In the whole creation, the origin is never seen. A seed is sprouts, but what is happening inside the seed is not known. Similarly a baby is getting formed in the womb, but it is not visible outside. A river is born somewhere, but you can never really go to the source of the river. So the origin remains a secret.
Similarly, death is also a secret. Your origin is a secret and what happens after death is also a secret. From the subtle to the gross to the subtle again. And from the subtle how again it comes to the gross is again another secret.
So when you look at the secret, there is amazement and amusement in the mind. A 'wow'. This amusement is the basis for yoga. When you are amused by the creation, that means the preface of yoga has started.
Children are amazed by everything. They look at their fingers with amazement. They look at flowers and butterflies with amazement. They look at the stars in amusement. So, when amazement or amusement dawns in life, then yoga (synonymous of union) has also started.
These are two dimensions. We live an individual life and at the same time we also lead a bigger life. When you sleep what is happening? Your individuality has dissolved into cosmic nothingness. When you wake up, you have your roles to play.
Similarly when you meditate, what happens? You are dissolved. And when you come out of meditation into action what happens? Individuality exists.
So life is a combination of the individual and the universal. There is one aspect in us which is universal.
In the Upanishads there is a beautiful story. It says: two birds are sitting on one branch. One is watching, another is eating. Similarly inside you, there is one thing that is universal, that is just watching, that simply exist. There is another thing that acts: the individual self.
Are you form or formless? You are both! Your body is form, mind is formless. Right? Someone may say, ‘How is it possible? Either you are form or formless. How can you be both?’
This is wrong logic.
Here in The Art of Living, we always look at everything from an holistic view. Music is definitely part of life. In all the cultures of the world, music is part of life. Babies first sing and then only they speak. Music comes first, language comes later.
Have you seen babies singing ‘Aaaa...ooo...eee?' Singing comes first and then they understand language. So it’s important to have music as part of life.
Meditative state is possible and it does impact the body also. The body will not decay for some people.
We don’t know whether somebody is still alive after two thousand years. This we have to see. Why would somebody hold onto a body for two thousand years. Would you hold on to the same dress for the next fifty years? When you don’t like to hold on to the same dress, why would somebody hold on to the body for so long? I don’t want to say it is a lie or anything. Body may stop decaying, but it is not necessary that the soul holds onto the body. If a soul is holding onto a body, it is not enlightened.
Yes spirituality connects all aspects of our life. Ethics is something to do with your relationship with people.
Spirituality is your relationship with yourself and with the universe.
