Abrahamic afterlife obsession

            Jnana is the hallmark of all Vaidic philosophies and even avaidic, indic religions like Jainism and Buddhism. Primary focus is to experience the Knowledge of the Self. Every Jiva can have this experience. Depending on one’s vasana baggage, one is able to extract different angles of this inspired experience, resulting in different philosophies. Contrast this with the Abrahamic mindset which emphasizes to blindly accept that someone in the remote past had an enlightened experience. No one can or must evaluate or question even the claim.  Knowledge is never the goal and even today is despised. Christianity took root in Europe, resulted in centuries of dark ages. Hard core Islam even today doesn’t like science or rational questioning, as it exposes all its claims. We studied the finer aspects at length in Jehovism Deconstructed, both purvapaksha and uttarapaksha. 

            At the core of the differences is the afterlife belief. All the religions believe that there was something that happened before birth and something awaiting all of us after death. In fact, for Islam, belief in their prescribed version of afterlife is a must, as an article of faith.  In this exercise, we will center our thoughts on afterlife. To make it easier let us take the Abrahamic idea and contrast it with Sanatana Dharma. The idea is not to demean other religions, but most certainly to understand the inconsistencies in their model while using it as a backdrop to understand our own.

                The Abrahamic idea revolves around the central theme that Truth was given by God to a Prophet only once. This cannot be validated or questioned and failure to follow it blindly will result in eternally being sent to HELL. Just accepting this idea will be the signup for eternal HEAVEN. Though Christianity accepts the need for Ten Commandments, as long as one accepts Christ as the Son of God, who is also God at the same time, your residency to Heaven is assured, even if you spend a liftetime of abhorrence and terrible deeds. Both Christianity and Islam, assure the passport to Heaven, but privileges within may depend on your one lifetime. Radical Islam even goes further to justify that violence done in the name of Allah can be cashed for Heavenly benefits.

            Sanatana Dharma keeps reiterating that the Karmic debt cannot be balanced in one lifetime. All the desires  and actions leave their imprints as vasanas. If we have conflicting desires how will they come to fruition? If we have a desire to fly and also be a human, one will end up as a chimera. Worse still is the idea that one goes to Heaven with their near and dear, which implies one is carrying their marriage and divorce there. Sanatana Dharma emphasizes that we are not the BODY, MIND or INTELLECT. All Karma is binding only to these layers and our real nature is Atma which is not stained by these, which has arrogated itself as these instruments wrongly. That is why in Indic religions the body is cremated and not waiting for the body to get resurrected for an afterlife.

            The Karmic debt, both good and bad, binds us to the world of Objects, Emotions and Thoughts. Breaking this bondage liberates us, to realize the true nature of Atma and its relationship to Paramatma. This is Moksha and one can and must strive to achieve this in this very birth. This is our birth right as all human.

                The Abrahamic religions’ unique selling point is that eternally you can enjoy Heaven and if you fail to agree, burn in eternal Hell. All sins are forgiven (which conflicts with the Heavenly privileges) for merely signing up.  Questioning anything is a sure way to HELL.

            These methods appeal to the primordial greed or fear. Since irrationality ensures Hell or gets meted with violent force in order to protect their version, it has silenced the masses to live and breed like animals with no spiritual growth. Fear, greed and reinforced violence are the direct outcomes of the Abrahamic faiths though they try to market themselves as Religion of Peace (ironically Islam) and Religion of Love (ironically Christianity).

            Sanatana Dharma wants you to question not only it, but more so of yourself. Every Jiva has to resolve the equation with Jagat and Ishwara. This resolution leads to numerous seemingly conflicting philosophies, yet they all point to the same Brahman or Paramatman. In fact questions are encouraged as we find in all Upanishads. But the sad thing is today’s generations we lost the subtlety, knowledge of the ages and morphed questions into blindly questioning and irrationally not even digesting the answers to continue more questioning. Easy fix, get genuine with your Spiritual journey.

            Sanatana Dharma emphasizes Purushartha. This constant exertion in every direction ensures a better life here and in the after. The idea of Svarga and Naraka exist, but to remind that their fruits are tied to Karma and their duration is ephemeral in contrast to Samsara, Breaking this bondage is crucial and the only primary purpose of human life. 

