Narrator:
Shakespeare Said~All the world's a stage,And all the men and women merely players by Shyama Khyapa YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGRCf8Jx0FQ
Narrator:
This is a transcript of the provided Bengali audio, translated into clean and well-formatted English.
Narrator:
[00:00 - 00:11] [The sound of a conch shell blowing and spiritual music play]
Devotee:
[00:12 - 01:03] Friends, Rabindranath Tagore once said that two selves exist within a person: the "small me" and the "large me." We all experience in our practical lives that as domestic beings, we have our own individual household world (sansar). Alongside this exists the "universal world" (jagat sansar), where we seek to find that "large me" that Rabindranath spoke of. This means sacrificing our petty interests to unite and merge ourselves with the greater interest. However, a question arises: since humans are also inherently selfish beings, is it possible for such a person to reside and wander in that universal world? Today, I will place this question before Gurudev. Is it possible for a human being to exist and move within such a universal world?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
[01:03 - 02:08] Look, we are essentially domestic beings. To be honest, we are creatures of the household. If this household didn't exist, we would be scattered. We would wander here and there, and we would engage in all kinds of deeds, good or bad. That is why Shankaracharya said one thing: "Sansar is a very strange object." This household world is a very peculiar thing. Those who are living in it know how terrifying it can be. Many others have also spoken about this world. One must participate in it, for without it, the world-meaning our domestic world-would not survive.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
[02:08 - 03:19] This is actually the household. We use the term "sansar," which Shakespeare explained very well. He said we have come with specific roles. Everyone has a designated role and a stage set for them. We are just playing those roles and moving on. The household is such a thing where there is happiness, there are conflicts, there is noise-everything happens within it. You cannot avoid these. But there is another world above us, which is the universal world. We are living and managing things in this ordinary world, but within it, we see many people failing; some are even driven to suicide due to the burdens and pains of this household world. It is a form of suffering for many.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
[03:19 - 04:19] On the other hand, some people are living quite happily in their households. This world is like a stage, as Shakespeare repeatedly said; we have come to perform in a play, and we leave after our part is done, taking nothing with us. But the universal world is a formidable thing. The high-level practitioners (sadhaks) are there. There is the sun, the moon, the nine planets, and the various stars. Controlling these is very difficult. Only those who are high-level sadhaks can manage these. They renounce all the illusions (maya) of this earthly world and go in search of the universal world.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
[04:19 - 05:21] Perhaps some have found it. Those who are very high-level sadhaks are indeed controlling the universal world. No matter what anyone says, they are the ones managing it. The pressure there is a hundred times greater than the pressure in our domestic world. From storms, rain, and typhoons to earthquakes-there isn't anything in the earthly world and beyond that isn't happening there. Our high-level sadhaks are controlling these forces. They always desire the welfare of the world. Humans are tiny beings, the smallest of the small. But those who are "above," like the sun, are immense. They are observing the sun and the solar power.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
[05:21 - 06:19] They observe what is within the sun that keeps so many people, plants, and life forms going. Everything runs through solar energy. What is that miraculous element that sustains humanity and gives life? This question has intrigued them for a long time. Today, we see a lot of research and practice surrounding this. Then there is the moon, whose attraction causes the tides; science has accepted this. Just as the sun sustains life, it also grants longevity (ayu). Ramprasad also said, "Ayu Surya Mon," referring to the sun as the giver of life force. He takes the life force of humans. If the sun weren't there, we would die very quickly; we wouldn't live long because we wouldn't receive that solar energy. There is such a deep bond between the human body and the sun.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
[06:19 - 07:12] Research is being conducted to understand what is in the sun that controls human life. This is a significant matter. It is ongoing, and perhaps in the future, more will be revealed about how humans survive on solar energy and the sun's rays. What is that substance? What are those components? This has become a subject of great discussion. Along with scientific research, great yogis and mahapurushas (great souls) are also contemplating this. They have already begun their spiritual practices to potentially reach the solar realm. The sun is about 93 million miles away, while the moon is about 250,000 miles away. The distance to the moon is much less; one can go there in a day or two, but it takes years to reach the sun.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
[07:12 - 08:08] Currently, the sun is the largest planet in our solar system. There are other suns in the galaxy; there are countless suns. We speak of the "Dwadash Surya" (Twelve Suns). Ramakrishna Paramahansa said one thing: the day the Twelve Suns descend, the earth will become intensely hot. There are twelve such suns. There are also twelve "Lingas" (symbols of divine energy). A comparison has been made between the Lingas and the suns, suggesting they are equally powerful. Ramakrishna said that the day the Twelve Suns descend, the earth will be so hot that it will no longer be fit for human habitation.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
[08:08 - 09:19] This is also being contemplated.
