Consciousness or the functioning principle
We crave for love; we crave for comfort; we crave for security; we crave for the physical satisfaction of our senses; and for the meaning behind everything. We also crave to find a mission for our existence. These are very noticeable, obvious cravings or impulses found in every being, especially noticeable in the human form of life. Therefore if we separate the soul - the eternal part from the psychics - and try to analyze the psychological patterns of action and reaction, we come up with all kinds of sophisticated and interesting observations, but never with any solutions. As a matter of fact, in the so-called natural science-psychology, we do not know what a healthy state is. We are just starting to study the issue as things are becoming obviously unhealthy. It is really surprising to see how “rational thinkers”, as they call themselves, analyze the being and the psychic condition of a person ignoring the background of the situation, the future and also the functioning principle.
What is the functioning principle in psychology? It is consciousness. Consciousness is not a product of matter. Consciousness is observing matter. Consciousness is manipulating matter; it is able to evaluate the past, be in the present, and able to make guesses about the future. Consciousness is a very powerful, noticeable unit existing within each and every one of us. It is not material nor is it dependant on matter.
A scientist would support the saying, “The moment the body dies, consciousness is finished.” But we reply, “No. The moment consciousness leaves this body, the body is finished.” It is the other way around, because the elements, such as the atoms and molecules in our body, are only maintained as a very sophisticated functioning unit by the presence of the soul or consciousness. Therefore, the moment the consciousness leaves the body decay starts instantly. Whereas, while the soul is still in the body, one may lose a part of the body or even an organ of the body and it can be substituted, at least temporarily. Nobody has been able to substitute consciousness once it is gone. There is a saying that some people do not see the forest because there are too many trees. In the same way they try to see the consciousness, which is only possible with the consciousness. Influenced by prejudice they are not able to recognize their own consciousness, as something higher than just interactions of matter.
The vision of Psychologists
According to psychologists the healthy state of life is the absence of disease. They do not know what goodness, renunciation, austerity, compassion, cleanliness and selfless sacrifice are all about. They do not recognize these elements as healing factors for raising oneself to a higher consciousness. Therefore, the psychologists cannot actually help their patients very much. They try to analyze and find reasons for the diseased condition within this lifetime. They look for the cause of sadness, sickness or other disorders by psycho-analysis, through questionnaires. They want to know the details about your childhood, the relationship with your parents, if you were ever mistreated as a child etc.
It can be called “the psychology of limited observation” because it does not take into consideration the fact that the soul is coming from a long, long journey and has already come into this body with preset karmic conditions, which cannot be explained nor understood by an analysis of one’s childhood and the present life. Edgar Cayce, one of the first practitioners, who actually explored previous lifetimes through hypnotic regression while working at solving the traumatic conditions of his patients, had quite some success. Many people use this method presently, but the common sciences still do not pay attention to it, because they are used to ignoring anything which questions the validity of their prejudiced, biased way of looking at life.
Psychologists vs. Religion and spirituality
Psychologists have been stating for many years that any religious impression is a psychotic phenomenon. As if it were something unhealthy. If someone says “I feel a desire to dedicate myself to help others”, these psychologists respond by saying, “Oh, yes. He has got a mystical disease. Now he wants to save humanity.
We know better, there is nobody to be saved here. There are only people that are to be treated by us.”
So, what is it? It is competition. Originally psychologists competed with spiritual orientations and in order to establish themselves in that position they had to first discredit the benefits and the historical values of the mystical view of life. They have simply pushed everything connected to spirituality into a corner, where people make ridiculous attempts to solve problems they cannot even understand. This is the essence of the competition based on their claims to help people or to treat them and bring them to a healthy state of existence. But how can they help if they do not understand the nature of the human form of life properly?
Features of existence
According to the Vedic view, the human form of life consists of a gross and a subtle body (see CD12). The subtle body has a full ability to exist totally separate from the physical body. It contains all the capacities for thinking, feeling, willing and creating different experiences. For example, the underlying principle of seeing is not the eye. The eye is only an instrument. The underlying principle of hearing is not the ear. It is the capacity of hearing. The underlying principle of speaking is not the tongue; but it is the speaking and message transmitting capacity. The fact that all the senses are silent, and not involved with their objects and instead are thinking, feeling, willing, tasting, fearing is proves this. So there are obviously different levels of existence and awareness, where we are able to move and experience things without the interaction of the physical body.
