The Planets Incarnate

The student had learned that some souls attain the power to act in the role of Vishnu, Godhead. For example, the Creator and the planets are individual beings empowered to act in the role of God and cause the manifestation and operation of the universe. But now he had a question.

“Are all incarnations of Godhead normal souls who are just empowered to take the role of God?” He asked.

“No.” Answered the Master.

“Which ones are which?” Asked the student.

“Godhead has limitless incarnations in this limitless world, but there are ten that we speak of as being primary. Out of those ten, four of them are purely Godhead. The other six are individual souls empowered to become the incarnation of Godhead’s power. Those four are named ‘Rama’, ‘Krishna’, ‘Varaha’, and ‘Narasimha.’”

The master went on to explain that the nine planes are beings empowered to be incarnations of Godhead’s power. The reason that Godhead manifests as the planets is to control the operation of karma in the universe.

Karma is the mechanism by which the universe allows its inhabitants to act and enjoy life, yet at the same time gradually be reformed to a more selfless and enlightened state of awareness. Karma achieves this goal by discouraging more selfish actions with punishments and encouraging more selfless actions with rewards. To gradually elevate the materially bound souls is the the most important function of the universe, therefore Vishnu Himself incarnates as the planets to ensure that it operates correctly and as smoothly as possible.

The nine planets facilitate the other incarnations of Vishnu.

The Sun is intimately connected with the incarnation called “Rama” – the great king and noble leader, whose only fault is of being overly harsh and concerned with government above love.

The Moon and “Krishna” are intimately connected. Krishna is the reservoir of divine emotion, creativity, and desire.

Mercury is connected to “The Enlightened” (Buddha), the epitome of intellectual clarity and purity.

Venus is connected to “The Axe Delighter” (Parashurama). This incarnation to protect the world from military proliferation and brought peace by wiping out all the warriors in the world.

Mars is linked with the “Man-Lion” (Narasimha) incarnation, whose furious energy and strength destroys what stands in the way of goodness.

Jupiter is linked to “The Expander” (Trivikrama), who started as a dwarf but expanded in size to cover the entire universe and more in just three strides.

Saturn and “The Turtle” (Koorma) are intimately connected. The turtle incarnation held up the celestial mountain, a task requiring impossible strength and perseverance.

Rahu and “The Boar” (Varaha) are linked. The Boar rescued the Earth from the mire at the bottom of the universe, in the same way as Rahu takes what is low and makes it high.

Ketu and “The Fish” (Meena) are a unit. The fish is silent and withdrawn, but saved the spiritual treasure of Vedic knowledge from the devastation of the flood.

The student was delighted to learn these things.

“All beings manifest through the nine planets,” continued the master. “Not just the incarnations of Vishnu! The planets are the portals through which spiritual energy of all types enter into the universe. Both Godhead and the individual souls enter this world through that doorway, and they leave through it as well.”

He went on to explain that the universe is periodically created and destroyed in an unending cycle. When things are created they emerge through the nine planets. When they are destroyed they merge back into the nine planets from whence they came. When the entire universe enters the cycle of destruction, all things merge into the planets, and the planets themselves return into their original source, Vishnu.

To know these things is to begin to understand the nature of time – which is essential to the art of predication, as it affords awareness of the true essence of “past, present and future.” If you studying astrology carefully and with devotion all such sublime and occult realizations will unfold within you, but if you are a fool, and without completing your study simply criticize the science, you will fall into the depths of blind ignorance.

- Vic DiCara

www.vicdicara.com

© 2010 Vic DiCara, All Rights Reserved

Creation of the Universe

Astrology is the study of the life itself. To know the depth of astrology is to understand the meaning of life. Life is a spiritual phenomenon, which springs forth from the Fountainhead. From this flowing fountainhead of life, the universe comes to exist. Before we undertake to comprehend astrology we should take shelter of the beneficence of the spiritual fountainhead, whom alone can bestow upon us a full understanding of this infinitely deep subject.

A great student approached a wise master, and with folded hands inquired, “Astrology is the greatest branch of human knowledge! It has three main subdivisions: astronomy, lore, and prediction. I really want to learn how to make predictions from astrology. Please, teach me.”

“Ah! What an excellent question!” said the master, delighted. “What you are asking about is a subject that can be of immense benefit to humanity. I shall go and beg the blessings of the Creator, the Goddess of Knowledge, and the God of the Sun. With their blessings I will return and teach you this science of Astrology – exactly as my teacher, the Creator himself, taught it to me!”

The next day, the master returned and told the student. “I have been blessed to teach you the science of astrology, but only because you are a very good and peaceful soul. Be sure that you never pass on this knowledge to anyone who would use it for evil!”

