Chapter 9

Vedic Concepts

1. Knowledge.

The Vedic mother hymn Gayatari mantra has a prayer to Savitar deva (formless and subtle being of knowledge) "bestow us perfect knowledge during all our three states of awakening, sleep and deep slumber." Maitri Upanishad says due to false comparisons and proofs, the world is not able to discern what is the difference between knowledge and ignorance. Isa Upanishad and Yajur-Veda leave no doubt that during stage of ignorance/ne-science, meditation takes a person from darkness to utter darkness. Bhagavad-Gita says there is no purifier like knowledge and with the raft of right knowledge; an individual can cross the turbulent and vast sea of senses and matter. Buddha included right knowledge as part of eight-fold path (Ashata Marga) to achieve perfection and even nirvana. He described ignorance as the longest dark night. Sankracharya made a clear distinction between paraand apara jnan– higher and lower knowledge. When lower knowledge parades as perfect knowledge, social and moral evils spread like wild fire in society.

During the ancient period Greek metaphysicists and philosophers Pythagoras, Socrates and Plato made distinction between a-priori and a-posteriori knowledge. They found that knowledge obtained through sense perception, inference and experience need not be true knowledge. Very often this kind of knowledge is relative to human nature and behaviour of senses based on self interest, false ego and fake imagination appearing as reality. Human mind works as logic inventing machine with such knowledge. Later Sankracharya, Ramanajum and others in the East and Immanuel Kant, Spinoza and many others in the West made distinction between impure and pure reason, higher and lower as well as relative and absolute knowledge. In its various forms knowledge can be innate, pragmatic and empirical. In the lower knowledge, truth varies with time and space. In the higher and absolute knowledge the truths are permanent and uniform. All knowledge may begin with experience but it does not mean all knowledge arises from experience.

Vedas are one of the most ancient scriptures for the guidance and welfare of mankind. Vedas are from the word "Vid", which means knowledge. Thus Vedas are the storehouse of absolute and permanent knowledge. Seven streams of different kind of transcendental and intuitional knowledge emerge from God and then merge into three rivers to form trinity of knowledge (Brahmajnan). These seven streams relate to all physical sciences, social sciences, military science, 16 kinds of arts, spiritual science relating to spirit as energy principle, metaphysics (science of soul) and divine knowledge of eternal objects/subjects. When in harmony, these streams join into three rivers of divine, spiritual and material knowledge to form a trinity of knowledge asBrahmajnan. In isolation all these three kind of knowledge is ignorance. Atharva Veda Book 19, chapters 13 to 18 and Yajur Veda X-12 to 16 describe all the seven streams of knowledge.

Rig-Veda and later Bhagavad Gita (Celestial Song) confirmed, with right knowledge one can cross the stormy river of senses and illusion of comfort created by vast ocean of matter (R.V.10-53-8, Y.V.35-10). God's divine mercy can help in having right knowledge of good, virtue and absolute truth (R.V.8-16-11). Divine knowledge relates to whatever is imperishable, permanent and eternal. Thus knowledge of formless and ineffable God, soul (atma), metaphysics, Time and Space etc. are part of daivyajnan. Spiritual knowledge of spirit (jiva) in Prakrti (divine Nature), her attributes, cosmic creation/withdrawal, the knowledge of void (shuniya) where the spirit resides, primordial subtle matter of purity, activity and passivity (three gunas of sattva, rajas and tamas) etc. are part of spiritual science as vijnan. The knowledge of gross universe, physical and social sciences based on inert matter bereft of spirit, phenomenal world appearing as real are part of ajnan(nescience/ignorance). Those who find unsuspected vitality in matter due to spirit in void, this material knowledge merges in vijnan.

In isolation all the three branches of knowledge are part of ajnan(ignorance). Whendaivyajnan (divine knowledge) becomes independent of other two branches, individuals tend to become fanatics, fundamentalists and even religious bigots. Such God intoxicated persons do not firmly believe in ONE Universal God for the entire mankind. They do not understand the noble Vedic concepts of spiritual brotherhood, global family of the same God and universal friendship. Some of them consider soul manifested soul and spirit as one and the same and others do not believe in the presence of soul and spirit in the human body. Very often such persons tend to destroy and demolish the worship places of religion of others. Under their religious leadership, religion as spiritual science moves towards organized, hierarchical and institutionalised religion. The love of their religion leads to hatred of other religions. They overlook the fact that different religions are meant to compete with each other towards virtue, goodness, nobility and universal friendship. Since truth is one, to the extent the various religions disagree, these are untrue.

Spiritual knowledge in isolation tends to make a person hypocrite, sycophant and ambivalent. Such people utilize this knowledge for ego and luxurious living, gaining political and social influence and power, minting tons of tainted money by encouraging gifts and donation culture. Their belief in One formless and ineffable Universal God is more to confuse others since only personal effable god/God with human form can be visualised by them. To gain recognition and money power, some of them tend to declare that they are the incarnation of God/god on this earth. They have vague knowledge of Spirit, Prakrti, gunas (subtle primordial matter),tanmatras (sub-atomic particles), mahabhutas (five main gross elements), Vedic kosha (5 subtle and gross sheaths of human body etc).

Material knowledge of inert matter in isolation invariably makes a person moral infant. As described in Sama-Veda (179 and 913), nine kind of hydra headed corruption entering through 99 sources in their gross body is widely prevalent with them. Bribe givers/takers, profiteers and social criminals etc. fall in this category. Ostentatious and proxy worship, various kinds of meditations and group prayers more to gain social recognition are common with them. Owing to their inner darkness, many of them are always in search of prophets, priests, gurus etc. Such persons always consider their outward looking mind as real and inward looking mind as imaginary ghost. Bhagavad-Gita clearly makes a distinction between etani and manas i.e. outward looking mind and inward looking mind. Katha Upanishad refers to inward looking mind as sreyas and outward looking mind as preyas. Yajur Veda clearly points out that such persons resorting to meditation move from darkness to utter darkness.

Thus in isolation these three rivers of knowledge lead to imperfect knowledge. Trouble with this kind of fragmented knowledge is that it makes the individuals walk into boundaries leading to a large number of social, religious and economic islands. The noble concept of Vedic global family and universal brotherhood is forgotten. (Incidentally even the science of genetics has now found existence of 99.9% same genes in the entire mankind, confirming global family of Vedas as scientific truth). The ignorance makes them move in smaller and narrower circles very often inimical to each other. With fragmented knowledge one finds the numerous effects of illusory projection of something unreal or relatively real like Maya(phantasmagoria) as absolutely real. Thus divine unity splits into diversity in all social, religious, political and other areas of human activities. All individuals irrespective of their degree of knowledge are driven to work owing to presence of subtle primordial matter of purity, activity and stupor. In some cases their ego, anxiety, ambitions, desires and conscience work as powerful dynamos for hard work. It is a separate matter whether this hard work is worthwhile and useful to society or not. Only right knowledge can take them to do useful work for society.

Bhagavad-Gita says any work that is not useful to society or only useful to your gross body-self, family and relations is idleness. It further confirms idleness in any form is sin. Wise men of all ages have rightly observed, "Brahmajnani sada nirlep". It literally means that a person on the path of right knowledge is always detached but invariably active on the path of nishkama karma (selfless devotion to duty). Such a person never renounces the material world. "durlabh hai Brahmjanani"i.e. one rarely finds such a person.

Vedic comprehensive education system extending till the age of 44/48 years of the students aims at producing a large number of Brahmajanani as Rudrais and Adityas who are yuktas(stead fast in Vedic knowledge). The litmus test of true knowledge is there is no impurity in thoughts and ideas of such individuals. At that stage truth becomes part of your being. The wisdom of such human beings moves from the mouth to the heart where God resides. HE is within and also without. We are all born out of Him and still in the ignorant stage we do not know what HE is (Mundaka Upanishad). Only true knowledge removes the cataract of the eye and all kind of outer and inner darkness disappears. All religions then appear as one. On this path of knowledge God is for logic, metaphysical studies and worship as bhava andkriya. Bhava alone one cannot explain God through categories like substance, activity, quality and relationship. Words recoil to describe God as HE transcends all forms and shapes (Adi Sankracharya).

