The Scripture Of The Yogis – Part 2

I. Renunciation 
During the earlier stages of the quest everything is real is still illusory, while everything  illusory seems real. The final truth about the eternal character of the Overself is not realized until the end of the quest.

Of the unreal no being there is;
There is no non-being of the real.
Of both these is the truth seen by
the seers of Essence.

That is the final truth. We may, however, take certain illusions as convenient stepping stones to help us proceed towards Absolute truth. Remember in the highest sense that this is an unreal world. The real indestructible essence is the Overself, that which pervades the whole universe.

The disciple receives the teaching to fight, to act. But as one studies and advances there naturally comes to him the question: “Why should I act when all this is nothing but a dream?” One thing is as good as another. Why shouldn’t I retire and let others perform the action? Life is obviously a dream, I will sit still and watch the dream go by.”

This attitude indicates progress on the quest is quite an advanced one. So why should one act when one does not want to act? Because whatever you do you cannot refrain from acting. You can’t escape activity and if you retreat from the world you will still be mentally involved with the world. You may sit still and yet be help captive by your thoughts and desires, you cannot escape from your thoughts. Your activity may change it’s character and become a mental one.

The result will be that you be no less bound to the one than to the other. Meanwhile the fact is that whether you act or sit still and think you are still in the essence of the self. But if you know that you can’t destroy the self why should you be afraid of physical activity? Go out into the world, do you duty, fight if you need be, but act. Love and peace constitute your real nature and they do not change with your changing physical activities. Therefore, be the witness of life, but do not be afraid of it. You can’t kill anyone, because you and they are ultimately both one. The Overself.

To Be Continued…..

The Scripture Of The Yogis – Part 1

I. Renunciation 
The deep spiritual comfort emanating from the teachings of the Gita is needed at this stage in the world.

Of What avail is dominion to use, O Teacher?
Of What avail are pleasures and even life?
How can we be happy, after slaying our own people?
Nay, I will not fight.

The disciple is brought to the field of battle and told to fight. But he is confused with doubts. What is the use of it all, he asks? Who does not ask himself the same question in the stress and battle of our modern existence? Can you enter into the competition of the business world, for instance and still not feel that it is not stifling your instincts? Note how simply and understandingly this problem will be answered by the teacher in the following verses.

For those who deserve no grief, thou hast grieved…Never did I not exist, nor thou, nor these rulers of men; and no one of us will ever hereafter cease to exist….Just as in this body the Self passes into childhood and youth and old age, so does he pass into another body…Whoever looks upon Him as the slayer, and the whoever looks upon him as slain, both these know not aright. Unborn, eternal, unchangeable and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain…Just as the man casts off worn clothes and puts on others which are new, so the Self casts off worn out bodies and enters others which are new….But even if thou thinkest of him as ever being born and every dying, even then thou oughtest not to grieve thus. To that which is born death is indeed certain; and to that which is dead birth is certain. Wherefore, about the unavoidable thing, thou oughtest not to grieve……

The teacher points out that wise people do not grieve over death because there is no death. Never were you not and never shall you not be. You are eternal and can never cease to exist. Since the disciple is confused with death the teacher enlightens him with the eternal principle. He tells him that since the inner self is unkillable there is no such thing as death. The body is transient and may be killed, but you are eternal. Circumstances cannot affect the real you. Endure them bravely with wisdom and resignation when they are unavoidable.

In dealing with everyday life, remember that whatever happens circumstances can only touch that part of you which is transient, which comes and goes. Keep your sense of proportion, remembering that you likewise have an eternal value, and that this life comes and goes like the shadow. The wise may have their difficulties, since destiny brings them to all alike, but they do not grieve over them. Grief can only come if you identify yourself with the lesser part, the body.

Troubles, pain and death are unavoidable  and are an inevitable part of life. This is because change is the very nature of this world we live in. Trouble comes, but it will also go. Throughout the events of life you must have wisdom and courage. You need courage  not only to find truth, but to strip off all your illusions and those which others propose to thrust upon you, but to also live the truth.

To Be Continued…..

