Accept yourself whole-heartedly
Humanity suffers from many diseases, some of which have already been cured, but we are still struggling with a lot. Many are even unknown to unenlightened ones. There are also a few illnesses that we refuse to consider. To my mind, one of the greatest illnesses of mankind today is the denial of oneself and life. People are struggling against themselves and existence. I find something very strange and sad: every human being thinks he is right in his own way. Rarely are people ready to listen and to learn. Who is really satisfied with where he is and what he is? We are all seeking bliss and peace and we do not want to hear about suffering.
Most people are living in guilt. Regret, guilty conscience and remorse are devouring people silently. Without knowing, accepting and studying oneself and the world, people are becoming neurotic of everything. If God accepts the creation and its creatures as they are, why do we deny this same reality? If God did not accept us as we are, or if for some reason or the other, He was fed up with us, we would not be here. The fact that we are living means that existence is still hopeful - this is the first thing for us to realize. It is expecting something from us. It is our duty, and the most sacred one, to inquire, to seek and to know what God or existence is expecting through us. But this should be a quest for everyone, no third party can do it on our behalf. Certainly a hint can be given. This is what the enlightened ones have always done and will still do. The purpose of my writing this article, too, is a hint and an invitation.
Whatever we are, however we are, the seed of all is in the mind. Whether we are lusty or virtuous, good or bad, a saint or a sinner, greedy or generous, ambitious or self-satisfied, we have been created with whatever good and bad qualities we display. However, the mind in itself is neither good nor bad, neither powerful nor powerless. It is only when it relates to the world in which it is, that the inner tendencies manifest themselves. The external world acts as stimulus to trigger the unconscious mind to produce different moods. It is these moods that we classify as good and bad. The great challenge is how we react when the latent tendencies of the mind surface themselves. If we are intensely vigilant and awakened, we are not carried away. On the contrary, we may be affected in such a way as to become jealous, commit rape or murder and so on.
Through complete understanding of the mind in relation to the external world, we can transform its basic instincts. In other words, through a scientific process, we can transform the stuff that produces the qualities that drive us to do evil. But without the manifested qualities like greed, anger, hatred and innumerable others, we would not know the depth of the mind. Therefore, it is quite natural that the qualities of the mind, be they good or evil, manifest themselves, but we should be ready to transform them into energy. The same evil tendencies can be transformed into virtues; poison can be turned into amrit. This is what our life is meant for. It is an opportunity given to us to first churn the latent or the seed qualities of the mind, so that they can then be used to produce immortality or amrit.
Shiva drinking the poison as described by the scriptures and the churning of the ocean symbolise nothing but the churning of the ocean of the mind. During the churning, however, we do not acquire only good qualities symbolised by the beautiful things that came out of the ocean, but also poisons like greed, lust, hatred, jealousy and so on symbolised by the poison halahal that Shiva drank. In actual life, however, we are the Shiva who are to drink the poison. Shiva means Pure Consciousness. We have to become more and more aware so that we can absorb and transform our emotions and thoughts from the heart and the mind. The first step, however, is to seek, know, accept and observe or watch intensely every single thought or feeling that emerges from the depth of the mind.
People should be taught not to deny themselves, but to face themselves serenely, not with guilt but with awareness and understanding. Man should realise that he has no account to render to anyone whomsoever, not even to God, save to himself! Whatever evil or good is in us, it will manifest only when the events of the daily life of this world touch the depth of our mind. This is why I insist on saying that the world was brought solely for us to taste our immortal nature. The evil or good qualities are nothing but fuel that can help us increase our awareness till we embrace the whole of life. How can we accept and love life without becoming one with it?
When in the Vishnu Puran, Vishnu, the great deity, asked the gods to associate themselves with the demons for the churning, He only meant that both good and evil should be churned to produce the nectar of immortality. Therefore, do not hate evil. Jesus also says, "Do not resist evil." We have to make our weakest point our strength. Without accepting and transforming the evil within, there is no chance of attaining the fullness of life. Therefore, be ready to face yourself. Yes, it may be hard in the beginning, but with determination and will-power, one is bound to succeed. The science of meditation or religion is meant for that purpose, but it should necessarily be learnt from an enlightened one.
Seek thyself
Know thyself
Accept thyself
Understand thyself
Transcend thyself through intense and detached observation.
