I would like to focus on two key points related to Akram Vignan : Be-Ing and Living. They are not separate entities but distinct and have a much deeper meaning than what we take for granted, Be-Ing again, is not the same as Being (all forms of life species that we commonly associate with Being)) Be-Ing is the Internal State of Pure Awareness (Jagruthi) of ones Presence as ‘I” only in all situations without my, mine or other. It is the “I” that precedes everything we perceive in the external world. Holistic Scientist A. M. Patel put it in simple terms when he said any number of zeros have no meaning unless preceded by the number “1”. Our true nature is Be-Ing only. It is the core within us which goes by various names Atma, Brahman, Dao, Soul and yet paradoxically it seems beyond. Akram Gynan teaches us to become more conscious of our true nature behind the façade of personality and mind-body-speech functions. It does not dismiss the external world as an illusion but only separates the Real aspect of our nature which is “Be-Ing” and the Relative aspect the” living” with all its attributes of mind, body and speech functions. With this separation, from my personal experience I can say life takes a new turn and there is much more internal peace , harmony and contentment.
There are occasions in everyone’s life of spontaneous awakenings to a feeling of ‘oneness' beyond the myriad forms of life when our mind is totally withdrawn. Such moments are few and far between and not sustaining but it is that state that we refer to as Be-Ing where we are momentarily disengaged in any activity. The trigger might be a spectacular scenery or an illuminating Satsang or even Fear and the like or for that matter no apparent reason when the mind goes quiet momentarily where we only feel our presence(Turya) . In those special moments of “Be_Ing” we feel more aware of our Presence and fully engaged in the NOW and no longer lost in thoughts or concerns. It is a self-integrated, holistic state where one ceases to be a self-centered individual and is fully absorbed in the wholeness of Reality. It is as if a mental wall divides the waking consciousness from our intrinsic state of pure awareness albeit momentarily. The majority of such recorded experiences show that they come unbidden accompanied by the all too familiar expression “I did nothing to make it happen” .It just came upon me. Here is what Saint Tulsidas says about Be-Ing;
I am smaller and subtler than an atom. I am also big as the Sky.
I have overcome the illusion of a separate body(mind) ego and the self-created world
I have resolved the differentiation of the Knower, the known and the process of Knowing
The enlightening lamp of Holistic Self is shining spontaneously within me
Tuka says “Now I live just to help others!”
( Translated from the original Marathi quotation---Courtesy Dr Vinod Deshmukh, MD, Ph.D.)
Living is relating and responding to the external world . To live life one has to necessarily relate and with it comes challenges . Once we understand that life is nothing more than Role playing and is subject to change at any moment we have a better chance of overcoming the challenges and obstacles. Holistic Living is all about how to live life without intrinsically undergoing any change in our true state of Be-Ing and yet actively engaged in Role playing. Failure on our part to clearly understand our role(s) in any given situation is the root cause of many of our personal problems. At all times we should strive to avoid the problem of the Role becoming our personal problem . Be-Ing in Living implies ensuring that our Real intrinsic nature is not in the least affected by the role or roles we play. This is an amazing fact of life that we can undergo change when we relate without intrinsically undergoing change. It has been said that all the activities of a wise man is only in the eyes of others and not in his own. The wise man knows that all activities take place in his Presence (Be-Ing) and he is only a witness and does nothing. Holistic Living is living with such a vision and fulfilling our roles in life taking utmost care to see that no trace of the role we play remains in us ( opinions, judgement, likes, dislikes, attachment). At all costs one should avoid conflicts and clashes and see to it that the problem of the role does not become a personal problem.
- Dr. Radhe Krishnan, President, HSCRF