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| Arunachala |
Vira Chandra: We humans have different ways of seeing the world, each beautiful, yet limited in its own way.
There are three main ways:
Simplex thinking is straightforward, like a child’s drawing—clear lines, bright colors, and simple shapes. It says: "If this happens, then it's good; if that happens, then it's bad."
It’s direct, honest, and predictable, but struggles to see nuances.
Complex thinking is like a carefully drawn map. It sees not only what is right in front of us but also where we came from and where we might be heading. It understands context, details, and the dance of cause and effect.
Multiplex thinking is like seeing the world from atop a mountain. It reveals how everything connects. It’s systemic, integral—it sees wholes, not just parts. It recognizes complexity, respects mystery, and has space for contradictions and paradoxes. Multiplex thinking can simultaneously honor multiple truths without needing to force them into simplistic agreement.
A beautiful example of Multiplex thinking in action is Ramana Maharshi. People from all traditions and spiritual paths came to him. He never criticized their beliefs or practices, even when they seemed contradictory. Instead, Ramana gently affirmed and encouraged each person's unique journey, recognizing that each path held value and purpose. He embodied true multiplex awareness by honoring diverse perspectives without diminishing their uniqueness or forcing them into a rigid unity.
The challenge is that in our world today, it’s often the simplex thinkers who hold power. This isn't because they are bad—often they're sincere, kind, and deeply loyal. It's because their clear, predictable approach creates staability and structure, essential for many parts of society.
Yet precisely because simplex thinking is linear and rigid, it struggles to accept criticism, adapt to change, or sincerely consider other viewpoints. It prefers to repeat familiar patterns rather than question or transform them.
In the realm of mysticism, this becomes especially painful. Mysticism requires openness, courage, and radical honesty—qualities simplex thinking finds uncomfortable. Over time, spiritual communities may shift from vibrant, alive, and transformative spaces into rigid, rule-bound institutions. True mystics—those who embody openness and fluidity—can become unwelcome, and eventually, the mystical brotherhood hardens into a fixed religious institution.
To give a gentle but clear example: A simplex thinker might say, "How could Bob ever be enlightened? After all, he used to be just a plumber!"
Yet genuine liberation—Mukti—is freedom even from our human tendency to label and limit others, to remember their past mistakes, or dismiss their present beauty because of yesterday’s dirt.
Many seekers, sincerely longing for liberation, sadly don’t fully trust liberation to be truly possible—at least not here, not now. They prefer to admire ancient saints who lived far away because distance makes it easier to idealize. But when a living saint appears in their own neighborhood—someone real, flawed, yet fully awake—they feel uneasy and resistant.
True mystics always face these challenges. But the solution is never harsh confrontation or criticism. The more we fight, judge, or insult, the more we feed the very simplicity we wish to transcend.
Instead, the answer is quiet, persistent authenticity. It’s patiently embodying multiplex awareness—not through intellectual superiority or arrogant dismissals, but through compassionate understanding, gentle firmness, and humble living truth.
In the end, love alone dismantles rigid walls. It’s only sincerity, tenderness, patience—and sometimes a loving, firm clarity—that gently leads us beyond our limitations.
In each of us, there is a sacred mountain to climb—the inner Arunachala.
To remain at the foot, we only need simplicity—
to trust familiar roads and comfortable answers.
But to ascend Arunachala, we must dare complexity,
Welcome contradiction,
Embrace uncertainty,
And move beyond labels and limitations.
At its peak, we do not see separate parts anymore—
only one Indivisible Truth.
There, simplex, complex, and multiplex all melt away
in the blazing fire of Pure Awareness.
So let us climb,
With the sincerity of a child who does not fear falling,
With the tenderness of a mother who patiently guides us,
With the firmness of a father who pushes us beyond comfort,
And with the precision of a scholar who understands each step.
Arunachala calls softly, yet firmly:
"Come, climb higher. See the world as it truly is. From here, you will recognize your own radiant Self."
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