FIRST BLUFF-SPIRITUALISM

FIRST BLUFF – SPIRITUALISM
ALL THE BLUFF-CALL THE BLUFF


GLIMPSE OF THE KEY THOUGHT

Knowledge about self in its entirety is a domain of science. The first recorded scientific approach about the knowledge of self as. ‘ATM GYAN’ (आत्म ज्ञान) is available in all the four Vedas-the books of knowledge from India. The authors of these texts are modest enough in their exhortation that ‘a lot’ has been found out but ‘a lot’ still remains to be found out and there is no end to this ‘a lot’ after ‘a lot’. On the other hand the proponents of ADHYATM (अध्यात्म), a word wrongly translated in English as SPIRITUALISM; want us to believe in some imaginary, ethereal, unscientific and an end all concept of self. For this a lot of playing around with words is resorted to. To find out the mechanics, read on and call the bluff.

WHY OF THIS BLUFF?

Spiritualism is bread and butter for many all over the world and a roaring business for a few. It must be having a large following. Rather, in India this is the only commodity which has been exported successfully over and over again. There are many in India who pride themselves in a self given title of VISHWA-GURU (विश्व गुरु) i.e. ‘the teacher of the entire world’ for this reason alone. Is voluminous statistics in favour a criteria good enough to not to call it a bluff? On the contrary, it is good enough a reason to call it ignorance employing bluff as a tool to spread itself as far as possible.

BLUFF VERSUS KNOWLEDGE

Let me now recapitulate the difference between ‘knowledge’ and bluff.

• ‘KNOWLEDGE’ exists within and all around and it is found out either by accident or by deliberate effort It is beyond interpretation. It can only be seen, observed, inferred, experimented upon and is being disseminated by all of us every now and then. All these actions of ours can possibly reflect only part awareness as the knowledge is limitless and there is no end to it.

• On the other hand a BLUFF (भ्रम) is a bluff because of its non-existence. It is bound to be the result of some arbitrary interpretation of knowledge. Whenever and wherever a non-existing thing is made to exist by any kind of manipulation; it is bluff. In VEDAS (वेद), the holy books of knowledge from Indian continent and as per YOG SUTRAS (योग सूत्र), the principles and formulae ascribed to PATANJALI (पतंजलि); if a non-existing concept is made to exist by any intellectual manipulation, it is ignorance. I call it intellectual bluff.

Has the concept of spiritualism been projected as existent knowledge by some intellectual manipulation? Yes, it has been. It doesn’t exist at all as knowledge. It exists as bluff only. In the name of some really existing knowledge and found out with untiring deliberate efforts by the authors of VEDAS (वेद); a concoction of misinterpretations has been made to exist and given the name - ADHYATM (अध्यात्म) i.e. the ‘study of self’ and translated into English as ‘spiritualism’. It all started in India and is now happening all over the globe. How? To find out, read on. Nothing to be scared about as the humanity at large in its evolution process is passing through this bluffing stage as per the knowledge of the same books referred above .I have already hinted this in my introduction titled YOGIC ENLIGHTENMENT-ALL THE BLUFF-CALL THE BLUFF; and will discus it in details after ‘calling the vital bluffs’.

SPIRITUALISM AS UNDERSTOOD IN ENGLISH

In spiritualism’s case, quite strange things have happened. Spiritualism is taken as the English translation of the Sanskrit ADHYATM (अध्यात्म) i.e. ‘the study of self’- the literal meaning of the Sanskrit word. But the ‘study of self’ can never be translated as spiritualism by any imagination. In fact, there is no equivalent of this Sanskrit word in English language. In the English speaking world spiritualism is, therefore, interpreted in more than one way. First is that group of thinkers which is of western origin and has come into contact with Sanskrit ADHYATM (अध्यात्म), YOGA योगा etc they tend to bracket this concept with Christian Mysticism as they understood it or as they were given to understand it and dismiss it as such. In this category also fall those Indian thinkers who have come into contact with Sanskrit word ADHYATM (अध्यात्म) not through Sanskrit but through the window of English language. They too tend to dismiss it as ne-science. Next is the group of native speakers of English who consider spiritualism a kind of concept dealing with the spirits, ghosts etc. For them it is a belief in the possibility of receiving messages from the spirits of the dead or a practice of attempting to do this. Can this be a discovered knowledge? Many questions and doubts abound. Further the church introduced the elements of religion and soul into it and bishops and archbishops became the members of House of Lords as ‘Lords spiritual’. Many cults and sects in Christianity claim enlightenment based on arbitrary stretching and manipulation of spiritualism. All these cults sects and the branches of Christianity have a common strain that each claims to be the correct and only authoritative approach as it alone is the derivative of Voice of God i.e. the Bible. In India also it happened exactly on the similar lines. It is interesting to compare the coinage Lords spiritual with ‘Negro spirituals’ which mean the religious songs as sung by Negroes in the U.S.A. So spiritualism in English language is straightaway ignorance being perpetrated as sophisticated intellectual activity by the tool of bluff. A non-existing concept has been made to exist either by spurious translation or a figment of imagination.

