I. “Nothing in this world can be produced
without proper application.” [vi]
II. “Nothing can be done or made without
the expenditure of time.” [vii]
III. “Nothing in this world can be produced
without the material cause.” [viii]
IV. “Nothing can
be made without the requisite skill, knowledge and thought.” [ix]
V. “Nothing can
be made without the definite combination of atoms.” [x]
VI. “Nothing can
be made without a Maker.”[xi]
This shows that the creation of the
world or anything created by man can never come into being without these six
causes.
Now take a house as an illustration.
The carpenter is the efficient cause and the wood is the material cause. The
carpenter's tools (saw, hammer etc.) and other instruments, time and space,
light, eyes and hands, knowledge and the necessary labor, etc., constitute the
common cause. Nothing can be made or unmade without these three causes. God
(Efficient Cause) used the eternal elementary matter (Material Cause), combined
with His knowledge, for He is All-wise, space and time (The Common Cause) to
make the universe.
God, Soul and Matter are eternal
which makes the creation cycle beginningless. The concept of the soul being
eternal explains the purpose of creation. This in turn explains to us why souls
are here as human beings, as other living creatures, and vegetation, creation
after creation.
Reasoning
in conformity with the law of nature, shows us that all things like airplanes,
cars, houses, jewelry, etc., created by man, are in their most superior and
unblemished conditions in the beginning, and then the procedure of decay
starts. All life forms are impeccable and angelic in the beginning and as the
process of aging begins they grow old and die.
Similarly, it is true to believe
that creation was also in its purest form in every beginning, as God is
All-perfect. It is certain to come to an end in this the last age, where we are
now, this is quite noticeable with all the adversities we are now encountering.
Since we are almost at the beginning of the last age, the cold fact of reality
is that the worst is yet to come.
One cycle of time is divided into
four ages, namely, -
1 Golden
Age ....................1,728,000 years
(First age)
2 Silver
Age...................... 1,296,000 years
(Second age)
3 Copper
or Bronze Age.......864,000 years
(Third age)
4 Iron
Age.............................432,000 years
(Fourth age and last age of the cycle)
Total..........4,320,000
years
At the end of this period, all
animate things dissolve into one of the five elements. This is called a minor
dissolution, which occurs at the end of every cycle period (4,320,000 years).
Whichever one of the elements (heat or fire, liquids and solids) brings it to
an end, the next cycle will begin with the next specific element in that order.
For example if it ends with fire or heat, it starts with liquids. This present
age (Iron age) is 5,860 years old leaving us with 426,140 years before the next
Minor Dissolution.
One
billion nine hundred and sixty million and eight hundred and fifty two-thousand
nine hundred and ninety nine years ago, (1,960,852,999) God created the present
creation; the same as He did in the past and the same He will do in the future.
Two billion three hundred and fifty-nine million, one hundred and forty-seven
thousand and one years (2,359,147,001) remains before the next grand
dissolution. The period from creation
to dissolution is 4,320, 000,000 years. Thus we have Creations and Dissolutions
without beginning as the absolute Causes are without beginning also.
The information which this religion
is capable of giving on the age of creation and dissolution is afforded by no
other religion. It was always in the possession of the Aryans since the dawn of
creation. When all the knowledge of the Vedic religion is in harmony with
reasoning, then what doubt can there be to the explanation of the age of
creation and the period of emancipation. Therefore, it is desirable that all
should believe it to be true.
The
first combination is called the beginning of Creation. This is the joining of
the highly subtle, indivisible separately-existing particles called atoms (or
more appropriately correct - electrons) derived from the primitive ether. The
various combinations of atoms, in different proportions and ways, give rise to
various grades and conditions, of subtle and gross matter until it reaches the
gross visible multiform stage called the universe.
That which brings about the first
combination existed before the combination, and shall exist after the component
parts are pushed asunder. This is called the Cause. That which comes into
existence after the combination, and ceases to exist after it has come to an
end is called the Effect. That out of which something is made is called a
Cause. Whoever produces an Effect out of a Cause is called the Maker.