Devotee:
So Gurudev, is it possible for those who are sadhaks to wander and exist in what you call the "universal world"?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
No, there is immense pressure there. In our domestic world, we have pressures like shopping, paying bills, and other chores.
Devotee:
I was speaking about the sadhaks.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I am talking about this earthly world. The universal world doesn't have these mundane things. What it has are storms, rain, typhoons-do you understand? These are what overwhelm and destroy people. In the past, people wondered who was causing these storms. They meditated and identified that a certain deity was creating the storm. They performed rituals and chanted mantras to appease them. They worshipped the God of Water (Varun), the God of Wind (Vayu), and the God of Fire (Agni). They left us instructions on what to do in case of excessive rain or drought. In Kolkata, there is a belief that if there is no rain, pouring water on the head of Nakuleshwar (a Shiva temple) brings rain.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
[09:19 - 10:20] It is said that if we pour water on Nakuleshwar's head, it rains automatically. This is a profound truth; there's no doubt about it. Our ancient sadhus and saints left us such guidance for times of excessive rain, drought, or famine. These are formidable pressures. Even the atmospheric pressure is significant; you can see it's hard for humans to endure. Currently, we are experiencing temperatures of around 30-35 degrees. But when strong winds blow, it becomes impossible for humans to control. So, everything happening in the universal world, including the stars and planets, is very difficult to control.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
[10:20 - 11:25] There is no telling when they might shift. Today, many wonder why certain things are happening; it's due to the influence of the planets and stars. High-level sadhaks are controlling these. This is also true-they are managing them. There is no doubt about that. They sit in meditation and control various celestial bodies. If you read the biographies of high-level sadhaks or meet them, you will understand how much power they possess.
Devotee:
That is exactly what I am saying, Gurudev. So, the high-level sadhaks are existing in what you call the universal world-that greater world which is beyond our direct experience.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, it is impossible for an ordinary human to control it.
Devotee:
So, high-level sadhaks reside there and try to control these forces.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
[11:25 - 12:29] Look, we cannot see them with our eyes, but many great yogis, who are in the Himalayan mountains, in Gyanganj, and various other spiritual centers, are constantly working. What are they doing? They are trying to ensure the universal world functions correctly. They think about humanity, but their focus is on the immense pressures of the universal world-storms, floods, typhoons, thunderbolts-which are unbearable for humans. High-level sadhaks are controlling these, which we are completely unaware of. We have no idea that they are managing these things.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
[12:29 - 13:30] That is why I say there is a world of difference between the universal world and our domestic world. High-level sages and saints are managing the universal world, while we are in this household world. As Shankaracharya said, we are dealing with very strange things in this household. And as Shakespeare said, we have come with our roles, the stage is set (the world being the stage), and everyone performs their role and leaves. This world is a small realm covered by illusion, attachment, and desire for ordinary people.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
[13:30 - 14:59] When a frog is in a well, it thinks the well is the whole world. But when it is taken out and released into the world outside the well, it is astonished to see how much more there is. We are the same; we cannot even imagine the universal world.
Devotee:
Gurudev, you have practiced for a long time. If an ordinary person practices consistently over a long period, they naturally rise from the ordinary level to a much higher spiritual plane. At that point, can they understand the universal world you speak of?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Look, these things are usually not disclosed. Those who are doing this never reveal it because they know what will happen in the future. We have also given many episodes, like the 2021 episodes, where we predicted what could happen. We try to ensure that calamities do not increase and that people remain somewhat protected. For that, one has to practice austerity regarding elements like wind, water, earth, thunderbolts, and earthquakes. These are being controlled and shouldn't be dismissed. If not, something much worse could have happened. Look at the wildfires-those massive fires we call forest fires. Volcanoes are erupting. None of this is good for the world. Have you ever seen such a large meteor fall in your lifetime? But this year, two have occurred, and another large one is expected.
