NAMA – YOGA
(Yoga of Divine Name)
Shri Bhausaheb Maharaj
1843-1914
(42) Body-consciousness should be Transformed into God-consciousness
Every Jiva (soul) comes from Siva (God) and returns to God. But during its sojourn on earth, under the spell of sense-objects it forgets its Divine Source, considers itself as Jiva and begins to lead its worldly life. Its delusion does not allow it to identify either with worldly or with spiritual life. Its enhanced ego makes him one-sided and deprives him of the enjoyment of any kind of happiness. Really the soul has no life. God alone exists in the real sense of the term. Both the ways of life belong to Him. Hence mere remembrance of God is the only duty of the soul. If this conviction is firmly rooted in it, the soul would be able to enjoy happiness and satisfaction. Therefore, one should practise meditation with firm faith and regularity, until the conviction of its identity with God strikes root in the soul. He would then realise his oneness with God and enjoy all-round happiness and bliss in both worldly and spiritual life.
(43) Identification of Jiva and Siva is the End of Human Life
The merit attained by the practice of penance in former life enables a person to get human life in which in which he becomes worthy to pursue spiritual life. Now if he leads his worldly and spiritual life by retaining the consciousness of his past meditation, he would develop an attitude of an unattached witness and non-doer. He would also attain Godhead. His former merit granted him human body. And as he carries on the same meditation he attains Godhead itself. As the Kadnnada adage goes: “Astakke istu istakke estu?” –“If that (merit) has granted this happiness, how much more bliss would this superior merit grant?” (PP.59-60)
If a person realises that God is impersonal, he will be completely free from Soul-consciousness-free from the consciousness that he is a devotee. He becomes Impersonal and Formless. He is ever immersed in God-consciousness. Hence he becomes a non-doer in both spheres of life. He is a real devotee who experiences such a transformation. He is a real Liberated Soul. This is the final Liberation through Oneness. And this is the supreme End of Life.