Every one of us has the seed of greatness within ourselves, waiting to be awakened so we may shine in all our Divine glory. Considering that time is relative and multiple universes coexist at all times, we know that there are no social differences between us that are lasting or non-reconcilable. Still, our mortal selves try to put up walls and insist on differences that allow one group to think of themselves as superior or inferior in regard to others. Creation is diverse and varied, pleasing our senses with a cornucopia of colorful impressions. Each of us is unique, but our inner essence makes us all united and equal in the Divine Supermind. Obviously there are individuals that are in different evolutionary phases of their soul developmental process back to the wholeness of our Divine Selves. These differences are reflected in the purity and vitality of our life force centers, the chakras. Different people have certain chakras going strong, and other chakras are weaker because of impurities and energy blockages. One can say that those whose Muladhara, or root chakra, is the strongest tend to be concerned with survival issues; they labor hard and toil the land for food. Others, whose Swadhisthana, or navel chakra, is the most pronounced tend to be creative in how they go about earning their living, as in being a tradesman or artisan. The ones whose Manipura, or solar plexus chakra, shines the brightest are often interested in exercising their power, mostly over others. They tend to want to lead others and subjugate them to their will. If the Anahata, or heart chakra, is well developed, we can either have warrior-like people whose courageous hearts fight for the just causes of mankind or a leader who might have a merciful and giving heart that benefits his subjects. A pronounced Vishuddha, or throat chakra, enables a person to speak his/her truth and to become an inspiration to their fellow men. And once the Ajna, or Third Eye chakra, is opened, we start seeing the beauty of the inner worlds, connecting with our Higher Selves and sharing these illuminating realities and visions with those around us who are interested in these higher, celestial worlds. The Sahasrara, or crown chakra, is the bridge to our Higher Selves. Once the crown chakra opens through the practice of spiritual techniques that purify and transcend the mind, we are able to connect with the essence of our ‘I Am’ presence, uniting with larger and larger aspects of our all-encompassing Divine Self. The Vedas speak of these different developmental phases within the Self, ascribing certain predominant qualities to certain dharmic groups or states of being. Thus, the so-called Shudras are associated with the root chakra and comprise the laboring class; the Vaishyas, associated with the navel chakra, comprise the class of the more creative workers, the artisans, merchants, tradesmen, etc.; the Kshatriyas (also called Rajanyas), on the other hand, are associated with the solar plexus and can overlap into the heart chakra. They are the rulers, warriors, and administrators. People who mostly function out of their higher chakras are the so-called Brahmins, the priestly people who speak the truth of the Divine Source and convey their heavenly visions to the unenlightened. The Vedas don’t ever state that these differences are non-changeable for any spiritual aspirant. Only because an individual is born into a lower developmental class does not mean that he cannot rise within this lifetime to become a Brahmin. Nor do the Vedas exclude that an individual who was born into a Brahmin family can, through bad actions and behavior, not fall towards the bottom levels of existence. Whether a person rises or falls in his development is entirely up to him and to the decisions he makes in every moment of his life. At least this is the ideal that the Vedas, being a source of ancient knowledge, advocate. Buddha, as well, believed in this ideal that gives the individual the keys to his own self-transformation. Nowadays, however, we find ourselves living during Kali Yuga, the spiritual winter season, and during this time, the power that governs this planet is concentrated in the hands of power-hungry, self-serving, often destructive, individuals who live by the creed: ‘Divide and conquer’. It serves them well to instill a sense of difference and inequality in people, to give preferential status to a small elite, a certain amount of rights and advantages to the class that produces goods and services and also manages the laboring class, the members of which, being at the bottom of the food chain, are often left without any chances of rising up in their careers, often exploited financially and left with indebtedness that reminds of slavery, as well as often left without the opportunity to own their own land. Whether we look at the caste system in India (especially when it was still under British rule) or at the slums of American cities, the conditions are similar and portray a governing mindset that tries to keep the masses in the oppressive conditions that force them to give it their all without hardly anything in return except their survival. These limiting conditions can turn lower class members into rebels or drunkards, indicating frustration or resignation in the face of an unmovable, overpowering force that keeps people trapped in a hopeless situation. In order to counter any violent uprisings from amongst the oppressed masses, further division and brandmarking as outcasts and criminals is imposed to guarantee that the individual does not find any support for his cause amongst his fellow men. The Vedas mention the so-called four Varnas, but history and its declining moral values has turned these Varnas, which solely describe the four developmental states within each individual throughout his spiritual journey, into thousands of subcategories, like the thousands of jatis in India (but this segregation principle is not limited to India alone). Segregation begets hopelessness and powerlessness. Unification begets empowerment and motivation to be one’s best under any circumstances. We can, in fact, choose at any moment which inner trend we want to follow: either give in to hopelessness or take matters into our own hands, and this way change our lot and status in life. As within, so without! If we choose to cleanse our chakras, develop our spiritual wisdom and strength, be whole and unified within ourselves, with all energy meridians flowing freely and unblocked, then we escape hopelessness and develop instead our own higher faculties that place us onto the higher levels of existence. Freedom is a state we earn through spritiual practice. And this truth is very liberating!
- Maha Devi Li Ra La