GOD – Our Eternal Companion djjs blog

Rising from the innermost recesses of our heart is a divine feeling, which, now and then, makes us realize:”O man! God is your only eternal companion. Stop finding companions outside and entrust your hand unto His, for He has been waiting since time immemorial to extend His support and helping hand to you.” The eternal support of God is the balm to heal wounds inflicted on us by the assaults of loneliness, dejection and depression. Then, why is it that most of us shrink from admitting this fact and try to seek an external fulfilment? Otherwise also, by nature, we are solitary beings with God being our only companion. Nature reveals this fact through two fundamental facts:

1. We are born alone, and

2. We ought to die alone.

Still, there are rare few who are able to enjoy solitude. Basically, there are two aspects of being alone:

1. Solitude.

2. Loneliness.

Both the states are poles apart and cannot be equated with each other.

Loneliness: Loneliness is that state of being alone when you are away from the crowd, when you endeavour to be aloof from the world and settle down in some desolate place. However, we may be in some deserted place away from crowd; we may cut off from others and lock ourselves in some lonely room, but if our minds are crowded with bursting memories, then we can never enjoy this forcibly created state of being alone. Instead of getting released from our burden, we get preoccupied with past memories, tensions and anxieties; thus, our mind becomes all the more dull and loathsome. Instead of peace, we feel agitated and restless with the feeling of dejection hissing upon us. Thus, even though we are trying to be alone, isolate ourselves from others, we cannot isolate ourselves from our own self, from our mental burden of worries and anxieties.

To be alone in real sense, we will have to learn how to be with our Self, far beyond all burdens – worldly as well as mental. So, we can be alone, in the real sense, when we are in solitude.

Solitude: For solitude, we need not drive ourselves away from any crowd, for:

“Solitude is an attitude of the mind; a man attached to the things of life cannot get solitude, wherever he may be. A detached man is always in solitude.” – RAMAN MAHARISHI

We can be in a roaring crowd, in the din and roar of market place, or amidst thundering traffic, but if we know the art of solitude, we can enjoy the feeling of being alone. It is only in deep solitude that the mind becomes still and serene leading to the flourishing of the state of fullness and completeness, as:

“It is in the silent mind that the true consciousness can be built” – AURBINDO

Dwelling in solitude is living with a fresh and open mind that is skilled enough to reject the memories of the past and the anxieties of the future. It is in solitude that we face ourselves and, hence, are able to chastise or cleanse our inner being. It is only then that we can, purifying ourselves of our crowded thoughts, let inner, deeper joy spring forth.

In deep solitude, abandoning all external supports, we automatically become alone and get the opportunity of facing and analysing our inner self. It is only due to the lack of solitude that the mind tends to become extroverted, looking for external supports, and living in crowded memories, it develops dependence upon its surroundings. So far, we discussed it is in the solitude that we can cleanse, purify and hence adorn ourselves. However, for solitude we need to confront our True Self, for only then we can beautify it. True Solitude cannot be discovered anywhere in this world, for it is beyond time, space, and causation. It is beyond senses, mind and intellect and can be realized only in meditation when we confront our True Self.

How is it is possible to confront our Self? How can we face our True self? For that, the need is that of Self-Realization, possible through the process of Divine Knowledge, unfolded and revealed by Perfect Master. It is only then that you can be alone. Otherwise also, the word ‘Alone’ is the combination of two words ‘All+One = All One’; meaning complete within oneself. Such a completion is the flower of realization of the fact that we have eternal relationship with God, who abides in the form of or True Self within us; as is mentioned in the Bible:

You know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God, don’t you? – (First Corinthians 6:18)

Thus, there is God, in the form of True Self, dwelling within us. An urge to seek Him is the quest for our wholeness and, perhaps, is one of the greatest and most advantageous journeys an individual’s life can ever make. Just seek Him and experience the perfect solitude. Thus, in short, solitude is the experience of being alone under the shade of eternal presence, which shone through the faces of Christ, Mohammed, Ten gurus, all great prophets, saints and sages and which shines eternally through the Perfect Masters of the time.

Time and again, God incarnates in the form of Sadguru, a Perfect Master, to disclose the secret that He is our only eternal companion and that too at all levels of existence- physical, mental and spiritual. He descends on earth out of compassion and love for His earthly Children. No doubt, He takes birth on Earth but never gets trapped in the mundane earthly bondages. Our holy Vedas highlight the vivid description of a bird called “Homa,” which dwells high in the sky and never comes down to the ground. It even lays eggs in the mid-air but at such a tremendous height that the eggs hatch in the air only before reaching the ground. When the little bird comes out of its shell, finding itself dashing down to the ground, it soars high up in the sky and joins in its Mother. No doubt, a Perfect Master or Sadguru is born like other human beings, but he transcends earthly bondages. Revealing his Divine form in the Spiritual Heart of all individual beings who takes His refuge, He becomes the source and centre of the strong spiritual current that transforms their life and character. He lights the candle of our heart with blazing fire of Divine Knowledge. Enabling us to walk on the path of God, He makes us the sharer and inheritor of Infinite Wisdom and Bliss. He guides and teaches us to abide in union with Brahm and disseminate the joy of Brahm all around us, so that every thirsty soul may be quenched and drenched. He thus becomes the centre and heart of all his devotees who are then drawn to Him just as bee is drawn to honey.

God is our eternal companion. He is our Father, our very own. How to reach Him! To behold Him, we need Divine Eye of the soul, for our physical eyes are limited to gross vision. A Perfect Master facilitates our Divine Union with our eternal companion by causing the opening of our Divine Eye, the Eye of the Soul. One can enjoy the eternal companionship of God when his eye of spirit opens up. For, then he is able to perceive Brahm whenever he goes, in whatever state he is, and whether his gross eyes are open or closed, as is elucidated in the teachings of Adi Shankarcharya in Vivekchudamani:

“The whole Universe is in reality the Brahman, for its essence is That. Our Perception of the Universe is a continuous perception of Brahman, though the ignorant man is not aware of this. Indeed, this universe is nothing but Brahman. One can see Brahman everywhere, under all circumstances, with the eye of the spirit and tranquil heart. How can the physical eyes see anything but physical objects? How can the mind of the enlightened man think of anything other than the Reality?”

The import of his statement is that God is All Pervading and when the Divine Eye of the spirit opens, a man is able to perceive Him anywhere, whether outside or inside. Being omnipotent, He acts like our True Companion, who accompanies us to wherever we go. In Him, we can find the love of our parents, the understanding of a sister, the protection of a brother, and the support of a time-tested friend. His helping and protecting hand is always there for our support and rescue.

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