Human
existence is trifarious, a combination of three currents, physical, mental and
spiritual. Most people may not transcend the limits of their physical
existence; they get enmeshed in crude worldly pleasures, tormented by desire.
Subtleties of life expression and practice are perhaps beyond their reach.
Their world is limited to their bodies and physical requirements.
There
are others who are more concerned with their minds as they feel that it is the
supremacy of mind that sets them apart. Their lives are guided by their desires
for mental satisfaction. By virtue of their endeavors they create poetry, art,
music and sculpture, for instance. They express the finer human feelings of
mercy, sympathy, love, friendship, and pity. They believe that the mind flows
for the sole purpose of attaining the infinite and hence they focus their
energies on the contemplation of the Transcendental Entity. They are spiritual
aspirants. Drawn by the magnetic attraction of Cosmic Consciousness they speed
forward and reach the stage which marks the end of mental existence and the
beginning of spirituality. At that stage one is no longer a human being, one is
a veritable god.
It ought
to be the mission of every person to achieve confluence of the mental and
spiritual strata. It is the pinnacle of human progress. It is the beginning of
divine existence. The meeting point of the highest attainment of humanity and
the blossoming of divinity is the base on which the cardinal human principles
re established.
Looking
back, it is evident that nowhere have human values been truly honored. What is
worse, nobody has looked upon humanity with sympathy. Only those were respected
who, by serving their self-interests, climbed onto the higher rostrum of
society. It is difficult to step down from the high position of the
vainglorious to rub shoulders with the less privileged. The neglect of humanity
was particularly acute towards the end of each era of the social cycle. The
progeny of the noble kshatriyas, the physically strong, on gaining power,
engaged themselves in the pursuit of pleasure and comforts utterly neglecting
their cared duty to serve their people. They never cared to know people’s
suffering.
King-hearted
and philanthropic kings did exist, but very few, if any met the psychophysical
needs of his people and opened the gateway to realization of the infinite. For
self aggrandizement and in a bid to conquer the world they invaded countries,
one after another. How could they afford to inquire into the tragic plight of the
common people? The Vipra era or intellectual era illustrated the same thing;
the scholarly Vipras were hardly accessible to the common people. The innocents
were busy appeasing the Vipras with oblations, honorariums and floral
offerings.
Service
to the needy might not yield immediate results but the potential for future
benefit is immense. Rabindranath says, “By standing aloof from your fellow man
daily, you have hated the God enthroned in his heart”. Instead of hating
anyone, the Sadvipras – physically fit, mentally strong and spiritually
elevated – will encourage every one to build good careers. This will be
Sadvipra’s principle duty. None should feel that they have been doomed forever.
