We live in the fog of ignorance regarding the truth of life and Supreme Reality. This layer of ignorance insulates us against the Supreme Truth and Reality of Universe. We live covered by this ignorance all our lives. Our parents and our grandparents have also lived in such ignorance. Hence we have no knowledge of the Supreme Truth and Godhead. We are like persons who have permanent blurred vision and have no knowledge or awareness that there is 20:20 clear sight. We exist in a dim haze of incomplete information and view our lives out of focus vision. This out of focus vision of life is our vision and goal of life for which we work so hard and slave for day and night.
When the ParamGuru comes in our lives, he gives us knowledge and teaches us the right path of life. Our vision of life changes as we assimilate the knowledge from the ParamGuru. The knowledge and spiritual practices given by the ParamGuru prepares us for receiving the right vision of life. Consider this:
Arjun – the master archer of the Pandavas knew that Krishna was the supreme Godhead. Krishna was the support and help of the Pandavas through their many years of trials and tribulations. Arjun had seen the miraculous powers of Krishna and his ability to do the impossible. But he had not realised and experienced from within that Krishna was the Supreme Power.
In the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjun the master archer and warrior was ready for the Mother of All Battles. Krishna was his charioteer. Arjun asked Krishna to take the chariot to a point in between both the armies for him to see and assess the strengths and weakness of both armies from point of view of strategic planning. As he was viewing the defence positions, he was talking to Krishna and addressed him as Yadava and Sakha - Yadava as Krishna belonged to the Yadav tribe and Sakha – meaning friend as Arjun and Krishna were of same age and Arjun considered Krishna as his best friend.
In the course of their conversation, Arjun decided not to fight and presented his arguments as to why he did not wish to fight. And Krishna explained to him his duties in the form of discourse or song of Bhagwad Geeta. He gave him an experience of the Supreme Truth of Godhead. Krishna enabled the divine vision in Arjun and Arjun was able to see and experience from within that Krishna was the Supreme Godhead in whom the entire Universe was formed, nurtured and destroyed. After this vision, Arjun addressed Krishna as ‘Yogi of Yogis’ and ‘Jagat Guru’. It is the right vision and knowledge which made Arjun change the mode of address of Krishna from Yadava and Sakha to Yogi of Yogis and Jagat Guru.
Arjun was a master warrior and his eyesight was perfect. But his knowledge of reality was imperfect. He did not know his role in life and in the battle in Mahabharata. He had knowledge that Krishna was God but had not experienced this truth from within. Krishna granted him the vision of Supreme Godhead and Arjun was able to experience the Supreme Power of God. After that Arjun was able to understand his duties and responsibilities and he played his role as warrior fighting for dharma perfectly in the battle of Mahabharata. He also realised and appreciated that God Himself was his guide and charioteer.
When the ParamGuru comes in our lives, he gives us knowledge and spiritual practices. He is like Krishna and we are like Arjun. We are ignorant and do not know our roles in life. The ParamGuru prepares us for the day when we get divine vision and are able to experience the Supreme Reality within us. As we gain more experiences from our daily practices we are able to understand our roles and responsibilities in life. Our third eye or intuitive vision opens up and our understanding of life changes. Our relish of life and approach to work is altered and becomes more enjoyable. Finally when we are able to understand who we are and that we are one with the Supreme Godhead. Until this truth is realised we live in a fog of ignorance chasing material comforts which are necessary for a comfortable life, but can never give us ultimate satisfaction.
