chapter 5- table of contents - scriptures and...

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Chapter 5- Table of Contents

5 Five main scriptural entities ..................................................................................... 2

5.1 Earth ................................................................................................................ 2

5.2 Heavens ........................................................................................................... 3

5.3 Paradise ........................................................................................................... 5

5.4 Gardens of Eden .............................................................................................. 6

5.5 World .............................................................................................................. 8

5.5.1 Vishnu and the World............................................................................... 9

5.5.2 Tower of Babel and the World................................................................ 10

5.5.3 Alignment .............................................................................................. 11


5 Five main scriptural entities

For any organized religion followers, scriptural readers, and researchers five

major scriptural entities play crucial role in scripture interpretations and outcomes. Every

major religious teaching circumvents around these entities and we all are familiar with

them though meaning varies depending on our orientations. They are Earth, Heaven,

Paradise, Garden of Eden and the world. I will not discuss Hell here but will discuss in

detail in a later section as it requires special attention and analysis. If you are of any

Abrahamic religion followers and reside in West, chances are high that you’re not

familiar with the Eastern scripture identifications. I will use both terminologies along side

to show how they align and are the same.

I will use Quran as the primary scripture to describe these entities and then align

with other scriptures as applicable, such as, Bible, Vedas, etc. It may be confusing to

begin with but as you go through next topics it will slowly become evident to you. Also,

it will contradict your current understanding but these entities will not contradict each

other within any scripture.

Five Major Entities

5.1 Earth

Earth is this blue planet, a physical object, where we live and Heavens are

everything else outside. Scriptures are in line with earth but has dual representations

when it comes to heavens. Earth and World are also two different objects not the same

though usually used interchangeably. Earth is called “Ard” in Arabic and “Bhumi” in

Sanskrit.


Earth or Bhumi (Sanskrit)

5.2 Heavens

There are two types of Heavens mentioned in Quran; Heaven and the “Seven

Heavens”. Heaven is the representation of physical cosmos made of planets, stars,

galaxies etc. “Seven heavens”, on the other hand, is the psychological construction of

heavens in layers as we grow and usually described by scholars where God lives. These

layers of Heavens are constructed by the generations of Cain’s or Seven Avatars of

Vishnu as we grow old as we will see in later chapters. It also contains the physical

Heaven as the lowest of the “Seven Heavens”.

Cosmos or Heaven


Usually, the heaven and the “Seven Heavens” are used interchangeably in

colloquial terms but they are quite different. Our current scientific knowledge confirms

cosmos has no beginning or end and without any layers. This definition of cosmos is in

line with the definition of scriptural Heaven. However, the “Seven Heavens” as layers

within the heavens are not supported by science or Quran as I understand. Let’s look at

the verses in Quran chapter 41.

Q [41:9-12] Say, "You disbelieve in the One who created the earth in two days,

and you set up idols to rank with Him, though He is Lord of the universe." He placed on

it stabilizers (mountains), made it productive, and He calculated its provisions in four

days, to satisfy the needs of all its inhabitants. Then He turned to the Heaven, when it was

still gas, and said to it, and to the earth, "Come into existence, willingly or unwillingly."

They said, "We come willingly." Thus, He completed the seven universes in two days,

and set up the laws for every universe. And we adorned the lowest heaven with lamps,

and placed guards around it. Such is the design of the Almighty, the Omniscient.

God took two days, a day is a yardstick not 24 hours, to create earth and the “Seven

Heavens, and took four days to complete the provision of earth followed by the union of

heaven and earth. The two day is the time when we separated the union of heaven and

earth, we came down to earth and we created the “Seven Heavens” in our psychology. If

you are pointing God in Heaven, you’re facing the “Seven Heavens”. Quran chapter 65

also in line with the creation while comparing the paradise to “earth and seven heavens”.

