What is Enlightenment?
Just as a particle explosion produces an atomic bomb,
a moment explosion produces enlightenment.
We must live ‘Life’ in the Present moment. What does it mean by living in the Present moment? In order to explain this, I will proceed by using the example of an atom bomb. The, immense explosive power of an atom bomb results from the sudden release of energy upon the splitting, or fission, of the nuclei (or a particle called ‘kan’ in Hindi language). Using this analogy by replacing a particle with moment (‘pal’ in Hindi) or the present ‘Now’ will better help you understand the essence of this post. What I am about to explain to you is quite astonishing, the fact is that I have very little understanding of algebraic concepts, yet in very deep contemplative silence, I am able to comprehend the science behind the explosive power of an atom bomb with much ease including the scientific work, research and contribution by Einstein.
The splitting of a particle and the subsequent splitting of a moment, in comparison has much significance in my experiential life as a whole. What this means is that I ‘see’ myself being separated from everything around ‘me’ namely, relationships, thoughts, feelings and so on. The two examples cited above, namely particle and moment analogy are inadvertently one and the same processes. The latter takes place within us (enlightenment), and the former outside of us (destruction).
The very explosion in the ‘moment’ can be experienced and scientifically proven, in the very words spoken by Guru Nanak Dev Ji, as follows: ‘In the beginning was Truth; in aeon after aeon, there was Truth. Truth is there, and — says Nanak — Truth is what will remain’. The two analogies produce the same resulting explosions no doubt, but of course one is negative and the other positive. Upon explosion and separation, both the particle and the moment return to a state of complete void totally aloof having separated from its qualities (e.g. as is the case with moment in relation to feelings, thoughts and relationships). Thus, it can be said, that the moment upon explosion becomes an aeon or endless time or eternity.
Now, the question remains, how can one equate this phenomenon (eternal time) with regards to experience and that too in ‘Presence’ or the ‘Now’. How therefore, can we begin to live in the Present Now? Allow me to cite you an example, my mother gave birth to me, she is my mother, she nurtures and takes care of me, the relationship I have with my mother stretches over a time period of say 70 years. Now, I wish to see these 70 years in one moment alone. The burning question is, how do I ‘see’ or ‘experience’ and relive the 70 years in a moment? The fact is that, we tend to associate every ‘event’ in life as a separate fragmented incident (and as such these events can be said to be ‘interlinked’ or rather that is how we seem to perceive it) which we term as ‘life filled with experiences’.
Thus, taking the example of each of the events as mentioned above, namely, being born, being nurtured and being looked after, and being clothed etc., as separate incidences then it is fair to say, that the mother that gave birth, the mother that nurtured, the mother that clothed is NOT the same person I address as mother, but it is a different person altogether...
Following onwards, let us assume that I have neither a mind nor the eyes to definitively say that the person with respect to the events having taken place is indeed my mother. Since after all, it is the conscious mind that is responsible for differentiating the frame of events that have elapsed in the life span of 70 years as already explained.
It is the very same conscious mind that is responsible for associating or tying the bygone events with the current experiences unfolding. This is the major reason and the cause why one experiences the dreadful effects of pain, anger, hatred, and all the negative emotions collectively. These negative emotions that one carries over from the past actions (which of course can become ‘triggers’ in the present life), are largely magnified by our unacceptance to let go of the past. However, when one relinquishes the mind-body identification resulting from seeing LIFE as separate events and begins seeing or witnessing Life purely as a Happening by practicing the art of living in the PRESENT can one taste the ambrosial fruit of absolute FREEDOM HERE and NOW also called ENLIGHTENMENT.
#dailyspiritualvlog,
Author: Shaheer Sehyogi (Hindi)
Translator: Paresh Jivanji (English)