By : Smt. Usha Ranganathan
We need to break free of sectarianism and separatism, move out of belief systems that create division, destruction, conflict, and chaos. We have to make a paradigm shift in our collective consciousness.
Way back in Forties, in his Sai-Prachar messages Sri Narasimha Swamiji wrote, “Curiously enough, it is our religion that zealously maintains the inner barriers that separate and often antagonize nations and people, their respective votaries not even hesitating blasphemously to take God’s own name to humiliate or morally injure their fellow-beings who happen to belong to a different community.”
Sai Baba used to get into terrific rage if someone discriminated in the name of religion. We recollect from Sai Satcharitra that on one evening, he was abusing Hindus and Muslims alike! He threw everything in the Dhuni! Nana Chandorkar, Kaka Dixit and other devotees had assembled for Dasara festival. Baba was blurting – “Damned you all! So many years have passed! Still you ponder whether I am a Hindu or a Muslim! Can you not see I stay in a mosque, read Koran, recite Namaz, yet burn a Dhuni, celebrate Rama Navami and Ramzan with equal zeal? Still you want to know Who I am? What is there to guess? Hindus doubt I am a Muslim? Muslims doubt I am a Hindu? See with your own eyes – see who I am?” One by one he removed his clothes and stood naked.
By this, Sai Baba’s intention was that, as individuals and as members of society, we need to get over our limited mindset and open up to merge with integrated wholeness. Transformation can only take place when we are able to transcend duality, divisibility, and differences, especially what is based on caste, creed, and religion. We should visualize Sai Baba in every atom.
The only way to achieve this is through an awakened and ascending consciousness level. For consciousness is all-pervading, and all-embracing. Whatever may be the nomenclature, God is Supreme Consciousness. Ganesh Rao challenged Sai Baba that he will accept him as ‘Sadguru’ only when Triveni – Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati flow from His Lotus Feet. Even when it happened, he did not take it as holy ‘tirth’ as he was prejudiced that Baba is a Muslim!
A raised or awakened consciousness can reconnect us with that non-dual, non-divisible cosmic consciousness where synchronicity of universal oneness and inclusivity prevail. In other words, the universe itself is consciousness.
The Ishopanisad states, “He who sees all creatures in himself and himself in all creatures no longer remains concealed,” Through analysis, experiments and explorations, quantum physicists, too, seem to arrive at the same conclusion. According to panpsychism, every living and non-living object has consciousness. Consciousness is all-encompassing energy, which is present in all spheres, everywhere; so, it can change perceptions.
Inner evolution is required to achieve a higher state of consciousness. Purification of body, mind and spirit is necessary, connecting the atman, soul, to cosmic consciousness, Brahman.
Elevated consciousness helps the individual soul get united with the universal soul. Ego-centric I-ness gives way for a borderless perceptive, thereby visualizing Sai Baba everywhere, in every soul. Spiritual insight and deeper awareness lead to the realization that the Absolute, Supreme Consciousness, and Self are one: Tat Tvam Asi. Judgemental mind, limiting beliefs, contradictions and complexities make way for acceptance, compassion and understanding for a more cohesive world.
Pure existence is where one is in all and all is one. This integrated consciousness realigns and redefines our relationship with other people and with all of nature. Sage Ashtavakra explained, “You are not the body; rather you are pure Consciousness, the knower of all that you witness. The result of this knowledge will be peace.”
Leave a Reply