He then began illuminating the great science of astrology.

He started by describing the origin of all the planets and the stars by telling of their creation: There is Godhead, who is beyond all the rules and limitations of this material universe. We know him as “Vishnu.” Because of his power, the planets and stars exist and can be given shape by the Creator. Most of Vishnu’s power manifests in worlds which are beyond the material universe and beyond the purview of astrology. Just a small portion of his power facilitates the existence of our entire universe with all it’s stars and planets.

“Please tell me in more detail how Vishnu’s energy facilitates the existence of our universe!” Inquired the student.

So the master described that Vishnu facilitates the existence of this universe by splitting his energy into three spectrums. These three energies combine to provide the energy which sustains every thing that ever exists – in much the same way as three primary colors combine to create infinite varieties of colors. These three energies are the energy of clarification, the energy of motivation, and the energy of solidification.

The Goddess Lakshmi is the female manifestation of Vishnu. She appears in three new forms to create these three energies. As Goddess “Shri” she manifests the energy of clarity. As Goddess “Bhoo” she manifests the energy of motivation. As Goddess “Neela” she manifests the energy of solidification. Vishnu Himself appears in three new forms to guide the operation of each energy. As “Aniruddha” he oversees the energy of clarification. As “Pradyumna” he oversees the energy of motivation. As “Sankarshana” he oversees the energy of solidification.

This is the very beginning of the beginning of the material universe. Each of these three energies makes it’s first manifestation. The energy of solidification produced the source of all the raw materials that would make the physical structure of the universe. The energy of motivation produced the mechanism which would inspire souls to unite with that physical universe. The energy of clarification produced the first material being, the Creator, who would assemble the physical universe.

The energy of motivation created the mechanism to bind souls to the physical world. It creates three kinds of bonded beings: when mixed with the energy of clarification it produces the godly. Mixed with the energy of motivation it produces sense-gratifiers. Mixed with the energy of solidity it produces beings almost lacking any sentience.

The power of Vishnu himself maintains these energies of creation. When he touches his own energy of motivation he becomes “Brahma” and creates the actual shape of the things in this universe. When he touches his own energy of solidification he becomes “Shiva” and dismantles all those shapes.

The student was a little puzzled. “Didn’t you say that Brahma, the Creator, was the first physical being in the universe?” He asked.

“Yes.”

“But then didn’t you just say that Vishnu himself becomes Brahma?”

“Yes.”

“So how can Brahma be both a materially bonded soul and Godhead at the same time?”

The teacher replied that there are two spiritual energies at work in the world. One is the energy of the individual soul, and the other is the energy of the Fountainhead of all souls. In every being there is a mixture. The Fountainhead of souls always accompanies the individual soul to make it possible for her to realize her desires and intentions. In some cases the Fountainhead of souls builds up and becomes more prominent than the individual soul. Such beings, including the creator, are material bound individuals who are infused with the power of the Fountainhead to act in the capacity of Vishnu.

Then he pointed at the sky. “The planets are not rocks in space.” He said. “They are beings. They were once ordinary souls like you and I, but over time they attracted and built up such a predominance of the Fountainhead within them that they now are functionally identical to Vishnu and act on his behalf. Thus the 9 planets are incarnations of God. They cause the wonderful story of the material creation to unfold.”

- Vic DiCara

www.vicdicara.com

© 2010 Vic DiCara, All Rights Reserved

Spiritual Big Bang, the Meaning of Life, and the Sanctity of Freewill

In the “beginning” there was just “The One.”

Well, beginning is a bit misleading, since this story starts before the “beginning” – before the universe began with its its wheels of time. And even the one is misleading, because it is really more like “the infinite.” But let’s stick with the poetic imagery:

In the beginning there was just The One.
Then,
The One became Many. (एको बहु स्यात)

Ok, but why? Why did The One become many? Well, think about it. What if you were “The One”? There would be nothing but you; no one to share anything with. And that is sort of, well… boring, isn’t it? Sort of lonely and boring.

That’s why the one became many: because The One wanted bliss rather than boredom (अानन्दमोयाभ्यासात).

So there was a spiritual “big bang” before the beginning of time, in which the infinite singularity of The One suddenly manifested as The Many. Countless souls – including you and me – came into being right then.

Let’s never forget why. Forgetting why means forgetting our purpose, forgetting the meaning of our life. Why do we come into being? Because The One wants to share the blissful experience with other people, and not be lonely or bored. So, what is the purpose and meaning of life? The purpose of life is to share bliss with The One. That experience is the true meaning of being alive.

A KINK IN THE PLAN?

But maybe there was a small, small kink in the plan?