            Abrahamic faiths do not have any philosophical foundation. Though Christianity desperately stole Greek ideas to lace it over, there exists a huge rift between philosophy/logic with their theology. In Jehovism Deconstructed one can clearly understand that blind belief in Christ is a must, else he won’t absolve you of the sins. The sins came because his Father (God) cursed all humanity. Worse yet in Islam, remotely trying to argue a different flavor makes one unMuslim and apostate with an assurance of horrible death. Questioning Abrahamism is Blasphemy and even experiencing a partial Prophet state is ruled out, as the final words cannot be revised.

Christianity offers the lure of recreating all the relationships in afterlife with more riches. Islam embellishes it with offer of 72 virgins and a promise that the wife will not be jealous of this orgy deal. It even promises for the alcohol one abstains in the earth, they can get non-intoxicating alcohol in Heaven.

            Sanatana Dharma wants you to question yourself all the time, not against the backdrop of your own morality or belief, but to probe deeper to understand the larger relationships. This is the way out, not blasphemy. There are no business deals that you give up now to enjoy same senses later for you are not the senses, body, mind or intellect.  Contrast this with Abrahamism, where you are not only given a body in Heaven, but also all the sensory delights. Dharma is subliming, transmuting, not suppression or bargain of desires. This is the exact opposite of Abrahamism, where it appears this entire creation, Universe and the small insignificant earth was created by this entity only to make a choice to glorify and accept Him (seems more than ridiculous jealous, as described in Old Testament) or He will throw a tantrum fit and send one for eternal punishment for not siding with him.  If you were to ponder this one line, you already committed Blasphemy for it makes the reasoning very clear.

Predestination or Karma

            Abrahamic religions assert that there is only one life, given to choose your side. All the conditions in the World are predestined. In fact if someone is born poor or sick or having genetic problem, one must accept it is part of God’s wise plan. One life leads to eternal Heaven or Hell. Purpose of life is to make that choice.

            Sanatana Dharma says this world gets recreated through our own actions. It is evident that the human exertion through industrial age and science and technology has resulted in all the creature comforts. This cannot be explained through Abrahamism as they were at loggerheads with science forever. Karma results in Janma which results leads to more Karma. This cycle is Samsara. For the lack of better English vocabulary is reincarnation.

            Swarga is not the end goal, as many Puranic stories tell how Indra, the King of Swarga is tossed around by desires, makes mistakes, pays huge and is still staying there against a clock. Both Papa and Punya are bondages resulting in more Karma, which result in Janma. Breaking this samsara cycle is the only exit. This in Sanatana Dharma can be done through many ways - Bhakti, Jnana, Meditation, Karma Yoga or a composite blend of one or more. The real goal is to target our Ahamkara which keeps reinforcing our identity as BMI, which can be broken only by Brahma vichara and Sadhana.  

            One reason why Abrahamism dissuades using logic is it exposes the incompetent Heaven or Hell model thoroughly. Proving or disproving may be very difficult, but evidence of reincarnation is accruing through strange memory recollections of many well documented cases. People seem to recall intimate details from events separated in space and time and many of them are young children. The argument why not everyone is able to recall or recall at will may be challenges for evidence mongers. All of us seem to be born with some preferences in our tastes, habits and proclivities.

Do you want to rot in eternal Hell or sign up and go to Heaven forever? – Asks Abrahamism.

            Common sense makes one wonder why should a benevolent God (as defined by their proponents) create this world, that too so diverse and make sure some are given the ONE choice to sign up and accept HIM alone as GOD, else HE won’t hesitate to unleash the darker side which can be worse than the evil Anti God, Satan. Perhaps this jealous creator has killed more people in the Old Testament than even the worst tyrants it records. Interestingly most of world’s current and past population has always been on the side of non follower of this God. Why? One is not supposed to ask why this creator didn’t create everyone with equal knowledge if the test is based on it.

            A serial murderer on death bed if he/she turns to Abrahamic Faith will go to heaven while the most pious person or even Buddha will go to Hell because they were spatio-temporally born in a different place uninfluenced by these religions. This logical nonsense is untenable. This seems rather pathetic desperation on part of this imagined creator.