Owing to the ignorance of the concept of right knowledge relating to seven streams, many gurus, cult leaders and priests of various religions of the world are making deliberate efforts to make each part as independent and complete knowledge. For some divine knowledge in isolation is right knowledge and for others even fake spiritual knowledge alone is path to perfection. This deliberate effort has the effect of making even sattavki Maya (cosmic delusion) of purity into polluted Maya leading to attachment to matter, children and friends, lack of discerning power (vivek) and absolute insensitivity towards corruption, social evils and lack of integrity. Vedic rsis (metaphysicists) and later on Buddha found perpetual flux in human beings. This flux is caused by ever changing proportion of subtle primordial matter (sattavic, rajasic and tamasic gunas) in the human body owing to our good or bad deeds, thoughts and desires. To avoid flowing with the turbulent tides of perpetual flux, it is necessary to find some moorings and stability. Path of right knowledge helps as it serves a raft to take a Brahmajnani on this path out of illusion of comfort created by vast ocean of matter (pratibhasha, mithya, Maya etc.).

False knowledge (mithya jnan) is discursive, intellectual, categorized and empirical. Owing to predominance of impure reason it no longer remains integral knowledge and tends to become fragmentary knowledge. Thus untruth, telling lies, magic, error, insecurity etc; individuals learn through experience being a-posteriori knowledge. Only right knowledge is guide to right action, hence it is one's greatest asset. It frees a person from hatred, suspicion and doubts (Isa Upanishad IV-1). Clearly all men are products of the kind of knowledge, faith and thoughts they possess. Only movement from imperfect to perfect Knowledge is described as development in Vedantic metaphysics. Br. Upanishad tells us that at this stage a person moves from falsehood to truth, darkness to light and death to immortality. 

2. Ramayana and Mahabharta – Vedic Metaphysics Retold

In the ancient period a stage arrived in India when many individuals could not read Vedas in their original language owing to emergence of many languages/dialects. With the emergence of certain materialistic philosophy, perhaps some learned persons having vested interests also started misinterpreting/distorting Vedic metaphysics. To arrest this trend two great metaphysicists maharsi Valmiki and Vyasa contemplated and decided to convey Vedic metaphysics relating to ideal ruler, perfect society, impersonal and personal God (nirguna and saguna Brahman) and many other Vedic concepts through mythological epics. For each Vedic rik (hymn) some mythological and didactical fable/parable was created and after merging all these fables and careful editing two great epics emerged for the guidance of mankind. Mythology in these two epics was to explain great realities of the spirit. Ramayana and Mahabharta are not the story told but spiritual reality "lived". For common people Vedic metaphysics is explained through analogies, parables, legends etc.

Both the epics comprehensively cover Vedic ideal society, Vedic science and scientific outlook, hydra headed corruption with its nine heads and 99 sources, cosmic laws of social and moral order (Rta), idd nan mmam- enlightened liberalism i.e. nothing for self all for society etc. These two epics have made both the great metaphysicists (maharsis) immortal. Since millions of people in India consider both Ramayana and Mahabharta as their highest scriptures, electronic media, fake gurus and even some swamis with vested commercial interests have again started distorting these two epics by taking out the spirit behind these and delinking from the Vedic metaphysics. Vedic nirguna Brahman is formless and ineffable God and 33 subtle devas (beings of light) are effable like Indra, Agni, Surya, Prithvi etc. The central figures in these two epics are lord Rama and Krishna as personal gods (iswaras) with attributes of 33 devas. The main part of Vedic metaphysics was included in the form of celestial song (Bhagavad Gita) in chapter Bhishamparva of Mahabharta. Some learned persons have found that a few more chapters were added later on in Bhagavad Gita. In any case the Vedic metaphysics (parmartha) remains undiluted in this celestial song.

Rig Veda 1-97-8 has a prayer to Manyu deva of "wrath" and also other devas like Indra and Agni who are prone to anger against the sinners. It says, "give us power not to become insensitive and silent spectator to social and moral evils and bestow us necessary wrath to fight these evils". The noble characters of Lakshmana in Ramayana and Bhim Sen in Mahabharta are based on this part of Vedic metaphysics. The super structure of the epics is built to a large extent on these two noble and divine characters, who were extremely sensitive to social and moral evils.

As already brought out earlier in the chapter "Hydra headed Corruption", Sama Veda refers to nine kind of hydra headed corruption/evil and the same enters the human body through 99 sources. This concept of 99 impurities entering human body is based on Rig Veda Book (mandala) 1 chapter (suktam) 84 which refers to 99 impurities entering the gross universe, which our Supreme Father Brahma and Mother Prakrti remove with the help of Solar World (Suryalok). These hymns in Rig-Veda and Sama Veda have the corresponding mythological fable about demon king Ravana having nine corrupt heads and one virtuous head. Whenever the weapons of Lord Rama cut his one head during the war, an other would imperceptibly spring up in its place. Demon king had the habit of pretending to be dead. Since he was also a learned person, his tenth head is depicted in Ramayana as virtuous and beyond the sway of evil. Lord Rama advised his brother Lakshmana to go to Ravana for getting right knowledge. From his tenth head before death, Ravana imparted the brahmajnana (perfect knowledge) to Lakshmana. Owing to this tenth head of knowledge cause of vivek (discernment) no harm was done to Sita ji- consort of lord Rama when she remained under Ravana's custody.

As regards 99 sources/obstacles, Mahabharta refers to 100 young sons of blind king Dhritrashtra. Out of them 99 sons were corrupt, evil-minded with firm belief in deception, gambling and other kinds of vulgarities. Only his 100th virtuous son Vikarna protested against shameful outrage on extremely divine and noble lady Draupadi. These 99 sons of Dhrtitrashtra even tried to destroy five Pandavas (depicting five Vedic virtues) by burning them in a specially built house of dark red resin. Most of this epic relates to their evil activities, crafty planning and sinful thoughts and their final destruction with the ultimate victory of five virtues, represented by five Pandava brothers.

Rig-Veda X-34-13 prohibits game of dice and all kinds of gambling based on chance. In Mahabharta, the real climax starts after the deceitful game of dice between Kauravas and Pandavas who were cleverly roped in this game of dice. The origin of Great War of Kurukshetra in this epic can be traced to this game of dice played fraudulently by Kauravas. Further Rig-Veda 2-2-12 says that corrupt people face gloom through their children. Blind king Dhritrashtra was the unlawful occupant of the throne and played all gimmicks along with his 99 corrupt sons to avoid giving any land, power etc. to Pandavas- the legitimate owners. Yadushtra the eldest brother of Pandavas was the lawful occupant to the throne. Rig-Veda also says more children are source of trouble for parents. The parents of Duryodhna in Mahabharta had 100 sons and one daughter. They suffered both mentally and spiritually throughout their lives. Thus Vedic message of small families was conveyed through these epics. Yajur Veda and Isa Upanishad leave no doubt that any meditation during the stage of ignorance/nescience takes a person from darkness to utter darkness. (For the Vedic description of ignorance, reference is invited to the Vedic concept of Knowledge). In both the epics, there are many characters like Ravana, Duryodhan, Kansa and others. They tried to obtain extra spiritual power through meditation but got into utter darkness and lost the discerning power (Vivek) to distinguish between right and wrong. Those who meditated while on the path of right knowledge like Rama, Krishna, Arjuna and many others not only got the divine light for themselves but also for the benefit of mankind.

