During Satya Yuga, Rakshasas live in a different Loka (plane of existence).
During Treta Yuga, Rakshasas live on a different island, like in the Ramayana.
During Dvapara Yuga, Rakshasas live in a different city or area on the same body of land, like in the Mahabharata.
During Kali Yuga, Rakshasas live in the hearts and minds of human beings.
I started reading Thoreau in the sixth grade, but do not recall this quote. Many famous minds were into Vedic Knowledge… Einstein, Oppenheimer, Schrodinger, and Heisenberg, to name a few. In the following, “Vedas and Angas” refers to the texts which, to this day, are considered by many to be written and ‘created’ a handful of thousands of years ago. In reality, they are eternal. They are inherent to nature, to existence. Thoreau knew that deep within himself and touches upon it.
To understand how this can be is to understand cognition. Understanding cognition changes everything. But that understanding must not be simplistic. Simplistic understandings of the nature of life and existence lead to fanatical dogmas. This is not to say that Thoreau cognized Veda. But he was a thinker… deeper than most. By Veda, I do not mean a book or books. By Veda, I mean nature. To Know, to understand nature is to transcend all echoes of Truth… all dogma. Echoes of Truth, perceived as Truth, hold Truth at bay.
“Was not Asia mapped in my brain before it was in any geography?
In my brain is the Sanskrit, which contains the history of primitive times.
The Vedas and Angas are not so ancient as my serenest contemplations…
Farthest India is nearer to me than Concord & Lexington.”
~ Henry David Thoreau, journal entries, circa 1851
Rishi is the Knower, Chhandas the Known, and Devata the process of Knowing.
Rishi is the musician, Devata is the spirit or soul behind the music, and Chhandas is the rhythm and structure of the music itself.
The interesting insight here is that rhythm cannot exist independently of structure (the notes and their tone). It is the structure that gives the rhythm something to dance upon. The music, the Known (Chhandas) is the unification of the rhythm with the structure.
Yet, it is the Devata value (the process of Knowing and merging with the music) that gives it a soul, a meaning, a feeling. The musician finds that aliveness, that soul of the music, within, and infuses it into the Chaandas value through the process of Knowing (the Devata).
It is said that computer-generated music is somewhat sterile. Although such music is played with perfection, the process of Knowing is not lively. It is the personified value of the Devata component that breathes life into the music. If that is so, why does computerized Bach inspire so many so deeply?
The Rishi, Devata, and Chaandas value are intimately entwined. For example, we have Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach. A Bach fugue is very mathematical in its nature, lending itself well to computer-generated music. We could say that the Chhandas value, the music itself, has a strong mathematical component. Or we could say that it is the nature of the musician or composer who has an affinity for mathematical structure. Or we could say that it is the Devata value that has the mathematical orientation. In reality, all three components are fully enmeshed, entwined, and inseparable from one another. This is true not only of music, but with everything. It’s what makes the pillow a pillow, a cup a cup, and a tree a tree.
Everything exists transgradiently, including our intuitive abilities. More superficially, intuition is largely rooted in getting a feeling for the situation and some rational or commonsensical perspective as well. Then we come to a reasonable conclusion that could be called intuition or at least some degree of intuition. But what is intuition on the deepest level and how do we cultivate it?
On the deepest level of our being, we are one with God. Scientists might say it another way: We are in touch with the unified field at the depth of our being, that place where we are one with everything… that place that is beyond time and space… that place where you already know everything, because you are eternally one with everything.
BUT: that place within us is beyond experience. Which is why we call it the Transcendent. It transcends relative existence. It transcends experience. As we approach it, we sense and feel it more deeply, but it cannot be grasped. It is beyond thing-ness.
So let’s take a look at the structure of our awareness (the structure of existence) and see where Intuition (with a capital “I”) comes from. To really know this is to experience it. Otherwise, it is just a concept or idea. Oftentimes, Knowledge is thought of as a concept, but really it is much more than that. Actually, it is an experience.
The experience of the deepest level of Intuition begins with the experience of the relationship of the Transcendent with our relative existence. It is the distinction between the two. The distinction between Intellect (intellect here meaning “structure” or “relativity”) and the Transcendent (Oneness) – Patanjali discussed this in his Yoga Sutras. The distinction between Atman and Sattva (finest relative), or Atman and Buddhi. To Know that (to experience that) is to experience the gap or separation between the two – between the Transcendent (the Absolute) and the relative (what we think of as creation or existence).
The gap between the two is thought of in terms of SMRITI (memory). Within the relative is the ‘memory’ of the perfection of the Transcendent. That perfection is what gives the relative its structure. It is like the underlying matrix or pattern that is the foundation upon which all relativity is based. As our awareness becomes clear, this all becomes clear and our ‘memory’ of that Divine perfection becomes more clear and undistorted.
Everything (all past, present, and future) exists in the Transcendent. That is what it means to be beyond space and time. I have discussed in detail the nature of space and time in other blogs and lectures. That Knowledge is brought out to our minds in relative existence through the gap… through memory of the Transcendent. To cultivate Intuition (on the deepest level) is to enter the gap – to see within the gap, and bring what you see there into the conscious awareness undistorted.
Needless to say, that level is very delicate. So even after we cultivate the ability to ‘see’ the distinction between the Intellect and the Transcendent and then enter and see within the gap, our personality self has its bias… it’s wanting… it’s desire for things to be a certain way. That wanting is enough to distort what we see within that gap. That is why it is in some ways easier to ‘see’ (to have clear Intuition) regarding others rather than regarding ourselves. Our desires get in the way.
The beauty of Vedic Knowledge is that it provides a detailed account of the nature and structure of existence on profound levels. Yet that knowledge only becomes real Knowledge when it is experienced. Otherwise, it is just a concept. The concepts, of course, are very good. However, the real meaning lies in the direct and true Knowing. Understanding the nature of Intuition is just one example. It is within your grasp to become a person of true Knowledge. Yet, very few people reach for that height. Consider yourself to be most fortunate that you are reaching in that direction.
People often ask me what more than can do to evolve. The answer is simple: keep a steady hand on the rudder. Keep going. Don’t stop. There will be obstacles along the way. Most of the obstacles are in your heart and your mind. Remain committed to the highest. I offer you the path. But it is up to you to traverse it.
I received the following question:
"I’m always interested in health and food, etc. I have recently come across information about hybrid and electric foods. Apparently, a lot of foods are a cross between different foods, like carrots, cauliflower, beans, seedless grapes, etc.
"I don’t know what your thoughts are on this. Can it be harmful to try to eat only food in their natural form? I’m wondering, because I believe there wouldn’t be much left to eat. I’m amazed at how many foods have been played with (besides GMOs and pesticides)!"
My response:
The DNA of our food is like the Veda… nature. Breaking it up with engineering is harmful and will result in many weird and undiagnosed diseases.
