" There is nothing there which is trying to capture something" ~ UG

    This conversation (scroll down for the audio clip and transcription) between Bob (Robert Carr) and UG reminds me of my own exchange with my previous guru, Sri Rayaru, years before bouncing into UG. I was finished with Jiddu Krishnamurti during my college days in Bangalore and soon after Rayaru appeared on the horizon.

    Young, sincere and faithful, I used to listen intently to my new guru in flesh and blood, and latch onto his every word. At the time, for me, his words came across as truly liberating and revelatory. He was a simple village man, but his words were powerful and cut through the most sophisticated logic and scholarship. They held a mirror to the many serious limitations and distortions inherent in human understanding and intellect. 

    The guru hit the nail on the head pointing to the crux of all our problems - the futility and shallowness of our understanding. Little did I realise at the time that in my exchanges with the guru, I too was unconsciously walking into this very trap, the serious and misleading 'intellectual trap' of 'trying to understand' his words. 

    Understanding is the attempt to see or grasp meaning out of events or words or utterings. No doubt, this is a much-needed tool in the mundane world and has great utility in technical matters, and also for smooth functioning in the day-to-day transactional world where we have to live and function. 

    Understanding, in this sense, is nothing more than 'storing and sorting' of things or thoughts or words or statements (' understanding is nothing but hashing and rehashing of thoughts' ~ UG). 

    But what we call understanding could actually be a dubious intellectual exercise when it is used as an instrument for inquiring into life or reality. It could become an intellectual trap when ordinary 'words' or 'sounds' get enriched through our limited experience and knowledge. Words then acquire 'meanings', and 'meanings' turn into 'ideas' etc. This is the mechanism of ideation or conceptualization or mentation. This builds our worldview, and we are stuck with it forever. We use our so-called understanding as the pivot or reference or guide in all our dealings with the world. 

    All of us, knowingly or unknowingly invest in words or statements of gurus or teachers and turn them into some kind of 'teaching' or 'ideology' or 'doctrine' and end up carrying the burden of their wisdom on our backs. We fail to realise that words are to be used as the proverbial 'net' to capture the essence and should be thrown away or discarded after 'catching the fish'. 

****

    Back then, I was still raw and had absolutely no clue about the latent dangers of 'understanding'. The process of 'constructing meaning' or understanding is a deadly game that our intellect plays like a pro. 

    During one of our verbal exchanges, I challenged my guru on his view and confronted him with 'a dose of his own medicine', so to speak. Essentially, I was pushing back at him with my own 'acquired' point of view, by weaving meanings and images around his own words that I had gathered during the course of our daily discussions and dialogues. And boy, he immediately flared up like a volcano and raged like an inferno. He clinically went about 'putting me in my place', thoroughly demolishing all my ideas and arguments, pulverizing my bloated ego. 

    My foolish attempt to 'make sense' of his words had brought about this debacle. I was puffed up and arrogant with the acquired knowledge that I had piled up over the years. This encounter came as a total shock to me and completely shattered my erstwhile investment or faith in words, however noble or great. It hit me hard that my shallow understanding was premised upon false and fabricated meanings that I had infused into the words of the guru, thanks to my limited experience and borrowed knowledge. 

    In fact, the guru was just holding a mirror to me, showing me how stupid and shortsighted I really was. I was totally blind to the folly of 'understanding'. Till then I had no idea of how seriously I was invested in 'words'. It was indeed a wakeup call.

    This shocking exchange put me in a state of total stillness and silence that lasted for several days. I fell into a deep trance-like state where I could see and read a person like an open book and even predict events as they happened. Gradually the effect evaporated after a few days. 

    I had gotten a bloody nose but was lucky to have received one of the best lessons of my lifetime. Whenever we hear or read something, we indulge in building or constructing rich imagery, ideas and concepts around the words. 

****   

    Here is UG exactly describing how we indulge in the word game by bestowing such imaginary power and glory to mere words,  

    " You are building images around those words, creating a tremendous image around those words. But actually, they are words" ~ UG.

    Here is another rare gem by UG,

    "The problem is, if I may put it that way, there is nothing there (no entity) which is trying to capture something. It(thought) is one, they are not two different things."

                                                                                                                                        ~ UG

    Not only UG, many other sages like Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Ramana, Sri Nisargadutta too spoke in unison saying that there is no separate 'psychological entity' there. This is abundantly evident when we see animals and infants. 

    Here UG says, "It (thought) is one, they are not two different things." 

    And also, UG clearly explicated that the division of thought or the 'splitting of thought' is solely responsible for the illusion of the 'self' or the 'thinker' in these powerful and impactful words,

  

" If the thought remains one, without splitting into two, that does the trick! " 

    The division or splitting of thought is brought about solely by our intent. Our desire or intent to 'capture' or 'understand' or 'know' creates the demand for 'inquiry' and brings into existence the illusory 'inquirer' or the 'questioner'. 

