"Everyone is different - everyone must find his own way.
Everyone is the same - everyone must find his own way."
What is Nirvana?
"There is a universal architecture of infinite elegance and logic from which all things animate and inanimate seem to have derived. It is called 'Nirvana’. The official definition of Nirvana is: 'A state of neither being nor not-being; a state where all wishes have been fulfilled.'"
What happens to a person in Nirvana?
"He who attains Nirvana in this life will have neither likes nor dislikes; he remains blissfully neutral between ALL opposites, and, in constant contact with the feeling centres of all living things. Such a man has reconnected with the Sacred and Great Void of Nirvana and has thus become a being of radiant light," who is not afraid to die - and not afraid to live - as he will not be reborn."
What should one do to attain Nirvana?
"Truth is one and people call it by different names, and, many paths lead to it. This book deals with six of them: Raja Yoga, Jainism, Buddhism, Kundalini Yoga, Tantra and Viveka."
These are the key areas dealt with in the book Nirvana - NOW. Its author Mahaguru is a philosopher who says "the whole purpose of philosophy or rather striving after wisdom is a training for death."
According to Mahaguru "one should learn how to use sleep (small Samadhi) as a meditative tool to face death (maha Samadhi) with fortitude as part of the spiritual process. He encourages us to practise meditation in a reclining position (in Shavasana - the Yogi's Corpse posture). "After all, says he, "more people die in bed than elsewhere."
His words reminded me of Ven. Ananda Thera who went to bed with focused awareness, "I shall sleep" and awoke, "Awakened" as an Arahat (a Buddhist saint). My mind also raced to the story of Ven. Godhika Thera, who lay on the bed and cut his windpipe using a razor and became an Arahat. Whether he was an Arahat before, during or after he committed suicide is a moot point.
I have been trying to come to terms with the latter's death by analogy with Lord Buddha's abandonment of 'Ayusamskara' (longevity volition; the will to survive) in a reclining position at Kusinara - whence His mind attained (in ascending then descending and again ascending order) the state of 'neither perception nor non-perception,' and finally Mahaparinirvana. This book gives a graphic description of these rather grave incidents.
Viveka -peace and serene happiness
Mahaguru is a renowned master of Yoga and meditation - and their essence 'Chitta Viveka’ (meaning peace and serene happiness) with over 40 years of teaching experience behind him. A pioneer in this field, he founded the Yoga School of Ceylon in 1969. His range is awesome: A former lecturer of PIM of Sri Jayewardene University; Former advisor on Psy-ops JOC Ministry of Defence; peace maker (Executive Director ,Peoples Peace Organisation of Sarvodaya); social worker (Head of the White Flag Movement); fire walker (Kataragama) and Chairman World Yoga & Meditation Congress 2004 & 2006.
Nirvana - NOW: One Truth, Many Paths; Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Yoga, Tantra and Viveka is the full title of the book. It is divided into six chapters and comprises 306 pages including a bibiliography and an index. Each chapter deals with the subject of Nirvana as viewed by these different disciplines. It is a delightful mix of means leading to a single end.
I leave it to the discerning reader to find out more about the answer to the question "What is Nirvana?" by reading this timely book which is a wake-up call for those who are seeking a spiritual path. Nirvana -NOW is sure to generate a great deal of discussion among those seeking a clearer path to the Summit of Truth. It is especially recommended to people who are willing to question their rigid assumptions.
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