I have been reflecting upon karma. I have not read at all about what the scriptures say, but after samadhi last night there has been an insight that has stayed with me.
Karma relates to action and the result of action in perfect equilibrium. All karma must be balanced. But acquiring knowledge itself is karma, as knowledge that one believes to be true could in fact lead to ignorance. Accepting or rejecting certain knowledge and acting in accordance with gathered knowledge leads to karma and perpetual transmigration. True knowledge can only be gained through direct experience and revelation, not through intellect, and the results of knowledge and action is experienced initially through the duality of pleasure and pain for the body and mind, senses and psychic organs.
The jiva continues the birth and death cycle, realising that suffering is apparent, but eventually after many births, conceptually understands what religions teach is that suffering can cease if good acts outweigh bad acts and human life can be transcended. So pleasure and pain duality comes to good and bad duality. After much more evolution, the jiva gains knowledge through direct experience that successful meditation transcends duality of pleasure/pain and good/bad, so this knowledge is integrated. Further karma is accrued if the jiva seeks out ego gratification and duality. After much growth, the jiva is self realised and the duality of Shiva/jiva gradually dissolves following liberation. When the realisation I AM THAT is integrated into direct experience, the jiva is no longer the doer, and all that exists is one. Realisation is integrated through Jnana, but experienced through samadhi and siddhis, like visions of the Light of Shiva, knowledge of past present and future etc. If a jiva realises he has more than 5 senses, he must be more than a man and could in fact be Shiva.
I have a theory. Absolute knowledge is true in all contexts and is not subject to modification or change. So duality does not exist. It simply is. If absolute knowledge is directly experienced and integrated, this can exponentially reduce overall suffering and transmigration. A jiva must first seek out an end to suffering to take action and make correct decisions to achieve this end. First it is good and bad as it is in religious teachings but then he/she must go beyond. What if it took a jiva 1000 births to go from religious dualistic worship to achieve realisation? Isn"t it the direct experience of Shiva, whether through samadhi, bliss, siddhis initially and then jnana later the catalyst that results in duality dissolving? If a jiva experiences that a greater reality exists beyond this earth and the five senses, is this knowledge all that matters? What if transmigration only exists because absolute knowledge has not been integrated into this world correctly? I know I should not interfere in the karma of humanity like I am speaking, but what if it can be done? Divine experiences will lead a jiva to rejecting that which is not divine. Absolute knowledge will lead a jiva to rejecting all other knowledge.
I feel that Shiva has given me many gifts that are awakening. I also feel like I am receiving constant divine guidance as to what decisions I should be making, the direction of my life, my thoughts, where I go, what to read etc. In dreams I am being trained by some divine force with lessons that seem to occur and reoccur if I make certain mistakes or errors of judgement in daily life. I will establish a system that furthers all available knowledge on realising the full grandeur of Shiva, and such knowledge will be for those who are already liberated, as only a handful in a billion will be able to accept the teachings.
Adyaksh Kalajith
April 01, 2015 11:16 PM
Dear James,
Even if you wish with all your might, you are not going to interfere in everyone's Karma. So please don't allow yourself to be vain. (Just read my wordings carefully). There are entities up there who take care of such matters. Even assuming you accomplish a little, any butterfly effect will be ironed out before it becomes significant. So long as you are part of individual consciousness, you are under the jurisdiction of those entities. Only when you transcend the notion of an individual, you are outside the domain of such powers. So don't have inhibitions, try out whatever you feel like doing.
Reply
gjcowan
April 02, 2015 12:39 AM
Why be concerned with entities? There is only one entity, Shiva.
Reply
Replies
Adyaksh Kalajith
April 25, 2015 01:31 PM
If you are not concerned about entities and believe all is Shiva, then whom you are trying to teach? to Shiva? if you think fellow humans to whom you can "teach" or "interfere" in their Karma do exist, then you have to concede that there are other relative existences, other than humans, also exist.