SANSKRIT ADHYATM अध्यात्म

Now we come to the Sanskrit word ADHYATM (अध्यात्म) meaning the ‘study of self ‘. It is a well known fact that the concept and the content of this word were introduced and brought into circulation by some UPANISHADS (उपनिषद); the treatises promoted as the explanations and commentaries on the subject matter of VEDAS (वेद). But the authors of such UPANISHADS (उपनिषद) did not restrict themselves to the role of explanations and commentaries. Instead, they propagated their works as the authoritative interpretations of the VEDAS (वेद). The Sanskrit ADHYATM (अध्यात्म) is thus again a figment of imagination of such interpretations like the English word ‘spiritualism’ with only difference, that too a menacing big one. The English spiritualism remained in the state of confusion while Sanskrit ADHYATM (अध्यात्म) has become confusion worse confounded acquiring the terrific proportions of a cankerous monolith threatening the very psyches of those who happen to come into contact of it and does not permit them to be even aware of its lethal consequences. It is interesting to narrate two anecdotes from such UPANISHADS (उपनिषद) which claim to be the interpretations of Vedic knowledge. These anecdotes in CHHANDOGYA UPANISHAD (छान्दोग्य उपनिषद) (7-1) and MUNDAK UPANISHAD (मुण्डक उपनिषद) (1.1.3.) are a fair guide to form an idea about the concept and subject matter of ADHYATM (अध्यात्म). These two UPANISHADS (उपनिषद) claim that in VEDAS (वेद) there is no mention of such knowledge and ADHYATM (अध्यात्म) is a completely new discovery. In CHHANDOGYA UPNISHAD (उपनिषद) sage NARAD नारद approaches the teacher SANAT KUMAR सनत कुमार and informs him that he has studied all the four VEDAS (वेद) and UPVEDAS उपवेद and that way he has become the master of all the physical sciences but he hasn’t found anything about self. Quote “SOHAM BHAGVO MANTRAVIDEVASMI NATMVIT” (सोऽहं भगवो मन्त्रविदेवास्मि नात्मवित्) Similar is the strain in MUNDAK UPNISHAD (उपनिषद) where sage SHAUNAK (शौनक) approaches the teacher ANGIRAS and requests him to impart the knowledge of ‘self beyond’ (Quote “PARA VIDYA” परा विद्या) as he has mastered the knowledge of all the VEDAS (वेद) and VEDANGS (वेदांग) which have given him the knowledge of physical sciences only i.e. (Quote APRA VIDYA अपरा विद्या) .Isn’t it strange that the learned sages in the above mentioned UPNISHADS (उपनिषद) vouched ignorance about the ‘knowledge of self’ even after mastering all the four VEDAS (वेद) while three of the four subject areas of VEDAS (वेद) deal with the ‘knowledge of self’ only. Was it feigning ignorance? Even stranger things have happened to this Sanskrit word ADHYATM (अध्यात्म) than what has happened to the English word ‘spiritualism’. It claims to interpret ‘self’, therefore, the literal meaning-‘the study of self’. It means that ‘self’ is an existing knowledge that must have been discovered earlier, then only the authors of this ADHYATM (अध्यात्म) can lay claims to interpret it. The strange things are:-

 The authors of this word want the authority of VEDAS (वेद) on one hand to prove the existence of ‘self’ as knowledge but don’t want to accept it on the other hand as already discovered knowledge in VEDAS (वेद). So they twist the purport of ‘self’ as found out by the authors of Vedas and retain the title to create confusion.
 The authors know it fully well that any attempt to interpret will amount to ignorance or bluff as per the knowledge concept of VEDAS (वेद). So they are bent upon labeling their interpretation as their unique discovery of some original knowledge and justify it by quoting VEDAS (वेद) only as authority. The VEDAS (वेद) have advocated untiring and continuous pursuit of knowledge as human goal...
 For this faking of discovery also they want the authority of VEDAS (वेद). In their unfailing obeisance to Vedas lies a very strong, time tested reason which, generally speaking, any practitioner of bluff can ill-afford to neglect. That is acceptability. By this time the ‘divine origin’ and ‘revealed knowledge’ concepts of VEDAS (वेद) must have gained infallible currency. Again outright bluffs- but have to be adhered to for achieving acceptability for their newly imagined and concocted, doctrine of ADHYATM (अध्यात्म).

For achieving acceptability as it ensures wealth and power for a few at the cost of misery, helplessness and cowardice for many; the authors of the so called original concept of this Sanskrit word ADHYATM (अध्यात्म) are constrained not only to concoct this area of Vedic knowledge i.e. ‘knowledge of self’ (ATM – GYAN आत्म ज्ञान) but the remaining three areas also viz ‘knowledge of entire creation’ (BRAHM –GYAN ब्रह्म ज्ञान); ‘knowledge of methodology of finding knowledge’ (YAGYA –VIDHAN यज्ञ विधान) and ‘knowledge of ethical practical application’ (DHARMIK –VIDHAN धार्मिक विधान or VYAVHARIK–NAITIKTA व्यवहारिक नैतिकता ).All this is being done in the name of Vedic knowledge I shall be dealing with these three as and when these bluffs are discussed later under this series. Presently, for how the knowledge of self is twisted, mutilated and concocted by this imaginary ADHYATM (अध्यात्म), with a plethora of pedantic and pedagogic words, we first must know the concept of ‘self’ as discussed in VEDAS (वेद).

