“Society/Environment/Upbringing are the most important factors.”
The more I see “real life”, the more I’m moved to understand that it is the Svabhāva, that your subtle body (mind+intellect) has developed over time (& isn’t going away so easily), which determines your trajectory.
The more I see “real life”, the more I’m moved to understand that it is the Svabhāva, that your subtle body (mind+intellect) has developed over time (& isn’t going away so easily), which determines your trajectory.
Someone may be born & brought up in a most pious & erudite family in Bhārata but may grow up to be a degenerate hater of religion.
Someone may grow up in a degenerate family but may become very pious of his own initiative as he gets older.
Someone may grow up in a degenerate family but may become very pious of his own initiative as he gets older.
Yet another may grow up in a society that affords plenty of opportunities to party, drink & enjoy proscribed pleasures to the fullest but will remain untouched by them.
Yet another will momentarily be caught in them but after a few years understand his true nature & return to Dharma & may even make an atavistic jump in terms of Śāstra learning and/or anuṣṭhāna far beyond even his 10th ancestor.
One may be extremely deep in Śāstra learning & kriyās & even have experiences of the Divine but may take liberties with Ācāra; way more than you would expect,
Yet another may lack all inclination towards Śāstra & anuṣṭhāna but may hold steadfast to basic Ācāra.
Yet another may lack all inclination towards Śāstra & anuṣṭhāna but may hold steadfast to basic Ācāra.
This variety is best explained by the Svabhāva housed in the puryaṣṭaka-deha.
If you ask, why most great men were born in distinguished lineages, I would say that since they had done the right puṇya, Īśvara places them in a family & environment, which is most conducive for that Svabhāva & allows them to reach the appropriate heights meant for them.
With decreasing puṇya, most of those who have the svabhāva for Śāstra & dharma would not have the opportunity to be born in such conducive lineages which allow us to utilize the potential of our svabhāva—with decreasing puṇya, there are far lesser of such lineages.
And those who are fortunate to be still born in such lineages, they may not have the svabhāva to reach any noteworthy heights. Their learning or practice will not greatly cut through the surface even though they are born in pious families. They may even be mediocre.
Such is the greatness of Svabhāva.
To clarify: Svabhāva for Śāstra & Anuṣṭhāna is different from the puṇya required to take birth in the most conducive lineages. Many such souls who possess the Svabhāva will take birth in less-than-stellar families but fairly Dhārmika & they would have to make do with it.
Loading suggestions...