Q [65:11-12] An Apostle who recites to you the clear communications of Allah so

that he may bring forth those who believe and do good deeds from darkness into light;

and whoever believes in Allah and does good deeds, He will cause him to enter gardens

beneath which rivers now, to abide therein forever, Allah has indeed given him a goodly

sustenance. Allah is He Who created seven heavens, and of the earth the like of them;

the decree continues to descend among them, that you may know that Allah has power

over all things and that Allah indeed encompasses all things in (His) knowledge.


The “Seven Heavens”

This “Seven heavens” is the same as Swarga in Mahabharata. “Swargarohana” or

“ascend to Heaven” is the last chapter of Mahabharata. At the end of this chapter,

Yudhisthira, the righteousness synonym to Jesus, finds all his brothers in a cave

suffering, and Goddess Indra came down to take him up there along with his dog

(dharma). In Swarga, he meets all of his enemies or devilish entities ensuring a

reincarnation in process or the cycle continues. Liberation or Paradise realization didn’t

occur in this living. Quran also confirms ascend of Jesus in chapter 4 verse 157 – He was

not killed.

Q [4:157] And for claiming that they killed the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the

messenger of GOD. In fact, they never killed him, they never crucified him - they were

made to think that they did. All factions who are disputing in this matter are full of doubt

concerning this issue. They possess no knowledge; they only conjecture. For certain, they

never killed him.

Indra Descended from Swarga for Yudhisthira

5.3 Paradise

Q [3:133] You should eagerly race towards forgiveness from your Lord and a Paradise

whose width encompasses the heavens and the earth; it awaits the righteous


Q [57:21] Therefore, you shall race towards forgiveness from your Lord, and a Paradise

whose width encompasses the heaven and the earth. It awaits those who believed in GOD

and His messengers. Such is GOD's grace that He bestows upon whomever He wills.

GOD is Possessor of Infinite Grace.

Paradise is the union of Heavens and Earth has two definitions; 1) for righteous, it

encompasses the Heaven or cosmos, the “Seven Heavens” and the Earth, and 2) for

believers, it encompasses the Heaven or Cosmos and the earth as heavens already

shattered above them. Paradise in Arabic is “Jannah” which actually means “to cover or

hide something”. Paradise is the psychological realization of the creation – the awesome

beauty in nature and in the cosmos. It’s at that point when God is realized on earth and

within SELF – psychophysically. Creation can’t be sustained without the creator yet we

separated the paradise into “Seven Heavens and earth” by pushing God to Heaven or

“Seven Heavens” thereby finding ourselves helpless in Earth thus Adam fell.

Q [2:35-36] We said, "O Adam, live with your wife in Paradise, and eat therefrom

generously, as you please, but do not approach this tree, lest you sin." But the devil

duped them, and caused their eviction therefrom. We said, "Go down as enemies of one

another. On Earth shall be your habitation and provision for awhile."

Q [8:24] O you who believe, you shall respond to GOD and to the messenger when he

invites you to what gives you life. You should know that GOD is closer to you than your

heart, and that before Him you will be summoned.

5.4 Gardens of Eden

Q [35:33] They will enter the gardens of Eden, where they will be adorned with bracelets

of gold and pearls, and their garments in it will be made of silk.

Q [18:31] They have deserved gardens of Eden wherein rivers flow. They will be

adorned therein with bracelets of gold, and will wear clothes of green silk and velvet,

and will rest on comfortable furnishings. What a wonderful reward; what a wonderful

abode!

Both righteous destinies, Paradise and Gardens of Eden, "jannātu ʿadnin" in

Arabic, are derived from root “Jiim Nun Nun” which means “to cover” as noted earlier.