    Intent unknowingly, unconsciously brings about the division in thought as the 'inquirer and the inquired', 'knower and knowledge', 'observer and the observed', 'thinker and the thought' etc. 

    Our intent to understand the 'wave' artificially separates it from the 'ocean'; we conveniently ignore the fact that the 'wave' and ocean' are the same waterbody. Our intent to look at one separates it from the other treating them as two different and distinct things. This is the splitting of thoughts.

    Yes, words or thoughts are artificially enriched or loaded with meanings through acquired knowledge and experience. They create fantasy or magic. Words can build worlds, create forms and names and make our existence complex and complicated. 

    Most importantly intent can introduce serious distortions in words and thoughts.

    Only the lucky realise the mischief or danger of words or intentions. Not just that, the wise also know their utility in the societal or transactional world,

    " No, we have to use words. The words are there. You see that's the end of our conversation (there is no need to carry the words any further)" ~ UG

****

    A few days after my heated exchange with the guru, I once again confronted and questioned him about the 'trap of words' and whether we could really trust words at all, and he repeated these exact words of UG to Bob. He emphasised that we have no choice but to use words as long as we live and function in the midst of society.

    My guru was remarkable in many ways, but differences were beginning to crop up between us from time to time making our relationship untenable and tenuous. We locked horns on several occasions, sometimes in the public. His followership kept on increasing and soon he was contemplating a spiritual centre of his own with the backing of his newfound followers. I was vehemently opposed to the idea of any spiritual organisation. Gurudom and spiritual circus eventually took precedence over enlightening dialogue and discussion. The time was ripe for me to part ways. 

    Life had different plans for me. Very soon UG stormed into my life, and I had to shift base to Mumbai.

    

Audio Clip

Audio Transcript

Bob (telling the audience): Well, the question is that I'm still trying to fit him (UG) into a framework that there is such a thing as a clear, rational man.

UG: It is irrational. It is illogical.

Bob: I know that.

UG: From that point of view,

Bob: Yes, but these are all just words.

UG: No, we have to use words. The words are there. You see that's the end of our conversation.

I don't see anything other than words. That's all that I'm saying. There is nothing more than words. We assume that there is something (meaning, the second-order derivative) more than words.

You are building images around those words, creating a tremendous image around those words. But actually, they are words.

The word is the thing. You can't say the word is not the thing. If the word is not the thing, what the hell it is? I want to know.

Bob: Accepting that, we are always trying to capture something.

UG: What is it?

Bob: It's the lack of being able to face what is, this reality?.

UG: The problem is, if I may put it that way, there is nothing there which is trying to capture something.

It is one, they are not two different things.

    

" UG is the most profound embodiment of Advaita " - Major Dakshinamurti

 

Major Dakshinamurti & UG Krishnamurti

    This is an unpublished 35-year-old writeup about UG, penned by his close associate Major Dakshinamurti who lived and journeyed with the master during his annual visits to South India for nearly two decades. 

    In his eighties now, the former Major from the Army continues to live alone in the midst of nature in a farmhouse near Bangalore. Practically a society dropout, he is a standing example of 'self-reliance' living alone and all by himself.

(Scroll down to the bottom to watch the latest video of the Major sharing his 'spiritual odyssey' with UG).

MY MASTER UG KRISHNAMURTI

-    A DYNAMIC PERSONALITY

By Major Sistla Dakshina Murti (Retd.) December 1990

UG - The most profound embodiment of Advaita

 In a country suffused with spiritual ambience like ours, one is confident of what to expect from a spiritual master - soft speaking calmness exuding balmy solace. Such conceptions are shattered to pieces when you are face to face with the great sage Sri Uppaluri Gopala Krishnamurti who prefers to be simply called UG. 

    With quick fluid movements and dynamic energy at the age of 72, one often sees him denouncing the gurus and godmen and one is even tempted to brush him aside as a maverick. However, if you exercise patience and probe into his lifestyle and teachings, you are in for many surprises. You find yourself face to face with a Jeevan Mukta, a liberated being who is one of the most profound embodiments of Advaita living today.   

    UG lives like King Janaka, one of India's greatest philosophers of ancient times. Being a Jnani, his teaching is exalted like that of Sri Gauda Pada. His non-dualistic view of life is like a clear crystal untainted by authoritarian, religious, scriptural, social or national beliefs and affiliations. His teaching is on the lines of Jnana Marga considered to be the highest in the Indian Philosophical tradition as different from Karma or Bhakti. Even in the Bhagavat Gita, the Lord likened the Jnani to none other than himself. UG is a person of unexcelled awakening and never comes down from his lofty spiritual heights. He never stoops down or dilutes his teaching for the mundane to understand him. One has to climb up to reach him.