Reply
MANBLUNDER
April 25, 2015 01:52 PM
Universe consists of so many planets and obviously, there are many sentient and insentient beings. Teaching is a wrong concept. Someone is sharing his or her experience to know Shiva. All Upanishads reveal someone's experience or through conversation between the teacher and student. Sharing of experience (teaching) is needed for someone till such time, he or she realizes that everything is Shiva. After that, everything is unlearning as that jñÄni will perpetually be with Shiva only. Series "Revelations by Upanishads" discuss this in detail;
Reply
gjcowan
April 25, 2015 01:58 PM
When I say interfere with karma, that is simply helping others who are currently undertaking japa sadhana, as I have done. When they have doubts, all I do is tell them of my experiences and I hope to help someone who is walking the same path as I, nothing more.
I don't understand the point you are trying to make in regard to relative existences. We exist in all lokas simultaneously, and a human is a Jiva among innumerable jivass
Reply
Andy
April 02, 2015 06:49 AM
Wonderful write-up. Thank you so much
Reply
Jithesh Sathyan
April 03, 2015 01:04 AM
This comment has been removed by the author.
Reply
Jithesh Sathyan
April 03, 2015 05:31 AM
"I am That" is said in the context of Consciousness. The merging in Samadhi is only with Pure Consciousness. So why would Pure consciousness which is without attributes have anything to do with an individual's Karma. Again the connections of cosmic consciousness and individual consciousness, is in consciousness plane, and is beyond actions and results of action done by the gross, subtle and causal body. This article is mixing different schools of thought and non-duality is also being confused. To add, Samadhi is different from siddhi , and siddhi is a distraction to the seeker of liberation. Also experience from practice should not be confused with absolute knowledge. Mirage is experientially real, but still unreal. If you could pick on a specific philosophy on Non duality like Advaita Vedanta if you prefer Vedanta or Tantra of Kashmir Shivism, and present your case, it would be easier to show the flaws in reasoning.
Reply
gjcowan
April 04, 2015 12:53 AM
The use of the word "mirage" in this context is appropriate. If we accept that Pure Consciousness, or Shiva, is absolute truth and not subject to modification or change, then anything that is subject to change cannot be the highest reality. So gross, subtle and causal bodies are a mirage as they are subject to change. Further, any action and result of action that are not performed with knowledge that I AM THAT results in perpetual transmigration. You speak of samadhi, but experiencing samadhi or turiya is Pure Consciousness, so all other states are this mirage you speak of. If we accept Shiva is omnipotent and omniscient, and there is no difference between Shiva and jiva, then how can siddhis be a distraction. They simply are. If Shiva distracted by his own grandeur?
Reply
MANBLUNDER
April 04, 2015 01:09 PM
The author of the article, James Cowan further wrote:
The paramashiva is pure consciousness in mayashunya. Darkness, silence, emptiness and without form or attribute. So this is the highest reality and ultimate truth as it is not subject to change. Shiva's nature is always pure and is not affected by appearance or disappearance of the universe. Since Shiva is without form or attribute, a jiva can only approach Shiva through a pure mind without thought.
The manifest is the feminine energy of Shakti that Shiva created, so the universe goes from darkness to the attribute of light and all associated colours, silence is replaced with AUM, with all 50 Sanskrit alphabet letters giving rise to form and attributes/tattvas and emptiness goes to movement and change. From the gross to the subtle, a jiva experiences all forms and attributes through birth and death until finally all forms are shed when the realisation of one unchanging reality is experienced through sadhana. Eventually even sadhana is shed due to jnana of Shiva and all prabdah karmas have been experienced through pleasure and pain at which time the jiva dies and returns to the source of existence.
