ESSAY .61 Towards a Cosmic Society: A Tantric Perspective
Dada Shambhushivananda Gurukul University Sweden
We live in interesting times. The developed Brahma are the variant states of That One Universal human intellect aspires to put us face-to-face with reali- Consciousness. Consciousness is the combined name of ty, in time, space and person, hoping to break the Cognition (Purus'a or Shiva') and its concomitant boundaries of relativity that have hitherto separated immutable Energy (Prakriti or Shakti). Shiva and Shakti humanity and shrouded the secrets of our existence. In are like two sides of a paper or like fire and its thermal cosmic and mythical terms, however, we are still no property. The entire creation is an eternal play (liila) of closer to understanding the mysterious realm of the inseparable Purus'a and Prakriti. Cognitive Faculty Supreme Consciousness (Cosmic Soul or Cosmic Spirit), (Purus'a) is the fundamental stuff out of which all cre- the Cosmic or Global Mind, and the secrets of the vast ation is apparently formed and Operative Principle or cosmological order that contains the countless galaxies Faculty (Parama-Prakriti) of that Consciousness is the of the visible worlds. I take this opportunity to remind energy which serves as the agency for the transmuta- us of the myths of the old Vedic Rs'is (intuitional scien- tion of One into Many or Many into One. This eternal tists) and current elucidations of those ancient vedic and dance of macrocosm is an unending cycle of evolution tantric thoughts by my mentor Shrii Prabhat Rainjan and dissolution (Brahma-cakra), like waves in the Sarkar in the hope of gaining some illumination as we Infinite Ocean of Consciousness. The attempts of explore the "futures" in the context of "Global Soul", philosophers and scientists have been to search for a "Global Mind" and the movement towards a "Cosmic Grand Unified Theory or to discover the seeds of con- Society". The term "global" is generally used geographi- sciousness (such as microvita) as part of a ceaseless cally to represent the planet earth and also metaphori- endeavor to link the known with the unknown nucleus cally to represent greater or higher dimensions that consciousness. This is the eternal journey of intellect underlie visible creation. and intuition until it merges into the fathomless cause The basic tenet of ancient Vedic Rs'is (intuitional like a doll of salt which goes to measure the depth of scientists) was that the proof of existence lies in its sub- the ocean and loses itself. stantiation (witness-ship) and that something cannot Here, I begin with a short panorama of the ancient come out of nothing (Mahars'i Kanad). The entity that Rs'is' world view about our origins and our desidera- substantiates may be called the Subject and existence tum. may be called an Object. Every object has a witnessing This universe of ours is the creation of the dexter- entity that may be called its subject. The Supreme ous hands of Parama Prakriti, the Supreme Operative Subjectivity is the Supreme Consciousness which is non- Principle. This Parama Prakriti is non-causal and its cos- causal and therefore the ultimate transcendental entity mic manifestation is called "causal matrix". All that hap- called Brahma or loosely speaking "God"- Generator, pens within this cosmos comes within the ambit of rela- Operator, and Destroyer. Nirguna, Ta'raka and Saguna tivity and science is the way to reveal the hidden cause- Journal of Futures Studies, May 2006, 10(4): 61 - 70 Journal of Futures Studies
effect relationships. This causal matrix is the one who knows everything. There is nothing apparent cause of the eternal dance of macro- that any microcosm can do that is beyond cosm and it is also called the liila of the the knowledge of that Transcendental Supreme Consciousness (also known as Shiva Consciousness. The advantage is that we are or Citti-Shakti). Our cosmological order is only never alone and the disadvantage is that we are a small fraction of the Macrocosmic being watched every moment by our Cosmic Consciousness (Shiva) begotten out of the influ- Father and cannot do anything secretly. With ence of the binding faculties of Parama Prakriti. our small cranium and tiny brain, we cannot The binding principle of Parama Prakriti that even begin to comprehend that Infinite Entity. creates the unceasing spell of metamorphosis is The waves emanating from Adi-Shiva have been called Mahamaya; when it operates within described in the yoga-shastras as "sarva-dyot- microcosm, it is called anumaya; when it natmaka-akhanda-cidaka-rasah" i.e. the all enables the unison of the microcosm with vibrating, pauseless, breathless, flow of Cosmic macrocosm, it is called yogamaya; and when it Cognition. That is why the existential stance of spans over the whole cosmos, it is called vis'nu- each and every entity of this universe is main- maya. This universe including all its manifesta- tained due to the existence of the Cosmic tions like land, money, property etc. is also Nucleus Consciousness, i.e. Adi-Shiva. Adi-Shiva called ks'ara because it undergoes constant is the adi-guru (original-educator), our dearest change under the influence of the binding facul- father. He is the most effulgent and charming ties of the Supreme Consciousness, Shiva or one (krs'na). Our existence has no locus-standi