Categories: Cosmic Messengers
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!
Today, we will explore a profound topic that touches many spiritual seekers: the idea of being a ‘Universal Representative.’ This teaching is offered to provide a wider understanding of a very specific challenge we see in the modern world. Many people become entangled in the belief that they are a reincarnation of a great historical or mythical figure.
In Sri Lanka, for example, it is not uncommon to meet individuals who genuinely believe they are ‘Diyasena,’ a prophesied future king, or the legendary King ‘Ravana.’ Others may identify as ‘Sita’ or ‘Mandodari,’ figures from ancient epics.
This phenomenon affects men and women, monks and laypeople alike. People become convinced they are destined to lead a nation or fulfill an ancient prophecy. This article is offered out of deep compassion, to provide clarity and practical guidance on navigating this complex aspect of the spiritual path.
Our goal is to help you understand your own spiritual life more deeply, using wisdom you can test for yourself. Whether you consider yourself a ‘Universal Representative’ or not, this teaching holds valuable lessons for everyone. The core task is to understand how to move forward with genuine wisdom. This exploration is for every person, of any background or age, because the tendency to cling to a special spiritual identity is a universal human experience.
The Anatomy of a Spiritual Delusion
I have encountered many people caught in this trap. They believe they are Diyasena or Ravana, waiting to become king in the future. Women believe they are Sita or Mandodari, searching for their Ravana to become his queen. This can lead to significant distress and even approach the level of a psychological illness. This teaching is offered with sincere compassion to help you find the correct path.
How does such a powerful belief in a false spiritual identity take hold? It often follows a predictable pattern:
- The Initial Seed: The idea is often planted by an external source. It might come from an unseen message, a visit to a temple or shrine, an astrological reading, or a so-called spiritually advanced person who declares, ‘You are Ravana’ or ‘You are Diyasena.’
- Skepticism and Doubt: At first, the person usually reacts with disbelief. ‘How could someone like me be such a great figure?’ This initial skepticism is a common and natural reaction.
- The Growth of Desire: Over time, a subtle desire begins to grow. The idea becomes appealing. This applies to both men and women who start to warm up to their new, grand spiritual identity.
- Seeking Confirmation: Once desire takes root, the person begins to actively seek confirmation. They return to occult practitioners, astrologers, and psychics who often reinforce the delusion, saying, ‘Yes, you are indeed Mandodari,’ or ‘You are Ravana.’ This ‘confirmation’ acts as fuel for the fantasy.
It is important to understand that these misleading ideas can be influenced by what Buddhism calls Māra. Māra is not just a demon, but a personification of the forces of delusion, temptation, and everything that obstructs enlightenment. These forces can plant seeds of ego and fantasy, leading one astray. If you are new to this concept, exploring teachings on Māra can provide deeper insight into these internal and external obstacles.
When Seeing Isn’t Believing: The Illusion of the ‘Third Eye’
Here, we must discuss the ‘Third Eye’ or divine sight, known in Pali as Dibbacakkhu-ñāṇa. Someone might have their Third Eye awakened, but if they are still an ordinary person (a puthujjana), they are filled with mental defilements, known as kilesa, things like greed, hatred, and delusion. They have not yet attained any stage of enlightenment.
When such a person, filled with defilements, tries to use their Third Eye to investigate their past, their vision becomes a projection of their desires. With the thought ‘Am I really Diyasena?’ or ‘Was I Ravana in a past life?’ in their mind, their vision confirms it.
They will ‘see’ themselves as Ravana 5,000 years ago. This is not true sight; it is a powerful illusion of the Third Eye, a fantasy world created by their own subtle craving to have that special spiritual identity. The mind, clinging to this tiny seed of desire, projects a reality that validates it. Even if they consult another ‘spiritually advanced’ person who is also not free from defilements, that person’s vision will likely confirm the same illusion. From that point on, the fantasy is solidified, and there is little room for truth.
The Painful Reality: When Fantasy Worlds Crumble
Despite these grand inner visions, the physical world often tells a different story. Many who cling to this type of spiritual identity have immense struggles in their daily lives. Their financial situation may be in ruins, forcing them to live with great difficulty. Some lack education, and others have failed family lives. They suffer deeply because they are living in a world of ideas, not reality.
This is not a fault of the Third Eye itself, but of its use by an impure mind. A truly balanced spiritual guide can look at these things with neutrality and discern the truth. (And please, do not call or message me asking to check these things, as you know I do not engage in such pronouncements).
The delusion follows a predictable path to collapse. The person starts receiving ‘messages’ from gods or unseen beings. For a while, they trust these messages. They might be told a tsunami is coming tomorrow and warn others. But when tomorrow comes, nothing happens.
They predict world calamities that never occur. Eventually, their followers see the truth, and the person themselves is forced to confront the failure of their visions. This leads to a stage of immense disappointment and anger. They begin to curse the gods, the unseen forces, and the people who ‘helped’ them, feeling completely betrayed. This painful collapse is an almost inevitable step for anyone trapped in such a strong delusion about their spiritual identity.
The Great Liberation: The Courage to Let Everything Go
This path of delusion affects everyone, from the uneducated to the highly educated, including professors and lecturers who can become completely blind on this one subject. They are trapped and suffering. It is out of compassion that I offer this clear advice.
Whoever you believe you are, Mandodari, Sita, Ravana, or Diyasena, you are not. Everyone listening to this teaching must understand: you are caught in a powerful illusion, a web woven by your own mind or by unseen forces. You will not become a king or queen. The first and most crucial step is to let go. You must completely remove this poison from your mind and heart.
