There are three cognitive essentials for
human intellectual activities: What is it? How is it? And why is it?
These had, in historical development, created expressions that are known
as “civilization” often mixed with “culture”, Faith and Religion. But
long human Knowledge journey had began by looking first at the Sun, and
enquiring about the light, energy, and power. Rigvedic scientist (Rishi)
invoked the messenger of the Sun on Earth “Agni” Fire. (Agnim ide
purohitam. Rig Veda 1.i.).
Evidently, there were differences between temples and temples, faiths
and faiths, rituals and belief systems. Similarly, in times, ruling
class of priests out of sheer human follies, turned oppressive, vicious,
greedy, ritualistic, outright stupid with traditions and doctrinaire.
Universally, temples and churches turned into the centers of corruption
and malpractices – outright becoming anti-social, anti-knowledge and
anti-science. The centers of scientific investigations, study and
research (seminaries and monasteries) which were temples of Leaning once
and had served as the retreat for intellectuals and researchers, now at
best are museums of the past glories.
In my early years I had witnessed frequent spiritual visitors of all
shades and colors at home. At 15, I left home in search of Truth and
Salvation. I went out looking for a guru –in the Buddhist monasteries
and lamaseries. I trekked on stony Himalayan terrains all the way from
Kanya Kumari –Rameshwaram to Mt. Kailash and Mansarovar. I spent many
weeks engaging in theological discourses with Christian bishops and the
Christian monks in their monasteries in north of England and in
Austrian-German-Swiss Alps. In the company of Himalayan yogis I sought
the awakening of my Kundalinis.
Over half-a-century of research about the Path of Spiritual Liberation,
I must have met over 1500 practicing faithfuls, yogis, oversized saints,
siddhas, pretending to be enlightened drunkards and drug addicts, and
ash smeared bhogis in the garb of ocre yogis. I found all of them
seeking material prowess, to somehow ward off Death by attaining
longevity in this worldly existence. All of them I found engaged in the
game of covering their nudity with the fig leaf of spiritual upliftment.
In the name of tyaga and tapasya they were indulgent in worldly
comforts.