There is no accountability for a lifetime of actions. If fear of Hell didn’t do the trick then signup bonus to heaven does the appeal. To soften this ludicrous notion, some Abrahamic faiths include the idea that one will have more pleasures given according to their actions. In Islam, there is an extensive Heaven marketing which caters to every hedonistic variant conceivable.

The test of their actions is based on basic question of whether the creator was able to convince that HE was the coolest salesman For instance in Islam,

 Nakir and Munkar prop the deceased soul upright in the grave and ask three questions: "Who is your Lord (Allah)? What is your religion? What is your faith about this person (Muhammad)?". 

The desperate worry plaguing this creator is if HIS own creation will accept HIM or not. This fear drives the creator over the edge, one who cannot even control HIS own emotions and sends HIS subjects to eternal damnation, no second chance also. How ludicrous can this get in Abrahamism?

            Assurance of the sign up deal and the afterlife eternity belief gives an open permission to be ADHARMIC. On top of this, the clause that only they are right and all others are not makes them treat others inferior, worse yet as targets for conversion or abuse. Most Christian saints canonized have worse track records whitewashed for marketing in the area.

If a lifelong criminal, for example Hitler, says please forgive me, will we leave him without fair trial? Why is Karma going to behave any different? If we believe in gravity or not, tripping over from a skyscraper will not make us fly, even if one believes in their choicest prophets or God. We can do what we want, but the karmaphala is sealed by our own Karma.

Christianity believes in repentance. That should take care of wrong doings.

There are umpteen methods suggested by various Rishis and Mahatmas on how to scrub this vasanas. We see even great sages and saints have idiosyncrasies, health challenges all due to their karmaphala of the past, be it Ramakrishna paramahamsa or Ramana due to their cancer. Like the late Satya Saibaba of Puttaparthi once remarked on the reason behind his hip replacement, he remarked "Pain and suffering due to karmaphala is mandatory, but misery is optional".

This subtlety or spiritual maturity is lacking even in the suffering centric Catholicism. Suffering is purgatory only when there is associated spiritual maturity to contemplate.

Apocalypse at the center of Abrahamic marketing

            Christianity has been awaiting the apocalypse since its inception. The continuous need to maintain that the end is near seemed to be the only way to maintain the flock. Islam seems to have improvised it by constantly focusing on the afterlife.

            While these religions seem to constantly promote apocalypse, what happens to the universe once their claimed apocalypse happens. Will their God start creating better, learning from his mistakes? Will we see a new universe created? If so, then their God made mistake with this prototype then? So He is far from perfect then. If it was a onetime creation, was HE bored with this futile attempt? Of course to these and many other questions, the ONLY response that an Abrahamic mindset can give is, this is blasphemy and satanic.

If the theory of apocalypse is really true, why there is no history of living with higher ideals. Abrahamic mindset of two millennia has been characterized by negativity, hate, spite, deception and wars only to prove religions. There has been genocide across many continents, when the religion of love failed to demonstrate love and the religion of peace showed nothing but bloodshed. All of this for a hallucinatory promise from their founder or followers - just sign up your way to heaven or rot in hell.

            Abrahamism is cast in murky origins, something no one can validate or allowed to, an idea that defies science, logic or even common sense.  Constant fear mongering doomsday culture always has an eye towards apocalypse or afterlife and resetting the date to maintain the flock has been the hallmark of these cults.  It appears their version of God created this world so that they can enjoy however they choose of help create a taste of hell to others who refuse to follow their beliefs.

Sanatana Dharma alternative

Sanatana Dharma challenges us to live a more complete life now in all areas. The idea of Purushartha is to exert ourselves in every dimension and be in harmony with the laws of nature. There is no fantasy of chasing a desire based future, but one based on dynamic action that is guided by an intellect that is rooted in a higher Reality.

Chasing Sukha constantly morphs into Dukha as they are the obverse and reverse of a coin. One need not chase it even for afterlife, if one is willing to improve oneself through introspection, refining one’s own character through superior thoughts, words and actions. The energy is not expended in abusing other’s Gods as Satan or asserting dominance through loudspeakers, instead one must try to understand one’s real Self.  Real spiritual growth is not in parroting what someone might have experienced in the past and claiming allegiance but to experience that Supreme Self. So the shift has to happen from Sukhadukha to Shanti and Ananda.