You must also let go of all the associated fantasies:
- Past Powers: Let go of ideas that you had special powers in the past, like controlling the wind or possessing a mythical sword. If a psychic tells you they see a sword or a jewel with you, do not get caught. These are all illusions.
- Past Glories: Release any pride tied to past lives, such as ‘I built the Ruwanwelisaya stupa’ or ‘I constructed the ancient reservoirs.’ Let go of these boasts completely.
- Future Fantasies: Abandon all dreams of your future reign, of becoming Diyasena, or of ruling the country. Let go of fantasies of having great power and help from the gods.
If you cannot let go, you become vulnerable. Unwholesome, non-human beings and even Māra can approach you and control you. This web of illusion is like a spider’s web. Once you’re caught in the idea ‘I am Diyasena,’ you become stuck, unable to move forward, waiting to be consumed.
This is not just advice; it is a prophecy. If those who identify as Diyasena, Ravana, Sita, or Mandodari do not follow this teaching, they are heading for certain destruction. They will either become mentally ill or a mockery to society. No power, no sword, no kingdom will ever come. You will only be an object of ridicule. Please, for your own sake, abandon this completely.
From Fantasy to Wisdom: The Path of a True Seeker
So, what is the correct path? Once you abandon the past and future, your mind becomes centered and light. You achieve a state of neutrality and equanimity, known as upekkhā. When you are no longer troubled by who you were or who you will be, you can walk the true spiritual path.
If you are a genuine Universal Representative, your most important qualities are intelligence and wisdom. By letting go of these two great fantasies, the past and the future, your wisdom and intelligence will naturally begin to grow. You will stop being so easily deceived.
Some people use their supposed past-life connections to manipulate others. A man might see a beautiful woman and claim, ‘You were my wife in a past life. You are my Sita.’ This is not a spiritual insight; it is a mental defilement (kilesa) mixed with illusion. His lust, combined with a flicker of psychic vision, creates a fantasy. In truth, as the Buddha taught, we have been related to almost everyone in some way over countless lifetimes. We have all been mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers to one another. Clinging to one specific romantic connection is a delusion.
A true Universal Representative is wise, intelligent, and possesses a mature personality. They are not childish or emotionally needy. They develop virtue (sīla), cultivate concentration through meditation (samādhi), and develop wisdom (paññā) through practices like insight meditation (vipassanā). They serve the world, their nation, or their religion from a place of grounded reality, not from a fantasy of having special powers. They are not chasing after abilities; they are cultivating wisdom.
Cultivating Mundane Wisdom: Your Path to Freedom
Why do these experiences happen? They can be seen as lessons. Whether they are created by Māra or a well-intentioned deity, these challenges are designed to make you complete, to force you to develop wisdom. When you wisely let go of the fantasy, you ascend to a state of profound practical intelligence.
Here, I must introduce an important term: Laukika Prajñā, or ‘Mundane Wisdom.’ This is different from Lokuttara Prajñā, the ‘Supramundane Wisdom’ of enlightenment. Mundane Wisdom is a heightened, worldly intelligence that can perfectly discern truth from falsehood. A Universal Representative must be at the highest level of Mundane Wisdom. This state brings immense lightness and freedom.
A person with Mundane Wisdom can discern the truth even in messages from the unseen world. They can listen to a god, a spirit, or even Māra, and know with clarity whether the message is true or false. They become humble, compassionate, and virtuous. They live a life of integrity, either as a celibate or one who does not engage in sexual misconduct. With this wisdom, they can correctly interpret any psychic information they receive, separating fact from the fiction created by their own defilements.
An untrained person with a powerful tool, like a gun, will cause chaos. A trained soldier uses it with precision. Similarly, a foolish person with psychic abilities is dangerous and self-destructive. A person with Mundane Wisdom uses any ability they have with precision and understanding. Therefore, the goal is not to acquire powers, but to cultivate this unshakable Mundane Wisdom. You don’t need a sword or special abilities. With wisdom and intelligence, there is nothing you cannot do.
A Final Word of Compassion and Encouragement
This teaching may not be easy to accept at first, especially if you are currently invested in a particular spiritual identity. But I know that one day, its value will become clear. If you have a friend, spouse, or child trapped in these fantasy worlds, please share this teaching with them. They may not listen immediately.
They may continue searching for their magical sword or seeking confirmation from psychics. The first step for them will likely be to suffer the consequences, to experience the financial, social, and personal ruin that comes from living in a dream. This suffering is often the only catalyst for change.
The final message for all aspiring Universal Representatives is this: let go. Release all attachments to past-life identities. Let go of all dreams of future glory. Come to the neutral, middle point. Make your mind firm and steady through the cultivation of Mundane Wisdom. Engage in meditation and virtuous conduct. This is how you develop a strong, resilient personality, grounded in reality. When you do this, you will find a peace and clarity that no fantasy can offer.
Whether you are a designated ‘Universal Representative’ or not, may you all be able to attain this high level of Mundane Wisdom and find true freedom.
We invite you to walk this path with us. Read our teachings, and most importantly, apply them practically in your own life. as you practice, questions will naturally arise. Please feel free to share your experiences and questions in the comments below, via email or contact form. I will do my best to offer guidance in future talks based on your progress. For now, begin this practice with an open heart and a mind free from expectation. Cultivate it correctly, and may you find the clarity and peace you seek.
Thank you for joining us. We hope this blog will be of great benefit to your spiritual journey.
May you all be well and happy.
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!.