God
energized the subtle Eternal Primordial Matter (Atoms) and the first
principle, WISDOM
was produced. This reduces matter to one degree less subtler which led to the
principle of INDIVIDUALITY. However, it is still less subtler than the five
subtle entities, optic, auditory, olfactory, gustatory and tactile: (the
spiritual senses or the media through which these senses make contact with the
soul through the mind).
This
further led to the creation of the principles of SENSATION (hearing, seeing,
smell, taste and touch) and the five principles of ACTION (speech, grasp,
locomotion, reproduction and excretion) plus the principle of ATTENTION. These
are all less subtle by passing through various stages of less subtle conditions
of matter (action and reaction) give
rise to the five subtle principles (the five elements-
inanimate objects of creation) SPACE (MATTER), AIR ( or gas),
HEAT ( fire or electricity), LIQUIDS, and SOLIDS respectively. The order of dissolution is the reverse.
Of these
twenty-four, matter is uncreated. The principle of wisdom, the principle of
Individuality, and the five subtle entities are the products of matter and are
in their turn the cause of the ten principles of sensation, and action and of
the principle of attention.
These
twenty-four entities and the spirit, human and Divine, form a group of
twenty-five noumenon. The spirit is neither the material cause nor the effect
of anything. “This universe was non-existent” means that it was non-existent.
The universe in this gross physical and visible form, existed only in essence
or in elementary form as the eternal elementary matter.
“Nothing can ever become something, nor can something ever
become nothing. These two principles have been rightly ascertained by the true
seers of nature.” [xii]
Thus the
All-pervading God has evolved this gross visible universe out of subtle,
visible, elementary matter that resided in Him. The causal matter is difficult
to be described, but it has the potentiality of being transformed under the
design and eternal law of God. When inspired by the activity of God it leads to
the entire creation with which we are familiar. Law, order, design and purpose - these four principles in this creation
speak of the glory of God. He pervades the universe and witnesses all, and is
in perfect bliss.
French
Scholar, Jacoliot in his book “The Bible in India", comparing the
different accounts of the origin of the universe says,
“ fact! The Hindu Revelation (Veda) is
of all Revelations the only one whose ideas are in perfect harmony with modern
science, as it proclaims the slow and gradual formation of the world.” [xiii]
“O! low
and behold His creation, the earth studded with various kinds of precious
stones and metals and myriads of earths, suns, moons and other heavenly bodies,
which sustain, revolve and regulate them. From the latter sprang up various
kinds of trees and plants of thousands of different kinds with their wonderful
exquisite structures, leaves with myriads of different colors and shades,
flowers, fruits, roots, rhizomes and cereals with various scents and flavors,
which are the source of food, and out food is produced the REPRODUCTIVE ELEMENT
which is the cause of the PHYSICAL BODY.
“Behold
the wonderful organization of the body! How the learned are wonder struck by
it? First there is the osseous frame-work girt with a net-work of vessels ~
veins, arteries and nerves, etc.,~ invested with flesh and the whole covered by
skin with its appendages ~ nails and hairs. Then how beautifully are the
different organs, such as the heart, the liver, the spleen and the lungs ~ the
ventilating apparatus ~ laid out.”
“The
formation of the brain, of the optic nerve with the most reticulate formation
of the retina, the demarcating of the paths of the principles of sensation and
action ~ the linking of the soul with the body, the assigning if definite
places to it for wakeful state, slumber and deep sleep, the formation of
different kinds of tissues and secretions, such as muscle, bone-marrow, blood
reproductive elements ~ and the construction of various other wonderful
structures and mechanisms in the body who but God could have created?” [xiv]
An object
when perceived produces two kinds of knowledge in the mind of the observer: one
is the nature of the object itself and the other is of its maker. For example,
an archeologist found a beautiful piece of jewelry in one of his many finds. On
examination he saw that it was made of gold and that it must have been made by
a clever goldsmith. In the same way, the prodigious workmanship and execution
of this astronomical universe prove the existence of its Maker.
In the
beginning there were created many (thousands) human beings as well as many
altruistic teachers i.e., learned seers of nature. They were progenitors of the
human race. These emancipated souls on account of their previous exceedingly
pious actions deserve to be created and not born as a result of sexual intercourse.