The Scripture Of The Yogis

There is a very old Indian book, it advocates that the mystic must lie underneath the man of worldly affairs yet it’s pages have often been misunderstood and its value been  reduced considerably. Nearly every literate Yogi in India carries with him a small edition of this inspired and profound classic, the Bhagavad Gita.

The Bhagavad Gita summarises various approaches to the Overself and also describes  the latter. It can be misunderstood and I will reveal selected lines of esoteric meaning rather than the religious.

Arjun, a young prince who is one of the two parties – the divine teacher and his human disciple – engaged in dialogue which runs throughout these blog posts. It typifies in his own figure the man who seeks peace of mind amid worldly harassments, as well as the aspirant of spiritual light.

However, not until he is placed on a battlefield to fight against his beloved relatives, who he sees confronting him in the opposite army, does he cry out for an answer to his questions. The battlefield, obviously represents the battlefield of life in which we are placed under in all kinds of circumstances whether we like it or not.

The disciple cries out for guidance. Only when his anguish becomes almost unbearable and his heart deeply torn does the teacher, who is symbolised by the figure of the divine avatar Krishna appears.

Krishna not only represents the embodied spiritual teacher, but he is ultimately the Overself within man, the God within who can illuminate all dark corners and answer all questions.  He finds the disciple agitated, confused and with eyes full of tears. He seems him torn between the desire to do his duty in battle and the love for his relatives who oppose him in the opposite army.

The occasion is used to give a length discourse upon spiritual subjects and and techniques. At the end of the discourse, after hearing all the teaching, the pupils mind becomes peaceful. He says: “My doubts are dispelled. Destroyed are my illusions.”  By what magic? was the mental change accomplished? Through both the guidance and grace received from his teacher and his own inner growth in striving for insight.

The difficulties one meets in modern life can be met and overcome after we gain such insight. Wisdom is the ability to negotiate all circumstances of life adequately, correctly and with spiritual success. This understanding of the power lying  latent within becomes in time a man’s anchor. He can ride the storms of life which bring uncertainty that there is something  within him that cannot shake from position.

The man of inspired life follows no iron law and clings to no rock-like plan. Sufficient for him to look within for the right direction at all times under all circumstances. To perceive the truth about any matter is to dispel all doubt.

To Be Continued…..

What Is Enlightenment?

A definition of Enlightenment is hard to pin down as it so elusive. In part, this is because the experiences are so rich and complex that it is difficult to express in words, after all how can you express that which is ultimately in-expressible.

There are a lot of misconceptions and mystery surrounding Enlightenment. And I suppose it doesn’t help when spiritual teachers point out that one is already enlightened and he has no need to do anything.  If this is true then why is that  I don’t  know this myself? I don’t really agree with the logic behind these thoughts as they don’t make any sense. But from a seekers point of view it can be quite frustrating  when spiritual teachers sprout out thoughts that seem useless.

Enlightenment is simply the realization of your true divine nature. Your true nature is whole, complete, unbound, eternity, compassionate, divine, clear, unconditioned, untainted, beautiful and  free. In truth it is the recognition that you are not who you once thought you were. It is the realization that you were never born and shall never die as you are in fact eternity itself.

But this would not make sense to anyone unless realization has occurred.

Divinity At My Centre

I am in the process of writing  some new material that will shortly be published, in the meantime I came across this wonderful quote and thought I would share it.

You are divine at centre, human in appearance – at a certain range. Seeing Who you really are doesn’t mean you are no longer aware of your appearance, no longer self-conscious – that’s impossible as well as undesirable. So you still respond to your name, still recognize yourself in the mirror, still take responsibility for your actions. Of course, but you are now aware that your humanity is like a disguise, an incarnation you have taken on to be here in this world. Inwardly you are God, outwardly you are a person – a unique person with a special contribution to make. Instead of thinking you are just that person, that appearance, you are awake to the Power behind you, the Safety within you, the Source of inspiration and guidance at the heart of your human life. This enables you to be yourself even more so.

Douglas Harding, “THE HEADLESS WAY”