Vedic metaphysics based on many hymns advise old people "let the spirit not go old". Also bear in mind children do not belong to you. They are the children of God. Based on their past karma (good or bad deeds) they are sent to your family for supervision on behalf of God and ensuring that necessary Vedic education (vidya) is imparted to them. Rig-Veda also says those individuals who follow cosmic laws of social, moral and physical order can live upto 300 years and can say "I am15th of the generation of descendents"(A.V. 11-1-19). In Ramayana king Dashratha on the exile of his son lord Rama for 14 years got so perturbed that he allowed his spirit to become weak and died soon after. The grand old men Bhisham Pitamah (Dev Datta) and his uncle Baahilika in Mahabharta never allowed their spirits to go old. Both had seen more than ten generations and were probably more than 200 years old when they fought bravely in the Great War of Kurukshetra. At this ripe old age Bhisham Pitamah was the Commander-in-chief of armed forces of Kauravas.

Rig Veda in Book VII says, "God sendeth rain equally to all and those who are well prepared take benefit of this rain". When a person remains in the surface of consciousness, you start believing ignorance as real knowledge. Mahabharta tells us that the metaphysics contained in the celestial song Bhagavad Gita was heard by two persons. Arjuna heard directly from lord Krishna and Dhritrashtra- the blind king through his sarthi (charioteer) Sanjaya. The effect of supreme knowledge conveyed to Arjuna and Dhritrashtra was entirely different. Dhrtirashtra was least prepared to understand the significance of this kind of perfect harmonised material, spiritual and divine knowledge referred in Vedas as Brahmajnan.

Chatvar Varna Ashram (four divine professions) in Vedas is not based on birth. It is based on merit, capacity and aptitude and allotted through Vedic education. (Chapter on Vedic Ideal Society gives complete details about these divine professions). In the mosaic egalitarian society they are equal and can eat together. The great metaphysicists (maharsis) Valmiki, Vyasa and Viswamitra and many others were not born to Brahmins parents. They all became Brahmins through their merits and capacity. Even lord Rama- 

Kshatriyas varna, ate berries already tasted by a noble lady Bhilni of Shudra varna. Incidentally Rig-Veda describes the followers of divine profession of Shudra varna as handsome, excellent physique, unskilled and selfless worker worthy of respect.

After the Great War at Kurukshetra the Pandavas' eldest brother Yadushtra became the righteous king. King Nahsua asked a question from Yadushtra "who is a Brahmin?' The reply was one who is truthful, generous, forgiving, has self-control and compassion. A person born to Shudra parents is a Brahmin if he/she has these qualities and vice versa. Birth is a dubious criterion for deciding varna (noble profession). This reply entirely conforms to Vedic metaphysics. Vedas say the parents should look after the children on behalf of God by following cosmic laws of necessity (rta). Obedience to such old parents is a-priori based on the knowledge contained in the human manifested soul 

(jivatma). Ramayana comprehensively covered this Vedic thought in the didactical fable relating to noble and divine son Saravan Kumar and his blind old parents. This fable is woven in the superstructure of epic Ramayana in such an excellent manner that Saravan Kumar is now a legendary hero in many Indian families and parents proudly tell their children his life history from birth to death.

Moha (attachment) to children and material things is the cause of gloom, misery and ruin (Rig Veda). The attachment of King Dashratha to his son Rama became the cause of his extreme gloom and final ruin leading to his early death. The attachment of blind parents of Saravan Kumar also led to their final ruin (death) after hearing the news that king Dashratha has killed their son unintentionally and by mistake. Both the epics describe the gloom, misery and ruin of many characters owing to their moha to material things and their children.

All material excesses are sins as per Vedas, later also confirmed by Bhagavad-Gita. This truth has been brought out in both the epics in the life of moderation of all virtuous role models like Bharta, Pandavas and many others. Since lord Rama was sent to 14 years of exile at the instance of queen Kaikeyi (literally the daughter of Caucasus's) when her own son Bharta had gone far away to the areas now form part of Georgia. On return, Bharta came to know all the wicked and crafty decisions taken by her mother. As the throne of Ayodhya rightfully belonged to lord Rama, he decided to look after the welfare of people of Ayodhya while staying outside the palace in a small hut. His mother realised her blunder and desired to stay with his son in the hut as her prayaschit (moral punishment). Bharta told his mother that her moral punishment is to stay in the palace and lead a life of luxury. Excessive material richness is the greatest punishment to the human beings. Life of moderation and need-based living are the greatest virtues in Vedas. Life of material excesses leads to fragile relationship between the individuals and supreme mother Prakrti and benign mother earth.

Rig-Veda describes God as garva parahari– crusher of pride. In Bhagavad-Gita that is part of Mahabharta, lord Krishna tells noble Arjuna that you follow the duties assigned to your kshatriya varna and destroy the proud, evil-minded and wicked Kaurvas and their other partners for the welfare of society. These wicked people already stand killed by me. In Bhagavad-Gita lord Krishna is the incarnation of God as garva prahari . God takes the human form with His yog maya (divine potency) whenever there is decline in righteousness for the protection of virtuous and destruction of evildoers.

Guru is the dispeller of inner and outer darkness. Gu is darkness and Ru is to dispel. No Guru can achieve this objective unless he has attained the right knowledge of all social and physical sciences, spiritual and divine knowledge of spirit, gunas, primordial matter and imperishable/eternal subjects like Time, Space, eternal Supreme Reality. Guru, who praises or justifies or lives on the filthy lucre of his/her devotees and followers, is also a wicked person. While Ramayana depicts maharsi Vashishta- the preceptor (guru) of lord Rama asbrahmajnanai– having perfect harmonized material, spiritual and divine knowledge, Mahabharta depicts guru Dronacharya as brahmajnani but supporter of evildoers like Kaurvas. His absolute materialistic behaviour towards his old friend Draupad and calculated silence in the deceptive game of dice as well as shameful action of Kaurvas towards their noble sister-in-law Draupadi has also been depicted in bad light. Dronacharya's advice to Eklavya to cut his right thumb and give it as guru dakshina (preceptor's fee) for stealing education particularly of military science, as well as deceptive killing of gallant prince Abhimanyu clearly depict that he had not harmonised material, spiritual and divine knowledge. Rig-Veda says such gurus even though having acquired perfect knowledge encourage unrighteousness, be destroyed. In Mahabharta guru Dronacharya and his son are killed in the Great War of Kurkshetra.

The Vedic science is depicted in both the epics. A few hundreds hymns are there in Vedas to explain in great details physical, military and medical sciences. Ribhus (industrialists) in consultation with ashvinaus (scientists) should build rathas – vehicles moving on land, water and firmament for the benefit of mankind and also for global trade. Aircraft with high-speed (vajgatu vimana) capable of going around the entire globe four times a day is mentioned in Rig-Veda. (Chapter in this book relating to Vedic science and scientific outlook gives more details). Maharsi Valmiki in Ramayana included this Vedic concept in the mythological Pushpak aircraft, which brought lord Rama and others after 14 years of exile from Lanka to Ayodhya. The various kinds of missiles/bomblets used during war in both the epics are mentioned in Vedas.

Rig-Veda mentions when soul enters the body, while the infant is still in his/her mother's womb, consciousness starts. Since soul has a-priori knowledge of Vedas, all children are born with the knowledge of Vedas and their a-priori principles Rta. Both the epics explain these divine revelations in the noble characters of Lau, Kush, Veer Abhimanyu and others. Lau and Kusha acquired complete Vedic knowledge including military science through their manifested souls with the guidance of their preceptor maharsi Valmiki at the tender age of less than ten years. Abhimanyu- the son of Arjuna while still in his mother's womb heard the dialogue between his parents about entering the invincible army (chakravihu). However, owing to certain reasons described in Mahabharta his father Arjuna did not explain how to get out of this. The gallant Abhimanyu at the young age of about 20 years fought bravely the invincible army of Kaurvas, entered chakravihu but failed to get out and was killed treacherously.