ASPECTS OF KNOWLEDGE OF SELF IN VEDAS (ATM GYAN (आत्म ज्ञान)

The ‘self’ i.e. ATM (आत्म) in Sanskrit (“A” pronounced as in father) is a subject of detailed investigation in VEDAS (वेद). The ‘knowledge of self’ is, therefore, alluded to as ATM GYAN (आत्म ज्ञान) repeatedly in the texts. The various aspects of ‘self’ in these texts have been discussed with a clear understanding that the aspects and the findings within the aspects are not the ends in themselves for the knowledge is limitless and there is no end to it. The aspects are:-

 Origin of self - its genesis, concepts of matter, energy and various properties etc.
 Origin of self in the context of entire creation – its relation with the environment; factors affecting its structure; continuous, complete, rhythmic and cyclic process of creation always-no destruction etc.
 Overt structure of self – its physical, physiological, biological, and chemical composition etc.
 Covert structure of self i.e. – its mental, psychological, behavioural and genetic composition like. SANSKAR (संस्कार), SMRITI (स्मृति) and VRITTI (वृत्ति) meaning the impressions, memory and specific intelligence respectively.
 Principles of existence, organization and functioning of self – indestructibility, evolution, cause and effect etc
 Capabilities of self – Understanding of absolute knowledge i.e. ISHWAR (ईश्वर) / BRAHM GYAN (ब्रह्म ज्ञान) made up of unlimited number of limited and specific knowledge i.e. VRITTI (वृत्ति), through an inbuilt apparatus i.e. CHITT (चित्त) / PURUSH (पुरुष) present in the covert structure of self.
 Methodology and principles of developing self i.e. YOG (योग) – avoiding ignorance / bluffing etc.

The above list may not be complete as I am not a qualified VEDIC scholar but it is sufficient to bring home the point that the primary concern of Vedic knowledge is ‘self’ only. Why do the sages in the above mentioned UPNISHADS (उपनिषद) still prefer ignorance of ‘Vedic self’ to the extent of even non-existence of such knowledge in VEDAS (वेद) in front of their teachers? The reason is obvious; willingness to be a party to misinterpretation and that way the myth of ADHYATM (अध्यात्म) came into existence. Yes, Sanskrit ADHYATM (अध्यात्म) is a myth only.

THE MECHANICS OF MISINTERPRETATION

The misinterpretation process, with self assumed authority of VEDAS (वेद) with sole aim to achieve acceptability to convince masses thus starts gaining momentum of terrific proportions. It requires indomitable courage and Herculean effort for any individual to get out of this ‘bluffing stage’ of human evolution which is a possibility for any individual any time if one decides to do so with the help of inbuilt apparatus i.e. CHITTA (चित्त) as mentioned above; or wait for the natural evolution of humanity at large to reach the next stage of non-ignorance and thus enlightenment. This is what the ‘knowledge of self’ ATM GYAN (आत्म ज्ञान) is; in a nutshell, as per the concept of VEDAS (वेद). It has been understood and practiced earlier by many all over the world and is being pursued by many today, and will be the pursuit tomorrow. Many out of these many have done so without ever coming into contact of this Vedic knowledge of self i.e. ATM GYAN (आत्म ज्ञान) which clearly exhorts the possibility for any individual anywhere because of the presence of CHITT (चित्त) in his / her covert physical structure which helps one refuse falling prey to the charms and holds of any ‘ spiritualism’ But in India the hold of ADHYATM (अध्यात्म) was a stranglehold that resulted into dangerous complacency leading to slavery and a sort of disdain towards progress in any field of human activity and still basking in the imaginary self instituted crown of VISHWA GURU - (विश्व गुरु) i.e. the teacher of the entire world. The ill effects of this misinterpretation are so overbearingly painful and damaging at present that to get out of this is the crying need and the solution for which must be found out. For that the mechanics of ‘bluffing’ employed by ADHYATM (अध्यात्म) must be understood first. The following actions are generally visible:-
• JUXTAPOSING KNOWLEDGE OF SELF AND THE STUDY OF SELF
• PLAYING WITH THE EXISTING AND COINING NEW WORDS
• INTRODUCING THE CONCEPT OF SOUL
• SYSTEMATIC TAMPERING WITH THE ASPECTS OF VEDIC ATM GYAN आत्म ज्ञान
• LIMITING THE VEDIC CONCEPT OF INDESTRUCTIBILITY OF KNOWLEDGE
• MUTILATING THE PHILOSOPHIES DEALING WITH THE SUBJECT MATTER OF VEDAS WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF YOGA
• PLAYING WITH THE VEDIC CONCEPT OF GOD
• SEAL OF ULTIMATE KNOWLEDGE ON ADHYATM – IMPOSSIBILITY

JUXTAPOSING KNOWLEDGE OF SELF AND THE STUDY OF SELF

The Vedic ‘knowledge of self’ (ATM GYAN आत्म ज्ञान) is projected and propagated as ‘study of self’ (ADHYATM अध्यात्म). Both the words are related to ‘self’; so not much of difference in nomenclature. But this projection gives leverage to sell the innocuous looking argument that without ‘study of self’ (ADHYATM अध्यात्म) the ‘knowledge of self’ (ATM GYAN आत्म ज्ञान) cannot be gained. So in one stroke the authority of Vedas, the holy books of knowledge is obtained on one hand and on the other a sort of license to set the arbitrary syllabus and convenient methods of studying it, is ensured. Such ingenuity would have compelled even Shakespeare to revise his opinion about, “What is there in a name!”

