THE VEDIC SHLOKAS

 

                   SHLOKAS 5

                    ESA SARVESVARAH ESA SARVAJNAH, ESO'NTARYAMI, 

                    ESA YONIH SARVASYA PRABHAVAPYAYAU HI BHUTANAM

                   WHERE ONE, BEING FAST ASLEEP,  DOES NOT DESIRE ANY DESIRE 

                   WHATSOEVER AND DOES NOT SEE ANY DREAM, THAT IS DEEP'

                   SLEEP. THE THIRD QUARTER IS PRAGNA, WHOSE SPHERE IS THE

                   STATE OF DEEP SLEEP, WHO HAS BECOME ONE, VARILY A MASS

                   OF COGNITION, WHO IS FULL OF BLISS, WHO ENJOYS BLISS, WHOSE  

                    FACE IS THOUGHT.
                    

           SO, IN THE STATE OF DEEP SLEEP, WHERE THE DIVERSITY OF COGNITION OF OUTSIDE OBJECTS AND INSIDE DREAMS HAVE CEASED AND CONSCIOUSNESS REVERTS TO ITS UNITY, THE SELF, THEN IS IN A STATE OF BLISS, EXPERIENCING BLISS NOT THROUGH INDULGENCE, WHICH DEPENDS ON SENSE OBJECTS, BUT ABSORBED IN ITS OWN INTRINSIC BLISSFULNESS, ALONE AND INDEPENDENT.

                       SHLOKAS 6

                  ANTAH-PRAJNAM, NA BAHIS PRAJNAM, NOBHAYATAH-

                  PRAJNAM

                  NA PRAJNANA-GHANAM, NA PRAJNAM, NAPRAJNAM,

                 ADRSTAM, AVYAVAHARAYAM, AGRAHYAM, ALAKSANAM,

                 ACINTYAM, AVYAPADESYAM, EKATMA-PRATYAYA-

                 SARAM, PRAPANCOPASAMAM, SANTAM, SIVAM, ADVAITAM,

                CATURTHAM MANYANTE, SA ATMA, SA VIJNEYAH

                   THIS IS THE LORD OF ALL, THIS IS THE KNOWER OF ALL, THIS IS THE INNER CONTROLLER, THIS IS THE SOURCE OF ALL, THIS IS THE BEGINNING AND END OF ALL BEINGS.

                      GAUDAPADA IS HIS KARIKA SAYS, "EKA EVA TRIDHA SMRTHA" . IT IS THE ONE ALONE WHO IS KNOWN IN THE THREE STATES.

                   THEREFORE, NOW THE QUESTIONS ARISE:

                  1. SO IF THE SELF IS IN THE BLISSFUL STATE OF DEEP SLEEP, IN THAT STATE ARE WE NOT AWARE OF BLISS, AS WE ARE IN A STATE OF UNCONSCIOUSNESS?

                 2. AND , IS THIS THE END? IN WHICH CASE, WHICH IS THE FOURTH QUARTER? A,U AND M SEEM TO HAVE BEEN EXPLAINED. IS THERE SOMETHING MORE?

                       BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS, WE SHOULD MOVE TO THE NEXT SHLOKA.

        SHLOKAS 7 

 

                          SO YAM ATMADHYAKSARAM

                       AUMKARO' DHIMATRAM PADA MATRA

                       MATRAS CA PADA AKARA UKARA MAKARA ITI

                     TURIYA IS NOT THAT WHICH COGNISES THE INTERNAL OBJECTS NOR THE EXTERNAL OBJECTS, NOR A MASS OF CONGNITION YET NON-COGNITIVE. IT IS UNSEEN, INCAPABLE OF BEING SPOKEN OF, UNPALPABLE, WITHOUT ANY DISTINCTIVE MARKS, UNTHINKABLE, UNNAMABLE, THE ESSENCE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE ONE SELF, THAT INTO WHICH THE WORD IS RESOLVED, THE PEACEFUL, BENIGN, NON-DUAL, SUCH THEY THINK, IS THE FOURTH QUARTER. THAT IS THE SELF: THAT IS TO BE KNOWN.

                       NO WONDER BUDDHA CALLED IT SHUNYA, ZERO, NO - THING AND GAUDAPADA, THE GREAT COMMENTATOR WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN A BUDDHIST.

                        NOW TO RETURN TO THE QUESTIONS :

                    1. ONE SEEMS TO BE UNAWARE OF THE BLISS OF THE SELF IN A DEEP SLEEP, BUT SURELY THERE MUST HAVE BEEN SOMEONE WHO WAS AWARE OF THIS BLISS WHEN ONE WAKES UP FROM A DEEP SLEEP, FOR THERE IS ALWAYS A REMEMBRANCE OF THE BLISSFULNESS. THE USUAL EXPRESSION WHEN WE WAKE UP FROM A DEEP, DREAMLESS SLEEP IS, "O! WHAT A BLISSFUL SLEEP". THIS BLISS LINGERS ON, AND ONE IS LIKELY TO TURN AROUND AND GO BACK TO SLEEP IN AN ATTEMPT TO RECAPTURE THE BLISS, EVEN WHEN THE WAKE-UP ALARM HAS RUNG MANY TIMES.