The marriage of five noble Pandavas with divine lady Draupadi in Mahabharta is the harmony of five virtues and the soul. Mahatma Gandhi observed this without linking it with Vedic metaphysics. The absence of this harmony owing to predominance of evil thoughts and actions has been depicted by the shameful act of Kaurvas with the soul i.e. symbolically with Draupadi. The silence and insensitivity of learned people like Bhishma Pitama, Dronacharya, maharathi Karna and others in not stopping the shameful act of disrobing her finally led to their being killed in the Great War and ultimate ruin of Kaurvas. Since Draupadi signifies soul- a subtle particle (ansh) of Supreme Soul, she was gracefully and honourably protected from this shameful act, by divine potency of God (supreme Soul) to the extreme surprise of Kaurvas.

In Atharva Veda LXI- 1 to 3, Lord's injunctions are given personally as "I". In the celestial song Bhagavad Gita, which is part of Bhishmaparva chapter of Mahabhrta, lord Krishna asnirguna Brhama (ineffable God) also gives His injunctions as "I". Thus lord directly explains to Arjuna about His Virat rupa i.e. entire visible and invisible Brahmand is God Himself. "I" remain as unmoved mover and Prakrti (divine Nature) creates the entire animate and inanimate life on this universe under "MY" supervision. The origin and dissolution of the universe, role of human beings, benevolent ruler etc are all explained directly by God as "I".

There is no concept of rights of individuals but only selfless performance of one's duties based on the concept of idd nan mmam (nothing for self, all for society). Both epics perfectly explain this noble concept in the role performed by lord Rama, Krishna, Hanuman ji, Pandavas and many others. All those who insisted for their rights without the philosophy ofidd nan mmam and ignoring Rta, ultimately faced ruin.

Endless more examples can be given to show that both the epics were meant to describe Vedic metaphysics and partially even Brahmanas (scientific ritualistic and ceremonial part of Vedas like yagna, worship in solitude etc.). If Brahma yagna, Ashavamedh yagna etc in these epics are from Vedic Brahmanas, ideal state, perfect government and benevolent bureaucracy, pristine purity of finances and accounts, timely payment to soldiers etc are part of Vedic metaphysics in both the epics. Rig Veda refers to Prasava- areas around Persia going upto Caucasus. There is mention in Ramayana that prince Bharat had gone to his maternal grand parents place near Caucasus when lord Rama went to 14 years exile. His mother's name Kekayi literally means daughter of Caucasus. In Mahabharta reference to Gandhar (now Kandhar) in Afghanistan is there. Thus farthest locations in the north and northwest mentioned in Vedas can be found in both the epics.

Mahatma Gandhi wrote in August 1925 in Young India "Judged by the historical test Ramayana could be fit for scrap of paper but as spiritual experience the book is unrivalled at least for me." He found Ramayana as a perfect didactic book and had a noble dream of establishing Ramarajya- a perfect state and society in independent India. Again he wrote in August 1932 in Young India," I worship the “Perfect Being” Rama of my conception though not a historic person."

Two things clearly emerge from both the epics. Firstly the portion of Vedic metaphysics that could not be covered in Ramayana was covered later on in Mahabharta. Secondly both the epics are unrivalled in describing ideal conduct, Perfect Being, ideal state and society and above all religion as spiritual science. It is waste of time and energy to examine their historicity as these are not story told but spiritual reality lived. Also there are three sources of knowing Vedic metaphysics. One source is from the a-priori and innate knowledge contained in the soul. It is not very easy to benefit from this source, as a person has to cross five kosha (sheaths) in our gross, spiritual and causal bodies and resort to amritmanthan (churning of the soul to reach the bottom of the ocean of knowledge). Second is the direct source i.e. study and understanding of Vedas through truthful translation in any language. Lastly through various parables, legends and fables in both the above mythological epics.

3. Vedic Spiritual Science is not Spiritualism

Vedic spiritual science originates from certain basic truths known to the human manifested soul (jivatma). Atharva Veda says when human beings were provided with soul, Vedas were formulated and certain basic truths were codified for the guidance of mankind. All human beings are born with the knowledge of Vedas (A.V. 1-1-1 to 4). Soul is the learned teacher to teach us right knowledge so that we do not act against the Vedic tenets. Soul isvachispatiah– works as organ of speech in any language, being lord of Vedic speech.

The basic truths conveyed by rsis and munnies of yore through their innate and a-priori knowledge are found in Vedas. For the last a few thousands years these truths have passed through different periods of authoritarian rule, naked materialism, fanaticism and pragmatism. Also many individuals had challenged, criticised, ignored and called their study as retrograde step, but till date these have not been proved wrong. On the contrary many later truths found by spiritual, physical and social scientists based on 

empirical and a-posteriori knowledge have considerably changed with time and place. Since Vedic truths are meant for the mankind of all ages, a few of these truths are mentioned below.

There is One supreme Father and One supreme Mother for the entire mankind. The merciful supreme Father is formless, ineffable, omniscient and omnipresent. The effable supreme Mother is subtle divine Nature (Prakrti). She creates the entire gross universe with its animate and inanimate life under the supervision of God, who is an "unmoved mover". Thus we are all children of the same supreme Father and Mother. There is only One global family for the entire mankind. Parmatma (the Supreme Soul) provides us 

perfect a-priori knowledge through His subtle particle (Brahmansh)- the soul in human beings. Prakrti provides the spirit (jiva) to all animate and inanimate life as energy principle. Thus there is no such thing as inert matter. The spirit (jiva) is found in the void (shuniya) of all-gross atoms and sub-atomic particles. Matter has unsuspected vitality and this spirit provides the characteristics and properties to 5 mahabhutas (main elements) and 720bhutas (elements in the entire universe). So far the Physical scientists have found less than 150 elements.

The Vedic spiritual science is more a bhava– the genuine need of the soul than kriya i.e. ritualistic action without bhava. Since their spiritual science is same for the mankind of all ages, it aims at liberating human beings from the spiritual bondage created by empirical and organized religions and fake prophets, false gurus and cult leaders. Thus all individuals whether atheist, agnostic, pluralist, dualist (dvait) and monist (advait) can equally benefit from the Vedic spiritual science. From the study of the same Vedic metaphysics six vastly different Schools of India philosophy (sad darshna) emerged. But all of them accepted Vedic spiritual science as perfect. Understanding and knowing your supreme Father and Mother are more important than resorting to blind worship, ostentatious group prayers and ritualistic meditation and yajnas (reciting Vedic hymns over holy fire, without understanding their meaning, message and purport).

Being ineffable words recoil to describe and analyse God. Any one who wants to know Him has to cross five koshas (sheaths) in our gross, subtle and causal bodies. When you cross first kosha relating to food, cosmic delusion Maya (phantasmagoria) starts disappearing and supreme Reality starts appearing. By the time you reach fifth kosha, you find He lives in you and you live within Him. On crossing fifth kosha you become one with Him and can say "aham Brahma asi", literally it means I am God. Only at this stage you can communicate with your soul. Various learned people have described this stage as kaivalya, turiya, moksha, anand (bliss) etc.

To ensure that deep reservoir of Vedic spirituality is not eroded and polluted later on, certain scientific spiritual guidelines were provided by rsis and munnies who perhaps had crossed a few or all the five kosha. Having created permanent truths as rta -cosmic laws of social and moral order/commandments, both God and Prakrti observe these sternly. Even blind persons can know these laws from the Book of Nature which human soul can easily read. We should follow these laws strictly to avoid any social, moral and physical pollution on this divine vessel- the benign mother earth. This book contains a complete chapter on Rta. Follow the path of moderation in the use of matter, as all material excesses are sins. The subtle primordial matter of purity, activity and stupor will force you to work. So perform onlynishkam karma– selfless work for social welfare by working with the poor and not for the poor. Working for the poor can lead to social ills for society and create in you a negative tamasic instinct of social recognition.

Unlike our supreme Father, Prakrti is effable and has thousands of attributes. To know her attributes, 33 effable devas (subtle beings of light) like Indra, Agni, Varun, Usha etc are mentioned. The sum total attributes of these devas are the attributes of gunamaye mahaMaya– another name of divine Nature. Those societies where individuals know the divine role of our supreme mother Prakrti, the women are respected and honoured. 