Creation,
in the beginning, in glory and grandeur (golden age) up until now has always
been consistent and uniform. By observing the law of nature with the aid of
reasoning we come to the same conclusion, that men are descended from many
fathers and mothers and not from one father and one mother (opposing the Divine
Law of nature).
Tibet, in
the Himalayan region was the first cooled-off region ready for human
habitation. The rest of the heated
planet accounted for the age of dinosaurs and other creatures. But in Tibet a small community of
the human race was created, later to be known as the Aryan race, with favorable
surroundings consisting of vegetation and animals. They all belonged to one
class that of man and this period consisted of the Golden age, the most
heavenly age where souls returned from emancipation. They deserved to be
reunited with their families and to enjoy earthly happiness in perfect harmony
and sublimate piety.
During the second age, known as the
Silver age, there was a mild interruption of sublimity. From the existing one
class to two classes evolved the noble (Aryans) and the wicked (Dasyus). This ‘good’ and ‘bad’ is not what our
present knowledge can explain, but tremendously more advanced. As a matter of
fact such evil would have been classified as highly religious, far more
advanced than our highest religious order of today.
When tensions and serious trouble
arose between the Aryans and the Dasyus, the Aryans regarding (now India) as
the best on the whole earth emigrated there, and colonized it under the name of
Aryavarta ~ the abode of the Aryans. The Dasyus remain in Tibet and started
their migration to China and other parts of Asia. This can be proven to be true
by the present population that show India and China to be the two most populous
countries in the world today, and of all the continents of the world, Asia is
the most populous.
The Bronze age saw the Aryans
divided themselves into four classes, teachers (Brahmans), who were entitled to
distinction according to the extent of their knowledge. The protectors
(Kshatriyas) who were judged by their physical powers, and the merchants
(Vaishas), by material wealth in his possession, and laborers (Shudras), were
evaluated the years of service. During this age, the slow and gradual migration
started to different parts of the world. Although the class system was long in
effect it was in this age that it became more pragmatic. As knowledge was on
the decline divisions and desensitizations were increasing.
We have reached the last
age of this cycle, the Iron age where all true knowledge has virtually
disappeared and divisions and chaos reign supreme. Afflictions of all kinds,
religious, political and social are daily occurrences. Although the races and
classes were present in the third age, knowledge was far above petty
differences. However it can be so again if there are leaders and teachers of
noble characters to disseminate the Vedic knowledge. Blessed are those who always preach the truth to promote
righteousness and destroy evil.
ILLUSTRATION 3
“Let a man therefore, gain knowledge
and acquire wisdom, lead a virtuous life, bear malice to none and show all men
the path that leads to true happiness.” [xv]
There
are many opinions for the purpose of creation. These are the results of the
many different groups, religious and otherwise, today. Many theists, agnostics and atheists have
made many different conclusions, treating the world as an illusion, a puppet
show, a jail, a matter of chance, and a creation by a superior force.
Some conclude that we are here once
only and move to a heavenly or hellish abode for all eternity. Some believe we
are here now and die and that is the final end. Others believe we die and are
born again, and virtue and sin dictate our happiness and sorrow. There are
those who, are immersed in total worldly pleasure, those enduring the worst of
pain, and those who could not be bothered about anything.
Whether we are theists or atheists, we all have different views.
The fact remains that we all live righteous and unrighteous lives in the same
world which we are closely connected to and are a part of. We influence and
make the world and the world influences and makes us. This shows that the world
and we are two distinct and different entities, though closely connected with
each other.
Law, order, design and purpose lead the
theists to believe the world is created by an intelligent, living and
all-powerful spirit. Theists, on the other hand, are also separated into
different groups. Though they all believe that the Creator is an All-knowing
and All-powerful Being, their conceptions vary. They find it very difficult to
formulate a very clear and definite idea for His purpose. However as long as a
man does not thoroughly understand the science of Creation, he can never have a
true conception of the universe.