Reply
Jithesh Sathyan
April 24, 2015 10:24 PM
The first line equating mahashunya to pure consciousness itself does not agree with either Kashmir Shivism (Para Advaita) or Advaita Vedanta. That is an expression in Shunya vada of Buddhism. Darkness would mean addition of color, emptiness would mean you are negating your own consciousness by equating pure consciousness to nothingness, and Akasha (space) also does not have form but that is not pure consiousness. Also when you have a thoughtless moment of emptiness, "You" should be present as "Witness", otherwise you will not know "emptiness/shunya" moment happened when you come out from that state (similar to when you wake up after deep sleep - you know you have slept, though you were not aware of it when you were sleeping). Anyway I will leave that argument aside.
Just noticed the note "The author of the article, James Cowan further wrote". Based on the icon, I was under the impression that it was posted by the admin and was waiting for your response. So coming back to your original article, with your above understanding of Shiva/Shakti, jiva, karma, etc how do you explain to influence the karma of someone else.f someone else.
Reply
Jithesh Sathyan
April 24, 2015 10:47 PM
Also in the article, you mention about interfering with Karma of humanity, and later in comments mention that prarabdah karmas have to be experienced through pleasure and pain. How would you explain to interfere with others Karma, when you are unable to negate the pain in your own prarabdah karma.
Reply
Replies
gjcowan
April 25, 2015 08:09 AM
I do not follow a school of thought or philosophy to arrive at conclusions of Shiva as this would mean I am relying on my intellect to comphrend the formless. Thus any conclusions would be based on ignorance. I am stating what I have experienced.
Does emptiness only exist as long as I attempt to witness/experience emptiness? Or does it always exist? When all samskaras have been eradicated, and my mind is empty from thoughts at all times, what then of emptiness?
What about light and darkness? Our awareness of the existence of light is only possible if it is reflected off objects like the surface of a mirror. If there are no objects to reflect and we cannot see light, does light still exist?
In samadhi, the sound of OM which is a synthesis of all possible sounds cannot be heard. Does this mean that OM does not exist?
Shiva is formless, so sound, colour, feeling or any attribute cannot be the highest reality. Absolute truth regarding the formless cannot be realised using any senses, intellect, mind, ego, philosophy or arguement.
I interfere with karma by guiding seekers to be empty of mind, as I was instructed by the admin of this site. If samskaras have been completely eradicated, does karma still exist? Does birth and death still exist?
Reply
MANBLUNDER
April 25, 2015 12:01 PM
Individual karma and group karmas are explained in VIṢṆUSAHASRANĀMA.
823. Udumbaraḥ उदुम्बरः
He nourishes the manifested universe. His job is not merely to create, but also to sustain the created beings through nourishment. Nourishment is a generalised term used here. The individual nourishment depends upon one’s karmic account. In the world, some group of people suffer and another group of people prosper. There is imbalance amongst His creations. This is because of group karma. Group karmas and individual karmas always act together in shaping the destiny of a society. In a plane crash, many of the passengers perish. For all these passengers, both group karma and individual karma are triggered at that point of time. Those who escape in a plane crash, their individual karmas are more powerful than the group karma. Another example is tsunamis, where people perish in thousands. This is the case of group karma and individual karma working together. If a person is not present at the time of tsunami, it means that his individual karma is too good and hence he escapes from the claws of death. His individual karma makes him to move away from the place where tsunami is detained to hit.
Ultimate realization happens only through one’s experience. Experience always differs from person to person. Experience is based on the knowledge acquired and his sādhana. At the end of knowledge he begins to experience due to his own efforts called sādhana. Sādhana alone leads to realization. At the end of sādhana one becomes a jñāni. If we ask a jñāni to explain about the path he transcended, he may not be able to explain as unlearning would have taken place in him. For him, everything is Shakti and Shiva only (Shiva’s Power and Shivia Himself, former leading to the latter). If unlearning does not happen, we can be sure that we are still afflicted with duality or māyā. If māyā is dissolved, then there is no question or knowledge, as everything is Brahman to such a jñāni.
If there is a need, we can think of writing a separate article based on the articles of James and the comments therein.
