July 1984
Hindu Mysticism
Duraiswamy, Sivanandini
Man, from the very dawn of time,
has been endeavoring to understand and establish a connection with the
unseen power behind nature. There is an unconscious urge in him to
transcend his finite existence. The quest towards the external nature has
led to the discoveries of modern science, while the introspective analysis
to the problems of Reality behind nature and the urge to know this Reality
has developed into religion, philosophical doctrines, dogmas and
ritualism.
Religion transcends the finite conditions in order that
the Absolute could be realized and the self of man is cut off-the ego
being killed to become one with the Supreme. Religion reinforces man's
faith that he is no more than a tiny instrument of God. How true are the
statements: "Even the tiniest particle, the atom, does not move except
according to His will" and "Not even a blade of grass moves except
according to His will."
It is clear that the wonders of creation
tell us of the presence of God. They manifest the sensitive harmony and
power of a Cosmic Intelligence-from the tiny, delicate petal to the might
galaxies of the universe. Like a divine fragrance, the unseen Power lured
man, from time immemorial, to discover the Spirit that lives in the heart
of all.
Ours is the Sanatana Dharma, the eternal religion
symbolized by the immortal Vedas, the Upanishads and, above all, the
bhakti movement built up and carried forward by the galaxy of mystic
poets. Thanks to the eternal procession of the messiahs of God, Hinduism
from ancient days to the present times has continued the record of
ceaseless, selfless, creative teachings for the welfare of all beings.
These minstrels sang the same eternal truths and gave and continued to
give meaning and purpose to the lives of our people. Their inspiring works
and sanctifying lives have given people in their own language the ancient
wisdom and traditions enshrined in our sacred literature. They have
instilled love and reverence for our temples and holy places of pilgrimage
spread throughout the Hindu world. These saints were the votaries of the
Universal Religion-the Sanatana Dharma-instilling the highest love, a love
for the Almighty, a pure, self-giving and self-surrendering love asking
for no consolation and making no covenants. These saints or mystics speak
of God through their personal experience and unshakable faith in Him and
express the divine love of the Almighty through the language of human
love.
What is mysticism? It is the quest for a hidden truth or
wisdom, or is it the quest for the treasure that is hidden in the center
of our soul? Life is a mystery and life after death is still more
mysterious. The quest after the highest Reality which is indeed the
Ultimate Reality and the effort to gain experience of that Reality are the
paths that lead toward mysticism. Mysticism is the result of a vast
experience where the devotee, the bhakta, has pursued his individualistic
method of attaining ecstatic communion with God. This mystical faculty of
perceiving the transcendental Reality belongs to all as Tagore says, "Man
has a feeling that he is truly represented in something which exceeds
himself," but only a few realize this. The goal of mysticism is the union
with Ultimate Reality. In this life of struggle and strife it is
interesting to read in our Hindu literature, whether it be Nachiketas of
the Upanishads, Appar of the Saiva Bhakti movement. Thirumular,
Thayumanavar, Ramalinga Swamigal or Yogaswamigal, how our sages realized
the quest after Truth as being far more important than the life of
fleeting enjoyments.
The path to this God-Realization or the path
of mysticism is a spiritual discipline based on self-sacrifice,
self-control, renunciation and, finally, universal love, which leads the
bhakta to Moksha. Unification with God. The discipline of prayer,
purification and contemplation culminates in the highest wordless union
with the Divine. As the process unfolds itself, the devotee's personality
is altered. A change takes place as one moves from the unreal to the Real.
As the Upanishadic prayer says, "O Lord, lead us from the unreal to the
Real, from darkness to Light and from death to Immortality."
Thus,
we could conclude that mysticism is a state of religious feeling marked by
the supreme efforts of the bhakta to attain direct communion with the
Lord. It is through the unceasing process of deep spiritual insight and
ripe spiritual experience that he is able to understand things
Divine.
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