One has to understand the elements - earth, water, fire, air and ether. What are these elements? How do they interact? What do they produce? One has to understand how they produce taste, hearing, smell, sensual perception and sensual objects.
The mind is above the senses, directing all their interactions. Above the mind is the intelligence. The intelligence can interfere with the mind if the mind gets too sensual, too carried away. Take for example, the concern about our own existence or the deviated ego, where the ego thinks “I am this body”. This is called the “false ego” where the ego is so obsessed with the pleasures and experiences of the physical body that it is not paying attention to the inner calls of the highest spiritual identity.
A nationalist, for example, becomes obsessed with the idea of some country, and later becomes disheartened, leaves nationalism and becomes a socialist, wanting to free humanity from the oppression of capitalism. Then, after some time he becomes disgusted with socialism and embraces some other kind of “-ism” or some other type of effort. So, in all cases he is obsessed with something which is just a kind of temporary identification. Just like children switch toys, they are obsessed with one toy, the next moment they throw it away and become obsessed with another toy. In reality none of these toys or “-isms” have any importance in the life of the soul, they are all different forms of false identification.
The Importance of considering the soul
Obviously, the crucial matter here is the spiritual identity of the soul. That is where the natural scientists state “You cannot prove it! You cannot prove that we exist eternally! You cannot prove that somebody has created us. You cannot prove that there is a meaning to life. You cannot prove it and therefore we are in charge, and you are just speculating hypothetically about some spiritual identity.” That is basically their approach. What is OIDA therapy’s answer to that? It is very important and interesting. OIDA therapy applies the science of impartial observation of the well being and of the social interactions of everyone; of the patient after coming in contact with a bright view of life based on faith, and on the mystical practice of different recommendations which have been handed down in our human society since time immemorial.
I am talking about traditions which have been practiced by ancient cultures, such as the Incas, the Mayas, the Aztecs or the tribal practitioners in their relationship with nature; the original mystical teachings of famous world religions; the religious festivals, with the recommended prayers, or the rules and regulations they have taught for the appropriate interaction with each other; the special rituals, such as fire sacrifices, sanctifying food, coming together in association with others for certain spiritual uplifting, the counseling with advanced members of their faith and the degrees of responsibility the individuals have to accept in order to harmonize with the mystical teachings, such as the prayers and meditations which have been handed down by their discipular traditions. Another example of these mystical traditions are Holy books, received in many different ways - written, oral, knitted or in oracle form, and astrological information regarding what can be expected of life in this cycle as time passes. In other words, so many sophisticated mystical hints have been given in all spiritual traditions with the intention of healing and keeping people on the right track. This means that people are not only supposed to stay where they are, but that they should develop a spiritual and mystical process of perfecting themselves. Many ceremonies existed among the ancient cultures specifically to help those who manifested some kind of disorder.
When people follow a mystical tradition seriously, we presume that they have fewer problems. For example India’s divorce rate is still one of the lowest in the world, so there must be some remainder of the tradition which teaches them not to abandon their family.
We can understand from modern psychology that any dysfunctional system must inherently have some psychological problems. Therefore, when we look for a mystical tradition to place our faith in, we are looking for functional units, which attract our attention. If it does not work for others, why should it work for me?
We perceive our modern society as extremely and increasingly dysfunctional. Mystical traditions have not been given the chance to expose their capacity for producing healthy and functional people and units. And why is that? Why are major religions apparently allowing what is happening to Mother Earth? Precisely because with the so-called marriage of state and some religious organizations misunderstanding and hypocrisy, which are the characteristics of this our present age, were introduced creating the exact opposite of a trustworthy mystical environment.
Once when I traveled to Paraguay as a Hindu monk I was put in jail as soon as I arrived just because the dictator government had made a deal with a prominent local religious institution saying that it would stop other religious groups from spreading, if this institution would keep on supporting the dictatorship.
The evolution of consciousness
Mystical traditions are promoters of an evolutionary consciousness. They are not just meant for speculation; they are actually presenting observable phenomena demonstrating life from youth to old age, family responsibility, etc. They create very healthy life principles for the individual. These types of mystical traditions are compared in OIDA Therapy in order to extract the patterns which reappear as beneficial guidelines. In this way, we are trying to create the anti-thesis to the natural psychologists who do not accept any existence of the soul and a higher meaning of life. The conclusion is that mystical traditions have all guided their faithful in a very similar, often equal manner to produce a healthy human being with a healthy participation in life and a healthy destination, when their life is finished. This anti-thesis which is produced by OIDA therapy is simultaneously evaluated by the psychological well being of the true practitioners. In other words, it is not only an accumulation of data but it is the research and study of living mystical traditions. The information that we can presently obtain regarding non-living mystical traditions can only give us a hint about how other people may have perceived their mystical traditions in the past. But it is only in the living mystical traditions that can we actually proceed scientifically and observe the impact of mystical teachings on an individual’s psychological well being.