                    SO SUSHUPTI OR DEEP SLEEP, THE STATE IN WHICH ONE REVELS IN THE BLISS OF THE SELF, EVEN IF ONLY TEMPORARILY, AND BECAUSE OF WHICH, ONE IS REJUVENATED AND READY FOR THE DAY, IS NATURE'S INDICATOR OF THE PRESENCE OF THE SUPREME SELF. THIS SELF NUDGES ONE ON TO FIGURE OUT IF ONE CAN EXPERIENCE THE BLISSFUL SELF WHILE BEING FULLY CONSCIOUS, AT A TIME WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE CONFORMS TO THE DEEP SLEEP STATE.

                      IF, AND THE YOGIS SAY IT IS POSSIBLE, SUCH A STATE CAN BE REALISED, THAT WILL BE THE SUPREMELY BLISSFUL AND SUPERCONSCIOUS STATE CALLED TURIYA, THE LAST QUARTER OF THE PRANAVA, WHICH THE YOGA DARSHANA CALLS KAIVALYA.

THE VEDIC SHLOKAS

           

                           AUM.. IT BELONGS TO THE 

                                     ATHARVA VEDA

                   THE PROLIFIC SHANKARA HAS COMMENTED ON BOTH THE UPANISHAD AND THE KARIKA OF GAUDAPADA. INTERESTINGLY, EVEN SHANKARA WAS LABELLED A PRACHANNA BOUDHIKA (BUDDHIST IN DISGUISE) BY ONE SECTION OF THE ORTHODOXY OF THE ANCIENT CITY OF VARANASI.

 

                       IT CONSISTS 12 SHLOKAS...

              SHLOKA 1 👇

                      AUM ITY ETAD AKSARAM IDAM SARVAM,

                  TASYOPAVYAKHYANAM BHUTAM BHAVAD

                  BHAVISYAD ITI SARVAM AUMKARA EVA YAC

                  CANYAT TRIKALATITAM TAD APY AUMKARA EVA

            THE AUM WHICH IS THE SYLLABLE OF BRAHMAN, THE ULTIMATE REALITY, STANDS FOR THE MANIFESTED WORLD, THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE, AND ALSO THE UNMANIFESTED ABSOLUTE.

              SHLOKA 2 👇

                     SARVAN HY ETAD BRAHMA, AYAM ATMA

                     BRAHMA SO'YAM ATMA CHATUS-PAT

           ALL THIS IS, VERILY BRAHMAN. MY INNER SELF IS BRAHMAN. THIS SELF APPEARS TO HAVE FOUR QUARTERS.

                    ONE NEEDS TO ONLY REPLACE THE WORD BRAHMAN WITH PURUSHA TO SEE THAT WHEN PATANJALI TALKS OF THE PURUSHA BEING THE TRUE ESSENCE OF THE SELF, FREE FROM ALL CONDITIONINGS AN DISTRACTIONS OF THE CHITTA THAT OBSCURE IT, THE DIFFERENCE IS ONLY IN TERMINOLOGY.

  SHLOKA 3👇

                              JAGARITA STHANO BAHIS-PRAJNAH SAPTANGA

                              EKONAVIMSATI-MUKHA STHULA-BHUG

                              VAISVANARAH PRATHAMAH PADAH

             THE FIRST QUARTER IS VAISHVANARA, WHOSE SPHERE IS THE WALKING STATE, WHO COGNISES EXTERNAL OBJECTS, WHO HAS SEVEN LIMBS AND NINETEEN MOUTHS AND ENJOYS THE GROSS, MATERIAL OBJECTS.

               THE NINETEEN MOUTHS ARE THE FIVE SENSE ORGANS (SIGHT, HEARING, TOUCH, TASTE AND SMELL) , THE FIVE ORGANS OF ACTION (SPEECH, THE USE OF LIMPS, MOVEMENT, GENERATION, EXCRETION) THE FIVE VITAL BREATHS - PRANAS, MANAS (THE MIND, ) BUDDHI (THE INTELLECT), AHAMKARA (THE SENSE OF RECONISING ONESELF) AND CHITTA, THE ENTIRE SPHERE OF THOUGHT THAT ENCOMPASSESS EVERYTHING.

                  THE WALKING STATE, THEREFORE, REPRESENTED BY A (AUM, IS THE NORMAL CONDITION EXPERIENCED BY ALL HUMANS.

  SHLOKA 4👇

                                    SVAPNA-STHANO'NTAH-PRAJNAH SAPTANGA

                                EKONAVIMSATI-MUKHAH

                                PRAVIVIKTA-BHUK TAIJASO DVITIYAH PADAH

         

                      THE SECOND QUARTER IS TAIJASA, REPRESENTED, BY U (AUM), WHOSE SPHERE OF ACITIVITY IS THE DREAM STATE, WHICH COGNISES INTERNAL OBJECTS AND ENJOYS THE SUBTLE OBJECTS.

                       THIS IS ALSO COMMON TO ALL LIVING BEINGS, THE DREAM STATE WHERE ONE EXPERIENCES WITH CLOSED EYES, A WORD OF IMAGINATION THAT ORIGINATES FROM THE SUB-CONSCIOUS AND YET IS SO REAL THAT WHILE DREAMING, NO ONE BELIEVES IT IS A DREAM. IT IS ONLY WHEN ONE WAKES UP THAT ONE SAYS, O! WHAT A DREAM. SOME SAGES DECLARE THAT IN THE WAKING STATE, WHEN ONE IS NOT IN DEEP SLEEP, LIFE APPEARS TO BE A LIVING-DRAWN DREAM. A PERSON WHOSE MIND IS STILL LIMITED WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS. BUT WHEN THE MIND EXPANDS, ALL DISTRACTIONS AND CONDITIONS ARE REMOVED ARE REMOVED AND ONE EXPERIENCES. ABSOLUTE CONSICOUSNESS AT THE CORE OF ONE'S BEING, IT MAY BE SEEN AS SUCH.