The higher "real-self" of women and men is not different only the lower gross body-self is different. Women are entitled to same education as men and can study Vedas to spread right knowledge in society. During war if the king/ruler is injured, the queen should defend the state and its citizens. The ruler should ensure that justice to women is imparted through female judges.

Purpose of life is to fulfil the divine mission of God and Prakrti by resorting to welfare activities for their children i.e. the entire mankind. When the individuals become indifferent to the mission of our supreme Mother and Father, Prakrti has to balance this indifference and we all have to face its consequences. For fulfilling this divine mission the noble philosophy ofidd nan mmam is advised. It is Vedic enlightened liberalism, which means nothing for self all for society/mankind. This philosophy automatically drifts towards One global family of our supreme Mother and Father, leading to global trade, spiritual brotherhood and universal friendship.

Resort to amrit manthan (churning the bottom of your consciousness by stilling whirlpool of rudderless thoughts/vritties). In this vast sea of matter divergent ideas, contradictory thoughts in the form if inductive data continue falling from all sides like lava of a volcano. We can only synthesize these waves, ripples of ideas and thoughts by amrit manthan. Meditation for this churning should be done in solitude by making journey within your all knowing "real self". The highest donation is that of right knowledge, selfless work and love and the lowest donation is that of tamasic matter like lucre, material gifts etc. The highest birth is in the families of learned people on the path of brahmajnan (see sub-chapter relating to knowledge). Avoid blind faith and develop scientific temper.

Various philosophers, metaphysicists and religious leaders explain spirituality in many different ways. However, two major paths leading to spiritualism and spiritual science originate from spirituality and move in the same direction for a short distance. Thereafter the road relating to spiritual science continues to move in a straight line lit by the eternal light of the soul. The other road starts becoming narrower and splits into smaller lanes and bye lanes lit by some kind of physical and artificial light. Very often these bye lanes become blind and dark alleys.

The common portion of both the roads relate to love, virtue, prayer, meditation etc. Spiritualism starts moving into lanes/bye lanes relating to theocratic, organised, ceremonial and hierarchical religion, cults, sects, where some gurus/babas declare themselves as incarnation of God/god on this earth. A few hundreds kind of meditation like keeping the eyes open or closed, doing it in groups with some kind of sound or in silence, with lights on or in darkness etc are part of spiritualism. Many times meditation in each bye-lane bears some trademark like "xyz" yoga to create effect of temporary tranquillisers as spiritual opium.In some bye lanes spiritual magic is freely performed in the name of divine miracles, production of ash/gold ornaments from no where etc. Promises of superior rebirth after death, specialised expensive rituals, donation/gift culture and many other activities in the name of spiritualism are freely resorted. None of the gurus/priests/tantriks in-charge of each bye lane deals with metaphysics, which Bhagavad-Gita says is the supreme science.

The path of spiritual science continues to move straight by harmonising material, spiritual and divine knowledge. Vedic metaphysics as a spiritual science covers comprehensively all the possible subjects like God, gods (Iswaras/devas) Prakrti (divine Nature), soul, manifested soul and spirit, social, physical, military sciences, cosmic laws of necessity, 16 kinds of arts, cosmic delusion Maya and hundreds of other subjects. While dealing with all these subjects/objects, it keeps safe distance from spiritualism, which tends to move in small boundaries of generalities and becomes restrictive and contradictory. During the journey on this straight road, Vedic metaphysics creates contemplative faith in the oneness of entire mankind, irrespective of one's belief in atheism, theism or agnosticism. It keeps safe distance from any dogmatic fight over imaginary Reality as well as superstitions, miracles, savage myths, curses of rsis, degenerated idol worship owing to vested material interests etc.

The long journey of Vedic metaphysics starts with the firm belief that matter is not inert and has unsuspected vitality due to spirit (jiva) as energy/life principle in the shuniya (void) of atoms and sub-atomic particles of matter. Bhagavad Gita in verses 7-5 and 13-26 also confirms this. Rig-Veda tells us that earth rotates around itself and solar system with great speed without giving any jerks to animate and inanimate life/things. Also its axle does not get rusted. Obviously it cannot be the quality or characteristic of inert matter.

Vedas do assume that all human beings may not have the same degree of right knowledge. It leads to Ishta theory- i.e. paths could be different but destination is the same i.e. welfare of mankind, perfection for the individuals, global family, universal brotherhood based on the concept that we are all the children of the same God. Instead of blind worship of God, Vedic spiritual science advises open discussion to understand One Universal God, a number of iswaras (gods), Prakrti, gross universe, soul, spirit, cosmic delusion Maya etc. The message of Vedic spiritual science is very clear "Do not make divine wisdom as a means of worldly profit and tear off your spiritual bondage with scientific temper, a-priori knowledge and the metaphysics contained therein".

4. Artha – the Vedic Economics

The earliest mention of economics as artha, can be traced to Vedas- the most ancient scriptures for the guidance of mankind. The Vedic rsis (metaphysicists) knew the concept of material wealth, use of money and their constructive and destructive value both to the individual and society. The edifice of artha is built on a number of Vedic hymn. Yajur Veda 36-17 and Atharva Veda 19-9-14 have prayers " May our actions be such that sky (airy spaces) be peaceful, earth be peaceful, water, plants and trees be peaceful". Om Shanti- God is Peace. When pollution becomes predominant in water, earth and air, Vedic arthabecomes anartha (material economics based on inert matter). The other hymns, which guideartha, are RV.X-117-4 to 6 " Those individuals who do not work for social welfare and earn only to feed themselves or their families are great sinners." Such people produce deep abyss of sufferings for themselves and others (RV 6-5-20, R.V.4-5-5, R.V 5- 51-2).

Pursue your vocation to create prosperity for the entire society on the path of Dharma andRta (Br. Up 1-4-11 to 14). O: God Give me strength to follow my vocation relating to arthawith dharma and nishkam karma (R.V 2-28-5, R.V 8-89-3 to5). Artha should be pursued to avoid indebtedness, poverty and destitution (R.V.7-1-19 to 22, IX-4-6, X-138-4, A.V.6- 117-3, S.V 1050). Wealth of earth and heaven (prithva and divya) are provided to mankind based on the principle of moderation and selfless work (R.V.5-68-3 and 4-33-11). It should help us to create concord (samjna) in family, society and amongst people of other states and nations (AV 6-61-1 to 3). It should also help us to integrate ourselves physically, psychologically and spiritually with the environments and make us move towards moderation and avoidance of material excesses (RV 1-91-2, X-72-6). Perhaps the most important hymn for guidance of artha is "avoid material wealth reaching the wicked" (Sama Veda 267 and 310). Many other hymns provide directions and guidelines to Vedic artha. Rsis and Munnies of yore made artha as a part of four purusharthas (main pursuit and goal of human life). In an ideal Vedic mosaic society, the followers of four divine professions (varna) based on merit, capacity and aptitude, the human beings were advised to pursue dharma, artha, kama and moksha in harmony and not in isolation. They also found man is bubble in the vast sea of matter and is always at the mercy of moving waves of matter.

They were aware that material economics based on inert matter (anartha) could become dismal and confusing social science leading to change of trends too frequently. The aim of Vedic artha was therefore, to save man from these moving rudderless waves and help him/her to cross the stormy river of senses (R.V. 10-53-8 and Y.V 35-10). Dharma provided guidelines to both artha and kama. In the Vedas dharma, rta and satya are the same. (dharmam, rtam, satyam). Thus Vedic dharma is based on cosmic laws of social, moral and physical order described therein as Rta. These laws are the eternal truths (satyam). Having created these laws/commandments even our supreme Mother Prakrti follows these laws sternly. Thus Vedic economics (artha) was explained in great details by the rsis of yore under the spiritual umbrella of dharma. Artha was based on harmony of spirit and matter. As soon as artha gets isolated from this harmony under the influence of rudderless senses and turbulent mind, the same becomes anartha– material chaos- cause of all-round degeneration in society. The super structure of Artha is built on the concept that entire material wealth belongs to God.