Truth and mercy
Bhaktivinoda Thakura, one of the greatest psychologists and writers in the Vaisnava tradition, wrote, “It is the duty and the right of every individual to go to Badarika Ashram, as Madhvacarya did, and to knock on the door of truth and request access to the understanding of what is right and what is wrong.” It is also been said in other times and places that we can all approach the door of mercy and that mercy is above justice. The element of forgiveness appears as an important factor in the mystical tradition, as it is the only way to counteract the karmic accumulation of negativities within us. Here, we are already entering into an area, which requires belief to continue to move forward. It requires faith. Nevertheless, we are exploring the wonderful dimensions of the freedom of the soul to ask, to accept, and to reject its constitutional nature. This freedom is however often denied in ecclesiastical institutions and in the other totalitarian ways of managing society and the lives of others. This is in essence the superior approach to be embraced by all.
The application of OIDA for believers and non-believers
In other words, mystical revelations in their totality can only be understood by those who are treading the mystical path and who adopt an impartial statistic approach such as the one provided by OIDA therapy. On the other hand, application of OIDA will also provide for the enhancement of non-believers. It is not totally conclusive by the very nature of the limitation of the theoretical observer. In other words, the person searching for true healing, for true understanding of the meaning of their life, has to be ready to move in the direction of taking up spiritual practice. Otherwise, they do not qualify to receive real insight in regards to the application of OIDA-therapy. We do not want to dissociate however, from those who are searching for a healing state and who have not achieved any level of faith in some mystical tradition yet.
Through OIDA therapy we try to present the complete picture, by becoming practitioners and by comparing the results.
All the elements, which influence us in this material world, the underlying principle and the underlying principle of the underlying principle of our individuality, in other words the Mahatattva, which provides the ingredients for us to modulate into bodies (when we are being given that chance by the karmic intervention of higher laws and which cannot be perceived except at the moment when they take birth in a particular body) make us aware that there are influencing elements, which escape our scientific observational capacity. This reason is not sufficient to deny that these things are going on. As a matter of fact, there are other fields of science that are available for exploring this invisible region further. There is hypnotic regression for those who are taking a more natural science approach; there is astrology for those who are taking the traditional mystical approach. Through astrology, specifically Vedic astrology, a person can understand who / what they were in their past life and how this has caused them to experience a particular condition in the present life. In other words, the health concept of OIDA therapy is a concept of a state of enlightenment, with an attitude of saturation, of goodness , and dedication to the wellbeing of all. One has to embrace some kind of universal love to qualify for levels of enlightenment. When I speak about levels of enlightenment I am referring to the Vedic tradition which indicates along the path of enlightenment different perceptions identified as the all-embracing spiritual principle in everyone and everything, called Brahman.
This principle is accompanied by a universal optimism, a loving disposition or at least the disposition of desiring the well being of everyone and obviously, the negation of any type of activity which gives trouble to others.
The principle of the Supersoul
Another level of spiritual realization has been identified to understand the all-knowing omnipresent aspect of Divinity within all of us. This principle known as the Supersoul principle or the Paramatma principle gives us a clear idea that there is a conscious agent overseeing everything. Without this conscious agent everything should have been programmed into atoms and nature, up to the last little detail of the transactions of matter and consciousness.
We can get a certain notion of the idea of programming, by the modern computerization and digitalization of elements, which allow people to create complicated interactions between situations and elements, through a sophisticated spread sheet. It is so removed from the immediate perception, that it is almost not understandable to the superficial observer. That is the difference between using the computer and programming it to make it work. So, what makes this world work? And what is the impact of the world? How do you use it?
By taking into consideration, the concept of the spiritual realization of the omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient aspects of Divinity lying behind everything and overseeing everything, for the first time it becomes understandable or somewhat reasonable that truth, forgiveness and karmic reaction for educational purposes do exist. Otherwise, how can you conceive of anything being decided or judged by anyone or by any functioning principle that can do justice to the unlimited amount of notions, desires, and moods experienced by the individual living beings as they go through the sojourn of the material existence and experience the incompatible situation of consciousness and matter in practical life, being always threatened by the danger of death, which means discontinuing the present accumulation of experiences and then having to face the unknown once again.
