Dante Alighieri (Part 1: Inferno)

Born in 1265 in Florence, Italy, Dante Alighieri is renowned for his impact on Italian literature and culture. In his book, The Divine Comedy, he describes the turmoil of a man seeking God in a world of moral confusion; his journey is a religious allegory of the journey from ignorance to realization. It is the story of a seeker, a man seeking God and being guided by angels on his way to experience the Ritambhara Pragya.

Ritambhara Pragya is the quality of Mother Earth that gently, silently, and beautifully nourishes its creations. One can experience this by achieving a state of oneness with Our Father, Param Pita Parmeshwar. Countless poets and authors have described this state as peace-giving daffodils or simple acts like that of a bangle seller. But expressing it through the consequences of human sin requires wisdom and innocence, the qualities of Shree Ganesha.

At the crest of his quest, Dante wakes up in a dark forest, having no recollection of how he got there. He sees a looming mountain ahead. Recognizing it as a virtuous light that "guides men right on every path," Dante heads toward it. He believes the mountaintop is the safest place in this unknown land; as he approaches the foothill, "a terrible, spotted panther, lion, and she-wolf" emerge from the darkness. Realising the futility of moving ahead, a desolate Dante returns to the forest.

As he ponders his fate, he sees the silhouette of a man in the distance. Desperate and lonely, he cries out to the man, asking for help. The man reveals himself to be Virgil, a Roman poet who had a strong influence on Dante's writings. Virgil offers to guide him to his destination, to which Dante shrinks in fear. "I am not fit for such a journey," he says. Virgil rebukes his cowardice, declaring,

"Why cherish in thy heart a craven fear?

Where is thy franchise, where thy bravery,

When three such blessed ladies have care

For thee in Heaven's court."

Through the character of Virgil, Dante establishes the importance of the Guru in a seeker's ascent. Without a guide, Dante's self-doubt pushed him away from his goal. Virgil assumes his position as Dante's teacher, emboldening him to take the first step to salvation. He declares that Dante is protected by "three blessed ladies" who are none other than Shri Mahakali, Shri Mahasaraswati, and Shri Mahalakshmi.

Following his teacher's footsteps with a newfound confidence, Dante reaches the Gates of Hell, branded with the inscription: "Abandon all Hope, Ye Who Enter Here."

The first circle they encounter is Limbo; here lie the screaming and lamenting souls of "those that fear not God." Virgil emphasizes that although they did not commit any sins, they did not undergo baptism or have faith in God. The baptism referred to here is the awakening of the Kundalini. Shri Mataji has explained the importance of getting one's self-realization, saying:

That's why you must have Realisation. Because then you start feeling the vibrations, you start feeling the different centers; you start practicing them. Then you settle down with the Truth, and you know it is the Truth. Then you forget [that] you are a Westerner, Easterner, you forget you are rational, you are emotional - nothing! You become a citizen of God and a citizen of His Kingdom. [1978-0612]

Next, they descend into the Second Circle of Hell, filled with people who gave in to their carnal desires. Minos, a monster with the lower body of a serpent, is the infernal judge here; he "investigates the sins at the entrance, passes judgment, and dispatches the criminal.”

Now this is a very important point we should know. You see, if you have other loves, love like carnal love and all other love you have, then [with] that love you may attract the person, then that person can destroy you, and it destroys you, always. [1983-0101]

Sneaking past the monstrous judge, they enter the Third Circle of Hell and meet Cerberus, a feral three-headed dog. Scores of men are scattered everywhere, under continual and heavy storms of hail, snow, and discolored water, as Cerberus cuts them with his enormous claws, leaving them "[howling] like dogs." Virgil explains that these are those who succumbed to gluttony and prioritized pleasure over prayer. In this circle, they learn that these punishments in the inferno won't end until it is time for the last judgment.

God doesn't want you to fast. Nor does He want you to eat like a glutton, but He wants you to enjoy the food, whatever He has given you. You should pray over the thing; you should give vibrations to your food and enjoy. God has given you everything, and you should eat what is needed for you. But you should not starve; you should not fast in the name of God. Don't torture yourself in the name of God. [1985-0921]

With slow, shambling steps, Dante follows his guide into the Fourth Circle. He sees two mobs rolling weights up a hill. One group comprises misers, while the other consists of prodigals, those who lived wasteful and reckless lives. Upon reaching the hilltop, they'd argued madly, roaring, “Why do you squander?” and “Why do you hoard?” Virgil explains that they are in an endless cycle of pushing the weights to the top and back down the hill again as punishment.  They are made unrecognizable for their sin of ignorance, for not all the gold in the world could buy them a moment's worth of peace.