PLAYING WITH THE EXISTING AND COINING NEW WORDS

Since license is so attractive, it becomes an exercise which is free for all. Who doesn’t like to make easy money? Whosoever could, he came out with his self designed methodology and syllabus by smearing himself with holy ash and sandal mark on his forehead in order to exploit the simpleton and religion-scared populace. That way India became the land of illiterate or ill educated people but still flaunting themselves as learned PANDITS. The twisting, mutilation, addition and subtraction, innovation and use of pedantic and pedagogic words becomes rampant All tricks of trade, magical, rhythmical and musical, awesome and fear generating miracles etc. are employed to charm , create and spread the hold on the masses This could not have been done without the concurrence of state.

INTRODUCING THE CONCEPT OF SOUL

In syllabus of ADHYATM (अध्यात्म) the Vedic ATM GYAN (आत्म ज्ञान) i.e. the knowledge of ‘self’ becomes ATMA – GYAN (आत्मा – ज्ञान) i.e. the knowledge of ATMA (आत्मा) meaning the ‘soul’. Similarly, ADHYATM (अध्यात्म), the ‘study of self’ becomes the study of soul. The origin of self becomes the origin of ATMA (आत्मा), the soul.

SYSTEMATIC TAMPERING WITH THE ASPECTS OF VEDIC ATM GYAN आत्म ज्ञान

All the aspects of Vedic ATM GYAN (आत्म ज्ञान) given above are tampered with. The knowledge of origin of man and entire creation is dismissed as inferior knowledge not worth pursuing. The newly manufactured syllabus of ‘ATMA GYAN (आत्मा ज्ञान) (the knowledge of soul) replaces the Vedic concept of human evolution from the stage of ‘ignorance / bluffing to the stage of enlightenment’ by the ‘deliverance of soul’ and recommends it as the only goal of human existence with a seal of finality – the panacea for all sufferings. Who won’t desire it! But for that one has to die and no dead person has ever come to tell about that panacea. So keep on bluffing.

LIMITING THE VEDIC CONCEPT OF INDESTRUCTIBILITY OF KNOWLEDGE

The Vedic concept of ‘indestructibility of knowledge’ which applies equally to both the overt and covert structures of ‘self’ is replaced by the indestructibility of newly emphasized term ATMA (आत्मा) i.e. the soul only. The overt structure of ‘self’ as given above with its various compositions becomes STHUL SHARIR (स्थूल शरीर) i.e. ‘gross body’ which is as per ADHYATM (अध्यात्म) is destructible and, therefore, not worth pursuing being inferior knowledge. The covert structure becomes SUKSHM SHARIR (सूक्ष्म शरीर) i.e. ‘ethereal body’ to be understood as ATMA (आत्मा), the soul which alone is indestructible. For structural composition of this soul a few existing words in Vedas are taken for the exercise of misinterpretation with different connotations and adding a few more words like PUNAR JANM (पुनर्जन्म) meaning reincarnation, SANCHIT KARM (संचित कर्म) i.e. the impressions of ‘to be carried actions by the soul, PRARABDH (प्रारब्ध) i.e. the impressions of the carried actions from the previous birth of the soul etc. thereby completely negating the genetic compositional structure of covert ‘self’ wherein the words like SANSKAR (संस्कार), i.e. impression, SMRITI (स्मृति) i.e. memory, VRITTI (वृत्ति) i.e. specific intelligence and CHITT (चित्त) i.e. master intelligence etc conveyed the sense of inbuilt genes capable of mutation and always remaining present in any of the four forms discussed in PATANJALI YOG SUTRAS (योग सूत्र पतंजलि). Thus the concepts of mutation, ever presence and indestructibility of Vedic ATM GYAN (आत्म ज्ञान) were reduced to never verifiable, fear and awe generating theories of PUNAR JANM (पुनर्जन्म) and KARMIC (कार्मिक) dispensation, eulogizing reward and punishment of SWARG / NARK (स्वर्ग / नर्क) i.e. heaven / hell etc.

