A few days ago, I saw a post in Times of India under their regular feature, ‘The Speaking Tree ‘, giving advice to consider life as a divine dream as a recipe to live happily. This article was inspired by revered spiritual master Yoganand Paramhansa by one of his followers. He started with tale of a farmer who was given the bad news by his wife that their only son had been bitten by a Cobra and died. The farmer responds by a question, “Which dream should I grieve-this one or the one I saw last night in which I had seven sons, all of whom died out of Cobra bite? Taking on from here, the revered spiritual master is quoted and it was advised to live life according to the way the God had dreamed. I thought of exploring these teachings a little more to understand the concept better and got the following gist of teachings of Yoganand Paramhansa:
- Divine Dream: Yogananda explains that our world seems real because God dreamed us into existence along with His cosmic dream. We are part of that dream. Just as a dream pain vanishes upon waking, our earthly experiences are like shadows and light. Wake up to the one Reality, and you’ll see that life is a show—a play of illusions.
- Education and Entertainment: Yogananda believed that all of life’s experiences serve our “education and entertainment.” The Supreme arranges events for our benefit, even when suffering seems overwhelming. We’re not fully in charge; we’re playing our roles in God’s dream—whether of success or failure, health or sickness, love or rejection.
- Release Anxiety: Instead of clinging to past events or worrying about the future, let the Divine take charge. Every person and event is a manifestation of the Dreamer behind the dream. Behind life’s light and shadows lies God’s joy.
- Being Truly Awake: Yogananda’s poem, “When I Am Only a Dream,” encapsulates awakening: “I come to tell you all of Him, And the way to encase Him in your bosom, And of the discipline that brings His grace…” When we recognize our dream-like existence, we awaken to our true nature.
Talking about life as an illusion, there is another ancient story of King Lavana which explains the infinite power of mind to process data in time in such a fast manner that one could experience a life of seventy years in a spell or a dream of just five minutes. The brief of this story is:
Sage Vasishta shared a tale with Sri Rama, illustrating the mind’s mastery over time and space through the story of King Lavana. In the prosperous kingdom of Uttara Pandava, ruled by noble King Lavana, a majestic illusionist named Sambarika arrived at court, offering a wondrous gift—a magnificent horse conjured from thin air. Upon mounting the horse, King Lavana was ensnared in an illusion that transported him through time and space.
The king found himself in a dense jungle, abandoned by the horse. Hungry and lost, he encountered a Chandala girl who offered food in exchange for marriage. Desperate, he agreed and lived as a tribal man, enduring hardships and raising a family. Time passed swiftly, and after enduring seventy years of tribulations, King Lavana, driven by despair of running away from a forest fire and several days of hunger with his family , lit fire and leaped into fire to save his starving youngest child.
In an instant, King Lavana returned to his throne, realizing that only a little time had passed in reality. Sage Vasishta explained that the illusionist was sent by Indra as punishment for Lavana’s bypassing physical hardships in a mental Yagna.
Disturbed, King Lavana sought the tribe he experienced, and ultimately found it near the Vindhya mountains. Yet, the reality was stranger—his tribulations had transpired in truth, elsewhere.
Reflecting on the profound lesson, Sage Vasishta emphasized the mind’s vast power. It can collapse time, create worlds, and shape reality. King Lavana’s journey showcased the mind’s ability to transcend the constraints of time and space, urging Sri Rama to recognize the profound influence of the mind in shaping perception and experience.
As mere mortals, we lack the enlightenment of spiritual figures like Guru Yogananda Paramhansa or the divine favor bestowed upon King Lavana, who endured seventy years of punishment condensed into a fleeting moment, reminiscent of the magician Sambarika. We must forge our paths to positivity!
Reflecting on a personal experience eighteen years ago, lying in a hospital bed at the All India Medical Institute for a month, undergoing countless investigations, I found myself walking with a stick, feeling dejected. Amidst these physical hardships and mental truama, I began to remind myself that despite my challenges, I was spared the added burden of unemployment by divine grace. Although I lost one job due to my state of mind, I swiftly secured another without a single day of unemployment. Contemplating these events, I resolved to confront adversity head-on, telling myself, “God wants me to face these difficult times with resilience and overcome them for the sake of my family.” This mindset sustained me, even as I continued to walk with a cane, enduring swollen feet that prevented me from wearing shoes. Unlike King Lavana or Guru Yogananda, I could not compress my ordeal into a shorter timeframe or view it as a divine dream. Instead, I faced it head-on with the unwavering support of my family.
In my view, there is no universal recipe for cultivating positivity. It varies from person to person and requires introspection, summoning all one’s energy and courage to confront life’s challenges head-on. Despite adversity, one should not be overwhelmed but seek out the blessings bestowed upon them by the divine. For me, maintaining a job to support my family served as a source of positivity. In other cases, it may be something entirely different. However, I firmly believe that if the divine wills us to overcome adversity, we are equipped with the tools to face it with positivity. Therefore, remain positive and confront adversity head-on!
Inspire Positivity 