotel or resturent. In order to follow the path of spirituality one must possess one qualification and that is , one must acquire a human body.