MUTILATING THE PHILOSOPHIES DEALING WITH THE SUBJECT MATTER OF VEDAS WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF YOGA

To give credence to their concept of ATMA (आत्मा), the presence of this word in Vedic texts in derivative forms of ATM आत्म as per the rules of Sanskrit grammar comes handy. To substantiate the concept of ADHYATM (अध्यात्म), besides tampering with the other three areas of Vedic knowledge as mentioned above, the existing philosophies viz KANAD’S VAISHESIK (कणाद का वैशेषिक), GAUTAM’S NYAYA (गौतम का न्याय), KAPIL’S SANKHYA (कपिल का सांख्य) and PATANJALI’S YOG (पतंजलि योग), dealing with the subject matter of Vedas are also subjected to mutilation and concoction to fit into the newly created concept of ADHYATM (अध्यात्म). The philosophies actively involved in spreading this ADHYATM (अध्यात्म) are GEMINI’S MIMANSA (जैमिनी की मीमांसा) and BADRAYAN VYASA’S VEDANT (बादरायण व्यास का वेदांत). I shall be concentrating on YOG (योग) as it deals with the practical aspects of ‘self’. YOG (योग) has been spiritualized or I may coin the term ‘ADHYATMISED’ (आध्यात्मीकरण) beyond recognition and spiritualized version has come to stay as YOGA (योगा). I shall be using this term everywhere rather mockingly or in a derogatory sense throughout as my aim is to bring out the MIRACLES OF YOG (योग) and not to spread the BLUFFS OF YOGA (योगा). The inbuilt apparatus of self i.e. CHITT / PURUSH (चित्त / पुरुष) as discussed in YOG SUTRAS (योग सूत्र) is stretched to fit into ATMA (आत्मा), the soul concept of ADHYATM (अध्यात्म). As per PATANJALI, this inbuilt apparatus CHITT (चित्त), residing in heart in covert structure of self is present in all the human beings as a solid recognizable gene having the potential of becoming the MASTER GENE as it is capable of understanding the functions of all the innumerable genes present in the human body and make selective, judicious use of them. It also mutates like any other gene and is, therefore, indestructible. Thus it is nowhere near the abstract, unidentifiable and imaginary ATMA (आत्मा) of ADHYATM (अध्यात्म). Hopefully, the science of Genetics is able to identify this vital gene and include it in the genetic signature of an individual tomorrow enabling educationists and social scientists to frame syllabus that develops this particular gene. That’s a good hope for transcending the barriers of ignorance / bluffing. Till date it has happened all over the world either by accident or a deliberate effort by a few who knew. Tomorrow it is going to be an organized effort.

PLAYING WITH THE VEDIC CONCEPT OF GOD

The Vedic concept of God is given the final burial by this ADHYATM (अध्यात्म) and an army of personalized gods, demi-gods, semi-gods, goddesses and incarnations in human, animal, plant or impossible hackneyed forms, is created as replacement. In Vedas, God is discovered as BRAHM (ब्रह्म) meaning ‘KNOWLEDGE’. All the synonyms like OM (ॐ), PRANAV (प्रणव), ISHWAR (ईश्वर), BHAGWAN (भगवान), SHIV (शिव), RUDR (रूद्र), VISHNU (विष्णु), DHI (धी), PRAGYA (प्रज्ञा), SAVITA (सविता), VIVEK (विवेक), PRAKASH (प्रकाश), GAU (गौ), ASHWA (अश्व) etc used for BRAHM (ब्रह्म) in VEDAS also mean knowledge or attributes of knowledge. The word OM (ॐ) has been used over and over again with most of the MANTRAS i.e. Vedic hymns as a repetitive reminder that the ‘KNOWLEDGE’ is within and all around and this fact should never be lost sight off in any human effort. The ADHYATM (अध्यात्म) reduced this word OM (ॐ) to the level of ridiculous and ceremonious utterance only. Like the twisting of ATM GYAN (आत्म ज्ञान) to ATMA GYAN (आत्मा ज्ञान) the Vedic word BRAHM GYAN (ब्रह्म ज्ञान) was twisted to BRAHMA GYAN (ब्रह्मा ज्ञान) meaning the knowledge of some personalized God. All the adjectives used for God are easily applicable to knowledge. The ‘KNOWLEDGE’ is within and without, omnipresent, ever present, source of entire intelligence and power, therefore, omniscient and omnipotent which no person can ever be. A person has to have form and KNOWLEDGE is formless. Still innumerable rituals have been created and colossal amounts of money, time and effort are wasted daily to get blessings i.e. VARDANS (वरदान) and to avoid curses i.e. SHRAPS (श्राप) of these very self created and imaginary gods and goddesses in the name of ‘ADHYATMIK-AASTHA’ (आध्यात्मिक आस्था) i.e. spiritual faith. Who to tell and how to tell these victims of bluff that if at all there is anything like faith, it has got to be conviction only; otherwise it is blind faith. And conviction comes from knowledge (read God) alone which can be acquired by hard work only. There is no short cut to it. Had they spent only a fraction of that money, time and effort on acquisition of KNOWLEDGE; they would have got its blessings galore to liberate them from the clutches of ignorance / bluff. The ‘knowledge’ would have been thus recognized and understood as God, which is the purport of VEDAS.