                  THE SAGE WAKES UP TO REALITY AND SAYS, "O! WHAT A DREAM' DELIGHTFUL OR TERRIBLE AS THE CASE MAY BE.

WHAT IS YOGA (SHANTI MANTRA)

 

                                    THE BRIEF ABOUT YOGA

                                                                          👀

                    THE EARLIEST EXAMPLE FROM THE NASADIYA SUKRA OF THE RIG VEDA, THE FIRST OF THE FOUR VEDAS CONSIDERED SHRUTI OR THE ORIGINAL FOUNTAINHEAD OF WISDOM, AS THE HYMN OF CREATION. PARTS OF IT READ LIKE A DESCRIPTION OF THE ORIGIN OF THE COSMOS IN SCIENTIFIC WORKS. THE FOREMOST POINT IS THE HEALTHY SPIRIT OF SCEPTICISM THROUGHOUT. HERE IS AN EXCELLENT TRANSLATION OF THE HYMN OF CREATION , RIG  VEDA BY RALPH T.H. GRIFFITH. HAVING READ THE ORIGINAL IN SANSKRIT, I CAN VOUCH FOR ITS ACCURACY.

                             THE HYMN OF CREATION

                                               👀

                  1. THEN WAS NOT NON-EXISTENT NOR EXISTENT, THERE WAS NO REALM OF AIR, NO SKY BEYOND IT.

 

                                                              ❤

                      * WHAT COVERED IN, AND WHAT? AND WHAT GAVE SHELTER? WAS WATER THERE, UNFATHOMED DEPTH OF WATER?

            2. DEATH WAS NOT THEN, NOR WAS THERE AUGHT IMMORTAL, NO SIGN WAS THERE, THE DAY'S AND NIGHT'S DIVIDER. THAT ONE THING, BREATHELESS, BREATHED BY ITS OWN NATURE, APART FROM IT WAS NOTHING WHATSOEVER.

             3. DARKNESS THERE WAS, AT FIRST CONCEALED IN DARKNESS THIS ALL WAS INDISCRIMINATE CHAOS.

                                                            ❤

              * ALL THAT EXISTED THEN WAS VOID AND FORMLESS, BY THE GREAT POWER OF WARMTH WAS BORN THAT UNIT.

              4. THEREAFTER ROSE DESIRE AT THE BEGINNING, DESIRE, THE PRIMAL SEED AND GERM OF SPIRIT.

                                                               ❤

             * SAGES WHO SEARCHED WITH THEIR HEART'S THOUGHT DISCOVERED THE EXISTEN'S KINSHIP IN THE NON-EXISTENT.

              5. TRASVERSELY WAS THEIR SEVERING LINE EXTENTED, WHAT WAS ABOVE IT THEN, AND WHAT BELOW IT?

                                                               ❤ 

                * THERE WERE BEGETTERS, THERE WERE MIGHTLY FORCES, FREE ACTION HERE AND ENERGY UP YONDER.

                   6. WHO VERILY KNOWS AND WHO CAN HERE DECLARE IT, WHENCE IT WAS BORN AND WHENCE COMES THIS CREATION? THE GODS ARE LATER THAN THIS WORLD'S PRODUCTION. WHO KNOWS THEN WHENCE IT FIRST CAME INTO BEING.?

                 7. HE, THE FIRST ORIGIN OF THIS CREATION, WHETHER HE FORMED IT ALL OR DID NOT FORM IT.

                                                               ❤

                    * WHOSE EYE CONTROLS THIS WORLD IN HIGHEST HEAVEN, HE VERILY KNOW IT, OR PERHAPS HE KNOWS NOT.

                                                               ❤

                        TO BE SPECIFICALLY NOTED ARE THE NUMBER OF QUESTION MARKS AND THE FOURTH, SIXTH AND SEVENTH SHLOKAS, WHICH CAN BE RELATED TO THE PRACTICE OF YOGA.

                                           SHANTHI MANTRA

                      NOW LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE SHANTI MANTRAS THAT OCCUR IN THE UPANISHADS, THE CORE AND ESSENCE OF THE VEDAS. THEY ARE MOSTLY ASSERTIONS, AFFIRMATIONS AND WISHES TO ASCEND SPIRITUALLY AND DERIVE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL STRENGTH TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS, RATHER THAN THROUGH PRAYERS TO AN ALMIGHTY CREATOR. MANY OF THEM END WITH THE SINCERE WISH FOR PEACE - SHANTI - AND THE WISH TO IMPROVE THE WORLD AND THE BEINGS THAT LIVE IN IT.

                                                  👉👉👉

                           ASATOMA SADGAMAYA

                                                    👇

            FROM THE UNREAL MAY I ASCEND TO THE REAL,

                    TAMASO MA JYOTIRGAMAYA

                                                   👇

           FROM DARKNESS, MAY I ASCEND TO LIGHT,

                   MRTYOR MA AMRTAM GAMAYA

                                                  👇

         FROM DEATH MAY I ASCEND TO DEATHLESSNESS,

                   OM SHANTI SHANTI SHANTIH

                                                 👇

           OM! PEACE, PEACE, PEACE.