Both are veiled and have different connotations and identifications. Like Paradise,

Gardens of Eden, also hidden from us psychologically. As I understand, it’s our physical

aspect or our body where we truly reside. In Judaism, it’s termed as Promised Land, in

Sanatana Dharma, it’s termed as Vrindhavhan. “Vrinda’ means “cluster of flowers” and

“Vhan” means jungle in Sanskrit. In other words, Vrindhavhan means gardens of

clustered flowers. Usually, Sanatan Dharma followers relate Tulsi to “Vrinda” and Tulsi

flowers grow in clusters. Gardens of Eden or the Promised Land are internal not external.

Promised Land or Gardens of Eden also have other names in scriptures depending on


where we are in our journey or realization. In unconscious paradigm, it is known as

Ayodhya in Ramayana or Yathrib in Quran.

Q [33:13] A group of them said, "O people of Yathrib, you cannot attain victory;

go back." Others made up excuses to the prophet: "Our homes are vulnerable," when

they were not vulnerable. They just wanted to flee.

Our body is full of flowing rivers in a precise design carrying nutrients and

excreting wastes every moment thereby nourishing our existence. Do you recall how you

felt when you were sick? Isn’t our body, the psychophysical realm, is the place of

happiness unless swaged away by our thoughts and illness. Many among us are suffering

from degenerative diseases and psychological debilitation which make living a misery.

Most people above 40 don’t recall what a restful sleep feels like. Tiredness all around the

clock is our companion, and coffee or some other stimulant comes to our rescue.

Our happiness and joy depends on our psychophysical well being protected by

our bodies’ defense mechanisms. This defense mechanism is compromised by our

thoughts and actions as every cell in our body is entangled with our nervous system. Our

emotions, thoughts, actions, food, water, and environment all impact our body - true

home.

Land of two rivers (Mesopotamia)

As we grow up, we were taught to live outside of our body by decorating

everything around us – stressful jobs, wonderful cloths, wonderful houses, expensive

cars, GMO food, alcohols, and drugs, etc. As if, these yardsticks of achievements will

make us happy! We take pride in accumulating things over our lifetime thinking those are

my identities. In the process, we tear up the fabric of our existence, the body, with stress

and pride to sudden realization what really matters. As a designer of the perfect home,

God calls our bodies the Promised Land or Gardens of Eden, in allegory, and promised

them to righteous who can feel the creator and see the creation. A firm realization or

certainty of the creator and his creations will restore the balance within and that will

extinguish the fire fueled by pride and psychological materialism – “I am better than he”.


Ram (consciousness) and Sita (body) with ornaments (allegory)

5.5 World

Q [3:14] Adorned for the people are the worldly pleasures, such as the women,

having children, piles upon piles of gold and silver, trained horses, livestock, and crops.

These are the materials of this world. A far better abode is reserved at GOD.

World is the fifth of five key entities which veils the other four. Existing wisdom

of the material world or materialism is not aligned with the scriptures as they are defined

as the ownership of the materials or the pleasures derive from the ownership and the

spiritual realm is devoid of ownership. We are taught about lives of Buddha and alike,

who left their throne, as enlightened masters who denounced material ownership. We are

encouraged to live like them and let go our priced processions. In your opinion, does it

make sense to give up the conveniences of life for a paradise after death? Quran and other

scriptures do not support those philosophies. Good provisions are created by God for our

sustenance and are to be enjoyed in this life and hereafter. You don’t have to die to get to

hereafter, it’s a psychological shift in our existence explained in detail later of this book.

Q [7:32] Say, "Who prohibited the nice things GOD has created for His creatures, and

the good provisions?" Say, "Such provisions are to be enjoyed in this life by those who

believe. Moreover, the good provisions will be exclusively theirs on the Day of

Resurrection." We thus explain the revelations for people who know.

Q [17:18] Anyone who chooses this fleeting life as his priority, we will rush to

him what we decide to give him, then we commit him to Gehenna, where he suffers

forever, despised and defeated.

