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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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”.
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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
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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)
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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)
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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.