Reply
Jithesh Sathyan
April 28, 2015 12:08 AM
Just because "mayashunya - Darkness, silence, emptiness without form or attribute" is without attributes, does not mean you are empty. In order to experience it (Turya or whatever state), you the Witness needs to exist. You atleast need to know about it when you return to jagrat (waking) state, for which you should be Witness and not "Emptiness". You have written "Shiva is formless, so sound, colour, feeling or any attribute cannot be the highest reality." and in saying that you have contradicted you own statement.
I agree to individual karma and group karma in VIṢṆUSAHASRANĀMA. However saying that one person can interfere with Karma of someone else is not correct. The problem here is the lack of understanding of the difference between Brahman, Isvara and Jiva. All three are same from Paramartika perspective, but from Vyavaharika perspective they are different. Pure consciousness, Cosmic consciousness and Individual consciousness are the same. However it does not mean you can play Isvara's role of distribution in materialistic plane. Have to understand the different states and the limitations in each state.
You are not interfering with karma by "guiding seekers" to be empty of mind. You are only "guiding the seeker". You can kindle the desire for spiritual realization. The seeker has to perform the actions to achieve self-realization. So the question of interfering with Karma does not arise.
I will make it really simple - no philosophy is required to refute the statement of "interfering with Karma", because the very statement is wrong. Karma relies on two key concepts: (1) Free Will and (2) Cause and Effect. If a person can change/interfere with the Karma of someone else then this is against the principle of free will. Also if I am not given the results of what I do (good or bad), by the interference of someone, then this will be against cause and effect principle. So if you want to use the term "Karma", then don't use the term "interfere" with it. The distribution/management of the Karma's of Jiva is handled by Isvara who is impartial and agrees with free will. You (Jiva) cannot play Isvara role in materialistic plane.
Reply
Replies
gjcowan
April 28, 2015 06:46 AM
We can debate these concepts all day, but it will make no difference whatsoever to your acquisition of knowledge. You are using your intellect to agree or disagree with my experiences. This is based on relative observation and has no relevance. Unless you yourself undertake maha shodasi mantra japa for as long as I have, there is no way you can refute what I describe. Until such time you take action and observe your experiences, any time responding to your arguments are a complete waste of my precious time.
Reply
MANBLUNDER
April 28, 2015 10:56 AM
There are two aspects in spiritual life, First one is knowledge about Brahman. Brahman is One irrespective of which path we follow. There are enough philosophies to confuse us. The highest spiritual knowledge is available in Upanishads. If we ask mundane questions to a jñāni, he may not be interested in explanation. For him everything is Shiva. We have to take the essence of personal experience of James Cowan. Everyone's experience is different. Sādhana is more important than knowledge. Many of James Cowan's experiences are not published for various reasons.
In future, comments on this article will be published only on selective basis.
Reply
Jithesh Sathyan
April 29, 2015 01:34 AM
Dear James - You are making an inherent assumption that you are the only Shiva, so anything you say is correct. First this is to be corrected. You don't know me and cannot judge your superiority or inferiority with others based on your experience. So don't get carried away.
I am not questioning your experience and also have no intend to discourage you. When you preach about altering someone’s karma, in a public forum, you should have the knowledge to defend it. Till you reach that maturity, avoid a debate.
Maha Shodasi Upasana is a sacred practice which all readers respect a lot. So when you make a mistake (anytime in future), take responsibility by accepting that any mistake that the reader/listener/seeker may have felt is due to your ignorance and "not due to the scriptures you read, Shodasi upasana you practiced or your Guru's teaching". Please avoid bringing up Maha Shodasi upasana to cover your ignorance.
I understand my comments will get removed by the admin. So this will probably be my last post in this forum. All the best !!!