The soul as a servant of the Supersoul
Here, the element of faith comes in, a very important moral force or strength provided for the weak, conditioned and doubting soul. What to do and what not to do? This faith is being provided by mystical traditions in one way or another. Even without having realized the Paramatma level of omni conscious divinity through faith, we may tune in and base our activities upon that higher and just Divine agency ruling all of us. The eternal spirit soul, once liberated from conditional life has a true connection with the Supersoul. What is that connection? It is to be His personal servant and while in this world to act as His representative through our interactions with others.
It is the nature of the human being to seek the sweet wishes and orders of the Divine Lord on a spiritual path. We want to harmonize with Him and be able to overcome our own conditioned karmic situations. Karmic situations or ever repeating cycles could also be called the unavoidable reality for each individual soul as the product of his/her path (see CD26-29). Everyone has a future as well. The actual reality for each individual is considered a karmic product of their mistakes or virtuous actions of the past. Obviously anyone who can understand this becomes very concerned not to do the wrong things anymore and above all to act for the pleasure of the omni conscious Divine agent. This divine element can even make us overcome our sense of indifference where we only care about ourselves and have no concern for anything else in the world. (see CD26-29)
Levels of spiritual revelations and realizations in OIDA
The levels of spiritual revelations and realizations provided by OIDA-therapy – Veda department – are beyond the universal representation of Divinity. There is a spiritual realm which allows entrance for the soul. Before we enter into that realm we need to understand the psychological potential necessary for participation.
There is a cognitive potency, awareness potency, and a potency of the soul to move from place to place.
We all know that we have an ability to move about. Because of this we are here in this room, we moved here. We are moving around a lot, some more, some less. As far as moving about in the physical sense, this can be facilitated in many ways. But also it has many limitations. If you look at Saturn at night you might say “Well, tomorrow I’ll be on Saturn”. But it will not happen. But you can say “Tomorrow I’ll be in Berlin” and it might happen.
We have a limited capacity of motion. This consciousness, which directs our bodies to go in a certain direction, goes far beyond the physical, observable level. The subtle body or linga sarira can move independently in the dream state for instance. When people leave their material bodies at the moment of death, they are actually traveling in their astral bodies. The subtle body is also limited in its movement but in a different manner when it is still in a physical body. The physical body is facilitated and restricted in its movements. The subtle body is also facilitated and restricted in its movements according to the karmic reaction to the current state of the individual. Vedic scriptures acknowledge that the restriction upon the movement of the astral body starts when it goes to a region above the Earth inhabited by ghosts or spirits after leaving the body. But as such they can also return here on Earth, being very concerned about and still attached to the previous bodies and lives they had on this Earth. So, the souls go to the region of the ghosts but they can also descend to this level. That is their limitation, their movement.
There are others who are not restricted from going to higher planetary systems. Whenever someone reaches the moment of death, or let’s say when a particular karmic cycle is finished, they are going to be transferred to their next destination upon the ladder of the evolution of consciousness (see chart: “Destinations which can be reached by the soul”). It will be considered what their actions were in their past lifetime and what their thoughts and desires were at the moment of departing this last stage of his/her life. We could say that a balance is made of his/her actions in this past lifetime (but not for the soul’s entire existence). This is the crucial moment when our free will is restricted. We are entirely dependent on the laws and the grace of the Supreme Controller. This is also a reason why the moment of departing this life is of such importance.
The region of the ghosts mentioned before has many varieties and many different names. There is much suffering on that level and not much importance is attributed to it in OIDA-therapy, due to the inaccessibility of these regions to us. But in many mystical traditions the situation is addressed: sanctified food is offered for the departed souls, wakes and laments are held and holy names are sung to help them to overcome their previous karma and facilitate their transfer to the next level where spiritual progress will be easier. Others pray in cemeteries. Some believe that if you become a pure devotee of the Lord you can even free your ancestors from ghostly existence.
Compassion for the departed reaches those areas as well, and it is also known from Vedic tradition that Lord Shiva is very merciful to ghosts when they approach him. By taking shelter in higher powers the problems of the individual soul can be resolved by grace.
