Tattva See Inside Out Sutapa Das This book is a compilation of blogs posts written over a ten-year period (2008-2017). It’s a grave responsibility to re-present the teachings of celebrated saints, a task which calls for genuine purity and freedom from worldly ambition. Forgive my weaknesses in this regard. I never really saw myself as a writer (and I still don’t), but it’s an art that is profoundly magical. Every time I began writing something, I saw my mind in front of me – a stream of haphazard thoughts, jumbled “Whether I know it or not, and confused. Often times I sat in front of the keyboard and had it is for self-purification that I write this book.” nothing substantial to write at all, confronted with my superficiality Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami and shallowness. Those humbling times forced me to close my eyes, (16th Century saint, poet and philosopher) dig deeper and explore the inner world. After scribing some words, I’d chop and change, repair the mistakes, refine the meaning and streamline the flow. Mystical things would transpire. As I edited the text, I felt as though I was editing my consciousness. Every post published was like a mini victory – it seemed like an insight had been installed and solidified into a deeper space within my consciousness. A changed man, never to be the same again. No doubt, the practice of writing is high-end personal development. Progress to Perfection School of Life Window Shopping .................. 16 Living with Chaos ................... 80 Spirit Secret .............................. 18 Divine Intervention ................. 82 Heat of the Moment ................ 20 Breakfast of Champions ......... 84 Course of Life ........................... 22 Mission Impossible ................. 86 Failed Success .......................... 24 Soul-utions ............................... 88 Timeless Possessions .............. 26 Acid Test ................................... 90 Enemies of Growth ................. 28 Mechanics of Spirituality ....... 92 Good Words ............................. 30 Puzzle of Life ........................... 94 The Thinking Gym .................. 32 Public Eye ................................. 96 Risky Business ......................... 34 The Missing Link ..................... 98 Head Space ............................... 36 Three Steps ............................. 100 Divine Power ........................... 38 Market Fluctuations ............. 102 Constant Change .................... 40 Mind Games .......................... 104 Unconscious Competence ..... 42 Choose Life ............................ 106 Quietly Confident .................. 44 Digesting Life ........................ 108 Contents Split Personality ..................... 46 Guilty Conscience ................ 110 Joyful Insignificance .............. 48 Live Options .......................... 112 Build High, Dig Deep ............ 50 Slow Progress ....................... 114 No Time! .................................. 52 Stepping Forward ................ 116 Character Reference ............... 54 Countdown ........................... 118 Servant Leaders ...................... 56 A.W.O.L ................................. 120 The Inside Story ...................... 58 The Rat Race .......................... 122 Life-Changing Moments ....... 60 Food for the Soul .................. 124 Destructive Enlightenment .... 62 Access Denied ....................... 126 Tolerate Happiness ................ 64 Home Game .......................... 128 Design Your Destiny .............. 66 It Could be You .................... 130 The Proof-reader ..................... 68 Artificial Intelligence ........... 132 IQ, EQ, SQ ............................... 70 Casual Causes Casualty ....... 134 Look Back to Look Forward .. 72 The Spirituality of Money .... 136 Sensitively Strong .................... 74 Moral Inconsistency ............. 138 Good to Talk ............................ 76 I’mmoral ................................. 140 The Best Policy ....................... 142 Dharma ................................... 144 4 5 Closer Connections Free to Think Innerspace Dedication Free Speech ............................ 148 Free Will ................................ 190 The Inside Job ........................ 240 Falling Short ........................... 292 Me to We ................................ 150 Cosmic Management ............ 192 Advanced Insignificance ...... 242 Vision of Eternity .................. 294 Mediate Then Meditate ........ 152 Google VS God ..................... 194 Character or Capability? ...... 244 Transcendental Expert .......... 298 Humble Pie ............................ 154 Faithless .................................. 196 Lost Baggage .......................... 246 Who Can Understand? ......... 