Reply
Replies
MANBLUNDER
April 29, 2015 09:27 AM
I have only requested James Cowan to share his experience with us. He is not preaching and he just shared his experience. Let us get too personal on this. There can be a healthy discussion, but there should no personal attack. All of us are contentiously learning and listening to others experience will only help us to understand spiritual path better.
I humbly appeal to desist from personal comments.
Reply
gjcowan
April 29, 2015 11:34 AM
Is your reasoning based on fact or opinion Jithesh? If you cannot distinguish between fact and opinion in your own reasoning, how can you be certain you are not bound by ignorance.
"You are making an inherent assumption that you are the only Shiva, so anything you say is correct".
What is achieved from making inherent assumptions about an individual you assume is making inherent assumptions? Are your conclusions fact or opinion?
Where did I state I am the only Shiva? Where did I state anything I say is correct? Where did I state inferiority or inferiority of others? As I did not state these things, what you said is an opinion, not fact.
Is the word 'preach' a relative term that may appear true or false to an individual depending on the context? Are any conclusions based on fact or opinion?
You state Maha Shodasi Upasana is a sacred practice. If all is Shiva and this creation is Shakti, what is not sacred? Is something more sacred than something else? Is the level of sacredness for upasana compared to something else based on fact or opinion?
The following are the facts Jithesh. Your opinion of the following is irrelevant to me and the only reason why I am answering is because of my respect for the admin of this site, who has been forced to intervene in this discussion. The scriptures observed that the state of perpetual Turiya is experienced following liberation. Before I began my maha shodasi sadhana, my understanding of turiya and liberation, whether they were real, what would be felt, experienced, how long it would take me, if I was worthy for such a sacred upasana, if the mantra for more effective or less effective than others - all of these conclusions were based on my opinion and were relative to my perspective.
Today, I no longer have opinions about maha shodasi or turiya. I spend my existence in the present moment, no analysis, no debating, no conjecture, no arguement, no uncertainty, no fear. I am free. I am free because absolute truth does not change. It exists completely independent of relative observation. So my opinions about turiya and liberation no longer exist because I am now aligned with truth.
I will not be responding to you again Jithesh. I hope you find the answers that you seek.
Reply
MANBLUNDER
April 29, 2015 01:22 PM
In observation above, I have written as " Let us get too personal on this".
This should be "Let us NOT get too personal on this."
I regret this error.
Reply
Jyothish Kumar
April 29, 2015 10:19 AM
A humble request, not to stop in any way, the real experiences of Mr. Cowan, as we, ordinary seekers are reading it with great interest, as it really helps us in further realization. We are more interested to learn from experiences rather than relying on Scriptures. I personally feel that pure consciousness is nothing but knowledge of awareness. It clearly says Siva’s form is purely awareness (Bodhaswaroopa) the super richness. He is occupying this universe on his own. When universe moves away from his vision, on the dissolution of mind, his acquired vasanas dies away or nature interferes to take it out. One can feel and express in words only the experience, which is total emptiness, silence or sunya the maha prakruthi of Siva which is not at all empty. This is the place, the lap, where the great “big bang” happened and full universe scattered on the first place, on first spanda of AUM, the universal iccha sakthi. All sounds, objects and whole knowledge are within this great awareness. It cannot be explained in full by any studies as it is beyond words and experiences. When one grows enough to search back, he sees the lap and the universe embedded and himself as emptiness as he trespasses full universe.
He gets the sidhis like “Ishitwa” and automatically acquires the qualities of divine like compassion, unconditional love. He experiences and feels with his awareness (super intelligence) that he is a part of “Isha”. He cannot control himself then, helps others out of his inherent compassion but not in the sense of interfering on one’s karma.
Who knows in what subtle way divine is going to take out one’s karma all of a sudden? It is like an extended hand to one who is about to die in an earthquake. It is a great word of Guru, a flash of thought which eliminates the ignorance of a disciple for 100 births. Scriptures clearly say how the karma of Ratnakara (Valmiki) was taken out by Saptharishis.
Reply