    He was born on the 9th of July, 1918 in the town of Gudivada in Andhra Pradesh and his mother, who died soon after his birth, predicted that her son would achieve great spiritual eminence. The boy was brought up by his grandfather who was a well-known Theosophist and was tutored in the best spiritual traditions of Hinduism surrounded by Sannyasins, Pandits and Theosophists. He learnt Yoga from Sri Sivananda Saraswati of Rishikesh. He was initiated into Mantra Japa at a very early age and spent most of his time in spiritual practices, thus hardly finding anytime for his studies. 

    While studying BA Honours in Madras, UG was taken by a friend to Sri Ramana Maharishi at Tiruvannamalai. UG asked the Maharishi three questions - "Does a state called liberation exist?" The Maharishi answered, ''yes". The next question was "Are there any levels to it?" The reply was ''There are no levels, either you are in it or out of it". Then UG asked his last question "That state -liberation, can you give it to me?" Ramana Maharishi, looking the young man in the eye answered pointedly, "Yes I can give it, but can you take it?" UG was flabbergasted by this reply and was haunted by the thought ''What is it that I cannot take?'' The encounter with the Maharishi was a challenge to him which further strengthened his obsession to attain Moksha (liberation).

UG and the Classic Neti, Neti approach stretched to the limit

    As time passed, he married and had children. He became actively interested in the Theosophical Society and started touring the world as a platform orator, first on behalf of the society and later as an independent speaker. He was very close to J.Krishnamurti (of the World Teacher fame) for many years but left him as the latter's teaching did not help. All the while UG was having many spiritual experiences but felt that the 'highest' evaded him. He had every kind of desirable experience the teachers and books described - Samadhi as well as Nirvikalpa Samadhi. But he said to himself, "Thought can create any experience you want - bliss, beatitude, ecstasy, melting away into nothingness - all these are thought created experiences. These are not what I want and brushed them aside as worthless. His was the classic Neti, Neti approach stretched to the limit. 

    From the age of 35, UG had many supernatural powers. The moment he saw a man, he could instantly know the past, present and future of that man. Whenever he uttered something, it used to happen. But he did not use these faculties as he was not interested in these powers at all.

    By this time, UG lost his family and his considerable wealth. He started drifting in Europe, but his burning quest continued. He lived in London and Paris for some time and started feeling that his head was 'missing'. He lost his will and was like a leaf blown by the wind. He lost even his appetite and above all, lost all hope of enlightenment. He was in a totally hopeless state when he reached Switzerland. Here, a gracious lady, Valentine De Kerven in her late 60's understood his plight and provided him with money, food and shelter. His spiritual experiences continued. Once when he saw a girl dancing on the stage, he had no way of knowing whether it was he that was dancing or someone else. Even when he entered into the state of Buddha consciousness, there was the experience still leftover, so UG brushed it aside concluding that it was his past knowledge which had projected that state - it was Neti, Neti in action, at its best.

There is no reference point or centre in UG

    On the 9th of July 1967, on his 49th birthday, UG was sitting under a wild chestnut tree overlooking one of the most beautiful spots in the world - the seven hills and seven valleys of  Saanenland  when the final awakening occurred. He suddenly felt that the experiencer in him disappeared along with the two philosophical questions which were smoldering with great intensity in him for long, namely - ' Who is the experiencer?' and 'How do I know that this is the state of liberation?'                               

    UG says that there was a sudden explosion inside, blasting every cell, every nerve and every gland including the bone marrow in his body, destroying the illusion that there is continuity, that there is a centre, that there is an 'I' that is linking up the thoughts.  He became conscious that the head had become very tight and any thoughts or vasanas could not enter the brain anymore.  There were tremendous pains all over the body simulating a nuclear explosion with chain reactions wherein an alchemy of sorts occurred changing the entire chemistry of the body. UG calls this experience a 'Calamity' which hit him like an earthquake. From then on for him there were no (spiritual) planes, no levels. At no time does the thought that he is different from anyone else occur because there is no reference point or centre in him.