Citti Shakti. Nothing of this world that we own without the existence of the original Entity. is permanent. Either that thing goes away from Intuitional science is the practice of reuniting us in time or we go away from it. That is the with the cosmic hub, the final destination of all nature of ks'ara. That is why; sages have dis- beings. This ultimate union is termed Yoga, suaded us from making the things of this world Ananda or Samadhi. Mahabha'va is nothing but as our sole object of ideation. the different aspects of the joy of that cosmic- The seed of the Primordial Creative Faculty fusion. Bhakti Marga, the path of devotion, is (ka'ma-biija) of Shiva is called Shambhu-liunga. the name given to that arena which enables the It is the starting point of creation. Within Shiva closest proximity to the irresistible joys of stay- lie all the potentialities of creation, preservation ing in tune with the Cosmic Hub. and destruction or sublimation. When the Shiva A society where all are attempting to move or Transcendental Consciousness does not get towards the attainment of that Cosmic Bliss the scope to create anything concrete with the (Maha'bha'va) may be called a Cosmic Society. help of its binding faculty, it is termed as Para- Seen in this indo-tantric perspective, Shiva or Non-Attributional Consciousness. This Global Soul would be the witnessing counter- Para-Shiva is free from all attributions or karmas part of the Global Mind. Global Mind would and remains as the eternal witness of all trans- consist of different faculties of cosmic intelli- mutations. The waves emanating from Para- gences. The unit-cognitive faculties are mere Shiva are in a straight line. The nucleus of Para- thought projections of the Cosmic Cognitive Shiva may be called Adi-Shiva, the Supreme Faculty.1 In the words of Shrii Shrii Anandamur- Noumenal Subjectivity. This is the origin and tiji, "Just as every unit-consciousness is a multi- terminus of all consciousness. Everything moves plicity of Cosmic Consciousness, so too is every around this Cosmic Hub in a circumrotarian unit mind a part of the Cosmic Mind." The pro- fashion. (see Table I) This nucleus is also termed gressive fulfillment of the aspirations of each as Taraka Brahma, Mahakaula, Mahasambhuti individual would contribute to the fulfillment of in Tantra. It keeps both individual and collective the aspirations of humanity as a whole which relation with all its progeny as Ota-Yoga and lies embodied in the Cosmic Cognition. Human Prota Yoga. One of the names given to this Society then is the conglomeration of all individ- 62 Nucleus Consciousness is Jinana-Swarupa i.e., uals and all their potentialities. In a broader Towards a Cosmic Society
sense, it is not just the collection of all humans consciousness could be called a movement but everything that provides the context within towards the Cosmic Society. which they live, strive and function. Naturally, in The evolution of human society from its the physical environment, animate things like primitive ape-like days to modern man has flora and fauna and the subtler entities that may been studied and researched by streams of be beyond the reach of mortal minds but yet scholars. What can be easily deduced from this influence the way we think, act or move for- research is that psychic metamorphosis under- ward, are all part and parcel of human society. lies physical transformations. The brain research The more we understand the world we live in, of living beings shows that brains have become the richer will be our understanding of our continuously more and more complex with the place in this Cosmos. So far, we do realize that evolution of each species. Hence, it would not humans are one of the most evolved species on be surprising to find that future humans will this planet (though not necessarily in the entire have larger brains with a greater capability of creation). Yet, so far, human beings have not manipulating their environment. We may then been able to establish one human society free lose those organs which we use less and from wars, starvation, hatred etc. We still have a increase the size of organs that we use more or long way to go to establish one universal socie- even add new physical structures into the ty based on cardinal human values or virtues. human body to accommodate the fresh neural Such a societal state where all are endowed networks generated by the need to explore with the minimum essentialities of life, where invisible worlds. These changes would be quite all get the opportunity for expressing their psy- normal evolutionary phenomenon in the grad- chic potentialities and where all enjoy the free- ual evolution of the human species. dom to realize the highest stance of universal
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64 Towards a Cosmic Society
