The concept of the Higher Nature and the Lower Nature
Life doesn’t end with the death of the body. Death is also not the final end of the Life Cycle. A being keeps on going from life to death, death to life and so on, until one attains Self Realization, so declare the Vedas and Yoga Scriptures. This is a play of the Lower nature or Biological Nature which is The Creation. The Higher Nature or Paraa Prakriti is the individual Soul which is immortal. Water contained in different containers takes the shape of the containers. The air in different vessels take the shape of the vessel and appears as many and different. Similarly, the Higher Nature or Paraa Prakriti, the Soul through One, appears as many. The sum total of all the apparent or illusory beings is One, know as the Viswarpa or The Universal Form. A thorough study of the Holy Bhagavad Gita and the daily practice of our Kriya Yoga can help us in understanding it better. Understanding will give us knowledge, and knowledge is strength, peace, and joy. For example, the Divine Teacher Lord Krishna is teaching His worthy disciple, Arjuna in the 2nd chapter with the following verses,
न त्वेवाहं जातु नासं न त्वं नेमे जनाधिपा |
THE BHAGAVAD GITA CH2 V 12
न चैव न भविष्याम: सर्वे वयमत: परम्
na tvevāhaṁ jātu nāsaṁ na tvaṁ neme janādhipāḥ
na chaiva na bhaviṣhyāmaḥ sarve vayamataḥ param
English Translation:
I was not there before this life, or you were not there or all these warriors were not existing before this life – it is not true. It means, we were all existing before this life and we shall continue to exist after the present body is dead.
देहिनोऽस्मिन्यथा देहे कौमारं यौवनं जरा |
तथा देहान्तरप्राप्तिर्धीरस्तत्र न मुह्यतिdehino ’smin yathā dehe kaumāraṁ yauvanaṁ jarā
THE BHAGAVAD GITA CH2 V 13
tathā dehāntara-prāptir dhīras tatra na muhyati
EnglishTranslation:
In the same living person childhood, youth and old age come and go. Similarly, due to the influence of Time, the body also passes away. the wise and spiritually learned people are not confused by this change or transition of states caused by Time.
अविनाशि तु तद्विद्धि येन सर्वमिदं ततम् |
THE BHAGAVAD GITA CH2 V 17
विनाशमव्ययस्यास्य न कश्चित्कर्तुमर्हति
avināśhi tu tadviddhi yena sarvam idaṁ tatam
vināśham avyayasyāsya na kaśhchit kartum arhati
English Translation:
The visible Creation is pervaded by the invisible formless Immortal Soul or Power of God and is indestructible. No power can destroy this Immortal Soul.
वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय
THE BHAGAVAD GITA CH2 V 22
नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि |
तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णा
न्यन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही
vāsānsi jīrṇāni yathā vihāya
navāni gṛihṇāti naro ’parāṇi
tathā śharīrāṇi vihāya jīrṇānya
nyāni sanyāti navāni dehī
English Translation:
Just like human beings reject and throw away old and torn clothes, the Soul gives up (Death) the old and damaged body & takes up a new body.
नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि नैनं दहति पावक: |
THE BHAGAVAD GITA CH2 V 23
न चैनं क्लेदयन्त्यापो न शोषयति मारुत:
nainaṁ chhindanti śhastrāṇi nainaṁ dahati pāvakaḥ
na chainaṁ kledayantyāpo na śhoṣhayati mārutaḥ
English Translation:
You, as the Soul or the Direct Power of God, can’t be cut by weapons, fire can’t burn it, water can’t drench or damage it, air can’t make it dry
The Real You, The Soul
The significance is that the Real You can’t be killed by conventional means like war and weapons. It can’t be killed by biological, mantra, or tantra wars. The Soul, You is indestructible. Only You are to realize it. For this, you are to realize your Inner, Higher, Divine, or Real Self. If you practice the classical and original Kriya Yoga taught by our authorized Yogacharyas, sooner or later, in this very life you can realize the Self. Valuable time is passing away. the body is becoming old, diseased, and damaged faster than we realize. The mind becomes confused, weak and dementia with the relentless march of Time in the form of old age. nobody is immune to it. From great rulers, great Saints, and great Masters to common people, all become the victim of Time. The only daily practice of Kriya Yoga and Self Realization can give us fearlessness, freedom from suffering, health, happiness, harmony, and joy. One of the greatest Hindu Saints and Scholars used to remind the human beings in his teachings composed as couplets or rhythmic poems, such as,
Days are followed by Nights, Mornings are followed by Evenings, Winter is followed by Spring…..
Time is playing a deadly game. In this process, life is getting reduced and gradually extinct, yet people don’t see the Truth and entertain disproportionate expectations and cravings.
O, Unwise friends, practice spirituality and keep remembering God for your own liberation and happiness.
Kriya Yoga is one of the best ways of doing it. Time and tide wait for none. Meditate with love, feel it, and be blessed.
I pray to god and our merciful Gurus to Bless you, Guide you, Protect you and Inspire you.
With Love and Blessings to you. Humbly,
Paramahansa Atmananda Ji