Realistic Outlook versus Erudition

by Smt. Susmita Devi

There are, in every country of the world, quite a number of erudite people in various branches like science, religion, history etc.  I have however regularly questioned their capacities to live harmonious lives based on their erudition when I read about the intellectuals’ unremitting struggle in most countries.  The struggles may be based on political, religious, economic or skin-colour differences.  Even gender plays a role in the struggles.

Being born and brought up in Denmark and Norway, I didn’t experience struggle of the above mentioned kind. In school, boys and girls of whatever colour were treated the same; so discrimination of any kind was not a problem then.  Later, by the time I settled in India, I read about how immigrants had to struggle to adjust to the way of life outside the norms they we were brought up with.  I enjoyed many freedoms unheard of in numerous other places, but I received advice on how to behave with others so as not to hurt their religious or cultural sentiments.  In other words, I became somewhat ‘international’ in my outlook early in life, as well as very pragmatic.

One of the mentionable practices followed by my family revolved around Christmas.  My father, an atheist, would invite some foreigners to our home, where the Danish tradition (with Christmas tree, good food and gifts) could be experienced by the guests.  These foreigners, who hailed from all over the world, would happen to be in Copenhagen at the time.  We never questioned their faith.  Christmas celebration to us simply meant enjoying home lights and good food in the darkest period of the year, while eagerly looking forward to the spring.  The tradition of Santa Lucia, where young girls walked the streets singing, dressed in white long dresses with a crown of fir-branches and lightened candles, was a feature much appreciated given how long and hard the winter is in the northern part of Europe.

From our random gathering of guests, I learned to accept other ways of doing things, ways of thinking, and various forms of worship to an assortment of Divine forms. This experience has indeed helped me to adjust to Indian living conditions, and the vast array of the Hindu folklores have now become a significant and integral part of my outlook.

Intellectual knowledge of different cultures may be helpful in understanding the background of an immeasurable array of traditions from far flung countries.  The early training that I received from interacting with foreigners – along with my many travels – has definitely helped me to accept, adjust and accommodate the differences - and somewhat grasp - a fraction of the vast variety of Indian philosophies.  My aptitude for seriously following that which appealed to my intellect and inner knack, has definitely helped.  It serves as the background for my acknowledgment of Advaita Vedanta as the direction suitable to my personality and upbringing.  I have followed this line of knowledge and observation for nearly 40 years now - mostly in the company of my Guru, Sri Sri Babathakur, who even now never leaves my background consciousness.

My bookish knowledge of the subject called spirituality may be limited, but through careful listening of the words of the Master, Sri Sri Babathakur (for whose sake I came to India, and whose words I noted and later, and with His Blessings, published) have enabled me to actually live and use many of the dictums He so graciously dispensed to whoever sought to listen.

I have, of course, also read a number of books from various authors, which helped me initially to follow the discourses of my Guru when He spoke in English. After having listened to Sri Sri Babathakur’s intricate discourses for nearly a year, He sent me on a journey to listen to other Gurus.  I, in that way, came to interact with several spiritual aspirants of different traditions of thinking, such as devotees following the path of Bhakti (persona/image worship).  I on the other hand, had been rooted in the Advaita (Supreme Oneness of all manifested and un-manifested) line which (according to me) appeals to the intellect more, and where devotion, as conventionally professed, plays a smaller part, but is not totally absent.  So, Sri Sri Babathakur ‘brought me up’ to accept both multiple deities and ultimate reliance of the Supreme Oneness of all - which definitely is my innate inclination to follow.

I have heard many an erudite talk by learned people/teachers/preachers, but the irrefutable Truth of Advaita was and is the line to follow for me on the progress towards Liberation (mitigation of common laws of Karma).
 

Advaita Vedanta is not an easy path to follow, for one’s whole attitude towards living and occupying a given place in the world, must be taken into account or questioned in one’s thought-process and behavior. 

Having reached the age of 77, little time remains for me to absorb totally and act according to the precepts of Advaita as propounded by Sri Sri Babathakur.  I, for that reason, have had to negate many outer and inner developed attitudes, which common people deem necessary for a ‘good’ living.  It is designated as ‘tapasya’ because it has to be done consciously, with commitment, and may upset some of the social rules prevalent in family/social life. But once the inner poise is experienced, the conciliator stage grows sufficiently to boldly state that, it is beyond compare to other means I have had the opportunity to discuss and experience.

The acceptance of other faiths and conducts is of prime importance, although one need not seek them out deliberately to gain more tolerance towards the environment one lives in.  The environment may have some impact on one’s thought process, but if Advaita is properly imbibed and practiced, no outer happening can make one deviate from that path, as it brings utter freedom from strife in the realm of mind and behavior because there is no duality to create opposites.

From my experiences, I whole heartedly recommend sincerely following ONE line of instruction for either devotion or Knowledge - as only single-mindedness brings the desired results. 

One may occasionally listen to other gurus and not reject other lines of spiritual pursuits as useless. Each line has an assortment of values depending on the state of mind of the follower. But, as a result of mixing up two or more doctrines, one should be aware not to create confusion in the mind. I have listened to several gurus talk, but incorporate lessons only from the ones who placing an identical emphasis on the concepts listened to and absorbed, while sitting at the holy feet of Sri Sri Babathakur.
 

The main - or major - purpose of following ONE line of spiritual practice is to enable one to live harmoniously in the midst of the prevalent confusion in innumerable kinds of societies, rules and doctrines. One should, by no means, negate the eventual benefits of listening to any other guru, yet keep one’s own Guru’s line of teaching uppermost in mind – always – without comparisons.  Comparisons generally lead to utter confusion, and therefore not to enlightenment.

So be open to other ways of expressing spiritual viewpoints, but stick to the one suiting your inherent tendencies and capacities. Forcing one’s mind to accept other than one’s very individual spiritual inclination, will not yield beneficial results in the long run.