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Unit and Cosmic human being with an omni-telepathic mind can know all the secrets of the past. Shrii P. R. According to the indo-tantric episteme, Sarkar has been widely acclaimed as one such human beings are endowed with a clearly person who was an embodiment of such uncan- reflected consciousness which reflects in their ny abilities. In his view, the movement towards developed "i" feeling. This i-feeling is at the core Cosmic Society must involve growth of individ- of changes in social systems. Tracing the ual consciousness of all beings towards tran- process of social-dynamics, Shrii P.R. Sarkar scendental consciousness. What the Cosmic remarks "If the resultant cumulative flow of Mind has been doing since the beginning of cre- innumerable individuals is termed the social or ation is taken over by the unit mind in gradual collective flow, then the latter's trough and crest steps. This constitutes the advancement of is shorter than the trough and crest of the indi- human civilization. The stages of Global Mind vidual flows. This shortness of collective wave are related to the evolutionary stages of human length hastens either an evolution or a revolu- society. Marilyn Mehlmann has offered a typolo- tion"2. Humans are not passive beings even gy of social-evolution in psychological terms as though sometimes they may wait a long time to consisting of patterns resulting from a matrix of react to conditions. The repository of human child/adolescent/adult and innocent/fluid/rigid consciousness, which may be called the "cultur- categories.3 In her analysis, societal develop- al-soul" and its concomitant "global-mind", actu- ment parallels psychological development, with ally goad the unit-minds towards evolutionary all its potential not only for "progress" and mat- or revolutionary stances. Through its pervasive uration but also for conflicts, trauma and regres- influence on microcosmic mind-states, it influ- sion. Societies like individuals can also freeze ences opinions, behaviors, life-styles, ideologies into rigidity. On the other hand, universal spiri- and institutions. The society is thereby steered tual renaissance can also unleash energy that towards newer horizons. can move us into innocent sage-like states With the expansion of unit "i" (a'tman) in where we are in harmony with enlightened microcosms, there emerges a multifarious mind-states and the highest consciousness. transformation in the interactions between indi- The journey of social collective conscious- vidual behaviors, ideological leanings and insti- ness has been a difficult one to track down. tutional structures. The inspirational ideology, Some scholars like Shrii P. R. Sarkar approached imaginative individuals and integrative institu- this subject from a socio-psychological perspec- tions are the socio-psychic- instruments of this tive and traced shifts in collective psychology transformation from mere Global to Cosmic and identified the societal-stages as a spiral- Society. (see Fig. 1) The socio-cultural-econom- cyclic order. He, for instance, termed them as ic-political-technological changes in the society shudra (passive mentality); Ksattriya (martial are a result of the evolution or devolution of the mentality); vipra (intellectual mentality) and unit consciousness of living beings. Hence, vaeshya ( capitalist mentality). Whatever the there is a close connection between individual nomenclatures, we do see that collective psy- growth in consciousness and humanity's collec- chology is not a mere replication of individual tive consciousness. The collective conscious- psychologies. The collective psychologies ness, in indo-tantric tradition, has been called become more complex and lead to social by different names such as Bhuma' Ma'nas events marked with tumultuous changes and (Cosmic Mind), the Cultural Soul, the Global sometimes upheavals in political and social Self or the Universal Self or domains of orders. However, social progress is altogether Transcendental Consciousness (Loka's). The col- different from mere social change. Progress lective treasure of humanity lies stored in the entails transporting aesthetic objectivity into archives of the Cosmic Mind and is never lost supra-mundane subjectivity. Such a moral and can always be accessed with a subtler tech- stance leads human beings to the fullest expres- 66 nology of mind-transcendence. A universal sion of their finer human qualities. In the words Towards a Cosmic Society
Fig. 1
Source: Prabhat Rainjan Sarkar, Idea and Ideology (Calcutta: AM Publications, 1993: 37) of Shrii P. R. Sarkar "The concerted effort to in terms of global ethics4. Ethics are at the cen- bridge the gap between the first expression of tre of any discussion of social progress. The morality and the establishment in Cosmic Global Mind States which embrace the greater Status may be called social-progress. The collec- welfare of all beings would provide the élan- tive body of those engaged in the concerned vital of social evolutions. effort to conquer this gap may be called In Shrii P. R. Sarkar's description of the Society." The vision of a Cosmic Society defi- Cosmic Mind, there emerge seven stages viz., nitely entails the redefinition of social-progress Bhu-loka, Bhuvah loka, Svah loka, Mahah loka, 67 Journal of Futures Studies