If you are such miserly people, only worried about your money, you want to extract each and every pie you spend, each and every little money you have given, then I must say – such people are no good for Sahaja Yoga. If you are that miserly, there is no place for miserly people in the kingdom of God. You have to be generous. You have to look after people. You have to love each other. [1990-0106]

Quietly leaving the hill, they reach a riverbank with a fountain spouting black water: the Fifth Circle of Hell. In the river, they see people beating each other with malicious fury. Virgil explains that these were souls consumed by anger and wrath. Beneath the swamp's waters lay The Sullen, who had spent their lives ignoring the beauty of nature, blinded by themselves, punished to spend all eternity sighing and singing sad laments.

Dante and Virgil reach the edge of a waterfall. A creature climbs up the cliffside, bearing a benevolent face but a tail of a "grotesque serpent tipped with a scorpion’s sting." Virgil explains that climbing this creature, called Geryon, is the only way into the next circle, the Circle of Fraud. Virgil makes it a point to sit behind Dante so as to avoid the stinger. Geryon takes them into the Eighth Circle of Hell. This Circle, also known as Malebolge, meaning “ditches of evil” due to the ten trenches within this circle, each punishing a different act of fraud.

The first ditch holds panderers and seducers, and the second ditch those who committed false flattery.

The third ditch holds those guilty of simony, which involves buying or selling positions or favors within the Church. The ditch has fiery holes in the ground, with people lying headfirst within them. Dante notices that one occupant is squirming more than the others since the flames are much higher in his hole. He approaches the spot when the occupant calls to him, “Is that you, Boniface?” (Boniface was the current Pope at the time). Dante replies in the negative and asks who he is. The man reveals himself to be Pope Nicholas III, the predecessor of Boniface. He explains that he is forced to remain in this hole for abusing his power, and that below him are all the other Popes who committed simony. When he dies, Boniface will take the top position, pushing Pope Nicolas lower into the ground. Dante famously despised simony and harshly denounced the Pope for his sins, much to the satisfaction of Virgil.

The next ditch holds necromancers: those who tried to communicate with dead spirits. These people were contorted and twisted such that their heads were turned backward. 

Of course, people take money for it and like it to talk to spirits and this and that, but it is very dangerous. You should never try this with the spirits. It’s a very dangerous line when you do not know about it; one should not get to it. I have known people who have practiced these things: their great-grandchildren are suffering, seven generations they suffer, seven generations [for] those who even practice it! So it’s a very dangerous game; one should never play it. [1981-0817]

The fifth ditch contains grifters, who are submerged in a lake of boiling tar. They are guarded by flying devils known as the Malebranche. These demons claw and hook any grifter trying to escape the tar, forcing them back into the black sludge.

The sixth Ditch has hypocrites and liars who wear robes gilded with lead as punishment for their deceits. 

So, the Sahaja yogis have to be truthful. Whatever may be one’s occupation, whatever he may do ‒ he may be an engineer laying roads, he may be a doctor treating people ‒ if despite all this, if you lie, then it would be Hell for you. That is because you are now transformed. You are now realized. So when realized people lie, they cannot benefit from it at all.  [2007-1110]

The next ditch is filled with thieves, who various snakes and lizards chase.

The eighth ditch is occupied by fraudulent counselors. These are individuals who manipulate others to engage in deceitful acts. These sinners are encased in individual flames as punishment for deception and dishonesty.

The ninth ditch holds those who are “sowers of discord.” These sinners are mutilated and divided as a punishment for causing strife and division during their lives.

The tenth and final ditch contains falsifiers. These individuals are afflicted with nearly every disease imaginable. Dante is met by a giant, Antaeus, who carries them into the Ninth Circle of Hell.

The final circle, divided into four sections, punishes those who commit treachery and betrayal.

The first section contains people who betrayed their families, punished by freezing their necks just enough so they have room to move their heads. The second held those who committed treason by betraying their country and community. Their heads are not submerged in the ice, but they cannot move their necks. The third section is for people who betrayed their guests, holding them there, immersed till their eyes. 

The final section contains people who betrayed God. They are fully encased in ice. The poets quickly approach the center of Hell, finding Satan frozen in the ice.

Virgil tells Dante that to escape Hell, they must climb down Satan's body. 

Dante follows Virgil as he climbs down Satan’s leg until he reaches his waist, only for him to climb back up again. Incredulous, he follows, finding himself in Purgatory.

A great poet called William Blake in England about 200 years back predicted everything about Sahaja Yoga. He’s described all the places where we’ll have ashrams, he’s even described my residence and my houses. But the greatest thing he has said is that the men of God, that is the seekers, will become prophets and they will have powers to make others prophets. Now the time has come to fulfil Dante’s prophecies also. And the prophecies of Christ, and prophecies of John.

Public Program in Rome, Italy, 20th September, 1984