Siddhachalam NJ 1993 06 Acharya Sushil Kumarji

Author(s): Siddhachalam NJ
Publisher: USA International Mahavir Jain Mission Siddhachalam

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POWER OF MANTRA
by: DINESH MUNI
SIDDACHALAM Mahavira, who was the Twenty-fourth Tirthankar and a contemporary of Lord Buddha, once gave an allegorical description of human beings: "This body is a boat, the soul in it a sailor and the world is like an ocean to be crossed by sages, seers and enlightened beings."
We must first and foremost consider the aim and purpose of our lives: namely, to know the nature of the soul which exists encased in our physical bodies composed of matter. Without this basic understanding, we cannot apply a means of attaining higher consciousness; what Jainism refers to as Kevalgyan (omniscience). By nature the soul has infinite knowledge, infinite energy and infinite bliss, but too often remains trapped by karmic matter, which prevents our divine attributes from manifesting fully. I would like to illustrate this point with an example of disease: When an individual gets sick, there is some form of blockage in the body adversely affecting his health. His inner nature is still healthy, but he must go to a doctor to have the ailment diagnosed and the proper medication prescribed. Similarly, our souls remain divine while hidden behind the layers of our karma which blocks our path to self realization. Do you know how this karma is collected? Karma is in the form of matter, which is inert and has no consciousness. It does not do anything by itself. But the soul activates the matter and the interaction between the two produces karmic manifestations. In Jain terms, we call the karmic matter Pudgala, the smallest and indivisible particles known in modern science as ions, electrons and protons. These particles have an inherent quality of forming different combinations and compounds. An infinite number of substances are formed from their continuous movement, and the soul remains in a constant dance of life as the pudgala creates an energetic body surrounding the soul. We usually see only our physical selves, but other bodies are perceptible through deep concentration and the creation of divine sounds. We have the choice to concentrate on worldly attachment and ill feelings which leave the soul in a state of ignorance called Maya, but we also have the power to liberate ourselves. Every living being possesses a natural ability to realize itself and attain
a supreme state of higher consciousness. There have always been contradictions in the philosophies, which is why it is essential to study various schools of reasoning, learning, philosophy, religion and faith to discern the absolute truth from the prevalent ideas, views and beliefs of the world. In ancient India, many religions, creeds and faiths existed, but they generally contributed to the discernment of truth. If differences existed, they manifested as verbal discussion only and varying religious groups did not feel animosity towards one another. They managed to live in peace and crusades were non-existent. And if an individual chose to alter their beliefs, their free will to do so was encouraged. People studied different philosophies and selected one which was the most suitable to their needs. This practice nurtured and increased the mental faculty of men, whereas today we too often find religious institutions that inhibit the search for truth and knowledge from all of the worlds' great traditions.
In any case, the soul is changing every instant. If it was not, all the efforts to realize ourselves would prove useless. We want to eliminate the karmić matter surrounding the soul, thereby achieving salvation through concentration, meditation, and the creation of positive vibrations. Such vibrations can be created through mantras. Mantra means divine sound, and they possess tremendous force. Mantra is also a collection of divine sounds to be articulated, a veritable storehouse of psychic energy within ourselves. There are fifty letters in the Sanskrit language from which the mantras are combined. Known as "Shabd Brahma", they are each indistinguishable and imperceptible as objects in the dark. Yet when an impulse inspires their articulation, a glimmer of light shines forth radiantly. Energy is expressed as light and sound, forming vibrations that pass through a variety of mediums as they articulate themselves. Beginning as Kundalini in our Muladhar center, the vibration is called Paratranscendent. It then enters the arteries and begins to resonate through them, at which stage they are beyond hearing. It only becomes audible as the vibration reaches the throat. This is the stage called Madhyama(middling) as the vibration is finally pronounced and articulated as actual sound. And now you have learned of our knowledge of letters referred to as Matrika Vidya in
Yoga.
His Holiness Acharya Sushil Kumar Ji Maharaj
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