| As humans, we have the innate desire to enjoy life to the fullest. When we do a quick introspection, many of us come to the realization that we are not able to consistently live up to that inherent craving. One explanation offered from Eastern teachings is that humans by nature are divine, but have not ‘realized’ their true nature because of Maya (illusion). So, a person has to dispel this Maya to gain this Self-Knowledge. Once he or she is in that fully realized state, it is believed that this person can live a fulfilled life. A person that desires to pursue this path of (self) knowledge is taught several techniques like meditation, yoga, breathing techniques, etc. This is known as the path of Jnana Marga (path of knowledge or self-realization) |
| One of such organizations that teach the benefits of Jnana marga has been founded by Sree Sree Ravi Shankar and it is called ‘The Art of Living’. In my opinion, this organization is striving to improve the consciousness of humanity by making every individual experience a ‘spiritual blossom’. This organization teaches several techniques to help people unlock their deepest potential. The practice of these techniques on a consistent basis is expected to bring out good health, energy, peace, self-knowledge, awareness, joy, etc. Though these are good benefits, they are just fringe benefits on the pathway to the real deal, True Jnana (knowledge). Wow!! That is a strong statement, but I find no simpler way to communicate it. Having practiced such methods for over a decade, and having experienced higher levels of consciousness, I can honestly say that the Art of Living enabled by The Author of Life is infinitely superior and tangible. In fact, what we have been striving as the end goal of Jnana Marga, is the first step that occurs in the Life enabled by The Author of Life!!! Let’s break it down a bit: 1. The Author of Life, our Maker, has an infinitely superior goal for us. Though humans have great potential, it is insignificant in comparison to the potential God (Author of Life) can enable and impart to us. So, if someone offered me my best potential vs. God’s potential (communicable aspects), I don’t have to think for even a nanosecond to determine which is better. I will gladly choose God’s communicable potential, for God is the creator of all things and in God, there is True Life that gives Light (enlightenment) to all. This is the True Jnana available even for ordinary people like us. When this True Jnana is imparted to us, we are set free from Maya that binds us. So in the fullness of this True Jnana, we experience fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. God’s non-communicable aspects like omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, etc. are not transferable to humans as we were not made to possess them. But if we are able to appropriate the communicable aspects, we will be able to live the True Abundant Life. Now is it even possible for us to receive such marvelous capabilities? Well, if it was not so, I would have kept trying to achieve this through self-effort, instead of receiving it from the Author of Life. 2. The Author of Life, our Maker, made us with a capability to possess the Mind of Yeshu. Why the mind of Yeshu instead of the minds of brilliant humans like Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi, or even Sree Sree Ravi Shankar? Well, none of them talk about transferring their capacity to us because they are mere human beings. They can be role models, teach us their philosophy, or even personally train us, but they cannot transfer their capacity to us. I am not cutting them down: they are good gurus, but they cannot do what Yeshu has been able to do, i.e. come and live in us as an internal Guru and enable us with God’s potential. Yeshu is the Word (Akshara – like our AUM or OM) who became human to become the prayascit for us, so that whoever believes and appropriates Yeshu will receive True Enlightenment. Interesting: En – Light – En – Ment = True Light coming within us to enable fullness of life. Isn’t this what a person in pursuit of Jnana is aiming to achieve? Well, there you go. The mystery that has been shrouded by so-called Christianity has been revealed now. People from all religions can appropriate Yeshu. 3. How can a person in pursuit of Jnana appropriate Yeshu? In one analogy, Yeshu said that this is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. “When he found one of Great Value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it”. If you have been reading this with earnestness, you should know that Yeshu is aware of your intent. Are you willing to trade your best for God’s Best? It’s that simple, but it has a profound and lasting impact on your life. One is a human way, done with a human effort to get to a goal, which very few have even claimed to have achieved. The other is God’s way, where Yeshu broke the barrier of Maya to impart to us the Pavitra Atma, the Internal Guru, where we begin with what was formerly the goal. Then we begin living Life while enjoying the art of God’s workmanship. The choice is yours. Choose wisely, my brothers and sisters. One is just self-realization; the other is God (Yeshu) realization. |