Janah loka, Tapah loka and Satya loka. (see 1. Universal spiritual ideology based on Table II) These domains of macrocosmic mind universal love irrespective of religious or embody the collective- citta of microcosm ( other beliefs. annamaya kos'as, kamamaya kos'a's, manomaya 2. Scientific paths which are intuitively vali- kos'a's, atima'nas kos'a's, vijinamaya kos'as and dated and ceaselessly evolving to reflect hiranmaya kos'a's) and beyond citta ( aham & new learning. mahat) of microcosms. Cosmic Consciousness 3. Universal social outlook inspired by (Cosmic Soul) is the ultimate witness-ship of all Neohumanism which gives recognition manifestations and therefore, may be called as to the existential and utility value of all the supreme synthetic subjective proposition beings. (SSSP). 4. A progressive socio-economic system In the task of human advancement, public which strives to ensure maximum education can play a very crucial role. Human amenities to all. civilization marches ahead on the evolutionary 5. Compassionate and responsible leader- path, either in gradual steps or through quan- ship which is wise, transparent, compe- tum jumps provided by discoveries and inven- tent and benevolent as far as possible. tions born out of either intuitional flashes or These five essential ingredients can further leap-frogging intellectual endeavors begotten contribute to varied recipes of global actions out of hard work and cosmic grace. Of course, (including a neo-magna carta) that best suit the nature or prakriti plays its invisible role of steer- thrival needs of an age. Some of the blueprints ing the evolutionary journey in its pre-ordained of visions of a Cosmic Society including the manner. Despite advancements in the quantum notion of a world government have already of information, knowledge and analytical abili- been sketched by great thinkers like Shrii P. R. ties, we are still like infants trying to fathom the Sarkar, Bahaullah and others. What we need wisdom of the unseen power, to understand today are practical modalities that may help us the unexplained regions of the seemingly limit- to move in such a direction. The call of the times less mind and its concomitant brain and the today, therefore, is not mere discovery of a few physical world spectrum lying beyond the more gadgets of human comfort but finding the known bands of relativity. At the crossroad of proper path that will steer the very direction of this world of ignorance lies our pathway for fur- our individual and collective movement. We ther human advancement. It is indeed the chal- face a crisis of sense of purpose; a crisis of inten- lenge of each generation to bridge this gap tion; a crisis of living values; a crisis of compas- between the known and the unknown; sion, all begotten out of disconnectedness to between matter and abstract; between the universal spirit. In the words of my late teacher crude, subtle and causal worlds. This will Shrii P.R. Sarkar, "Without psycho-spiritual guid- require bold fearless imagination, humble ance, human beings tend towards exploitation embracing of what lies in the far-realms of the and this exploitation can be more dangerous in periphery in the worlds of thought, and critical the psychic level than in the physical level. In reasoning to accurately validate the benevolent order to avoid physical subjugation or intellec- nature of all choices. Benevolent choices are tual extravaganza human beings require proper likely to empower Good over Evil; Rationality physical, mental and spiritual training". All edu- over Dogma, and Culture over Brute force; cators and enlightened persons need to come Truth over Falsehood and Spirit over Matter. To forward in order to provide such training to all make people aware of those benevolent citizens. This is the crux of our task-creating options is the challenge of public education learning opportunities and inspiring actions for today. healing the planet torn by wars and strife, In order to make Cosmic Society a reality, poverty and ignorance, apathy and neglect. A certain shared values or guiding principles need word of caution: in the reform and redesign of 68 to be recognized. Some of them are: the education systems, we must shrug the com- Towards a Cosmic Society
fort of adhering to the status quo. The anti-the- Boundaries. (ed.) In Sohail Inyatullah and sis of today simmers to forge out the thesis of Jennifer Fitzgerald. Melany, Australia: tomorrow culminating in the synthesis of the Gurukul Press. Pp. 167-175. future. The well wishers of humanity must her- Musser, George. 2005. "The Climax of Humanity." ald the advent of such ideas which may now lie Scientific American. August 22. From at the periphery but seek to glorify and engold-
Correspondence Dada Shambhushivananda CNS-Sweden Ydrefors,59081 Gullringen Sweden Tel: 0046-492-80012 Fax: 0046-492-80060 Email: [email protected]
Notes 1. Ananda Sutram. 2. Ananda Marga. Elementary Philosophy 37. 3. Marilyn Mehlmann. "A Historical Matrix." P- Lab Notes, Felixgruppen, Stockholm. 4. "Neo-Humanist Curriculum." Rennaisance Institute of Society & Ethics(RISE). CNS- Ydrefors, Sweden.
References Anandamurti, Shrii Shrii. Tattva Kaomudii. Calcutta: Ananda Marga Publications. _____ 1996. Ananda Sutram. Calcutta: Ananda Marga Publications. _____1998. Ananda Marga Elementary Philosophy. Calcutta: Ananda Marga Publications. P. 37. Avt., Ac. Shambhushivananda. "Personification of the Impersonal and the Cult of Devotion." Ananda Marga 50th Anniversary DMS. Fiesch, Switzerland. May 2004. Speech included a summary of ideas from: Shrii Shrii Anandamurti. 1978. Supreme Expression-I. Holland: Nirvikalpa Printing. Gauthier, Richard. 1999. "The Cosmic Cycle of Creation & Microvita." Transcending 69 Journal of Futures Studies
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