THE YOGA SUTRAS

 

                                      

                                                                   THE YOGA

                         YOGA IS AN ANCIENT SCIENCE INCLUDED IN THE SIX DARSHANA'S OF TRADITIONAL INDIAN PHILOSOPHY. WHILE THE THEORETICAL CONCEPTS  ARE MOSTLY DERIVED FROM SANKHYA, THERE ARE A FEW DIFFERENCES, PARTICULARLY REGARDING THE CONCEPT OF ISHWARA. ONE IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE IS THAT WHILE SANKHYA OFFERS A PURELY PHILOSOPHICAL FRAMEWORK, YOGA WHILE USING SANKHYA TERMINOLOGY GOES INTO THE PRACTICAL STEPS OF ACHIEVING THE GOAL, WHICH SANKHYA ENVISAGES ONLY THEORETICALLY. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SANKHYA AND YOGA CAN BE COMPARED  TO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. SCIENTIFIC THEORIES ARE ABSTRACT, WHILE TECHNOLOGY ACTUALISES SUCH THEORIES INTO TANGIBLE FINDINGS AND USEFUL RESULTS.

                       HOWEVER, TECHNOLOGY SOMETIMES EXPLOITS THE FINDINGS FOR NEFARIOUS AND DESTRUCTIVE  PURPOSES . IT IS TO OFFSET THIS DANGER THAT THE PRACTICE OF MORAL PRINCIPLES IS HARMONISED WITH THAT OF YOGA AT THE VERY BEGINNING. THE MOST IMPORTANT MORAL PRINCIPLE IS AHIMSA, OR NON-INJURY TO LIVING BEINGS, INCLUDING HUMANS. THE YOGI ACQUIRES TREMENDOUS ENERGY AND ALMOST UNLIMITED KNOWLEDGE AS THE PRACTICE FREES THE BRAIN OF BURDENS, DISTURBANCE AND CONFLICTS, RESULTING IN TRANQUILLITY AND ONEPOINTEDNESS. BY ADHERING TO MORAL PRINCIPLES, THE YOGI'S ENERGY AND KNOWLEDGE ARE NOT MISDIRECTED FOR SELFISH PURPOSES.

                                                                      ❤❤❤

                       * THE NATURAL PROPERTIES, AND PRIVILEGES OF A REASONABLE SOUL ARE, THAT SHE SEETH HERSELF, THAT SHE CAN ORDER, AND COMPOSE HERSELF, THAT SHE MAKES HERSELF AS SHE WILL HERSELF, THAT SHE REAPS HER OWN FRUITS WHATSOEVER, WHEREAS PLANTS, TREES, UNREASONABLE CREATURES, WHAT FRUIT SOEVER (BE IT EITHER FRUIT PROPERLY, OR ANALOGICALLY) THEY BEAR, THEY BEAR THEM UNTO OTHERS, AND NOT TO THEMSELVES. AGAIN, WHENSOEVER, AND WHERESOEVER, SOONER OR LATER, HER LIFE DOTH END, SHE HATH HER OWN END NEVERTHELSS, FOR IT IS NOT WITH HER, AS WITH DANCERS AND PLAYERS, WHO IF THEY BE INTERRUPTED IN ANY PART OF THEIR ACTION, THE WHOLE ACTION MUST NEEDS BE IMPERFECT.

                    * A PLEASANT SONG OR DANCE, THE PANCRATIAS'S EXERCISE, SPORTS THAT THOU ART WONT TO BE MUCH TAKEN WITH, THOU SHALT EASILY CONTEMN, IF THE HARMONIOUS VOICE THOU SHALT DIVIDE INTO SO MANY PARTICULAR SHALL ASK THYSELF, WHETHER THIS OR THAT SOUND IS IT, THAT DOTH SO CONQUER THEE. FOR THOU WILT BE ASHAMED OF IT. AND SO FOR SHAME. IF ACCORDINGLY THOU SHALT CONSIDER IT, EVERY PARTICULAR MOTION AND POSTURE BY ITSELF, AND SO FOR THE WRESTLER'S EXERCISE TOO. GENERALLY THEN, WHATSOEVER IT BE, BESIDES VIRTUE, AND THOSE THINGS THAT PROCEED FROM VIRTUE THAT THOU ART SUBJECT TO BE MUCH AFFECTED WITH, REMEMBER PRESENTLY THUS TO DIVIDE IT, AND BY THIS KIND OF DIVISION, IN EACH PARTICULAR TO ATTAIN UNTO THE CONTEMPT OF THE WHOLE. THIS THOU MUST TRANSFER AMD APPLY TO THY WHOLE LIFE ALSO.

                    * THAT SOUL WHICH IS EVER READY, EVEN NOW PRESENTLY (IF NEED BE) FROM THE BODY, WHETHER BY WAY OF EXTINCTION, OR DISPERSION, OR CONTINUATION IN ANOTHER PLACE AND ESTATE TO BE SEPARATED, HOW BLESSED AND HAPPY IS IT! BUT THIS READINESS OF IT, IT MUST PROCEED, NOT FROM AN OBSTINATE AND PEREMPTORY RESOLUTION OF THE MIND, VIOLENTLY AND PASSIONATELY SET UPON OPPOSITION, AS CHRISTIANS ARE WONT, BUT FROM A PECULIAR JUDGEMENT, WITH DISCRETION AND GRAVITY, SO THAT OTHERS MAY BE PERSUADED ALSO AND DRAWN TO THE LIKE EXAMPLE, BUT WITHOUT ANY NOISE AND PASSIONATE EXCLAMATIONS.