If it is not the materials of our lives then what is materialism which is noted as

fleeting life? Well, it apparent to me, God is not talking about our processions rather our


psychological pleasures derived from having more than others not required for my

happiness or sustenance. God has no issue with wealth, as he is the one created those, but

indicating a pride in ownership and the temporary creation of mental happiness are

detrimental to our psychological being. This World created by our material procession

not relevant to our survival rather psychological. Each of our mental worlds is different

and unknown to others. That’s why we have so many different things to our likings; we

wore different clothes, different fashion senses, different food, etc. In addition to that, our

worlds are different by our imagination and experiences. Our worlds are crafted by our

mental setup enhanced by our pride which is the sole cause of our misery.

5.5.1 Vishnu and the World

These worlds are sustained by Vishnu in Sanatan Dharma, tied to snakes, their

bites and venoms as sufferings, thus making our life miserable. It’s a mental space full of

doubt which changes with circumstances. It’s not our physical surroundings, structures,

earth, mountains and cosmos but a psychological space created by our imagination of

supremacy. There are billions of world per Sanatan Dharma indicating billions of

different worlds crafted by each of us.

Sleeping Vishnu, snakes and his wife Laxmi (wealth)


5.5.2 Tower of Babel and the World

Genesis [11 1-8] Now the whole world had one language and a common speech.

2 As people moved eastward,[a] they found a plain in Shinar[b] and settled there. They

said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick

instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a

city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for

ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” But the Lord

came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. The Lord said, “If as

one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they

plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language

so they will not understand each other. ”So the Lord scattered them from there over all

the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel—because

there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered

them over the face of the whole earth.

Genesis 11 talks about the tower of Babel indicating the same world created by

each of us. Babel means “confusion”, per story, descendants of Noah gathered together to

build a tower for name and superiority while it reaches the heaven. They spoke the same

language before but erecting of this tower segregated them around the earth with different

languages. It is metaphoric not a true physical reality! It’s not the language but the

individual thought process or individual world of confusion resulted from superiority and

being closer to heaven or God which segregates each of us.

Tower of Babel in mythological art (allegorical description of world)


5.5.3 Alignment

Q [3:185] Every person tastes death, then you receive your recompense on the

Day of Resurrection. Whoever misses Hell, barely, and makes it to Paradise, has attained

a great triumph. The life of this world is no more than an illusion.

Q [6:32] The life of this world is no more than illusion and vanity, while the

abode of the Hereafter is far better for the righteous. Do you not understand?!

This world grows as we grow old. In childhood, this world doesn’t exist. You can

see happiness in kids of rich and poor playing together in any physical setting but hard to

imagine as such among adults. In fact, we are the ones get offended in such situations not

the kids. This world is an illusion without any physical existence. Due to psychological

nature of this world which is crafted by each of us where we are kings or queens and time

cease to exist. Often, we fail to recognize how time passed or we grew old. It seems the

other day when we went to elementary or middle school and now we are thinking about

old age, disease and death.

Q [4:113] If it were not for GOD's grace towards you, and His mercy, some of them

would have misled you. They only mislead themselves, and they can never harm you in

the least. GOD has sent down to you the scripture and wisdom, and He has taught you

what you never knew. Indeed, GOD's blessings upon you have been great.

Misinterpretation of World by Religious preachers and scholars put science and

religion against each other, such as, age of earth, creation of Adam, etc. Adam was not

sent down from above, a topic of next chapter, but a realization of self. Scriptural world

is our mental state created by us when we moved from hunter gather to farming where

ownership and pride became the norm. It’s not the surrounding heaven, earth and other

physical aspects that we share. Our mental world makes our life a living hell and the most

merciful God sent the scripture to humans through prophets for guidance to remove the

pain and suffering of this life and hereafter. World exists by pushing God to heaven,

psychologically, acting as god beside God and by doing so we find ourselves alone in

earth while veiling the creations.

Q [18:51] I never permitted them to witness the creation of the heavens and the

earth, nor the creation of themselves. Nor do I permit the wicked to work in My kingdom.

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