302 Special Treatment .................. 156 Problem of Rocks .................. 198 Simple Spirituality ................ 248 Undefeatable .......................... 306 Friendly Fire ........................... 158 Absolute Knowledge ............ 200 Good Old Days ...................... 250 Ego Death ............................... 160 Good Humans ....................... 202 Don’t Look Back .................... 252 Comparative Religion ........... 162 Double-Edged Sword ........... 204 Living the Dream .................. 254 Motherly Love ...................... 164 Need of the Day ..................... 206 The Lone Mendicant ............. 256 Conflict Resolution .............. 166 One but Different ................. 208 Top Gear ................................. 258 Soul Mates ............................. 168 Psychological Atheism ......... 210 Lessons on the Road ............ 260 Organised Chaos .................. 170 Bubble Bath ........................... 212 Your Next Destination .......... 262 Get Rich Quick ...................... 172 Face Off .................................. 214 Upping the Game .................. 264 Saintly Connections ............. 174 One Life Game ....................... 216 Sacred Space .......................... 266 Soft Love ................................. 176 Are you Buddhist? ................ 218 Blind Eye ............................... 268 Willing & Able ....................... 178 Instant Karma ....................... 220 X-Ray Vision .......................... 270 Attention or Attachment ...... 180 Contradiction and Paradox . 222 What’s in a Word ................. 272 The Wrongs of Being Right .. 182 Religious War ....................... 224 Learning to be Natural ........ 274 Split personality ................... 184 Conscious Revolution .......... 226 Resolutions to Revolutions . 276 Hear the Unheard ................. 186 Dancing God .......................... 228 Politically Correct ................. 278 Centre of Attention ............. 230 Spirit + Ritual = Spiritual .... 280 Idol Worship ......................... 232 Doctor Who ........................... 282 The ‘Real’ World .................. 234 Intensive Care ........................ 284 Multi-Level Spirituality ....... 236 Spiritual Health Check ......... 286 As Sure As .............................. 288 6 7 In the late 60’s, after NASA had completed a series of ground-breaking cosmological adventures, reporters interviewed different people to gauge their reaction to the events. When they reached a grave-looking monk he shocked the reporter with a radically different perspective. Troubled by the direction of modern civilization, he was entirely unexcited and unimpressed by the advances in space-travel. When quizzed why, he responded: “now man is diverting his attention further and further outside for answers, for purpose, for happiness - but actually we have to explore deeper and deeper within.” In today’s fast-paced materialistic climate, our vision, understanding Tattva and interaction with the world can be on a very superficial level. Despite this all-pervading influence, many philosophers, theologians, scientists and great thinkers have discussed and debated with a view to [tuht-tvah]:- a principle or truth that understanding the world in a more profound way. The sages of the East underpins our experience of universal reality were no different. In an ancient body of literatures known as the Vedas, they documented a spiritual understanding of the self, the universe and the deeper purpose of life. This is known as tattva - essential truths and principles that underpin universal reality. Knowledge of this tattva can help one excel on all levels - physically, emotionally, socially, and most importantly, spiritually. In this book we discuss elements of this tattva, relating to the fields of philosophy, theology, psychology, sociology and spirituality. We hope the contents will be ‘food for thought’ in a world that (consciously or unconsciously) is yearning for fresh perspectives and newer paradigms. 9 A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was a saint like no other. At the age of 69, homeless, penniless and alone, he arrived in the Lower East Side of New York, in search of ‘better opportunities’ to share his message. This was Skid row; the lowest of the low. Here he lived, worshiped, studied and taught. Every evening, his latest residence, the rat-ridden 94 Bowery, would fill up with buzzing acidheads, bearded bohemians, ruined alcoholics and disillusioned dropouts. Sex, music, LSD, and consciousness expansion; that’s what made them tick. The Swami would nonchalantly step into the makeshift ‘temple’ and take his seat at the front, face-to-face with these confused souls who were looking for real love, real