Final Part - GOD EXISTS By Swami Sivananda

An atheist says that there is no God. But that knower who knows the non-existence of
God is Brahman.

A Sunyavadin says that there is only Sunya (void). But that knower who knows the
Sunya is Brahman (God).

Who sees the defects in the Sun —whether it shines brightly or whether it is obscured by clouds? It is the eye. Who sees the defects in the eye whether there is cataract or not? It is the Buddhi (intellect). Who sees the defects in the Buddhi whether there is confusion or clarity? Who illuminates the Buddhi? It is Aham (infinite “I”). This “Aham” is Kutastha or Atma or Brahman,illuminator of everything.

As a punishment for a certain crime you would rather prefer to have your hands cut off than the eyes removed. This indicates obviously that the Indriya is closer to you and dearer also than the external instruments. Instead of sentence for death you would rather prefer to have your two eyes removed. This shows that life is dearer and closer to you than the Indriya. When you suffer from a serious, protracted ailment, you wish to give up your life also, to get happiness. This shows that the Self or Atma is dearer than life or Prana.

Man generally argues at the time of his death, “I have undergone many miseries,troubles and difficulties in this life. I have done various good acts. They may not go in vain. After all, is it for this one life alone I have laboured so much? This cannot be. I must be immortal.” He invents the theory of Immortality. Even commonsense will tell everybody that there must be an immortal Atma.

You had been a child playing in your mother’s lap. Then you grew up into a school-going boy. Then you became a sighing lover in adolescence. Then you reached adult manhood. Lastly you became a veteran with grey hairs. You have had a variety of experiences.There must be an unchanging Self as a Sakshi to witness these changing experiences. Otherwise these experiences are impossible. That unchanging Self is Brahman. It is the substratum for all these changing experiences of life. An invariable Self must link continuously the varying childhood, boyhood, manhood and old age.

A spermatozoon, which is a millionth part of a drop of semen, and an ovum from the ovary joined together give rise to the formation of this body. What a great mystery! That subtle power which is the source for this semen and ovarian product, that subtle essence which sustains all these,is thy own Self. That is Truth. That is Soul. Thou art That. realise this and free yourself from the cage of bone and flesh.

The growth of the body with several limbs, organs, etc., from a tiny peck of semen, bespeaks the omnipotence of the Lord.

In the embryonic stage when the child dwells in the womb of the mother there is no difference between a male and a female child up to a certain stage. Both the male and female genital organs are developed from the same Wolffian body which contains the female (ovarian) as well as the male (testicular) tissue. By some unknown process of growth one of the tissues preponderates and the distinguishing characteristics of sex are developed by about the third month. The testicles are in the abdomen of the male child. They descend into the scrotal bag by about the seventh month.What a great wonder! The Lord only, who is the source of all beings and the ruler of all creatures,knows Himself by Himself.

Just as one thread penetrates all flowers in a garland, so also one Self penetrates all these living beings. He is hidden in all beings and forms, like oil in seed, butter in milk, mind in brain,Prana in the body, fetus in the womb, sun behind the clouds, fire in wood, vapour in the atmosphere,salt in water, scent in flowers, sound in the gramophone-records, gold in quartz, microbes in blood.

Just as the light is the same in bulbs of different colours, even so the bodies and mental Bhavanas (attitudes) are different, but Atma is one in all beings.

Just as the sun, reflected in various pots of water, appears to be many, so also the Atman appears to be many when reflected through various minds in various bodies.

Just as fire blazes forth when the ash above it is removed, Brahman shines forth when
the veil of ignorance, which conceals It, is removed. Just as butter is perceived when milk is converted into curd and churned, so also Brahman is perceived through the churning of meditation.

Just as hunger, thirst, pain, taste, etc., have to be experienced, but cannot be seen by the fleshy eyes,even so Brahman has to be experienced through deep meditation and Samadhi. Just as the tiny bacilli that produce cholera, typhoid, etc. cannot be seen by the naked eye, but can be seen with the help of a microscope, so also Brahman cannot be seen by the physical eyes but can be seen through the eye of intuition.

Source: GOD EXISTS By SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA