Purpose behind duality of the manifest world
Question
Dhananjay,
I have carefully observed the questions and answers since my last inquiry. Somehow the answers usually reflect a question that suits a situation that I am in which is quite strange. I would like to explore the topic of Equilibrium and balance. Would you agree that this world of duality is setup in a way to re-balance the soul through the endless contrasts and polarities? One would be unable to recognize light without darkness and hot without cold. So would you say that it is necessary for the polarities to exist to return to a zero sum equation and ultimately, unity with the Atman?
Obviously the male and female are another expression of duality and it could be argued that the female is "the essence of duality in man" Therefore in order to become whole, I would imagine that it is necessary to transcend gender altogether and recognize ones self as eternal and the body as only a vessel, which has been congruent with your past answers.
My question is if you would agree that this world is like a grinding stone which through the friction of polarity polishes the soul into the middle path of unity and equilibrium ever so gradually. And if that is the case, it stands to reason that the refining process would accelerate upon each cycle of refinement. Perhaps this is the reason why Brahmacharya is so difficult in the beginning stages. Ever since I began, my world has turned upside down, but now the pieces are starting to fit and the freedom I feel is immeasurable.
नमस्ते
Answer
This dualistic world of transmigratory existence called Samsâra is an enactment by the Almighty to help the Jiva (embodied soul) evolve further so as to realize itself as an integral part of the Parama (Almighty.) It is a drama meant to help the degenerated soul reclaim its lost state of divinity. After going through the pains and limitations offered by duality, the limited Jiva gives up attachment, superceeds polarity and eventually realizes its true state of infinity. This is the purpose behind Samsâra.
The duality of this world is due to the effect of Prakriti (creative force of nature which is the causation behind matter). Prakriti is feminine, creative energy. Her job is to make the Purusa (soul) overcome illusion and revert to his default state of supremacy. What is called as Mâya (illusive power of creation) is nothing but this feminine energy manifest under the dictates of the Parabrahman (Almighty) to teach a few lessons to the debilitated soul.
This tallies with the reason Sage Patanjali gives as regards the coming together of the Purusa (soul) and Prakriti which is the creative principle behind duality:
| स्वस्वामिशक्त्योः स्वरुपोपलब्धिहेतुहु संयोगः ||
| Sva-svâmi-shaktyoho svarûpa-upalabdhi-hetuhu samyogaha ||
- Chapter 2/ Verse 23, Yoga Darshana
- The reason behind the union of the Purusa and Prakriti [which enfleshes the soul leading to Dehatma Buddhi (the perception I am the body and limited)] is to help the soul unravel its true nature and thereby unwind the powers latent within it.
After going through innumerable births in this quagmire called life, after realizing that lifes offerings in the form of desires for objects and the resulting sensations do not give happiness but only pain, the embodied Jiva standing on the foundation of the ego realizes the futility of assuming doership and surrenders to the Supreme. This then helps it get free from the limitations of union with Prakriti and revert to its default state of soverignity.
The initial stages of Yoga & Brahmacharya seem uphill because the path of the embodied soul has to be reversed. Earlier, its path was towards Prakriti (matter & manifestation) while now it is towards its true state beyond manifestation and beyond matter. This is why the Yogi has to develop detachment towards the world and its objects, for these took him away from his true state of bliss and enslaved him to the illusion called pleasure which was really pain. He now has to go against this falsity and towards the truth of his true self (Atman), which is a daunting task at the start. This is also the reason why one must give up pleasure generated from sexual thought/sexual contact with a woman, for such pleasure is the surest means to binding one in more ignorance and pain. This is why Brahmacharya when carried out honestly in thought, word and deed leads to unexplained happiness and joy. This feeling of freedom and bliss is the reverberation of the Jiva celebrating its newfound joy and serenity - its default nature earlier submerged but now getting uneartherd.
It is correct to say that the world is a grinding stone which through the illusion called duality polishes the Jivatma (embodied soul) into the Shuddhâtma (pure soul) towards its default state BEYOND duality. The final state that the soul is delivered into further to Kaivalya (self-realization) is then beyond left, right and middle. It is then completely beyond these polarities and orientations, for what is leftover for comparison? Where then is the question of balance? It has reached the state beyond the purview of balance, for balance exists within duality and is non-existent in non-duality. The question of balance exists as long as one is under the domain of two equal and opposite forces. There is no concept of balance once duality has been surpassed. Then the soul has become infinite in every sense through amalgamation with the Supreme. It has realized its true state and become THAT. Then there is only infinity for eternity. It is then a continuous stream of Sat-Chit-Ananda (knowledge-existence-bliss.)
ॐ तत् सत्
(That Supreme being is the absolute truth)