                                                           👀👀👀

                      HAVING COME SO FAR, THE READER WOULD HAVE, PERHAPS, FOUND THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION - CAN YOGA BE PRACTISED BY AN ATHEIST OR AGNOSTIC? ANYONE WHO HAS TAKEN UP THE PRACTICE OF YOGA IS SURE TO BENEFIT IN MANY WAYS, ESPECIALLY IN FINDING TRANQUILLITY AND PEACE IN THIS TRUMULTUOUS WORLD AND IN BEING ABLE TO HARNESS TREMENDOUS ENERGY.

                       TO SUM UP, EXCELLENCE IN YOGA, THE SCIENCE OF EXPANSION OF CONSCIOUSNESS AND ACHIEVING FREEDOM FROM LIMITATIONS, HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ONE'S PERSONAL BELIEFS,  RELIGIOUS OR OTHERWISE. IT DEPENDS ENTIRELY ON THE STEP-BY-STEP PRACTICE OF THE METHODS DESCRIBED IN THE YOGA TEXTS AND GUIDANCE OF A PROPER AND AUTHENTIC EXPERTS. TO TAKE UP THE PRACTICE OF YOGA BASED ON HAVING READ UP AN OBSCURE TEXT, WITHOUT THE GUIDANCE OF AN EXPERT, IS GRAUGHT WITH DANGER, AND THE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES CAN BE SERIOUS. IF, ON THE OTHER HAND, ONE IS PATIENT AND GOES AT IT CAREFULLY, TAKING UP ONLY THOSE PRACTICES THAT SUIT ONE'S PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CAPACITY, A GREAT NEW WORLD, VAST AND ALMOST UNLIMITED, OPENS UP BEFORE THE YOGI, WHO TURNS INTO ONE OF THE FINEST SPECIMENS OF HOMOSAPIENS, WITH AN INEXHAUSTIBLE FUND OF ENERGY AND A MIND AT PEACE. AN AUTHENTIC YOGA TEACHER, OPEN TO DIALOGUE AND NOT INTENT ON FORMING A CULT, WOULD BE IDEAL IN HELPING CUSTOMISE ONE'S YOGA PRACTICE.

                            NOT GIVING TOO MUCH IMPORTANCE TO A CREATOR GOD AND THE TILT TOWARDS ATHEISM IS NOT A LATER-DAY INVENTION, BUT IS ALREADY EVIDENT IN THE SANKHYA, THE WORKS OF THE SHRAVANAS AND THE BUDHDHISTS AND, TO A GREAT EXTENT, IN THE YOGA SUTRAS, ITSELF. MUCH BEFORE THE EPICS MADE THEIR APPEARANCE AND A BELIEF IN THE INCARNATIONS GOD BECAME ALMOST A CREED IN THE HINDU SYSTEMS OF THOUGHT, THE GREAT VEDIC HYMNS AND THE UPANISHADS LATER, CELEBRATED FREE THOUGHT AND A NON-CONFORMIST RATIONAL ATTITUDE.

UPS AND DOWNS OF OUR LIFE

 

                                            HOW WE SAW OUR LIFE?

              * UP AND DOWN, FROM ONE AGE TO ANOTHER GO, THE ORDINARY THINGS OF THE WORLD, BEINGS STILL THE SAME . AND EITHER OF EVERYTHING IN PARTICULAR BEFORE IT COME TO PASS, THE MIND OF THE UNIVERSE DOTH CONSIDER WITH ITSELF AND DELIBERATE, AND IF SO, THEN SUBMIT FOR SHAME UNTO THE DETERMINATION OF SUCH AN EXCELLENT UNDERSTANDING, OR ONCE FOR IT DID RESOLVE UPON ALL THINGS IN GENERAL, AND SINCE THAT WHATSOEVER HAPPENS, HAPPENS BY A NECESSARY CONSEQUENCE, AND ALL THINGS INDIVISIBLY IN A MANNER AND INSEPARABLY HOLD ONE OF ANOTHER. IN SUM, EITHER THERE IS FORTUNE, YET MAYEST THOU USE THINE OWN PROVIDENCE IN THOSE THINGS THAT CONCERN THEE PROPERLY, AND THEN ART THOU WELL.

              * WITHIN A WHILE THE EARTH SHALL COVER US ALL, AND THEN SHE HERSELF SHALL HAVE HER CHANGE. AND THEN THE COURSE WILL BE, FROM ONE PERIOD OF ETERNITY UNTO ANOTHER, AND SO A PERPETUAL ETERNITY. NOW CAN ANY MAN THAT SHALL CONSIDER WITH HIMSELF IN HIS MIND THE SEVERAL ROLLINGS OR SUCCESSIONS OF SO MANY CHANGES AND ALTERATIONS, AND THE SWIFTNESS OF ALL THESE RULINGS, CAN BE OTHERWISE BUT CONTEMN IN HIS HEART AND DESPISE ALL WORLDLY THINGS ? THE CAUSE OF THE UNIVERSE IS AS IT WERE A STRONG TORRENT, IT CARRIETH ALL AWAY.

                 * AND THESE YOUR PROFESSED POLITIANS, THE ONLY TRUE PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHERS OF THE WORLD, (AS THEY THINK OF THEMSELVES ) SO FULL OF AFFECTED GRAVITY, OR SUCH PROFESSED LOVERS OF VIRTUE AND HONESTY, WHAT WRETCHES BE THEY IN VERY DEED, HOW VILE AND CONTEMPTIBLE IN THEMSELVES? O MAN! WHAT ADO DOEST THOU KEEP? DO WHAT THEY NATURE DOTH NOW REQUIRE. RESOLVE UPON IT, IF THOU MAYEST, AND TAKE NO THOUGHT, WHETHER ANYBODY SHALL KNOW IT OR NO. YEA, BUT SAYEST THOU, I MUST NOT EXPECT A PLATO'S COMMONWEALTH. IF THEY PROFIT THOUGH NEVER SO LITTLE, I MUST BE CONTENT, AND THINK MUCH EVEN OF THAT LITTLE PROGRESS.