The question remains to be solved as to why creation was made and
to what end. Many attempts have been
made by these groups to answer the question but the problem has been made more
intricate by virtue of their interpretations. These differences of opinion have
led to terrible animosities. Many of these religious wars have blackened the
pages of history. In this way man’s view of the world has remarkably colored
and molded his character.
The wise passes their time by taking
delight in nature, and studying the one true religion of the Vedas. They
understand the purpose of their lives and creation. Discerning the purpose of
their lives and trying to seek the perfect way of achieving it, is their only
desire. The wise are the builders of culture and ponder on the propriety of
being kind to animals and of speaking the truth. He knows why it is a sin to
cause pain to others and what are the uses of living a life of self-restraint.
The wise thinks that just as he has a life, others also have lives and just as
pain torments them, it torments others. This teaches non-violence.
On the other hand, unrighteous
people pass their time in frivolities, sloth or quarrels. They do not
understand the world and its purpose, so they go on with life blindly, like an
animal. To serve their own end they steal, rob and even kill. To deprive
animals of their lives so that they can have food is an ordinary or natural
thing for them. These two types of behavior can be fully observed and
understood by examining different views of life and the world.
Some believers believe the world to
be an illusion, dream-like or unreal. Obviously, they cannot derive the fullest
advantage out of the world. If the car they drive is an illusion then it will
not be necessary to repair or protect it. The farmers till the soil and sow the
seeds because they know that the world is not a dream and look forward for the
harvest it brings.
Many of these believers keep singing in praise of their philosophy
of dreams, but many ignore them. Sometimes it happens that a man in a dream
feels that he is dreaming and his dream comes to an end as soon as he opens his
eyes. Similarly if all the hardships of life were a dream then the best remedy
would be to wait for the moment when our eyes will be opened.
Those who look upon the world as a
dream cannot, with consistency, believe that the Creator of the world is an
All-knowing and All-powerful entity. A healthy man enters into sound sleep as
soon as he goes to bed. Dreams are a sign of ill-health and if the world had
also been a dream its Creator could not have been called Omniscient and
Omnipotent. Our actions are guided by our mental thinking, and dreams are
deep-seated in our minds so we cannot devote our attention to any practical
action. The dreamers content themselves with reciting the prayers or counting
beads.
Some believe that God is the master
and the creator and no other entity independent and eternal was present. He
created the world from nothing because he is All-powerful and can do anything
He wants to do. They believe only that which God wills, will happen. Then why
not sit and wait for food to fall on your laps?
Most of the believers of this
category have no equilibrium between devotion and action. Men of action have
lost all faith in devotion and godliness. In fact the cause of all this
incoherence is not true devotion, but misguided and ill-conceived devotion. One
who recites His name and does nothing else is considered the best devotee of
God.
Some theists believe that the world
is a jail and that they did had done grievous sin in their past life, and for
this reason they have been placed in this painful world. When they die, they
are released from this punishment and will enjoy everlasting happiness. They
know they are going to heaven, but where is heaven and what is its nature?
Nobody has been there to come back and tell. But the said believers assume it
must be a better place than this world.
These
people want to leave the world because there is nothing but pain here. The jail
theory has made man a prisoner. A prisoner does nothing for himself. Why should
he? A prisoner gets the same thing every day no matter if he works or relaxes.
There are many who constantly look upon the world as a jail and pass their time
weeping and wailing. They are not happy and will not let others live happily.
The thief (being) who is put into jail (creation) does not thank his jailor
(God). Similarly those who think that they are in a sort of jail cannot be
endowed with true devotion, and therefore cannot have true love for God.
There is
one more view and that is the purely monotheist Vedic view found in the one
true religion. The followers of this religion (Aryas) hold there is an infinite
number of eternal, unborn; an immortal spiritual entities. These souls are
neither All-knowing nor All-powerful. Their actions are finite. But their
finiteness has different levels, which are raised or lowered according to the
work done by these souls.
God gave the Aryas many things for their use. These souls bring the things of the world into their use according to their capacity, ability, power and discretion. Acquiring knowledge and making proper use of the objects of the world is considered progress and those who remain idle and inactive to the Vedic religion are sunk in misery.