| A New Spiritual Path
What is all the gossip going on around the world about "God"? Does God really exist? If He does, then is He really accessible or attainable to men and women of this planet? Here is a new spiritual approach that might quench your curiosity about the age-old mystery. A Newslook interview with a Nepali metaphysician:
Devoid of Knowledge, Devoid of Ignorance
The very entrance of a three-storey building, just a few yards eastward of the popular Maiti Devi temple in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, leads you to a small hut like structure. Here, a moderately old man can be seen either fully engrossed on meditation or talking keenly to a bunch of men and women sitting around him.
Upon inquiry, you know the shed and all the people inside are part of a new 'empirical' spiritual gang called Nirbodhis. Actually, they are practicing meditation and spirituality under the banner of Nirbodhalaya, which in Sanskrit means the dwelling place of nirbodh -- state of being devoid of knowledge as well as ignorance, a thoughtless consciousness, i.e. 'thoughtless thought'. And the old man is none but the patron of the establishment, identified to us as His Holiness Sri Tirthalal Mahanandadhar.
"Come in, sir, how can I help you?" the septuagenarian invites us in with a warm smile and in good English. The interior of the hut looked rather like a peaceful meditation hall, with capacity to accommodate some 25 people. Nearly one fourth of the space accommodates a hanging bed for the patron himself, who has also authored a book entitled BEDCROW (1987) explaining his ideologies. Here is a short interview with him.
Ego Practice and Eternal Sound
* "What's your teaching?," we asked him.
"Practice. First with ego then without ego," he said, adding that this was the easiest way for a modern seeker to understand the innate Truth."Many people have wasted their lives on unnecessary ritualistic practices, etc."
* What is your practice? Is it something like Vipassana meditation?"
Meditation it is. But this begins where the Vipassana ends. You will not be able to understand the Truth unless you --the ego-- melt yourself and surrender. So you must first try to reach an egoless state of consciousness."
* There were, and still are, many spiritualists who talked or talk like you, saying you must surrender or be devoid of ego.....
"Yes, there are many who talk similar, but none has ever stressed the 'practice' aspect so seriously. Talking or even studying the scriptures has no meaning, unless you practically prove its authenticity for yourself. Even my approach will be meaningless if it fails to guide people practically. But it does not fail -- it's my challenge."
* Can God be really visible to man?"
Of course, otherwise why would the scriptures and enlightened beings like the Buddha say so? But you must first dissolve yourself, your ego, in order to know the intricate system of God and His diverse manifestations. And my way of practice alone is the easiest way for this.
"Patron Mahanandadhar offers a three-tier practice for exploring the selfand subsequently realizing the innate, inexpressible, changeless Truth.First, egoistic practice along with listening to the Nada Brahma, which is the eternal sound that can be heard within, without doing anything. Second, expressible egoless practice. And third, inexpressible egoless practice that leads to super consciousness.
He claims if a seeker is truly dedicated and sincere, he or she can have self-realization within three years time without fail. Members in this spiritual body seem to be up for the same goal. Most of the members of Nirbodhalaya Nepal (his disciples) say they were able to listen to the Nada Brahma in a matter of few days after getting initiated into the establishment. And they happily credit their "guru" for that.
A few of the members who are said to have reached 'egoless' state of their practice look rather different: They appear highly mild and mostly reticent. Sri Mahanandadhar's teaching is concisely summarized in a two-page English text titled "Nectar of Truth" which is included in his recently published (Nepali language) analytical interpretation of Abdhoot Gita, the famous Sanskrit scripture by Bhagwan Sri Dattatreya. Here is the gist of the text.
"Nectar of Truth"
* To realize the truth, keep your "mirror mind" clean. For this, you have to go to the depth of it and look at the vast, pure voidness which is within, like the sky.
* Meditate on this vast voidness, giving up the idea of even the meditator. This will help you to gradually reveal the mystery of truth.
* To observe the deep essence of the wavering mind, stay alone like the hermit in a hermitage. At first develop this habit in you and then practice meditation as I tell you.
* Have faith unshaken, like a firm mountain unshakable. Care not pain and pleasure of this unreal world -- which is but a dream of ignorance--to win the merits of super-voidness.
* Thus meditate with steadfastness. Go on meditating without any interruption, like that river water that flows on and on from the mountain to the sea.One who meditates in this way should have strong and incessant faith to receive the blessing from Guru.
* Consequently, this meditation of yours will help you to become egoless, just like that salt doll that dissolves inside the ocean.
* Develop your meditation on the vast infinity, like a firmament devoid of edge or center. This practice of yours will help you unite skill and wisdom, and understand the innate truth.
* When you will come to this height of meditation, "love" and"compassion" will spread far and wide within, knowing that all beings are none other than yours.
* When you are in this realm of truth, your meditation will shine clearly without any trace of darkness, like the sun and the full moon in all their glory.
* Even after this, if your meditation proceeds further without distraction to realize "Truth Eternal" directly, you must follow straight the Guru's words, letter to letter, like that straightline of beam.
* Only then will you go beyond all words. This unshaken, firm meditation of yours will again reveal this truth that the entire creation is no other than you, the one single truth.
* Now watch your "Mind--this Truth." Only then will you have 'crystal clear' this vision that you are the universe, you are theTruth, no difference between universe and you the self mind, at all time and in all you do.
* When you are fully matured in this state of eternity, you will ever enter the holy city of holiness. He who is purest pure and holy will never forget to repay the bounty of his Guru. He alone will offer his Guru the best offerings, all he ha sexperienced and realized. This is how a real devotee moves in this world, distributing freely all that he possesses. He gives all that he has. This man of truth alone is known to be "Free Man". To him alone can one say 'he is naked, he is immanence'. He alone is immaculate because he has already given up the costly dresses of desire and attachment of the world.
* Such a man of truth alone is fit to be called a man of emancipation, a real man.
This is the truth and everyone can experience it for himself or herself, says Mahanandadhar. With an added forcefulness he observes: "Practice sincerely. You will definitely reveal this unborn truth, which is no other than yourself, and which is the ultimate goal of all metaphysicians of this world.
(Presented by Chiranjibi Kafle and Chhabi Adhikari)
For more information on this subject contact: asotl@ccsl.com.np orlotas@unlimit.com or Tel 977-1-410664.