Bharatiya Ithaas (Indic traditions) tells us that it is the way of knowing, which resulted in the evolution of religions (panths) world over when seekers devoted themselves to know the one/unknown within who knows all. In the earlier phase, emphasis was more on spiritually understanding, experiencing and feeling the supreme reality
The Corona pandemic has highlighted the questions with which human intellect has always been grappling that should we consider the Existence (astitva) and the Creation (srishti) both as human-centric and human beings at the cusp of evolution, Or, should we see human habitat, namely, planet earth itself as a tiny spec in the infinite expanse of the cosmos/universe and, by that logic, human beings as inconsequential?
Strangely, we human beings look at ourselves both these aforementioned ways. But why do we have to grapple with such questions? Why do we explore skies, be it inner or outer? Why do you try to look for patterns in Nature/Cosmos/Universe/Existence?
Can we not confine our ‘knowing’ to the field of our being a physical entity alone? And, accept ourselves being limited to eating, sleeping, procreating beings who live and die?
Can we not stop thinking about wherefrom we come into being and where do we disappear?
And, more importantly, if we stop asking these questions to ourselves, will that be the right way of living?
Everyone knows something, but none knows all. Therefore, existence of the unknown (Agyaat) is accepted by all. Though it may sound unqualifiable in one sense yet, it’s true that some know unknown/ unknowable (Agyeya) more than it is known to all others. But, it’s not the same as one person knowing something more than the other in common parlance because it is the point of transcendence of field
existing beyond intellect (buddhih parah tat).
Ageya (unknowable) is not limited to be qualified as Agyaat (unknown); spiritually speaking, it’s attaining to a subtler level of consciousness/existence (sukshma-deh) with personal saadhanaa (discipline).
While human intellect defines the unknown as unexplored instead of unknowable, that is the limit of the human intellect, not that of unknowable (Agyeya).
Ageya (unknowable) is not limited to be qualified as Agyaat (unknown); spiritually speaking, it’s attaining to a subtler level of consciousness/existence (sukshma-deh) with personal saadhanaa (discipline)
Such spiritual attainments make us capable of accepting all that is happening in the ‘known’ blissfully and responding to it from the position of evenness (udaaseentaa). It is an experience of being in an indescribable state of peace and clarity of mind in the higher realm. Is it a definition, then? No, spiritual attainments are beyond definition. Spirituality is a state of experiencing oneness with the all-pervasive reality. And, none defines oneself in the state of experiencing oneness. It is absurd as there needs to be ‘other’ to define. It is the experience of oneness that inspires us to acknowledge, assert and reiterate that such a state of consciousness exists. So that all others are inspired to aspire for it.
And, it is not by smothering our reasoning but by sharpening the same that we experience higher intelligence. Definitions are limited to achievements. Attainments make us capable of seeing the limitations of definitions/world/known.
And, later when people began to pay attention to understanding the material world spread around them in much more details, their focus shifted from spiritual attainments to material aspect of the Existence (Astitva) known as the Creation (shristi). Then, many branches of knowledge grew (Aparaa-vidyas). And, this process is continuing in the present also.
Seeking spirit is inbuilt in us. Thirst for delving deeper in the all-pervasive unknowable-known unknown (sanaatana) is neither unknown (agyaat) nor Agyeya. Or, is it?
(The writer is the propounder of Sahaj Smriti Yog System of Self Realisation and founder of Darpan Foundation and Darpan Ashram)