SEAL OF ULTIMATE – IMPOSSIBILITY

Free license resulted into a variety of ADHYATMS (अध्यात्म), the spiritual dispensations, each claiming itself on the authority of VEDAS (वेद) as final and ultimate in knowledge decrying others as bogus. Besides decrying each other all these varieties have one more bluff in common. All these contradictory theories of ADHYATM (अध्यात्म) claim the sustenance from VEDAS (वेद); so all of them have propagated VEDAS (वेद) as books containing and encompassing entire knowledge that is final, being direct revelation by an imaginary God to an imaginary chosen few. Even the authors of VEDAS (वेद) haven’t made such a preposterous and impossible claim of finality anywhere in these books. On the contrary they have made it amply clear that there is no end to knowledge and it is limitless and to consider what one has accidentally or by deliberate effort found out about knowledge as final is ignorance. Let me add that to spread this ignorance as final is bluff. Whether these pundits of ADHYATM (अध्यात्म) understand it or not but the authors of VEDAS (वेद) knew it fully well that their texts contained such and such number of words and this number was not sufficient enough to explain even one branch of knowledge. The question of entirety does not arise at all. Had ADHYATM (अध्यात्म) been the existent knowledge, all these varieties would have conveyed the same meaning without decrying others as bogus. The only conclusive statement can be, ADHYATM (अध्यात्म) is a myth and misnomer.

COMMONALITY BETWEEN ADHYATM (अध्यात्म) AND SPIRITUALISM

It is evident that the source of sustenance for both as reliable knowledge is in propagation of respective scriptures i.e. Vedas and Bible as revealed and final knowledge by God, former to a group and latter to His son Christ. It is strange that all the adherents of major religions of the world have included the element of Divine revelation in some form or the other as the start line. This can’t be a coincidence. It is bound to have been started by the oldest and followed by the rest as a good instrument for spreading acceptability in the weak and awe-struck human beings; which they are even today. The whole edifice of ADHYATM (अध्यात्म) and spiritualism crumbles like a house of cards if the bluff of Divine Origin is called. It crumbles for the simple reason that a concept based on bluff can be bluff only. It can never be knowledge.

SPIRITUALISM AS MOTHER OF ALL BLUFFS

Spiritualism is the mother of all bluffs for it has given birth to a variety of bluffs which are responsible for bluffs after bluffs. Had spiritualism been propagated as knowledge yet to be known like many physical sciences; it would have been an inquisitive approach. But it was not to be. Rather the fear of unknown of human psyche was exploited to the hilt through bluffing i.e. misinterpretation that has acquired the dimensions of mal-interpretation today. One has to accept spiritualism as either definite, highly evolved ultimate knowledge or be condemned. That way ‘exploitation’ and ‘acceptability’ became the pivotal words of our entire thought process generating systems of which we are as proud of as milestones of civilization and culture. The systems are born out of the subjects like; Religion, Politics, Economics, Administration, Management, Philosophy, Education, Industry Business, Commerce, and Law----the list is unending. All of them are the extensions of the path shown by spiritualism. If spiritualism / ADHYATM (अध्यात्म) can use ‘exploitation’ and ‘acceptability’ for ‘Religion’ successfully, these branches of so called knowledge can also do the same. Most of the branches use ‘acceptability’ for achieving ‘exploitation’ or vice versa. These branches are indulging in it by using gilded and enchanting words like success, motivation, competition etc Even the authority of science is invoked to pass on the bluff as knowledge either by adding the word science to it or by beginning the first chapter as------------ (name of subject) as science and asking students to prove so. In spite of this vast net of bluffs propagated as knowledge, we witness a failure of a system daily and wonder why. We still refuse to accept that knowledge does not hanker after ‘acceptability’ and does not advocate ‘exploitation’. For it is always there and is not waiting for acceptability. One can only try and should reach it as per Vedic dictum; “TAMSO MA JYOTIR GAMAYA” (तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय) i.e. let me go from darkness to enlightenment. For it is there for “SARVA JANA HITAYA SARVA JANA SUKHAYA” (सर्व जन हिताय सर्व जन सुखाय) i.e. for the benefit of all and for the well being of all. The Knowledge is not meant for exploitation while a bluff is.

YOGIC ENLIGHTENMENT-ALL THE BLUFF-CALL THE BLUFF

YOGIC ENLIGHTENMENT
ALL THE BLUFF – CALL THE BLUFF

IGNORANCE / BLUFF DEFINED

There are various fields of human activity in which mankind boasts of excellence. But the frequent failures of this and that system point to one and only one definite conclusion if Darwinian evolution is to be accepted as a working theory. Human mind has so far evolved to the level of excellence in bluffing only and this excellence is generally paraded as wisdom/ intelligence. This bluff is visible and highly pronounced in most of the fields of human activity; and so is refusal to call this bluff. I, somehow feel that the moment any knowledge is discovered the ignorance also comes into existence simultaneously. In other words the ignorance cannot come into existence if the knowledge is not discovered. It means that the knowledge must be existent and ever present Yes it is and it is ever waiting to be discovered. It is complete in itself and all-pervading knowledge that just cannot be ignorance. Similarly not knowing it or yet to be known stage also cannot be ignorance. It can be at best the lack of awareness which again is not ignorance .One becomes aware of knowledge by observation, inference, experimentation etc and disseminates it by making use of the tool of language in various forms. The moment one becomes aware of any knowledge either by accident or by a deliberate effort and it is disseminated, the process of interpretation by others sets in. Ignorance is misinterpretation or mal-interpretation of this disseminated knowledge. Thus there are two reasons for ignorance.