The conception of OIDA for the health of the soul
OIDA therapy provides us with an unprecedented quantity of information and dimensions to be realized, to be achieved. But nevertheless the principle of health in our conditioned existence is noticeably heightened by any type of spiritual development. And since we believe there are many chances, many births and deaths, the soul will always be able to arrive where we aspire it to arrive. Therefore the healthy state of consciousness according to the Vaisnava philosophy and the Vedic tradition is that state of being where you do not harm anybody anymore. On the contrary, you are very well disposed to help others according to your capacity. We also call it brahminical consciousness.
Higher than this is the pure love of God consciousness, which does not contradict, nor obliterates the previous brahminical achievements. It simply enhances it by intensifying the urge, the need, and the understanding of what is the deepest and highest benefit for every soul. This body we have now can be dovetailed and utilized in its pure consciousness by the grace of mystical practices meaning that even our physical body can be spiritual. “A healthy body a healthy soul” - is a Greek saying.
A healthy body from a spiritual-health point of view is a body which is connected to the spiritual meaning of life where you are not simply obsessed by sensual experiences, denying and ignoring all the spiritual dimensions of your identity. So we can understand from our Vedic psychology that the healthy body means a healthy spiritually dedicated life - body, mind, intelligence, all in line with your understandings in your mystical tradition. Control of the mind and control of the senses. All this is a part of a healthy condition. OIDA therapy provides people with that great hope, great faith that there is such a wonderful sense of being, such a wonderful goal to be achieved by making austerities. To reach this state of being is really worthwhile. To a certain degree we have to agree that we must make the right decision, to move into the right direction, even though it may be more comfortable to remain in the conditional existence.
There is a saying “it is holy to be wise when ignorance is bliss.” People often prefer their ignorant stages although they intuitively know better. The austerity, the ability, and the willingness to move in a spiritual direction by engaging in spiritual activities is something which is motivated and produced by the faith within us. We have to understand and analyze what it is we want to cultivate in our life and what we want to avoid. This is the quest. This is the question raised in our life daily again and again and here we have a quite extensive explanation concerning what can be achieved by a certain type of practice which makes it worthwhile to dominate and to control lower instincts.
Lower instincts, or let’s call them desires motivated by the exploitative or indifferent mentality, are dragging us away from spirituality. It is these desires that are further increasing our karmic conditioning, further karmic distancing of ourselves from spirituality, from health, and from positive expectations. Who knows how deep into the world of different births it may actually drag us? But even within the present lifetime you can already understand this. A little crime and you spend years behind bars. So the material world shows us we cannot exercise absolute freedom. You have to obey the rules of someone and the rules of the state are not mystical. But the rules of the material nature are mystical because they come from Mother Nature, the Divine Mother who teaches us how to behave accordingly. So there are many hints and lots of encouragement for following the path of faith.
The non dogmatic concept of spirituality
In OIDA-therapy we provide a non-dogmatic, non-ecclesiastical concept of spirituality. This is one of its most important elements. Many people in this world profess a lack of interest in spiritual practice, due to the discouragement they have experienced witnessing the terrible examples and activities done in the name of spirituality by those who have no concern for healing anyone but who nevertheless use the garb of spirituality because in one way or another they see a profitable area to exploit. This is actually an abuse of ideals. If someone preaches the truth, people will come and say “What you are preaching is so nice. We want to help you to build a center of spiritual awareness. Here are some donations.” And later the person who has spoken the truth will find themself in front of a finished facility and will use this facility to enhance their own well-being and selfish pleasure. Thus they fall down and discredit the very teaching they had been giving previously. Maybe they had not planned it, but when the temptation came they were not strong or accomplished enough. This sort of thing happens very often. No wonder many people are discouraged from taking up a spiritual path. Nevertheless, we should not be hasty and throw away our own mystical identity because of the abuse others have done during their own conditional existence. This will not serve any purpose.
Spiritual realization is not an easy thing, especially not in the present age. But moving in the right direction and healing ourselves from our exploitative mentality can help us move forward. We can see how sick our society has become dominated by all the materialistic thinking that is promoted by science, political systems and dogmatic religious institutions.
It is deplorable that our youth should be without a higher motivation, seeking their existence in the use of drugs, violence and sexual irresponsibility. It is time to do something about this. We pray that through the contribution of Oida-therapy we can offer support and help to increase the desire to explore the dimensions of faith and mystical recommendations given by those who are selfless, pure in purpose, friends and well-wishers of all. Only they can guide us in a proper way and uplift our consciousness.