Let’s imagine The One as being the ocean, the Atlantic, and The Many would be like drops taken from that ocean. The drops are all unique, because they all come from different places in the ocean. Drops from the north atlantic are cold, for example, while drops from off the shore of Cuba are hot. And so on.

This little handy metaphor gives you an idea of how and why each one of The Many is a unique individual. And it also gives you a clue to what the kink in the plan is.

The Kink is that some of the “drops” come from the part of the ocean which strongly identifies itself as The One. The drops that come from this part of the ocean are not entirely comfortable being one of “The Many” – they are inclined to understand themselves as “The One.”

The role of The Many is to share bliss with the One. But the kink in the plan is that some of the Many feel like they are The One.

It is a question of focal point, really. The grand plan is that The One is the focal point of bliss, in which all of The Many share. But the kink in the plan is that some of the Many think that they should be the focal point of the sharing.

QUICK FIX?

So, why doesn’t the one just, uhm, fix those “lightbulbs”? Why doesn’t “he” just say – “ooops, you guys were mistakes, let’s… uhm… turn you off or tuck you back inside me?”

Because we are not mistakes!

And because, having been created, we exist. And that which has existence shall not come to nonexistence, ever. (नासातो विद्यते भावो, नाभावो विद्यते सतः)

Why not?

Because that which exists has freewill. And freewill is omnipotent, and inextinguishable. That is why it is called “free” – it has perfect sovereignty or “freedom” and can not be subdued.

We are all emanations from The One, the infinite being of will and consciousness. As such we eternally have consciousness and will… free will. The One never thinks he will “fix” us. It is our free will to be whomever we choose to be. If we choose to want to be The One, that is our own free choice, and even The One shall solemnly respect and honor that choice.

We are not mistakes at all. We are a glorious part of the plan. We don’t need to be “fixed” – we simply need to “blossom.”

HOW WE BLOSSOM

Here is the scenario so far: The One desires to share bliss with others, so “he” manifests The Many. Since they all come from The One, it is natural that at least some of The Many will feel like they are The One. Now The One needs to take care of the situation, without erasing or violating it.

So The One says, “hey guys, if I let you do your thing here – you will disrupt the vast majority of Many who are all focused on Me as being The One. But don’t worry, I will make a special section of space for you, where you can actually experience what it feels like to be The One.”

Oh happy day!

ENTER THE WORLD

So we merrily skipped on over to the border of this new world made just for us. We peaked over the edge with eager eyes, but our smiles suddenly faded into pale doubts. There was something very empty feeling in there. And it was sadly obvious what was missing: The One, the real One was missing.

You see even though we do want to be The One, we also do naturally want to be with The One. Both qualities are inherent in the foundations of our being. That is what makes us so very interesting and complex.

So we turned around with sad faces towards The Beautiful One. “But if we go in there, will we see you again?” We asked.

“You would want to see me again?” The One asks us.

“Of course! We cannot really live without you!” We reply, tearfully.

Touched, moved to deepest bliss, The One smiles and says, “Yes, do not worry. When you decide you want to return to me, you can return.”

We looked back at the new world made just for us. It was enticing & fascinating, dangerously so. It was clear to us that if we set foot there we would become completely immersed and engrossed. It was designed to help us forget that we are not really The One. So how would we ever remember The Real One? And if we could not remember The Real One, why would we ever decide to return?

Again, hesitation and doubt saturated us.

“You are full of fears?” The One said to us.

“Yes,” we replied. “For one thing, isn’t that place designed to make us forget you? If so how will we ever remember to return to you? And another thing: are we not what we are? Are we not torn beings, torn between wanting you and wanting to be you? Can you actually change us? Is that even possible?”

The lotus eyes of The One gracefully closed and remained shut in meditation. The universe was remade.

“It is true that I shall never violate your freewill. Your freewill is the point of your existence. Without freewill, love is impossible. Without love, bliss is impossible. Without bliss it is pointless to be The One. Thus, my dears, I can not change you. You are right. But you can change you!”

He opened his eyes slowly and continued, “It is also true that this world I made for you would make you completely forget me. I thought this is what you wanted. But now I know that is not true, so I have changed the world. I have made it more wonderful than I could have even envisioned one my own, were it not for you. It will remind you of me eventually, when you are ready. When you desire it. When you will it.”

Then, with one final embrace, we entered the world, and time began.

KARMA – THE CHANGED UNIVERSE

What was it that The One changed in the universe when he closed his eyes? He created “karma” – the mechanism which would make the world eventually remind us that we are not really The One. To continue the story, you must now learn about karma.

- Vic DiCara

www.vicdicara.com