He who is an Akshay Purush is spread across this entire universe. This entire creation belongs to Him. A Akshay tree aptly signifies the Akshay Purush, the creation across all realms, which is spread out, similarly to the network of roots & branches over the vast expanse of the Akshay tree.
Niranjan means – the ultimate indifference. Niranjan means one who no color can color, one who exists in all colors, and yet remains colorless. Niranjan means – Flowing Lotus in water, which water cannot touch. This entire creation is a vast expanse of this Akshay Purush. This Niranjan is omnipresent in each and every branch of this vast tree. “Tirdeva Saakh Bhaye” i.e. the same Akshay Purush has been divided into branches of Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh. He terminates, He creates and He preserves. Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh are His three forms, three faces, but a single common force within..
“Paat Bhaya Sansaar” i.e. these leaves of the vast branches signify this entire world. Kabir is saying that there is no difference between the Almighty God and the Universe, both of them are two faces of the same entity. The Creator and the Creation are not twain, and the infinite leaves are spread across these. You are His own leaf. Your own leaf might seem very different from others, but you should not feel that you are different. You just cannot be different.
You cannot survive for even a single moment if you wonder apart. You are related to Him through infinite paths. You are breathing air every moment, if your breath is cut off, a bridge gets broken, how will you survive?
The incoming rays of the Sun are energizing your each and every cell, and are driving your life. If Sun cools down, how will you survive? These are basic facts. The Almighty Lord is cradling you through such subtle planes, just like the invisible roots support the tree, while the tree worries about the leaves. So don’t worry that you are just a leaf. If you are in this universe, this Universe is His own. The Creation and Creation are not distinct, the Creation is the efflorescence of the Creator.
Achche Purush Ik Ped Hain, Niranj Vaaki Daar
Tirdeva Saakhaa Bhay, Paat Bhayaa Sansaar.
You ought to deeply comprehend the meaning of this, because
toxic people have propagated huge misconceptions. They say that the world is a sin. They say, that the world is worth leaving away; , they say, run away from the world if you wish to attain God. God is omnipresent in each and every atom of this world and the so-called learned teach to run away from the world. If you wish to attain God, and if He is omnipresent in each and every atom, then wherever you run from, you run away from God Himself. Therefore, I tell you that wherever you are, you will attain God at that very place. There is no point in wondering away to a single inch. You will attain Him at the shop. You will attain Him while working in the office. You will attain Him while digging in the garden. You will definitely attain Him while handling your domestic family responsibilities because He exists in every single leaf. There is no place where He is absent from.
Rabindranath has written a very sweet poem. It is written that Buddha attained Gyan and returned back. Rabindranath’s mind could never fathom why Buddha ever left his home. Any poet can never comprehend such a step. This seems too strong, maybe even at odds with the sweetness of poetry. This step conflicts with the notions of beauty, and beauty is the ultimate truth for a poet. Buddha ran away leaving Yashodhara in the lurch, Rabindranath could never understand this facet of Buddha. So he has written a very beautiful poem, the poem is –
Returned back Buddha to his homestead,
Decked with the ultimate knowledge-wisdom,
Yashodhara said – I have a query,
I have been waiting for twelve years,
To ask this single question.
Now that you have returned back,
Flushed with the ultimate knowledge-wisdom,
I believe that the time is right,
To ask the query.
I wish to ask,
Whatever you found in the forest,
Forsaking me here,
Could you have not,
Found it right here?
Rabindra left Buddha as silent and did not try to get the answer. But Rabindranath’s answer is clear, and it is stark clear even in silence. Now even Buddha realizes that whatever he attained in the forest, he could have attained it right here. The Creator is hidden in His Creation. This creation is completely different from the making of an idol. A sculptor becomes distinct from the idol he sculpts, a poet becomes distinct from a poem he pens. The poem will survive the poet’s death, the idol shall survive for thousands of years, after the death of the sculptor. Both are distinctly separate from each other. No, this creation of God is completely different. Therefore, we have chosen Natraj to symbolize the Almighty – a dancer, not a sculptor, painter or poet. Lord is the dancer, because you cannot separate the dancer and the dance. The dance terminates on the departure of the dancer. You cannot save away the dance. How can you separate the dance from the dancer? There cannot be any difference between both of them. The Almighty is enjoined with His creation, just like a dancer, not a sculptor. This vast creation is His own. If you realize this thought in your mind, then you will be saved from the various thoughts of running away, and you will start your search for God right where you are. The treasure is hidden right where you exist, do not seek elsewhere.
I have heard a wonderful story. There was a Jewish savant. He had a dream one night. The dream repeated the next night, and then the third night again. It seemed to be true.
The dream was that – A valuable treasure was buried beside a bridge in the capital of the country where he lived in. When he saw the same dream for three nights, the location and map of the treasure got completely etched in his mind, and he traveled to the capital. He reached the capital but got into a quandary. The police was guarding that spot round-the-clock to safeguard the bridge. Now, how could he dig, when to dig? Police remain ever-present on that spot. Police never move from there. The guards change in shifts. It is continuously guarded. So he repeatedly passes over the bridge to explore and think of a solution. A policeman noticed him passing repeatedly. He asked – I seen you coming here again and again. What do you intend? Do you wish to commit suicide by jumping off the bridge?
You look like a learned savant, but seem to be depressed. Are you disappointed with your life? Are you looking for an opportunity to jump off. Or is there any other reason? I have doubts.
The savant replied back – Let me tell you since you asked. I cannot see any solution in sight. Let me confide in you, maybe, it might come in useful. I dreamed vividly about a treasure buried at the very spot you are standing on.
That policeman started to laugh. He said – this is astounding. I have also been having a similar dream for the last three nights. However, the location is different. He named a small village. The savant startled. This was his own village. His own home… And the policeman took his own name and said that the treasure was buried at the very spot where the savant used to pray and chant rosary. The policeman said that he had been having that dream for the last three nights, but a dream is a dream. He did not bother to travel to a distant village just on the vagary of a trivial dream.
The savant immediately rushed back towards his house. This was astounding, the treasure was buried right below his altar.
We do not know whether this is a true story or not. However, life is just like that. The treasure is buried right where you are. You will dream to go to the Himalayas, as the treasure is buried there. However, wherever you are, the treasure is there. Because if you travel to the Himalayas, then whoever is sitting there will tell you that he is dreaming the treasure is being
distributed in Delhi.
God is everywhere, so there is no need to go anywhere. Wherever you are, however you are and the creation of God is completely unconditional. He is always available beside you, at each and every moment.
With divine blessings,
Kailash Shrimali