    The next day UG noticed that his skin became soft like silk with a golden glow. On the second day he became aware that he was in a 'declutched' state. When Valentine brought him tomato soup, he looked at it and could not recognize it. He asked what it was and was told that it was tomato soup. He recognized and after taking a sip forgot its name. He had forgotten everything. On the third day, his sense of smell changed, and the best perfume or the cow dung started smelling the same to him. On the fourth day, he developed a kind of 'vista vision' with 360 degrees visibility and his eyes stopped blinking. He found that the men and cars on the road were either emanating from him or going through him. On the fifth day, his hearing changed and when he heard the bark of a dog or the mooing of a cow the sounds originated from within him. On the sixth day, when he was lying down suddenly his body disappeared. When he touched his limbs, only the part that he touched was there. Because seeing became independent of the sense of touch, it was not possible for him to create the image of his body. All these changes became permanent, and his senses function in a similar fashion even today. After some time, he found the Chakras - Moola Dhara to Ajna Chakra physically appearing on his body. His neck was swollen, and it appeared that his chin was resting on the hood of a cobra, with ash appearing all over the body. The movement of his wrists changed and even now his hands often make gestures described as Mudras in the scriptures. This was followed by physical death of his body which somehow recovered on its own.

UG can only be compared to the Pralaya Rudra, the Annihilator Supreme

   UG remains in what he calls the 'natural state' where thoughts never trouble him and his senses function independently without any 'I' coordinating them. There is no image about himself. No 'self' telling him that he is a liberated or enlightened man. He remains in a state of not knowing, information being supplied whenever there is a need. One cannot find even a trace of the 'self' or 'ego' in him. He has all the extrasensory powers but does not usually exhibit them. He accepts no gifts and does not accept any disciples. He will not allow anyone to touch his feet, is very courteous to visitors, and leads a very pure and simple life. He is a world traveler hopping from one continent to another like a free bird. He is not detached to the conveniences of life, nor is attached to anything. 

    What UG tells the seekers is at once shocking - "Going to the church, temple or mosque is the same as going to the pub for a drink". "There is nothing but fear in you and God is the creation of frightened minds". "God, Atman, hell, heaven, immortality and rebirth are the non-existent figments of your rich and fertile imagination". "What is necessary for man is to free himself from the entire past of mankind, free himself from what every man before him has thought, felt or experienced". "There is no power outside of man. Whatever power is out there, it is inside man". Pointing to himself he says, '' This is going to liquidate what you call 'you', all of you, the higher self, the lower self, soul, atman, consciousness, subconscious, and all that".

    If the old must be destroyed for the new to rise like a phoenix from the ashes, UG can only be compared to the Pralaya Rudra, the Annihilator Supreme, who is out to destroy in his cosmic fire all the accumulated tendencies or vasanas of those seekers who approach him. He says that he can give nothing but admits that he takes away all those vasanas and puts nothing in their place.

    What UG Krishnamurti teaches is the highest philosophy and on meeting him one is left wondering is he Siva, the destroyer of the inner worlds (false mental accumulations) unleashed? But it would be a memorable experience for anyone to meet him and to try to climb to the dizzying heights of his teaching, as you would be meeting the very embodiment of the highest attainment in the spiritual field. For that reason alone, a visit is worth it.

****

 Major shares his journey with UG (video)

    Major Dakshinamurti is a rare individual who has truly walked the talk in his spiritual journey.

    He had displayed tremendous courage to follow the traditional path of 'sadhana' and lock horns with the sagely UG who summarily dismissed all sadhana as merely a selfish pursuit or ego trip. He always maintained that sadhana helped to merely bolster the egos of the sadhakas.

    UG, in a rare gesture made an exception to Major and allowed this diehard sadhaka to embrace his own chosen path. What more, he even arranged and finalized a place for Major to stay next to a jungle to pursue the life of a hermit!

    It is to Major's credit that he withstood the constant ridicule, the never-ending tirades and onslaughts from UG for years on end and still managed to live under the same roof with the sage accompanying him on his travels all over India as his personal chauffeur.

    Being a soldier by profession, he didn't budge an inch from his post while he was in direct line of fire from the master blaster.

    In his eighties now, he lives in peace and content in his sprawling farmhouse, surrounded by wildlife. The many cobras and scorpions do not seem to have enough of his peaceful company, all the time paying him regular visits.

    He is a living legend who carries himself with such grace and dignity.

    Here is a clip of the Major speaking to an assembly of UG friends and admirers about how UG helped him deal with his many nagging doubts and questions in his tumultuous spiritual odyssey.

    Major is a shining example of UG's credo of leading a life of 'uncomplaining and uncompromising self-reliance'!

 ****

 

" If you don't use thought for any achievement, spiritual or otherwise, then it is not a burden " ~ UG

  

              Thought is the product of conditioning

            Thoughts are basically ‘processed’ memories, the residues of experiences gathered over a lifetime, the ‘leftovers’ from various interactions with the environment – both the physical (or natural) environment as well as the social (or cultural) environment. In other words, ‘thought’ is the product of either the ‘physical conditioning’ or the ‘cultural conditioning’. 

            Conditioning is the mechanism of adaptation of the entity in a given environment. Our ‘infant to adult’ journey is one of accrual or accumulation of thoughts (knowledge) or the amassing of experiences or learnings about both our natural and cultural environments. 

    The ‘natural conditioning’ occurs in case of all lifeforms including humans while they adapt to the physical environment. Whereas the cultural or ‘social conditioning’ is peculiar to the human race. It is a superimposition on top of natural conditioning making humans not only unique but also volatile and unpredictable. 

Conditioning midwives 'thought', the tool or the instrument essential for operating, functioning within a given environment. This indeed is the true function or utility of thought. 

Instead of being a powerful tool for adaptation and survival, thought could very well turn into a weapon when employed as a means to control or influence or dominate over others or the natural order of things: “Thought is your enemy” ~ UG.

Phobias & Psychological Fears

Specifically, thoughts of fear or phobias are the result of physical or natural conditioning. Whether it is acrophobia or the fear of heights, or aquaphobia or the fear of drowning, pyrophobia or the fear of fire, all these are natural and valid fears. They ensure that the physical entity survives and does not suffer any harm or danger in the natural environment. 

On the other hand, the psychological or thought-induced fears like the fear of loss, the fear of humiliation, the fear of guilt or shame are all artificial fears, born of culture. This is peculiar to humans; animals do not suffer this fate. 

Human journey is pivoted around the social or cultural conditioning. In fact, our education is all about gathering or studying thoughts, the thoughts of others – the thoughts of wise men and women from every walk of life since the beginning of time. World’s libraries are flooded with thoughts of leaders, achievers, scientists, inventors, philosophers, saints and sages from ages. They have tremendous influence on our thoughts and actions to this day. 

Even the social or cultural environment is soaked or charged or contaminated with human thought: “We are surrounded by what I call the ‘world mind’ or the ‘thought sphere” ~ UG. 

Every human, in a way, is a tiny repository of the cumulative knowledge of humans since time immemorial, the product of centuries of human thought. Every social or cultural interaction is a means of exchange or transmission or dissemination of thoughts or ideas. As societal creatures, no wonder we can never be free of thoughts even for a moment.

Lack of purpose or goal reduces the burden of thoughts

In the audio clip, UG points out exactly when thoughts stop being functional, instead turning into inimical agents. This happens when there is an agenda or a purpose or a motive to achieve a certain goal, either material or spiritual.

" The achievement you are interested in, is made possible but not guaranteed through this instrument called ‘thinking’...

Thought is the material, the idea that there is something to be achieved, the goal is fixed. So, what you are doing is putting these thoughts together to achieve that goal. That's all that you are doing. You are thinking. So, this material (thought or knowledge) has been supplied to you, by the claimants (the achievers) who talked about this.” ~ UG

Thoughts are generally random, not binding or burdensome. Every moment, some thoughts appear and disappear depending on our situation, depending on the people who we meet with or interact with. But mostly thoughts are ‘disjointed or disconnected’, flowing in a free-wheeling mode. Random, with no real purpose or focus, they completely lack any substance or momentum. 

The whole equation changes when there is a strong motivation or desire to achieve a particular objective or goal. Thoughts then get focused, turn purposeful and forceful coalescing into a formidable ‘will’. Willful thoughts get propelled into motion towards achieving the desired goal or result. They acquire tremendous power and gather enormous momentum. UG calls this ' the movement of knowledge’.

Incidentally the 'movement of knowledge' wreaks havoc on our lives by simulating the powerful and stubborn illusion of a virtual reality, the false appearance of the 'knower' or the 'doer' or the 'achiever' or the ‘self’. “Self is nothing but the movement of knowledge” ~ UG. 

Yes, thoughts in motion create the illusion of the ‘thinker’ just like the still images or drawings when set into motion give rise to the illusion of Tom and Jerry.

In the clip, UG deconstructs the ‘self’ or the ‘you’ through yet another simple, profound observation,

“If you don't use that (thought) for any achievement, spiritual or otherwise, then it is not a burden. Then it (thought) becomes disconnected and disjointed. The continuity (of the 'self'), the demand to continue through the repetition of the thought is not there. You have to experience that (thought) again and again and again (to feed the illusion of the ‘self’). Otherwise, ‘you’ are not there” ~ UG

_________________________________________________

Audio Clip

______________________________________________________

Audio Transcription

Q: The changes in thought, frequent changes in thought show that they (thoughts) have no basis.

UG: No, you see, the use of thoughts to achieve something is the problem. Whether it is material achievement or spiritual achievement. You call it a spiritual achievement, but the instrument which you are using is matter.

And so, this so-called desire to achieve a spiritual goal is also materialistic. So, both of them are finished for you.

Q: Thought should cease.

UG: Thought will not cease. Thought is not the instrument.

Q: What is the instrument?

UG: There is no instrument at all. The achievement you are interested in, is made possible but not guaranteed through this instrument called ‘thinking’.