                     * WHAT ARE THEIR MINDS AND UNDERSTANDINGS , AND WHAT THE THINGS THAT THEY APPLY THEMSELVES UNTO, WHAT DO THEY LOVE, AND WHAT DO THEY HATE FOR? FANCY TO THYSELF THE ESTATE OF THEIR SOULS OPENLY TO BE SEEN WHEN THEY THINK THEY HURT THEM SHREWDLY, WHOM THEY SPEAK OFF, AND WHEN THEY THINK THEY DO THEM A VERY GOOD TURN, WHOM THEY COMMEND AND EXTOL, O HOW FULL ARE THEY THEN OF CONCEIT, AND OPINION!

                  * LOSS AND CORRUPTION, IS IN VERY DEED NOTHING ELSE BUT CHANGE AND ALTERATION, AND THAT IS IT, WHICH THE NATURE OF THE UNIVERSE DOTH MOST DELIGHT IN, BY WHICH, AND ACCORDING TO WHICH, WHATSOEVER IS DONE, IS WELL DONE. FOR THAT WAS THE ESTATE OF WORLDLY THINGS FROM THE BEGINNING, AND SO SHALL IT EVER BE. OR WOULDEST. THOU RATHER SAY, THAT ALL THINGS IN THE WORLD HAVE GONE ILL FROM THE BEGINNING FOR SO MANY AGES, AND SHALL EVER GO ILL? AND THEN AMONG SO MANY DEITIES, COULD NO DIVINE POWER BE FOUND ALL THIS WHILE, THAT COULD RECTIFY THE THINGS OF THE WORLD,  TO INCESSANT WOES AND MISERIES, FOREVER CONDEMNED?

                    * HOW BASE PUTRID, EVERY COMMON MATTER IS! WATER, DUST, AND FROM THE MIXTURE OF THESE BONES, AND ALL THAT LOATHSOME STUFF THAT OUR BODIES DO CONSIST OF , SO SUBJECT TO BE INFECTED, AND CORRUPTED. AND AGAIN THOSE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE SO MUCH PRIZED AND ADMIRED, AS MARBLE STONES, WHAT ARE THEY, BUT AS IT WERE THE KERNELS OF THE EARTH? GOD AND SILVER, WHAT ARE THEY, BUT AS THE MORE GROSS FAECES OF THE EARTH?  GOLD AND SILVER, WHAT ARE THEY, BUT AS THE MORE GROSS FAECES OF THE EARTH? THY MOST ROYAL APPAREL, FOR MATTER, IT IS BUT AS IT WERE THE HAIR OF A SILLY SHEEP, AND FOR COLOUR, THE VERY BLOOD OF A SHELL-FISH, OF THIS NATURE ARE ALL OTHER THINGS. THY LIFE ITSELF , IS SOME SUCH THING TOO, A MERE EXHALATION OF BLOOD, AND IT ALSO , APT TO BE CHANGED INTO SOME OTHER COMMON THING.

                        * WILL THIS QUERULOUSNESS, THIS MURMURING, THIS COMPLAINING AND  DISSEMBLING NEVER BE AT AN END? WHAT THEN IS IT, THAT TROUBETH THEE? DOTH ANY NEW THING HAPPEN UNTO THEE? WHAT DOEST THOU SO WONDER AT? AT THE CAUSE, OR THE MATTER? BEHOLD EITHER BY ITSELF, IS EITHER OF THAT WEIGHT AND MOMENT INDEED? AND BESIDES THESE, THERE IS NOT ANYTHING. BUT THT DUTY TOWARDS THE GODS ALSO, IT IS TIME THOU SHOULDST ACQUIT THYSELF OF IT WITH MORE GOODNESS AND SIMPLICITY.

                        * IT IS ALL ONE TO SEE THINGS FOR A HUNDRED OF YEARS TOGETHER OR BUT FOR THREE YEARS.

                      * IF HE HAVE SINNED, HIS IS THE HARM, NOT MINE. BUT PERCHANCE HE HATH NOT.

                    * EITHER ALL THINGS BY THE PROVIDENCE OF REASON HAPPE UNTO EVERY PARTICULAR, AS A PART OF ONE GENERAL BODY, AND THEN IT IS AGAINST REASON THAT A PART SHOULD COMPLAIN OF ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS FOR THE GOOD OF THE WHOLE, OR IF, ACCORDING TO EPICURUS, ATOMS BE THE CAUSE OF ALL THINGS AND THAT LIFE BE NOTHING ELSE BUT AN ACCIDENTARY CONFUSION OF THINGS, AND NOTHING ELSE, BUT A MERE DISPERSION AND SO OF ALL OTHER THINGS. WHAT DOEST THOU TROUBLE THYSELF FOR?

                   * SAYEST THOU UNTO THAT RAIONAL PART, THOU ART DEAD, CORRUPTION HATH TAKEN HOLD ON THEE? DOTH IT THEN ALSO VOID EXCREMENTS? DOTH IT LIKE EITHER OXEN, OR SHEEP, GRAZE OR FEED, THAT IT ALSO SHOULD BE MORTAL, AS WELL AS THE BODY?