Any belief in the gross matter as inert and bereft of spirit (jiva) is the effect of Vedic phantasmagoria Maya– cosmic delusion, which creates a golden lid to hide the truth from the ignorant (ajnani). At the stage of ignorance/nescience one finds the gross world and body- self as real. When the individual starts finding his real self, the cosmic delusion starts disappearing. Vedas give a number of illustrations that matter is not inert and has unsuspected vitality. Earth revolves around itself and solar system peacefully without giving jerks to all animate and inanimate life. It revolves on its axle, which does not get rusted, needs no lubricants as it follows Vedic rta. This certainly is not the property of any inert matter. Many other illustrations are given therein to prove scientifically that matter is not inert and acquires its properties from the spirit of God  existing in the void (shuniya) of each atom of gross matter (Sama Veda 222). God's spirit pervades in matter, entire universe and whole space (Yajur Veda 40-5, Atharva Veda 19-20-2).

The Vedic economic theories of production, distribution, consumption, purity of accounts etc are based on need-based utilization of earth's resources on the path of moderation and philosophy of idd nan mmam -nothing for self, all for society. For a person following dharma, avoidance of nine kind of hydra-headed corruption, its 99 sources of entry in the gross body, is mentioned in hymns 179 and 913 of Sama Veda. Great importance is given to global trade to create global market with the help of vaj-gatau ratha (fast moving vehicles) in firmament, oceans and earth (R.V.X-17-3). Those domestic and global traders following dharma, rta and satya and bringing prosperity to mankind be garlanded by the rulers with golden necklaces.

Money has the power of creating impure truths owing to its predominantly tamasiccharacteristics (R.V.1-125-7), so avoid indebtedness, adulteration and speculation/interest. Develop artha, which should steer clear from the bribe takers. Since tamasic guna of impurity is predominant in money, so it can misbehave in politics, religion and industry and even can drag virtuous people in its serpent- coil. Vedic artha was devised to keep perfect curb over its misbehaviour. Create wealth only for society and mankind by ensuring filial allegiance to mother Earth (A.V.12-1-12). Later in two mythological epics Ramayana and Mahabharta, the misbehaviour of material wealth was described in great details in the misrule of many demon kings like Ravana, Kansa, blind Dhritrashtra and de-facto rule of his corrupt and evil-minded sons. The benevolent good behaviour of material wealth belonging to God was described in the rule of king Janaka, lord Rama and Pandava king Yadushtra.

Artha is like air, which you do not see but feel its existence. When you lose air or inhale polluted air, its choking effect is immediately felt. If artha is not based on dharma, rta and satya, its choking effect can be seen immediately in society. In the guise of artha bereft of dharma, like shubh labh (auspicious profit), worship of Mammon etc, material economics has spread its choking effect in all professions, election, politics, religion and fake spiritual activities of false prophets, materialist gurus/swamis etc. In artha if a single person dies of starvation, the entire society is to be blamed and rulers are considered as sinful (R.V.X-117-1 to 6). Artha leads to vivek (discernment) and you prefer social good to pleasant (Katha Ups 1-2-2).

In Yajnavalkya and Manu Smrities artha is part of danda niti– science of polity. Both describe artha on the lines of Vedas. Of all the purities of material things, the highest should be purity of money. State, education, religion and human beings should avoid any tainted money. Even tamasic food, which brings anger, lust and stupor, is better than food purchased and eaten out of tainted money. They even advise preceptors (gurus) in the educational institutions not to accept any ill-gotten money from any organization, person including the parents of the students. Vedas thus provide caution on donation and gift culture, which very often becomes substitute of bribery. 

Vedic artha does not put man "born free" into "chain stores" of capitalists nor into "GUM"- government-undertaking magazines of communists. Both these extremes leave the man at the mercy of stormy river of senses.

All the modern economic systems saddle the future generations to pay our debts. Vedas therefore, advise shun any economic theory that justifies abstract justice with the desires of human senses. Follow only the path of moderation in the need based use of both renewable and non-renewable resources. Benign mother earth is a divine vessel; avoid any act of violence against her.

Instead of justifying harsh material realities based on concrete plunder of resources of benign mother earth, Vedic artha refers to soft, spiritual and divine realities. To avoid ingress of acquisitive social mores, Vedic artha provides various strength givers like ethics, morality, and enlightened liberalism, trivarga (trinity of value system) clubbed together in dharma. It is certainly not against material wealth but against attachment to wealth, not against pleasurable things but craving for it.

In Vedas man is both social and divine animal. There is no hymn that says man is an economic man. Thus artha is not an independent subject like modern material economics. The material economics has a tendency to jettison purity of finances, accounts, value system etc as excess luggage. It ultimately snatches the filial allegiance to mother earth (A.V. 12-1-11 to 45). Atharva Veda Book 12, chapter (suktam) 1 mostly deals with filial allegiance of man to mother earth.

Brief History of Economics in India.

In the 5th century B.C. Buddha explained artha as not based on any spirit of God in the matter, as he was agnostic and not did consider any need to bring God, soul and spirit in his ethical metaphysics. Matter in any form is unsubstantial, spiritless and has impermanent qualities subject to inexorable law of dependent origination though subservient to eternal Moral Law- Dhamma. We should utilize matter based on middle path of moderation. His economics is based on firm belief in “flux”, impermanence (anityavada) and law of causality (pratityasmupada). Thus through a different path Buddha also found that matter is not inert. His economics was made subservient to ashta marga (eight fold path) in the realization of four noble Truths relating to extinction of human sufferings.

In 3rd century BC Kautilya in his Arthashastra gave comprehensive economic theories of production, distribution, management of mines, taxation, interest rate, currency, wages etc. He tried to balance Vedic economics with the then prevailing political realities to safeguarding the life of his Emperor Chandragupta Maurya and the then newly created 1st great Indian Empire. He devised methods in artha to curb corruption and tainted money, having seen its ill effect during the corrupt rule of Nanda dynasty. To increase the revenue of the empire he deviated from Vedic artha to some extent, which later on led to a severe criticism by Ban Bhatt as Kautaliy's "cruel economics".

Later in Bhagavad-Gita restriction on the excessive use of matter was emphasized. All material excesses are sins; avoid gift culture except right gift to right person on right occasion without any thought of return or material benefit. In all material pursuits path of moderation is the only virtuous path. Since Buddha had already avoided bringing in God, soul and spirit in his ethical metaphysics and Kautaliya removed the concept of moderation in his economics, some confusion started in the society. Charvakas philosophy of inert and motionless matter with no God and soul over took Vedic economics. Ethics and morality have no place in economics. To an extent their economics can be compared to the economics of Adam Smith, Ricardo and even Keynes "barbarous relic" where foul is useful and every thing good is the end of business. During this period, the Vedic metaphysics, Buddhist ethics and Charvakas extreme materialism continued together. Mammon worship of Kuber and other deities started.

During the Muslim and British rule in India and decline in the Vedic and Buddhist philosophy, the spirit and vitality in matter was considered as an imaginary ghost, which human senses could not visualize. The western classical physics of Newton and Darwin led to mechanical worldview. Unity of matter and spirit was broken through scientific research in laboratory. Free for all in the material world started with a large number of economic theories contradicting each other like capitalism, socialism Marxism, free and closed market economy etc. The "economic man" of Marx and Engel's and their dialectic materialism also influenced Indian economics to a large extent. Thus economics in India finally became independent of Vedic dharma as well as four Pursharthas. Now it has no resemblance to artha. Mahatma Gandhi being a great follower of the teachings of Bhagavad-Gita developed the concept of need-based living, Indians as the co-workers of their own prosperity and aimed at abridging the economic disparities between rich and poor to a divine ratio of 1:10. If the disparity between rich and poor exceeds beyond this ratio, divine guidance in the state starts disappearing. Gandhian economics did catch some fancy before partition of India in 1947. Some learned people even linked it to the findings of great scientists like Einstein, J.C.Bose who found a large number of sub-atomic particles having energy of their own. Dr. J.C.Bose even found "fatigue" in steel.