Q: True, what exactly is the material?

Thought is the material, the idea that there is something to be achieved, the goal is fixed. So, what you are doing is putting these thoughts together to achieve that goal. That's all that you are doing. You are thinking. So, this material has been supplied, to you, by the claimants who talked about this.

Q: Granted,

UG: That's all. You are using that. So, then what is the question?

Q: Then, you see, is the ‘thought condition’ in which I am, itself, is satisfactory, for life?

UG: It is. It is

It is. If you don't use that for any achievement, spiritual or otherwise, then it is not a burden. Then it becomes disconnected and disjointed. The continuity, the demand to continue through the repetition of the thought is not there. You have to experience that again and again and again. Otherwise ‘you’ are not there. 

____________________________________________

Tao Teh Ching

Chapter 3

Do not glorify the achievers (or chase after goals)
So, the people will not squabble
Do not treasure goods that are hard to obtain
So, the people will not become thieves
Do not show the desired things
So, their hearts will not be confused

Thus, the governance of the sage:
Empties their hearts (or minds)
Fills their bellies (or fills their essence)
Weakens their ambitions
Strengthens their bones

Let the people have no cunning and no greed
So those who scheme will not dare to meddle
Act without contrivance (or scheme or plan)
And nothing will be beyond control (all actions will be natural and harmonious)

(Derek Lin)

Source: https://taoism.net/tao-te-ching-online-translation/

(Tao of UG - Chapter 3)

" By trying to plan every action, man becomes a poisonous worm. " ~ Babu reminisces about UG

    

     

    The following is an excerpt from Chandrasekhar Babu's journal, 'Stopped In Our Tracks - Third Series'.  It is a wonderful piece of eloquent writing that captures the real essence of UG's talks over the years. 

    The writeup is powerful and insightful, a true reflection of the openness and receptivity of the author. The simplicity and clarity of these lines are truly impactful.    

****

    Man uses his every action, thought and experience to seek pleasure. The search for pleasure has the only aim of maintaining the continuity of the ‘I’ without a break. 

    When we notice that our attempts are, even in sorrow, worry and depression, to make the ‘I’ continue, we must also count them as part of the search for pleasure. 

    It is as much a pleasure movement when the devotee pines for God’s mercy, when the spiritual aspirant yearns for oneness while struggling in duality, unable to achieve unity with the animate and inanimate world, as when the lover trembles in eagerness for the bliss of his beloved’s embrace. 

    We seek pleasure especially in the food we try to find, prepare and fill our bellies with. The body doesn’t know what we eat, nor does it care. The body doesn’t know hunger. Hunger is a chemical event. If thought does not translate the chemical event that occurs when the blood glucose level drops to a certain level as ‘hunger’, we wouldn’t be anxious to fill our stomachs; and in that condition there wouldn’t be any debate in the body about what to eat and what not to eat. The body grabs whatever is within its reach. It won’t be eager to hoard for the next day. 

    All that food worry is only for the false, delusional individuality, for the separate identity called the ‘I’ that this culture and civilization have created in the body. That individuality constantly - every moment, day and night - fights with the mechanism of the body to assert its separate existence. It needs permanence. It must always survive. It must live higher and higher, wealthier and wealthier, happier and happier. Even if one’s body is in ruins, is decomposed or dead, it must continue to live at least in another body.

    Immortality and permanence, living forever, these are the primary goals of this 'existence'. It is thanks to these goals that man has become a pleasure seeker. 

    By trying to plan every action based on wanting to secure his happiness, his pleasure, his satisfaction, he becomes a poisonous worm, destroying the whole of creation which supports his body. The body tries to shake off this poisonous worm with all its might. It is this struggle which the 'individual' experiences as fear, anxiety, disease and psychosomatic illnesses.

    

When the struggle with the body stops, the individuality called 'I' will disappear. It will appear only when it is necessary for the protection of the body. At other times, it is merged with the mechanisms of the body with no separate existence of its own; and it does not separate itself from this creation and struggle in duality; it lives quietly, united with life. In that state there is no 'pleasure movement'. There is no search for pleasure. That's the natural state of each one of us. That's what I feel UG is saying.

   

    The guy called Chandrasekhar is a squatter there [in that body]; he is an alien. He is a thief who is trying to appropriate [that body]. The body mechanism tries with all its might to expel him. From time to time, human culture and civilization pour life into 'him' (the self), seeking to maintain him permanently. 

    What you call life is only the struggle between these two conflicting goals. The body is not concerned about Chandrasekhar's likes and dislikes. In fact, whatever he likes are like poison to the body. Still, he imposes them on the body. He wants to impose them forcibly and lock in his experience of pleasure permanently. The body pushes it all out as shit. The thoughts that come into his head, it throws out through the mouth as verbal shit. 

