It is a known fact that in this world everything has a protective cover, either made by Nature or by man. We find birds have protective feathers; snails have a hard shell; mammals have hair and so on. They are made by nature. Even Atma, a part of real Brahman, when remain s within a human body, is under five sheaths (Panch Koshas).
Man has also developed various types of protective and preservative coverings to extend the life and period of his natural decaying process – such as mummification. We have essentially mastered the art of covering almost all fields, from the patching up of ozone layer to the erection of colossal pyramidal protectors.
Now it is confirmed that covers are the integral parts of our life and living. We can’t avoid them. We have to have them. Nature is made, maintained, and controlled by definite laws and there is no deviation, alteration, or modification. But we have a big doubt about the second type of cover, which is man-made. Man is the only animal in the world that violates, distorts, and even tries to not only alter but also have full control over nature and natural laws. In this process, nature has its own measures and mechanisms to maintain herself – which can be seen in the form of various natural disasters. These are, verily, the natural consequences of unnatural efforts made by man.
COVERING
Covers are misused when we try to hide our faults, misdeeds, bad association and habits, selfish and egoistic thoughts in the name of altruism. How does one do that? The mind plays tricks in the following ways:
1) Posing otherwise:
A pseudo man in society poses himself as a lion. But in reality, he is a fox, putting only the mask of lion on his face. He is fearful and timid from inside, but externally poses himself brave. Therefore, he wants so many protection and safety measures. Imagine what will happen in real war or fight situation? Simply failure and defeat, and as a result- tension, depression, and frustration.
2) Using Mask:
Masks of varying degree are used to cover the original personality. For instance, some people use paper or plastic masks that break very quickly and the personality is exposed in its true colours to the society. Either they break it themselves or by listening to the selfless individuals or the holy scripts. Or they are incapable of holding the masks for a longer period. Some people use wooden masks- which take longer time to break and visualise the reality. Or they are so hard by heart that they love to live in falsehood. Deliberately, they remain firm to their false phenomenon unless some miracle happens in their life when they realise the Truth. And still there are some individuals whom no one can make them intelligent and wise because they have put a very hard iron-mask, affixing it on their face, which can only be removed after death. Moreover there are some more those who mask themselves to fulfil their own desires and interests by their own ways and means.
3) Living in falsehood:
We have been forced to live in an age of dazzling and glittering superficiality. Heart is measured by the cost of gift. Honesty is measured by the quantity of deception. Beauty is measured by face not by simplicity of heart. Success is counted by how many million dollars they possess, no matter how they earned it. No one bothers of means. They are concerned only for ends. Money is counted much above Character because one can develop and devise various covers to make the face value appear dearer than intrinsic value. We have forgotten to look into the content and bother about container only.
DISCOVERING
Removal of cover is necessary when one wants to bring a thing into use, and this is called Discovering- knowing oneself, the Supreme Brahman in the language of Spirituality. How removal of cover- Discovering will take place…by discarding the unreal saying ‘Neti, Neti’ or by accepting everything and everyone as the form of Almighty Brahman? The question itself answers ‘Neti, Neti’ – neither this nor that.
Because by merely saying ‘Neti, Neti’ or by accepting everything and everyone as the form of Almighty Brahman, one gets only verbal satisfaction. Our Holy Scriptures say that merely by saying or repeating the word sugar, candy, sweets, one doesn’t get the taste of sweetness. Similarly, the bliss has to be Experienced and that too beyond our sense organs, intelligence, and all external human efforts. It is rightly said, ‘Where intelligence ends Spirituality starts.’
The process of Self-realization and Discovering starts from within with the grace of Perfect Master and after realizing the Truth inside, one moves to the outer world viewing Him Everywhere. All external efforts are only means not end by which one may get inspiration, hints, clues, and a process to keep oneself away from world and worldly affairs for a time being. In this world of falsehood where everyone is having a covering over his face, we should discover our real face through Brahm Gyan (Divine Knowledge) by a realised soul. Then only, we can lead a balanced life equipped with Discovered Truth.