Day 231: Understanding Samsara and the Dream of the Jiva

Day 231: Understanding Samsara and the Dream of the Jiva

Introduction to Samsara
Samsara, the cycle of life, death, and rebirth, is essentially the original dream of the jiva (individual soul). Unlike the fleeting dreams we experience during sleep, this dream is perceived as our waking reality. Consequently, what we consider our wakeful state is actually a dream. The jiva transitions from one dream to another, mistaking these dreams for reality while ignoring the true reality.

The dream of the jiva is not like the dream of a regular person; it is experienced as the wakeful state. This long dream of the jiva materializes instantly, even though it is unreal and unsubstantial. The jiva moves from one dream to another within that dream. As the misconception of the dream as reality becomes stronger, the dream is experienced as real, and the true reality is ignored.

The Cosmic Consciousness
The entire universe is but a manifestation within the cosmic consciousness, housing fourteen types of beings. This universe is overseen by various presiding deities, such as Yama (the god of death), Candra (the moon god), and Surya (the sun god), who establish moral codes. When humanity becomes predominantly sinful, Yama often retreats into meditation, leading to unchecked population growth. The frightened gods then devise strategies to control this explosion. This cycle repeats endlessly.

The presiding deities have the responsibility to maintain order and right conduct. However, when people become predominantly sinful, Yama sometimes engages in meditation for several years. During this time, the population increases rapidly. The gods, alarmed by this population explosion, resort to various methods to reduce it. This cycle of sin, meditation, and population control has occurred countless times.

Divine Intervention
Currently, Yama, the god of death, is Vaivasvata. When he too meditates, leading to population surges, the gods appeal to Lord Vishnu for assistance. Vishnu incarnates as Lord Krishna, with his companion Arjuna, to re-establish balance. Krishna’s elder brother, Yudhisthira, embodies righteousness, while their cousin Duryodhana battles Bhima. This results in a massive war where eighteen divisions of armed forces perish, alleviating the earth’s burden.

Krishna and Arjuna, incarnations of Vishnu and his alter ego, play the roles of simple human beings. When Arjuna sees that the armies on both sides are composed of his own kinsmen, he becomes despondent and refuses to fight. At that moment, Krishna will instruct him in the highest wisdom, leading to Arjuna's spiritual awakening.