    This is why wise men command us to sit quietly shutting up both the top and bottom orifices. Yesterday UG demonstrated this truth so forcefully that it has left a deep and lasting impression on our minds.

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    The title of Babu's book, 'Stopped In Our Tracks' describes the exact state of those who were associated with UG for a length of time. 

    UG took the wind off the sails, putting an end to the torture of needless spiritual shopping and guru hopping. Interactions with UG, sometimes resulted in tremendous amounts of friction and heat. But all this was indeed an act of supreme empathy. He 'stopped people in their tracks' averting the many dangers and disasters associated with spiritual pursuits and self-seeking gurus. 

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Happy Guru Poornima

"If you are lucky, you get out of the trap of knowledge" ~ UG

    

    In this audio clip (please scroll down to the bottom), UG deconstructs 'knowledge', uncovering its true nature and exposing its serious limitations. 

    Knowledge or 'intellectual wealth' is considered the pinnacle of human achievement, setting us apart from the rest of creation. This is made possible, thanks largely to our 'plastic brain' (the 'neocortex' or the 'gray matter') that sits atop the old limbic-reptilian brain complex. It is the most pliable or the 'biologically programmable' cortical structure, that forms our cognitive or intellectual apparatus. 

    

    'Brain plasticity' refers to the flexibility or pliability of the brain cells or neurons in the cortex that grow, regrow, shrink, connect or reconnect in trillion different ways with other cells in the brain to form powerful neuronal networks to achieve new functionalities or capabilities. 

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    An aside:

 

Scientific research has clearly established the fact that any learning or cognitive undertaking results in the growth of tens of thousands of new dendritic connections (finger like projections) at the terminus of each neuron. A single neuron is known to grow anywhere between a few hundred to a few thousand new connections (like the roots of a tree) whenever we embark on a new learning journey. Each brain cell then begins to grow new 'fingers' that reach out and form new associations with thousands of other neurons in different parts of the brain. This results in the acquisition of new capabilities or skillsets for the learner.

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    Yes, 'brain programming' or 'rewiring' is found to be the direct consequence of academic learning or environmental conditioning. This incredible biological adaptation to new environments or new experiences has not only helped humans to survive and thrive in challenging and hostile environments but it has helped us to undertake incredible intellectual adventures. 

    The human aspiration to explore 'life' or 'nature' or 'reality' is therefore, grounded in brain biology, in the uncharted wilderness of gray matter. 

    The pursuit of reality has uncovered many a secret of nature in the form of scientific or technical knowledge, giving us its many wonderful treasures. But on the flipside, it has also resulted in human overreach, the audacity to play god, to lord over all other forms of life, and to plunder and pollute the planet. 

    Yes, exploration of reality has gone awry and turned into exploitation of nature. 

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    'Knowledge' is nothing but the enormous 'information dump' left behind by the pursuit of 'reality', human inquiry into the physical, or the metaphysical. 

    There are a number of paths or approaches to reality, including that of the scientist or the philosopher or the seeker etc., throwing up enormous amounts of 'intellectual litter'. UG refers to this knowledge dump as the 'world mind'. 

    'World mind' is thus the sum and substance of all that humans have thought, felt and experienced . It foms the very foundation of human knowledge and culture. We are all mere puppets in a culture-soaked, knowledge-driven society where information dictates every aspect of our daily life. 

    Knowledge has bestowed upon us many gifts, comforts and conveniences, but has also created the bomb and other weapons of mass destruction. It has become the albatross around our necks. The onus is entirely on us, individually and collectively, to beware of its limitations, and to steer clear of its dangers and traps. 

    Knowledge is a humungous repository of answers or solutions distilled from human exploration into various aspects of life or reality. Unfortunately, we have not found any answers or solutions to the burning problems of greed, anger, jealousy, inequality, racism, hatred, wars etc. These are the 'problems of living' (UG) born in relationships and interactions.

    There is no 'silver bullet' or 'one-size-fits-all' solution for living problems. 

    Each individual is unique, coming from an entirely different background. Each of us is saddled with peculiar circumstances, problems and challenges. Overwhelmed and helpless, we begin to seek answers or solutions from external sources. But we soon discover that all borrowed answers are woefully inadequate to address our unique challenges. Saddled with incomplete or incompatible answers, we fall into an abyss of self-doubt and despair. This sets off an avalanche of new questions. 

    We fail to see the beauty of this simple truism,  

    "All your questions are born of answers (given out by others)" ~ UG

    " So, what is necessary is not to find out the answer for the question, but understand that the question which you are asking, posing yourself and putting it to somebody is born out of the answer (knowledge) you already have, which is the knowledge."~ UG  

    What we fail to see is that majority of our problems are basically the 'problems of choice', rooted entirely in our own likes, dislikes, prejudices or biases.  