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF DESIRE

 

                     

                                    THE POWER OF YOUR DESIRE

                                                   👀

                ❤       TO LIVE LONG. WHAT? TO ENJOY THE OPERATIONS OF A SENSITIVE SOUL, OR OF THE APPETITIVE FACULTY? OR WOULDST THOU GROW, AND THEN DECREASE AGAIN? WOULDST THOU LONG BE ABLE TO TALK, TO THINK AND REASON WITH THYSELF? WHICH OF ALL THESE SEEMS UNTO THEE A WORTHY OBJECT OF THY  DESIRE? NOW IF OF ALL THESE THOU DOEST FIND THAT THEY BE BUT LITTLE WORTH IN THEMSELVES, PROCEED ON UNTO THE LAST, WHICH IS, IN ALL THINGS TO FOLLOW GOD AND REASON. BUT FOR A MAN TO GRIEVE THAT BY DEATH HE SHALL BE DEPRIVED OF ANY OF THESE THINGS, IS BOTH AGAINST GOD AND REASON.

                 ❤           WHAT A SMALL PORTION OF VAST AND INFINITE ETERNITY IT IS, THAT IS ALLOWED UNTO EVERY ONE OF US, AND HOW SOON IT VANISHETH INTO THE GENERAL AGE OF THE WORLD, OF THE COMMON SUBSTANCE, AND OF THE COMMON SOUL ALSO WHAT A SMALL PORTION IS ALLOTTED UNTO US, AND IN WHAT A LITTLE CLOD OF THE WHOLE EARTH (AS IT WERE ) IT IS THAT THOU DOEST CRAWL. AFTER THOU SHALT RIGHTLY HAVE CONSIDERED THESE THINGS WITH THYSELF, FANCY NOT ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD ANY MORE TO BE OF ANY WEIGHT AND MOMENT BUT THIS, TO DO THAT ONLY WHICH THINE OWN NATURE DOTH REQUIRE, AND TO CONFORM THYSELF TO THAT WHICH THE COMMON NATURE DOTH AFFORD.

                      ❤        WHAT IS THE PRESENT ESTATE OF MY UNDERSTANDING? FOR HEREIN LIETH ALL INDEED. AS FOR ALL OTHER THINGS, THEY ARE WITHOUT THE COMPASS OF MINE OWN WILL, AND IF WITHOUT THE COMPASS OF MY WILL, THEN ARE THEY AS DEAD THINGS UNTO ME, AND AS IT WERE SMOKE.

                     ❤          TO STIR UP A MAN TO THE CONTEMPT OF DEATH THIS AMONG OTHER THINGS, IS OF GOOD POWER AND EFFICACY, THAT EVEN THEY WHO ESTEEMED PLEASURE TO BE HAPPINESS, AND PAIN MISERY, DID NEVERTHELESS MANY OF THEM CONTEMN DEATH AS MUCH AS ANY. AND CAN DEATH TERRIBLE TO HIM, TO WHOM THAT ONLY SEEMS GOOD, WHICH IN THE ORDINARY COURSE OF NATURE IS SEASONABLE? TO HIM, TO WHOM, WHETHER HIS ACTIONS BE MANY OR FEW, SO THEY BE ALL GOOD, IS ALL ONE, AND WHO WHETHER  HE BOHOLD THE THINGS OF THE WORLD BEING ALWAYS THE SAME EITHER FOR MANY YEARS, OR FOR FEW YEARS OLY IS ALLTOGETHER INDIFFERENT?

WHAT IS GOING ON OUR LIFE?

 

                         

                                 THE GOD'S SCRIPT 

                                                 👀

                      👉❤     THE MATTER ITSELF, OF WHICH THE UNIVERSE DOTH CONSISTS, IS OF ITSELF VERY TRACTABLE AND PLIABLE. THAT RATIONAL ESSENCE THAT DOTH GOVERN IT, HATH IN ITSELF NO CAUSE TO DO EVIL. IT HAS NO EVIL IN ITSELF, NEITHER CAN IT DO ANYTHING THAT IS EVIL. NEITHER CAN ANYTHING BE HURT BY IT. AND ALL THINGS ARE DONE AND DETERMINED ACCORDING TO ITS WILL AND PRESCRIPT.

                       👉❤   BE IT ALL ONE UNTO THEE, WHETHER HALF FROZEN OR WELL WARM, WHETHER ONLY SLUMBERING, OR AFTER A FULL SLEEP, WHETHER DISCOMMENDED OR COMMENDED THOU DO THEY THY DUTY, OR WHETHER DYING OR DOING SOMEWHAT ELSE, FOR THAT ALSO "DO DIE", MUST AMONG THE REST BE RECKONED AS ONE OF THE DUTIES AND ACTIONS OF OUR LIVES.

                      👉❤         LOOK IN, LET NOT EITHER THE PROPER QUALITY, OR THE TRUE WORTH OF ANYTHIG PASS THEE, BEFORE THOU HAST FULLY APPREHENDED IT.

                     👉❤      ALL SUBSTANCES COME SOON TO THEIR CHANGED, AND EITHER THEY SHALL BE RESOLVED BY WAY OF EXHALATION (IF SO BE THAT ALL THINGS SHALL BE REUNITED INTO ONE SUBSTANCE), OR AS OTHERS MAINTAIN, THEY SHALL BE SCATTERED AND DISPERSED. AS FOR THE RATIONAL ESSENCE BY WHICH ALL THINGS ARE GOVERNED, AS IT BEST UNDERSTANDETH ITSELF, BOTH ITS OWN DISPOSITION, AND WHAT IT DOTH, AND WHAT MATTER IT HATH TO DO WITH AND ACCORDINGLY DOTH ALL THINGS, SO WE THAT DO NOT, NO WONDER, IF WE WONDER AT MANY THINGS, THE REASONS WHEREOF WE CANNOT COMPREHEND.

