Transcend the World of Duality

From a satsang with Pt. Balram Persad, Spiritual Leader, Om Shakti Mandali 

Once there was a demon who was granted a boon (wish) that the only one who could destroy him would be the son of Lord Shiva. Two divine sons were eventually born to Shivaji: Swami Kartikay and Lord Ganesh. Swami Kartikay was the demon’s destroyer. Hinduism is a highly symbolic religion and in this katha, there is great depth of meaning:

• Lord Ganesh represents vivek, the power of good judgement or discernment.
• Shivaji represents vairaagya, spiritual dispassion or mental detachment from worldliness.
• The Divine Mother represents mumukshutva, the intense longing for union with the Lord in all or any of His forms.
• Swami Kartikay is the eliminator of duality, which is represented by the demon.

Each of these principles are present within us and they must be nurtured and developed so that we can advance on the spiritual path. We must harness the power of Shree Ganesh in order to differentiate between what is developmental and detrimental to us. We must have a sense of detachment and dispassion, even as we live in the world. When we perform puja, for example, the mind detaches from thoughts of our friends, relatives, possessions and the world. Our focus then is on the rites, mantras and the form of the Lord that we are worshipping. We must also have an intense longing for spiritual growth and devotion, which can be developed by worshipping the Divine Mother. We must also strive to transcend this world of duality in order to rediscover the Divine Consciousness. Swami Kartikay is the dispeller of the illusion of duality. In duality there is the perception of God and the opposite, that which is not Godly; there is good and evil, and all other polarities. This duality is constantly at play in our minds. Our scriptures teach that non-duality is essence of the ultimate existence and is a very important principle on the spiritual path.

One means by which we can achieve these principles within and transcend this mundane world of duality is through mantra recitation. Mantra is that which elevates the consciousness from worldliness. It guides the mind away from the mundane considerations of the world and focuses instead on the sublime, where we can realize our true potential. The word, mantra, is derived from the Sanskrit syllables, man meaning ‘mind’ and tra meaning ‘to protect’. Mantra, therefore, is a powerful means of protecting the mind. By reciting mantras, we build a sheltering wall around us. There are many instances of individuals who recited mantras and their lives were transformed, or even saved. Mantras can transform the ill effects of a graha (planetary alignment producing negative effects in the mind). Mantra also has a curative effect on many ailments. Studies have shown that, if someone prays for them, patients have fewer complications when admitted to an intensive care setting. Patients assigned priestly visits also tend to have shorter hospital stays and use fewer pain medications. Mantra helps us to heal ourselves and also prevents the occurrence of many negativities.

As we strive to overcome the dualities of this existence and rediscover our Divine Consciousness, let us seek to develop the power of mantra in order to nurture the qualities of good judgement, dispassion and yearning for God. Then we will surely attain the grace of the Divine Lord.