1. MISINTERPRETATION There is always a sincere effort by the people to convey that discovered knowledge. The consequential interpretations by the people with their own arbitrary versions are invariably bundles of ignorance shrouded as wisdom / intelligence. These arbitrary versions of ignorance are of course the results of innumerable complexities of human personality. This leads to a very complex and debatable area. Who will and how to judge an interpretation as misinterpretation or correct interpretation? Actually the thumb rule is that knowledge is not subject to any interpretation. It can only be without any bias seen, observed, inferred, experienced, experimented and found out. It just exists. The problem arises when the various versions of spiritualism and religion are projected as not only THE KNOWLEDGE but the superior most knowledge without any backup of scientific research. The result is that there is no disseminated knowledge by these institutions of human thought that is not misinterpretation till date. Let me elaborate this with few examples from different fields. When Newton says that he is like a child collecting pebbles only at the seashore while the vast ocean of knowledge lies unexplored in front of him; he is simply conveying a Vedic idea NETI NETI (नेति नेति) meaning that ‘there is no end to it’ without ever knowing anything about VEDAS (वेद ). Both of them have conveyed the ‘limitlessness’ of knowledge as they, without any bias saw, observed, inferred experienced and experimented. The limitlessness is thus ‘knowledge’ and it cannot be subject to interpretation. It just exists that way. But people have interpreted it in more than hundred ways and this is definitely misinterpretation amounting to ignorance and bluff. Another example from the field of literature is worth consideration. John Keats when he observes that “beauty is truth and truth beauty - that’s all. Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know”. He echoes more or less the Vedic thought of SATYAM, SHIVAM, SUNDRAM (सत्यम शिवम् सुन्दरम) i.e. truth, permanence and beauty. Again separated by time and distance, they both, without any bias, observe that the knowledge of truth is the knowledge of beauty. So knowledge is truth as well as beauty. This observation again about knowledge cannot be subject to interpretation. The knowledge thus exists that way. But this too has been interpreted over and over again and this is misinterpretation.

2. MAL-INTERPRETATION A deliberate effort by the vested interests to capitalize on ignorance with ulterior motives is mal-interpretation. The already misinterpreted knowledge i.e. ignorance is hijacked by the perpetrators of mal- interpretation with the sole aim of exploitation. For them there are no holds barred and they very often stoop to the levels of crime of any degree. Varied examples of terrorism, loot, robbery, exploitation, brain-washing, propitiating sacrificial practices, meaningless rituals etc. fall under this category. Mal-interpretation survives on exploitation alone while in misinterpretation there is no overt aim of exploitation.

BLUFF LEADS TO

The bluffs result into the following alarming situations:
• Such interpretations lead to respective mis-organization or mal-organization of knowledge thereby creating dangerous situations for the human society at large. This is a contradiction of terms. That all pervading, ever- existent, complete and perfectly organized knowledge that can never be a subject of organization by the human beings becomes a subject of ‘mis’ or ‘mal’ organization. It is already highly organized. We can only try to understand the principles of its existence, organization and functioning. So what we are doing actually is organizing ignorance only. In our present stage of evolution we have so far become capable of organizing ignorance only and project it as organization of knowledge. An outright bluff…..
• Any organization, even of ignorance i.e. mis-organization or mal-organization will give immense power to those who are associated with handling it. It is bound to be misused only as it is based on ‘MIS’ or ‘MAL’ considerations. However the excuse of welfare is generally employed with utmost precision resulting into skillful and highly effective execution of achieving the aim of exploitation alone.
• Such power not only corrupts it charms too and it leads to greed that ultimately causes mal-functioning only; a sure symptom of failure.

• Both ways knowledge is relegated to the background and ignorance spreads faster and faster. Truly so, as per the characteristics of knowledge and ignorance; the acquisition of knowledge needs perspiration to grow and ignorance thrives on anything but for hard work.

• Further both the approaches give birth to conventions which people follow without questioning the reasons of doing so. It completely kills the spirit of enquiry that is the life line of a human being.


NON-CONVENTIONAL APPROACH OF AN ADHERENT

The musings under this series of YOGIC ENLIGHTENMENT- ALL THE BLUFF- CALL THE BLUFF are, therefore, of a non-conventional adherent and will deal one by one with these bluffs to be equated with ignorance. Non –conventional because I could not find the tenets of spiritualism and religion either in Vedas or in Patanjali Yog shastra as generally propagated with the authority of these books of knowledge only and adherent because these tenets could have been elucidated differently also as I have tried to do with my basic SIMPLE OBSERVATION SENSE. The examples taken for illustration from the third chapter of Patanjali Yog Shastra are from the various fields of human engagement and were meant for the benefit of the common man only who was denied the use as these were badly mauled and distorted so that these become beyond his reach and he just pays obeisance only with folded hands and mouth agape in awe of some imaginary YOGA expert. This exercise has been embarked upon with a view to:

• Strengthening the spirit of enquiry in the young minds of posterity particularly

• Reviving the spirit of enquiry in the minds of the followers of conventions generally

For the posterity is most likely to evolve as a different set of human beings than what we are today. Not that the spirit of enquiry was not there in the preceding generations of humanity. Our existence today is the outcome of that spirit only; so we also are different from the preceding generations. This spirit of enquiry is a continuous process from time immemorial and so is the process of resolving it through bluffs after bluffs. The only question is of why. Why do we try to resolve our each enquiry through bluffs only? May be, in our process of evolution, passing through this ‘bluffing stage’ is the only way. I feel like holding to this explanation, given in VEDAS (वेद) and explained by PATANJALI in his composition of YOG SUTRAS, howsoever, unpalatable it might appear to be. In a way, our expertise is more in bluffing than the previous generations. However, this does not mean that VEDAS or PATANJALI are precursors to the Darwinian theory of evolution. The resemblance is at surface level only as we will come to know later in this series.