            In summary, let us meditate on the wisdom of Swami Sivananda Maharaj - "Be satisfied with what you have, but be unsatisfied with what you are."   

Om Tat Sat    

Tapping true potential like Hanuman

            Hanuman, a central figure in Ramayana, is worshipped by millions. Despite adoring him, we often take the path of blind ritualistic worship or reduce him to a caricature as done by sickular Hindus, thus not enhancing anything, but our ahamkara. Here is one small attempt to look at Hanuman as a model. Since as a civilization we have lost the habit of daily reading Ramayana or at least Sundarakanda to get clarity during distressed times, we have put a wedge between the fountain of wisdom and ourselves. This eternal fountain is available to quench our thirst of ignorance, if only we can take one step with shraddha.

            This insight arose while trying to explain a question, why Hanuman, the powerful didn’t help Sugreeva when oppressed by Vaali? Hanuman lives with Sugreeva, in self-exile at Rishyamukha parvata. Hanuman is instrumental in connecting Sugreeva with Rama, yet we do not see any hint of his prowess. Hence there is no question why he could not have countered Vaali, whom he still respected. Rama chose Hanuman to bear his signet ring and had complete faith in him, something Hanuman doesn’t getting cornered in a conundrum trying to do a scouting mission to Lanka.

Storytime:

            Anjaneya, as a child, exhibited super human prowess. He thought Surya was a fruit to be eaten only to get hit by Indra’s vajrayutha. His father, Vayu, had to withdraw all the air to make Indra realize his mistake. All the Devas gave their Amsa shakti and immunity from their weapons. Since he got an elongated jaw, Hanu, due to the impact of Vajrayutha, Anjaneya becomes Hanuman. The little child irrespective of its responsibilities became playful with its abilities. The Rishis put a temporary forgetfulness to cover these abilities and blessed them to reappear when he is reminded.

            During his time with Sugreeva, only his knowledge shone. We saw this in detail when Rama and Hanuman meet for the first time.  After defeating Vaali, Rama coronates  Sugreeva, who dispatches his vanara army to the four corners of the world in search of Sita. After the saintly lady, Swayamprabha, delivers the searching vanaras from the Riksha bila to the southern Indian ocean, the vanaras slip into deeper gloom. Having found no clue of Sita and the month allotted to finding her elapsed, Angada, the Prince leading this troop proposes fast unto death. He argues that death is certain, as Sugreeva is known for his temper, especially when it comes to failure to comply. 

            Hanuman chastises this loser’s mindset. Running away when confronting improbable problems or under its weight definitely doesn’t behove a person of high character, not certainly Angada. The mention of Jataayu, the valiant bird that understood the value of its responsibilities and its duty above its own limitations, drew Sampaati, his elder brother into the conversation. He freely shares the fact that Sita is in Lanka to rejuvenate the hopes of the Vanaras.

            Just like in normal life, hope for a second turning into despair, the vanaras realized that without a scouting mission to Lanka and meeting Sita, the gap of the ocean remained as a hurdle. As soon as they understood the limitations in their abilities to jump, they got dejected once again. Their best heroes in Angada and Jambavan, were at best confident of a one way trip. It is then Jambavan realized that Hanuman, who was sitting aside, lost in contemplation, was their sole panacea. He reminds Hanuman of the prowess that was locked up during his childhood and this was the perfect time to use them.

            Hanuman overcame numerous obstacles, enroute to Lanka and remained victorious as he was true to the cause – Rama’s mission. Even in Lanka, the search for Sita was fraught with obstacles, dilemmas and needed a constant reminder of the larger cause to guide him. (Read Practical lessons from Hanuman’s dilemmas in Lanka – Part 1 and Part 2) He persists on the mission and gives hope to Sita and thereby Rama.

So what, how does it help me?

            Unless Itihasapuranas are applied on to our daily lives, they are nothing more than stories. Today as the Hindus get alienated from their own treasures, foolishly call them mythologies. We even have morons leading the brigade calling themselves mythologist and making a fortune with deliberate misinterpretations and deceptions.