                      👉❤        THE BEST KIND OF REVENGE IS, NOT TO BECOME LIKE UNTO HIM.

                      👉❤      LET THIS BE THY ONLY JOY, AND THY ONLY COMFORT, FROM ONE SOCIABLE KIND ACTION WITHOUT INTERMISSION TO PASS UNTO ANOTHER, GOD BEING EVER IN THY MIND. 

   

                      👉❤    THE RATIONAL COMMANDING PART, AS IT ALONE CAN STIR UP AND TURN ITSELF, SO IT MAKETH BOTH ITSELF TO BE, AND EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENETH, TO APPEAR UNTO ITSELF, AS IT WILL ITSELF.

                      👉❤   ACCORDING TO THE NATURE OF THE UNIVERSE ALL THINGS PARTICULAR ARE DETERMINED, NOT ACCORDING TO ANY OTHER NATURE, EITHER ABOUT COMPARRING AND CONTAINING, OR WITHIN, DISPERSED AND CONTAINED, OR WITHOUT, DEPENDING, EITHER THIS UNIVERSE IS A MERE CONFUSED MASS, AND AN INTRICATE CONTEXT OF THINGS, WHICH SHALL IN TIME BE SCATTERED AND DISPERSED AGAIN, OR IT IS AN UNION CONSISTING OF ORDER, AND ADMINISTERED BY PROVIDENCE. IF THE FIRST, WHY SHOULD I DESIRE TO CONTINUE ANY LONGER ON THIS FORTUIT CONFUSION AND COMMIXTION? OR WHY SHOULD I TAKE CARE FOR ANYTHING ELSE, BUT THAT AS SOON AS MAY BE I MAY BE EARTH AGAIN? AND WHY SHOULD I TROUBLE MYSELF ANY MORE WHILST I SEEK TO PLEASE THE GODS? WHATSOEVER I DO, DISPERSION IS MY END, AND WILL COME UPON ME WHETHER I WILL OR NOT. BUT IF THE LATTER BE, THEN AM NOT I RELIGIOUS IN VAIN, THEN WILL I BE QUIET AND PATIENT, AND PUT MY TRUST IN HIM, WHO IS THE GOVERNOR OF ALL.

                       👉❤  WHENSOEVER BY SOME PRESENT HARD OCCURENCES THOU ART CONSTRAINED TO BE IN SOME SORT TROUBLED AND VEXED, RETURN UNTO THYSELF AS SOON AS MAY BE, AND BE NOT OUT OF TUNE LONGER THAN THOU MUST NEED. FOR , SO SHALT THOU BE THE BETTER ABLE TO KEEP THY PART ANOTHER TIME, AND TO MAINTAIN THE HARMONY, IT THOU DOST USE THYSELF TO THIS CONTINUALLY, ONCE OUT, PRESENTLY TO HAVE RECOURSE UNTO IT, AND TO BEGIN AGAIN.

                        👉❤   IF IT WERE THAT THOU HADST AT ONE TIME BOTH A STEPMOTHER, AND A NATURAL MOTHER LIVING, THOU WOULDST HONOUR AND RESPECT HER ALSO, NEVERTHELESS TO THINE OWN NATURAL MOTHER WOULD THY REFUGE, AND RECOURSE BE CONTINUALLY. SO LET THE COURT AND THY PHILOSOPHY BE UNTO THEE, AND THOU ALSO IN THOSE THINGS NOT INTOLERABLE UNTO OTHERS.

                           👉❤   DEATH IS A CESSATION FROM THE IMPRESSION OF THE SENSES, THE TYRANNY OF THE PASSIONS, THE ERRORS OF THE MIND, AND THE SERVITUDE OF THE BODY.

   

                           👉❤   WHATSOEVER IN ANY KIND DOTH HAPPEN TO ANYONE, IS EXPEDIENT TO THE WHOLE. AND THUS MUCH TO CONTENT US MIGHT SUFFICE, THAT IT IS EXPEDIENT FOR THE WHOLE IN GENERAL. BUT YET THIS ALS SHALT THOU GENERALLY PERCEIVE, IF THOU DOST DILIGENTLY TAKE HEED, THAT WHATSOEVER DOTH HAPPEN TO ANYONE MAN OR MEN. AND NOW I AM CONTENT THAT THE WORD EXPEDIENT, SHOULD MORE GENERALLY BE UNDERSTOOD OF THOSE THINGS INDIFFERENT, AS HEALTH, WEALTH, AND THE LIKE.

                             👉❤   AS THE ORDINARY SHOWS OF THE THEATRE AND OF OTHER SUCH PLACES, WHEN THOU ART PRESENTED WITH THEM, AFFECT THEE, AS THE SAME THINGS STILL SEEN, AND IN THE SAME FASHION, MAKE THE SIGHT UNGRATEFUL AND TEDIOUS, SO MUST ALL THE THINGS THAT WE SEE ALL OUR LIFE LONG AFFECT US. FOR ALL THINGS, ABOVE THE BELOW, ARE STILL THE SAME, AND FROM THE SAME CAUSES. WHEN THEN WILL THERE BE AN END?