     For UG, all human 'problems' are nothing more than 'conflicts of interest'. He explains that for every situation in life, there is always an adequate, appropriate and definitive solution. But that solution demands a course of action beyond all personal likes or dislikes. Our tendency to cherry-pick a particular course of action, most suitable to us, complicates the matters and perpetuates the problem. 

    UG offers this wonderful tip for a conflict-free life, 

    " Don't seek, don't reject."

    Life is really that simple. It is our personal preferences or choices that turn ordinary situations into extraordinary problems. Even mere labelling of a situation as 'uncomfortable' or 'unfavorable' midwifes the birth of a nonexistent problem. 

  

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    In this audio clip, UG highlights some of the traps and pitfalls of acquired knowledge, especially of the spiritual or cultural kind. 

    UG points out that 'knowledge of reality' has nothing to do with 'reality'. For him, even reality is a fabrication. He explains that the human pursuit of reality is fuelled by the false assumption of reality leading to relentless acquisition of information and the buildup of falsified or flawed knowledge of reality. Over time, this body of knowledge turns into 'de facto' authority. Therein lies the danger, the trap and the tyranny of spiritual or cultural knowledge. 

    " If you are lucky enough, it's only luck, to get out of this trap of knowledge, the question of reality is not there anymore." ~ UG

    UG drills home the human gullibility and absurdity in unmistakable terms,

    " And that assumption (that there is reality) is born out of this knowledge you have, of and about the reality. So, when this (assumption) is not there, the knowledge is (also) not there. The knowledge is the answer you already have. That is why you are asking the question. The question automatically goes." ~ UG

    Knowledge, the spiritual or the cultural kind, wields tremendous clout over people and nations. A book or a sermon or a stone tablet or a hymnal could turn into a powerful authority that could hold sway over millions of followers. The faithfuls blindly follow such authority with unquestioning obedience.There ensues division between the followers and non-followers, followed by hatred, conflicts and wars. This is the naked reality of the civilised world.

    Knowledge, with its grandiose promise of 'heaven on earth' goes terribly astray, leading us on to the prickly path of hell. 

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   The hegemony of knowledge over humans is thus total and complete. There is no escape from its vicious grip. Seeing through its limitations is the only way to steer clear of its many traps. That is the awakening of intelligence. 

    "Intelligence is to see one's own limitations" - UG

    Once intelligence is awakened, knowledge falls into its rightful place in the scheme of things. We could then use knowledge as and when needed without falling into its trap. 

    Acquired knowledge or literacy remains the primary currency of the human world but is no match to the native intelligence of the body that is unrivalled and unparallelled. 

   " All that is necessary for the survival of this living organism is already there. All that is gathered and acquired through intellect (KNOWLEDGE) is no match to the tremendous intelligence of the body." ~ UG

    Here is yet another passage nailing the unassailable truth from Tao Teh Ching of the great Tao master, Lao Tzu

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Audio Clip

Audio Transcription

Q: What I am asking is, is there any chance - I understand that there is no method - but is there any chance of getting out of this 'knowledge of reality' to [actual] reality?

UG: If you are lucky enough, it's only luck, to get out of this trap of knowledge, the question of reality is not there anymore.

    Because the question (what is reality?) is thrown out by this knowledge which is still interested in finding out the reality of things and to experience for yourself directly what the reality is all about. 

    So, when this (interest or curiosity in finding out the reality) is not there, the question is also not there. So, there is no need for finding out any of these because this question which you are posing, you said, and also putting it to me, is born out of the assumption that there is a reality. 

    And that assumption (that there is reality) is born out of this knowledge you have, of and about the reality. So, when this is not there, the knowledge is not there. The knowledge is the answer you already have. That is why you are asking the question. The question automatically goes. 

    So, what is necessary is not to find out the answer for the question, but understand that the question which you are asking, posing yourself and also putting it to somebody, is born out of the answer you already have, which is the knowledge.

    So, the question-and-answer format, if we indulge in for long, becomes a meaningless ritual, the question-and-answer business. 

    But if you are really interested in finding out the reality, this has to dawn on you that your very questioning mechanism is born out of the answers that you already have. Otherwise, there can't be any questions because it's an assumption on your part that there is reality, first of all. And then there is something that you can do to experience the reality of things without the knowledge. The knowledge gives you the experience of reality, that is for sure.

    So if this is not there, is there any other way of experiencing the reality? You are asking the question, the question goes with the answer.

    So there is no need to ask questions and there is no need to answer.

    I am not trying to be clever, I am just spotlighting what is involved in the question and answer business. I'm not actually answering any of the questions, just pointing out you cannot have any questions.

    What you have may be answers. 

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