[This is my 50th post after the publication of my two books of blogs. I thought of celebrating the 50th post by writing on a topic that is little different. This post was written after a long and strange dream at the Ayurvedagram.]
I decided to spend two weeks in Ayurvedagram near Bangalore to address several of my health concerns. Most of my health problems were due to sheer negligence, lack of understanding and low priority given to my body and mind. But never too late, I thought. Ayurvedic therapy had worked for me in the past. I gave a long list of my problems to Dr Manmohan, the Chief Medical Officer. Dr Manmohan chalked out an elaborate plan for me for the required “correction” and “prevention”. I am sure coming up with such a plan was challenging to him.
I was tired of the multiple ailments however and wished that I could get another body for a change so that I could continue my work. But I knew that this would require some Godly intervention. So, when I was woken up at night by Lord Vishnu in Ayurvedagram, I was rather delighted.
Lord Vishnu heard my story patiently with a smile. He said “Dr Modak, you are still not understanding the Ultimate Truth and hence are worried about your health issues and thinking about the world of work.. Once you understand the truth, everything will be different and you will live differently”
I asked Lord how can I understand what you are saying.
“Well Dr Modak, I will have to “free” you for a while to experience. Come with me” said the Lord.
I soon realized that I had left my body. It was like a breeze as I was perhaps blessed. I was floating in an astral form that had no more pains and the ailments. Lord Vishnu took my hand and navigated me.
We left the campus of Ayurvedagram, rose on the skyline of the Bangalore city, and gradually reached above the Indian peninsula where I could see both Arabian sea and Bay of Bengal. That was a fascinating view and it humbled me.
“We will go even further Dr Modak. We will exit the Earth shortly and move towards the Universe”. Lord Vishnu said. His face had a different glow.
To me it was going to be a magic carpet ride and with none other than the Creator and Protector of the Universe. I considered myself to be very fortunate.
In few minutes, we had left the Earth. The journey beyond was new and exciting to me. After crossing several planets, we stopped.
“Now close your eyes Dr Modak” Lord Vishnu said. “You will soon realize the Ultimate Truth without me saying anything”
I closed my eyes.
I saw that nothing was existing contrary to what I believed. There was no earth and no planets.. and no mountains and the seas and no people. There was only light that encompassed the universe. There was a deep humming sound (Omkar – that is the primeval sound) giving vibrations. It looked like an everlasting or chirantan Brahmic universe with all the emptiness. And yet it seemed complete.
And this universe was me.
Was that the Ultimate Truth?
I was in a trans.
After a while, Lord Vishnu asked me to open my eyes. I did not want to but I simply obeyed.
Lord Vishnu had taken by then his mighty form stretching the universe. I looked at his Viraat Swaroop or Vishvarupa. And I understood that I was Him too! We were not different.
Vishvarupa
Vishvarupa is considered the supreme form of Lord Vishnu, where the whole universe is described as contained in Him.
Lord Vishnu then assumed his humanoid form like before and navigated me back to the Earth and to the Ayurvedagram. We did not speak a word in this journey. There was no need.
When Lord Vishnu put me back to my body, I realized that there was nothing much to worry or discuss about the ailments I was facing. There was nothing to fear as fear appeared irrelevant. Would you agree?
I realized that all I had to do was to put my body and mind to the best use I could – till I have. Helping someone was logical as the one suffering was me and rejoicing in someone’s happiness was a joy – again to me. I saw all the boundaries one perceives to be blurring.
But the realization of the Ultimate Truth put me to another difficult question. Knowing that nothing is real, should you be in the state of sthitaprajna?
The sthitaprajna is a free soul, ever steady in knowledge of Self. A sthitaprajna is also known as a jivanmukta, or one who is truly free while still living.
Though engaged in actions, being free from ego and free from motive, the sthitaprajna is not a doer of actions. Though having a physical body, the sthitaprajna is merely a dweller within the body and is unidentified with it.
The wisdom of the sthitaprajna is wisdom of a cosmic oneness. Ever established in the state of yoga, the sthitaprajna remains in constant union with God and, at the same time, is the ideal exemplar of karma-yoga, demonstrating steady wisdom through every action.
Attaining the state of sthitaprajna is perhaps ideal but certainly not easy. It is something that is to be realized and not learnt.
I thought of asking guidance from the Lord on how to accomplish this difficult task when and if he visits me again in the nights at the Ayurdevagram. Having exposed me to the Ultimate Truth, I thought He should enlighten me how to be in such a state.
I had several questions to ask.
Was being with Lord Vishnu at the Ayurvedagram – a dream? Or was it a reality?
I leave it to you to decide.
Text on sthitaprajna taken from https://indiaspirituality.blogspot.in/2010/05/qualities-of-sthitaprajna.html
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