Devotee:
[14:59 - 16:16] Ordinary people become helpless in such situations.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, as time passes, they become more helpless. Great souls were in this state when there was nothing on earth but the universal world. They were absorbed in thoughts of who was doing what, who was sending thunderbolts, who was causing earthquakes, and who was providing air. They contemplated these things deeply and attained Vedas and Knowledge (Gyan). In this way, as high-level sadhaks, they performed austerities and learned to control these forces. They have a lot to say about the universal world. We who are in the domestic world cannot do more than what we are doing. We want to stay within this shell; we don't want to break out of it. But the original sadhus and saints who are still practicing in the mountains and forests-don't think they are less; they are not. They don't worry about this domestic world; they worry about the universal world. An American scientist said that if someone watched what happens in the sky for five minutes, they would go crazy.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
[16:16 - 17:30] He said they would go crazy in five minutes. Imagine the volume of events occurring in the sky that we are completely unaware of. Science tells us some things, or we experience things like an earthquake or a volcano, but he says things are happening in the sky that would drive a person mad if they saw them.
Devotee:
We only know a tiny, tiny fraction of it.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
A tiny fraction of a fraction. The vast sky-what is happening within it is a complete upheaval that we know nothing about.
Devotee:
Now, I want to mention two people who are very dear to you and respected by all of us: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Swami Vivekananda. They had a childhood where they were ordinary people living in the domestic world. Later, we heard from you that they reached Gyanganj and attained a very high spiritual state. Could you tell us a bit about this progression?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
[17:30 - 18:59] Some say it's a floating place; others say it's surrounded by a moat or walls. People say many things without knowing. When Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose realized he would be imprisoned-which was a fact and remains so-he decided that the best place was Gyanganj. He thought that by going there, he wouldn't age, he would be healthy, and he could pursue spirituality. He was a type of tantric sadhak and had great proficiency in tantra. He also had a profound experience of God, which is why he even performed Durga Puja in a submarine. When he considered a place where no one could enter, he chose Gyanganj. It is like a blessing from Lord Shiva. Today we talk about Gyanganj, but I don't think there is anything quite like it. It is the city of Kubera, the Lord of Wealth. Lord Shiva instructed Kubera to establish his realm and store all the gold and wealth to the north of Kailash. Many great scholars are there, along with many other things. When Kubera received the blessing from Lord Shiva, the Lord told him not to fear and to expand his household to the north of Kailash, keeping all the gold and wealth there.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
[18:59 - 20:17] Whatever people are saying about Gyanganj today doesn't really affect me. It is such a place that people are trying to reach; they think going to Gyanganj would be good. But it is such an impenetrable place, blessed by Lord Shiva, that it's not easy to reach. Very few people, other than great souls, are allowed there. Those who have gone might not have been able to write about it, but some have, like Gopinath Kaviraj and Nigamananda Saraswati, who reached Gyanganj and shared some of their experiences. Great souls are there, and the entire world is being controlled from there. The whole world is managed from that place. Therefore, there is a vast difference between the universal world and our world. We are living our household lives, while they are looking after the universal world. They are distinct, but one is a high-level matter, and the other is an ordinary one. High-level people manage the universal world, while people like you and me manage our households. This domestic world is an insignificant thing that we are obsessed with. We are busy with our illusions, attachments, and the "six internal enemies" (shada-ripu), and we don't try to look beyond that-nor can we; it's impossible.
Devotee:
[21:02 - end] Friends, you heard from Gurudev. He beautifully and simply explained the clear difference between the individual household world and the universal world. He also indicated that while ordinary people live in their domestic worlds, they cannot navigate the universal world in their current state. Only great souls, who have attained a high level through long-term spiritual practice, can do so. They alone can control and manage the planets, stars, and cosmic processes. We request you to let us know in the comment box if you would like to hear Gurudev's views on more new topics. We will ask Gurudev to share those views on our "Gupto Sadhok Shyama Khyapa" YouTube channel. We conclude our discussion for today. Pranam, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pranam.