After Mahatma Gandhi's martyrdom, free for all started in Indian economics. Cognition based on sense perception became the only source of knowledge and matter is once again inert for the economists even though lately particle physicists have found energy in the atoms of gross matter. Spiritualism is now subservient to materialism. Economists do not find any thing wrong in using spiritualism as an economic profession to acquire tons of tainted money. The Vedic anartha is now parading in the guise of modern economics in all spheres of human activities. Using the earth as quarry and excessive use/exploitation of matter is now considered as virtue.

5. Man in the Image of God

Anthropologists and Historians tell us that the primitive man known as Homonid and Homo habilis existed on this earth about 2 million years ago. During Homo erectus stage (about less than half a million years ago), he could make some crude chopping tools and hands axes. Only about 30,000 to 40,000 years ago he started becoming a discerning man as Homo sapiens. During this stage he/she could make some engraving tools. He devised some magic rites, ceremonies to appease certain natural forces causing cloud burst, earth quake etc; and made some sculptures and paintings of these forces by giving them some human form, which later on led to idol worship. About 5 to 6 thousands years ago, the first great metaphysical evolution in the development of mankind occurred leading to Sumerian, Egyptian, Darvidian and Aryan civilisations in different parts of the world within a span of about 1000 years.

There after metaphysicists, wise sages, discerning seers appeared in India, China, Greece and other parts of the world. Mankind could not improve the permanent truths discovered by them through their innate, a-priori and intuitional knowledge relating to human conduct, polity, society, physical and social sciences. Those permanent truths were challenged, criticized and even ignored but till date could not be proved wrong. Those truths have passed through various periods of authoritarian rule, naked materialism, age of reason and even the so called age of science leading to excessive exploitation of benign mother earth as quarry. What suddenly happened during the last about 5ooo years ago?

Vedas and holy Bible provide us certain answers, which later on mythological epics Ramayana and Mahabharta and many other scriptures also confirmed. Atharva Veda (1-1-1 to 4 and 19-6-13) says, when soul was provided to man Vedas were born. The hymn in Book 19 describes through this purusha (soul) first riks and saman verses emerged. These riksand saman verses refer to Rig-Veda and Sama Veda. Atharva Veda and also Yajur Veda emerged from Him. There are two views possible (a) God revealed Vedas directly (b) these were formulated when soul (purusa) was provided to human beings. The soul beingvachispatiha, is the master of organ of speech and takes birth along with the mind (manas) and inspires the individual to the knowledge of Vedas so that we do not act against the tenets of divine principles. Thus Vedas became the repository of intuitive knowledge obtained by rsis and munnies of yore through their manifested soul.

Holy Bible says," The being of man is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26) and it is quite different from being of Nature." Thus bible makes a clear distinction between man created by Nature with energy principle and divine man with soul i.e. omniscient principle. Vedas mention that man is both divine and social animal. The divine soul is the real Self of the man and spirit (jiva) is the energy principle in man and cause of his/her sociability. Those who found soul and spirit as one came to different conclusions. Aristotle combined soul and spirit in his metaphysical concept of entelechy– more of an energy principle and concluded man is only a social animal. Dante gave more importance to divine soul containing both energy and a-priori knowledge and conclude man is a divine animal. Much later Schopenhauer linked the Self of a man to Will. He said," I will therefore, I am." Rene Descartes famous metaphysical statement "cogito, ergo sum"- I think, therefore I am", clearly shows that many thinkers and metaphysicists have found man as different from other animate life due to presence of soul, entelechy, Will, mind etc. It is only man who can get knowledge from two sources i.e. both a-priori and a-posteriori.

Give love as a donation and not loan and the instinct of looking after children are based on a-priori knowledge. The human desires based on pragmatism and sense experience, are normally return of love in old age from the children is based on a-posteriori knowledge. Divine feelings never emerge from senses, sense organs and outward looking mind. Katha Upanishad and Bhagavad Gita clearly make distinction between outward looking mind (etani/preyas) and inward looking mind (manas/shreyas).

In all the scriptures of major religions of the world, eternal and formless God is described as Supreme Soul. Vedas refer to it as Parmatma. Parma is supreme and atma is soul. Since the real self of human being is immortal soul, hence only man is made in the image of God. But man existed on this earth for about 2 million years Clearly he/she had the energy principle spirit (jiva) and not omniscient principle atma (divine soul), which provides a-priori knowledge to human beings. Bible refers to first two human beings with divine soul as Adam and Eve (Gen. 2:21 to 24, 3:20). Pears Cyclopedia describe both Adam and Eve not as historical persons but as the symbolic prototype of all mankind The Gospel according to St. Mathew chapter one says, between Abraham and Christ there were 42 generations. Some learned savants and historians find this period when Adam and Eve were on this divine globe was about 5000 years ago. Also as mentioned above when soul was provided to man Vedas were formulated. Historians refer to this period of formulation and not printing/publication of Vedas as about 5000 years ago. Even the most ancient civilisation in the world existed about 5000 years ago.

What man could achieve with the help of a-priori knowledge contained in his "real self" during this period of about 5000 years, he could not do in 2 million years with the help of his senses, sense organs and outward looking mind. Since only human beings have divine soul amongst the entire animate life on this earth, it is in this background that scriptures say Man is born in the image of God. Vedas even go further and say those who do not take guidance from their manifested souls are pashu (animals). Soul is vachispatiah i.e. has subtle organ of silent speech in any language to convey a-priori knowledge to human beings. It dwells in the innermost kosha (sheath) of the human body and helps us to search the cosmic laws of social, moral and physical order (Rta).

Even holy Bible says that soul has complete knowledge of laws of God (Deut.16 to 26) and spirit gives life (John 6-32 Cor. 3 to 6). Human soul tells us that purpose of life is to assist God in the maintenance of social, moral and physical order so that mankind becomes divine bureaucracy of God to ensure implementation and maintenance of His wondrous Design. These laws are formidable and despotic in their operation and even God Himself having created obeys these laws. Truthful search of Rta and obeying these laws is the greatest service to God.

In the history of Philosophy the human nature has been described in two extremely divergent ways. Philosophers have found that human being is made of several persons (mukhatas) and has a multiple nature. Vedantists and pure/objective idealists describe human nature based on divinity in man. They describe human nature as rational, cooperative, sociable, virtuous, ever keen to work with the poor and not for the poor, always desirous of harmony and selfless work based on enlightened liberalism. The other extreme description is that of ancient Charvakas with firm belief in inert matter, pragmatists and empiricists who paint black picture of man. They find that man is ungrateful, fickle, deceitful, cowardly and avaricious, feeling of escapism, has a strong urge for war and pillage, erotic, bestial and likes to describe ignorance as knowledge. Also the description of concepts like love, virtue, sin etc. vary considerably with the believers of divine soul as the real self and those who consider gross body as the real self of individual.

In tamo pradhan (perverted) society where soul is considered as imaginary ghost, human beings become insensitive to hydra headed evil of corruption and both sinners and sin flourish boldly and brazenly. Holy Scriptures, subjects like God, soul, spirit etc become spiritual adhesives leading to rise of fake swamis, priests, false prophets etc; who distort spiritual and divine knowledge to suit their vested interests. In such a society individuals are no longer friendly to right knowledge and prefer blind faith, reigious excursions and more and more religious congregations on festivals, birth, marriages etc.

Vedic metaphysics tell us that God is present throughout the procreation process of an infant. When soul enters the body, consciousness starts and at the time of birth complete knowledge of Vedas is stored in his/her real self. When the child starts growing in the phenomenal world, it is Maya (Vedic phantasmagoria) also described as pratibhasha, mithya, which puts golden lid over this knowledge. 99 obstacles mentioned in Sama Veda start dimming the stored knowledge of Vedas. Thus Maya as well as these obstacles become the cause of our repeated births.

To make a person free from the bondage of invalid knowledge (mithya jnana) due to our doubts, aberrations in memory, misconception, indefinite cognition, dreams, sense perception etc; God showed great mercy on human beings and provided His omniscient particle "soul". Vedas say only this divine spark (atma) can take us from ignorance to truth, darkness to light and death to immortality. Mother hymn of Vedas "Gayatri mantra" and later holy Koran confirmed this in 20;114 "keep praying for more and more right knowledge". Thus divine man in the image of God was meant to create contemplative faith in the Oneness of mankind.

6. Why does terrorism defy solution?

General Perception

There is a wide spread perception that the fury of terrorism is increasing continuously in its intensity and the entire globe has become its soft corner. Social, political and moral pathologists are coming to divergent conclusions about its origin, purpose and intensity. Some of them perceive terrorists are aiming at crippling the economy of developed nations, while a few others think that the aim is to overthrow legitimate elected governments. However, the majority of them agree that the prevailing rudderless terrorism is meant to terrify the masses by creating confusion and disorder in civilised societies. “Experts” are unsure whether terrorism in itself is a disease – or the symptom of something bigger. In the meantime, it continues to spread like wild fire.

Rap artists, fake gurus and false prophets now offer a solemn reminder of the growing negativities and ugliness of the world. Perhaps the most horrible of such negativities is the ever-increasing intensity of terrorism originating from the organised, abstract and ritualistic religions of the world, which are steadily getting bereft of their spiritual and divine teachings. This trend is certainly not restricted to any one religion. The prevailing naked materialism in the world is forcing all religions to jettison their metaphysical findings and ethical precepts as excess luggage.

It is metaphysics (the science of soul) based on a-priori knowledge and innate inspirations, which ensures the health of any religion. In its absence rituals, ceremonies and blind faith become the glamorous clothes of the religion’s sickly body. Taken alone, these rituals are like well-dressed self-serving social, economic and religious leaders who as the holy Bible says are like white sculptures, which may appear beautiful but are within dead man’s bones and are unclean.

Organised religion should shed its fake spiritualism.

Most of the scriptures confirm man does not live by bread alone and needs religion to satisfy his inner thirst of the soul. There is an urgent need to trigger reforms in the various religions of the world. If God wanted He would have made only one religion but He created more religions so that they may compete with each other for doing maximum good and welfare of the entire mankind (Holy Koran). Now the organized and hierarchal religions of the world have created their own interpretations of the truths found by prophets and sages of yore. It is high time that all religions start moving towards spiritual science and not the fake spiritualism prevailing at present by restoring their metaphysics and ethical precepts, which help in removal of all kinds of ugliness in religion and society.

Spiritual science is not spiritualism

Spiritual science is based on certain permanent truths codified in various scriptures of all major religions of the world.

• The human manifested soul being Lord of Speech (vachispatiah) works as an organ of speech in any language (Vedas).
• These truths are based on cosmic laws and our souls have got complete knowledge of laws of God (Bible).
• These laws and permanent truths do not change with time and space. (Upanishads).
• God is Supreme Soul (Bible), Ruhi Pasti – Universal Soul (Koran) Parmatma– Supreme perfect soul (Vedas).
• Only man has immortal soul as His divine spark, so man is only born in the image of God (Bible) and he alone can find more such laws/truths (Vedas)

These truths tell us that there is One formless and ineffable God. He has no beginning and no end (Koran). He being an Unmoved Mover, the divine subtle Nature creates the gross Universe under His supervision. Nature then creates comic laws of social, moral and physical order through a Book of Nature, which can be read by all animate life including blind persons. Having created these laws God and Nature follow these sternly and desire their children (entire mankind) to follow these laws to assist God in the maintenance of social and physical order. The greatest worship and service to God is to follow these laws of necessity without any distortion and any pragmatic interpretation (Vedas).

What are these cosmic laws?

These laws relate to path of moderation of Vedas, middle path of Buddha and “Golden Mean” of Greek metaphysicists. Avoidance of nine kinds of hydra headed corruption entering through ninety-nine sources in the gross human body and enlightened liberalism (nothing for self all for mankind), universal brotherhood, global family, global trade and many other noble concepts are comprehensively covered in these laws.

A few such laws can be briefly mentioned. As you sow, so shall you reap (Bible). Give love as donation and not as loan and it should flow from strong to the weak (Vedas). Avoid all kind of material excesses for self (Bhagavad-Gita) and pray to God to allot you work which is in furtherance of His Design and Effort so that we could fulfill His Mission. Any work, which does not benefit the mankind, is idleness and hence sin (Bhagavad-Gita). The gross world is a vast sea of matter and creates an illusion of comfort (holy Koran); get out of this phantasmagoria with right knowledge (Buddha). The right knowledge is well-harmonized material, spiritual and divine knowledge and truths found through this knowledge do not change with time and space. Cosmic delusion (Vedic Maya) creates a golden lid over right knowledge and dazzles human senses by splitting this harmonised knowledge and creates attachment for your children, matter and body self. The gross ignorance of highly intellectual people in material and social sciences is described in holy Koran in the character of Abu Jahil and demon king Ravana in mythological Ramayana. Based on these laws many scriptures refer to ethics of donations so that through donation of filthy lucre earned through corrupt means, evil is not spread in the state, society and religion.

Spiritual Science is not Spiritualism

Both spiritual science and spiritualism originate from the concept of divine Spirit- the energy principle in human beings and all other animate and inanimate life/things. The soul has complete knowledge of laws of God; it is the spirit, which gives life (Bible). This spirit of God first entered the Universe with the Cosmic Word spoken by God at Zero Hour (Vedas). Thus God is the Word and Word is God (Bible and Vedas). From the Zero Hour till now sum total of energy has remained constant in the universe. When this spirit is joined by our innate and a-priori knowledge it tends to move towards spiritual science. When the same spirit is joined with a-posteriori knowledge of our senses, sense organs and outward looking mind (Vedicetani) it invariably moves towards spiritualism and later under the influence of naked materialism towards fake spiritualism interpreted differently by various sects, cults and gurus.

Distortion of spiritual science of any religion is cause of terrorism

Unfortunately due to vested interests of our senses and outward looking mind (etani), many individuals are not keen to accept these permanent truths. If highly respected social and religious leaders distort these truths by giving false interpretation to suit their vested interests and long term design of gaining power over entire mankind, extreme kind of fanaticism and fundamentalism develop in society. Since poverty is the greatest violence (Gandhi), it becomes the breeding ground for terrorism in the form of suicide squads/bombers in such societies. Such is the case in many parts of the world like India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan etc. This kind of terrorism is vastly different than state sponsored terrorism.

Fire fighting is no solution to any kind of terrorism

The Bible, Vedas and even Buddha do not advocate elaborate churches, temples and other places of worship. Lately such places are being used for attracting tourists in a large scale with ostentatious worship. There is an urgent need to arrest this materialistic trend by bringing simplicity and divinity in such sacred places. The reflecting and right knowledge should go together. Reflecting without right harmonised knowledge is extremely dangerous to mankind (Hebrew’s metaphysics). “Never renounce your social duties towards family; state and society, only develop asceticism of heart by love of mankind” (Bible, Vedas). If all major religions of the world compete with each other in fulfilling the Mission of God and furtherance of His Design to wards One global family, universal brotherhood, global trade, peace on earth, water and firmament at least one of the most horrible kind of terrorism as existing at present will vanish. Hopefully the magnitude and intensity of other kinds of terrorism will display a declining trend. Any other adhoc solution is at best fire fighting. Even if extinguished, such a fire can start again.

It seems that human race is in dire need of saviour, who does not believe in the complication of God. Till such a saviour is born on this divine globe all religions as well as human beings (atheists, agnostics and theists) can compete with each other in bringing peace on the earth, water and firmament by following cosmic laws of necessity. All interpretations that are against these permanent truths should be discarded to create one global family of our Supreme Father and to bring “Kingdom of Heaven” nearer to the earth (Bible).