IS RESOLUTION THROUGH BLUFF A FOREGONE CONCLUSION?

Though there is no place for any kind of fatalism in Vedic thought yet it is a convenient argument to begin with. If bluffing stage is fait-accompli today in the process of evolution then rather its very existence should be a stepping stone for the next stage and that must be some stage which is bound to be of non-ignorance and of non-bluffing. But it may take thousands of years for humanity at large to reach that stage if the present rate of evolution is any indicator. If we try to assess the past we find a host of people in the history of each and every country those refused to accept the charms and power of ignorance. They introduced us to the knowledge as it is without any coloring of misinterpretation or mal-interpretation.The path of ignorance, therefore, can be avoided by any individual at any time. In this avoidance alone may be hidden the ring of that chain and that ring is identified as CHITT(चित्त) in Patanjali YOG SHASTRA, which leads to the next stage of human evolution i.e. non-ignorance and non-bluffing, and it should automatically lead to the stage of enlightenment.

SCOPE OF VEDIC KNOWLEDGE

To achieve this, the scope of that knowledge which is beyond ignorance has got to be ascertained first. A fair guidance is available in the ancient Indian texts of four VEDAS namely, RIG (ऋग), YAJUR (यजुर), SAM (साम) and ATHARVA (अथर्व). The literal meaning of VEDA (वेद) is knowledge only. The authors of these texts, whose names are not mentioned anywhere have tried to analyze the scope of knowledge under four heads with a concluding remark that knowledge does not have any end. It is limitless. The scope of the subject matter is so wide and exhaustive that it leaves no doubt about its completeness and limitlessness. This attribute of limitlessness of knowledge has generally been misinterpreted as a proclamation of considering Vedas as the books of all the subjects. Such a claim is non-existent in Vedas. The groups under which the knowledge has been discussed in VEDAS (वेद) are broadly classified under the following four efforts:--

• Knowledge of self from within and in the context of creation (ATM JYAN आत्म ज्ञान)

• Knowledge of the entire creation (BRAHM –JYAN ब्रह्म ज्ञान)

• Knowledge of the methodology of finding knowledge ( YAJYA VIDHAN यज्ञ विधान)

• Knowledge of practical application. Practical Ethics ( DHARMIK VIDHAN धार्मिक विधान OR VYAVAHARIK NAITIKTA व्यवहारिक नैतिकता)

It is evident from the very efforts in the above directions that any branch of human knowledge that is known or yet to be known can be easily accommodated under the first two heads only. In their analysis of knowledge of self, the process of evolution of human mind is such that it has to pass through a ‘bluffing stage’- a stage of ignorance. So for them it was natural to presume that their above way of studying knowledge under the first two heads would also be misinterpreted. Therefore, they preferred to include methodology and practical ethics as guidelines to help recognize bluffing or ignorance. They set the personal example of practical ethics imbibing the heights of ‘absence of desire’ and ‘selflessness’ when we don’t find even their names as authors of these rich texts. We can appreciate this gesture better in the present age where copyright and patent are the norms of existence. Nothing worked as expected. All these four areas of knowledge were misinterpreted; but then this was their method of disseminating knowledge.

THE ADDITIONAL AIM OF THIS BLOG

I intend calling these bluffs one by one with due reasons open for any scrutiny that have been perpetrated and are being propagated in the name of the above mentioned four areas of knowledge quoting the authority of Patanjali. By masking ignorance / bluff as knowledge irreparable damage has been done. But a jerk given by a single step in the direction of refusal to accept bluff is sufficient to wake anybody up. I am neither going into the history of how it happened; which I shall be serializing separately under the title “THIS CANNOT BE THE VEDIC THOUGHT”- nor I am offering any readymade solution at present to this malaise. The solution is bound to emerge automatically after the reader has gone through the series ALL THE BLUFF –CALL THE BLUFF and he himself starts recognizing the various bluffs in his or her mental make-up and environment around. However, the solution as given by PATANJALI in his YOG SUTRAS and as understood by me, will be serialized after calling various bluffs perpetrated in the name of Patanjali. That way the reader will be in a position to compare his / her arrived solution with that of PATANJALI, discard or accept and still progress towards the next stage of human evolution which is free of ignorance / bluff. I am, therefore, referring to various areas of human activity viz politics, economics, education, law, sports, spirituality, ethics so on and so forth------which are being paraded as intelligence par excellence and an obstinate refusal to accept the elements of bluff in these. There is nothing wrong in ignorance i.e. bluffing which is a sort of fait-accompli in our evolution but refusal to accept is definitely disgraceful human behavior. The terrorist must be made to accept that it is disgraceful to kill innocent and helpless.

SO LET ME BEGIN WITH THE MOTHER OF ALL BLUFFS-SPIRITUALISM