Sadguru Vasudev Jagdish

I was listening to an interview with Sadguru of the Isha Foundation, and a few points he made really resonated with me:

1. "Somebody else or something else will never determine how I am."

In other words, our inner state should not be dependent on external factors or influences.

This is very easy to say but difficult to practice. 

2. "In Sanatan Dharma, our view is that this life is a preparation for the next life."

This suggests that in the context of Sanatan Dharma, life is seen as a journey of spiritual growth and learning that spans multiple lifetimes.

3. "The soul continues to journey through various physical bodies."

This highlights the belief in reincarnation and the idea that the soul evolves through different life experiences.

4. "We make a choice, to continue with the cycle of life and rebirth, or choose to break the cycle of reincarnation and merge with the divine." 

This emphasizes the importance of individual choice in determining one's spiritual path and the ultimate goal of merging with the divine.

5. "Our choice determines the actions we take."

This underlines how our beliefs and choices shape our actions and, consequently, our life's trajectory.

Regarding the concept of heaven, Sadguru's perspective was contrary to the popular West Asian belief:

1. "This is not the place to live well."

In Western Asian concepts, life on Earth is often seen as a temporary and imperfect state.

2. "There is another place called Heaven."

This notion implies a belief in a separate, idealized realm called Heaven.

3. "There is no proof that there is heaven."

It acknowledges the lack of empirical evidence for the existence of Heaven.

4. "Do we have any proof that you are not already in Heaven and are making a mess out of it?"

This thought-provoking statement challenges us to consider whether our current life can be viewed as a form of Heaven or Hell based on our choices and perceptions.

5. "Essentially, human experience can either be like Heaven or like Hell. It depends on how you make it."

This reinforces the idea that our experience of life is influenced by our perspective and actions, and it can either be blissful (like Heaven) or filled with suffering (like Hell).