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.