• Right attitude to right actions: Hanuman was committed to Rama Kainkarya, any task set forth by or for Rama. There was no desire, prompted by ego centric vasanas. Our mind operates solely on the “I, Me, Myself” mode. If it needs to rise above, it needs a larger goal, a larger vision. Hanuman was able to perceive the ParamaPurusha in Rama. He gladly made himself available and proudly lived as ”Dasoham Kasusalendraya”, a humble servant of Rama. 

 

•  Raising the mind through right actions: The ability to align ourselves with the Cosmic needs and wants is a perfect way to have the entire cosmic will as our tailwind. In essence this is Yoga. Hanuman excelled in this, as he had no purpose behind any of the actions, except in the service of Rama. Even while executing it was all done in the constant remembrance of Rama. During the search of Sita, he came across many amorous actions and poses of women in Lanka. The Brahmachari Hanuman trembles at this plight. After a long internal debate, he concludes that there was only one way to prove if his mind is tainted. He administers a test to his mind by closing his eyes. His mind’s eyes only flashed Rama’s images and none of the women. He thus concluded that his mind and heart is seated at Rama’s feet and bravely continues with the mission.

    This again highlights the practical path Hanuman demonstrates. Keep the heart and minds at the feet of Rama and deploy our indriyas to HIS mission, HIS causes and HIS goals.

•  Dynamic action without attachment: Immediately our poorly developed intellect revolts in favor of our mind, “How can we lead normal lives”. The resolution is simple. It won’t be understood unless we elevate the intellect to the feet of Brahman, as advised by Krishna in Bhagavad Gita 6-5. We can do that with any Ishtadevata. As we train our minds to start relying solely on ego centric vasana based actions and reactions, it needs a higher goal to latch on. As Krishna reminds that no one can exist without action - na hi kaśhchit kṣhaṇam api jātu tiṣhṭhatyakarma-kṛit (Chapter 3, Sloka 5).  The goal of shastras is not inaction, but effective, efficient action, without attachment. 

 

• Go beyond 100%: We are all having human birth due to our GunaKarma and Prarabda. Yet instead of realizing this truth and knowing our real existence is Atman, we let the overbearing Vasanas to arrogate this body as Atman. This fundamental ignorance keeps us repeating this eternal cycle of samsara. Hanuman sets the most perfect example. His Buddhi and Manas are completely and actively engaged in any task of Rama. He ensures he goes over and beyond the literal mandate. Instead of merely sighting and conversing to Sita, he decides to send the message to Ravana on his impending doom. Instead of merely showing his prowess, he approaches diplomatically as Rama’s messenger, a role not demanded by Rama. He decides to teach the Adharmic act of Ravana setting fire to his tail, by lighting up Lanka. He gives a complete military assessment for Rama. This was entirely possible because he rose above individual desires and constantly thought on how to give beyond his very best to the mission. Freeing the mind beyond the fruits of action helps it to focus on better planning and execution of what is demanded by the situation on hand.

 

• Purushartha: After exerting our best, sometimes it may not be enough. It appears that there is no hope in doing whatever our task is. Ending our life or abandoning the mission may sound more appealing, like the vanaras felt. Yet by remaining committed to the larger cause, one can punch their way through the darkness. In the worldly plane, it can amount to being persistent and digging deeper within to make things happen. But on the spiritual side, there is the firm understanding that there is no alternative to holding and serving the feet of Paramatma. 

 

• Who will be our Jambavan?: Our next excuse is, there is no Jambavan to help me identify my strengths. Well, we are wrong. The scriptures are our real Jambavan. Not only do they remind our true nature as Atman, but also how to tap into it, reveal the path and guide us till the final goal is reached. Depending on the vasana baggage, we have a huge corpus of tomes and books, besides different Sampradayas to guide us reach the same Paramatman.

As long as we take some consistent effort to study, implement and live the life per the scriptures, we can start tapping into the fullest potential as a human. All the material and scientific advancements humanity has witnessed simply pales in comparison to its potential. As we start purifying our chitta, by studying and practicing the scriptures, we make more in roads into the genuine potential of mankind. Hanuman serves not only as the best role model, guide and mentor, but also the one who can lead us to Rama’s Padapankaja. May Hanuman strengthen our resolve in this regard. Jai Hanuman. Jai Shri Ram.

Om Tat Sat