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The object as subject.

Jnana Yoga is beyond even the effort of Raja Yoga, which elucidates

abilities and problems of the mind with the goal of spiritual

unfoldment. Spiritual unfoldment reveals "being" which is specific,

concrete, and absolute, as those terms are understood in a general,

abstract, and relative way. Without study of Raja Yoga, Jnana Yoga

is very difficult as it deals with the great riddle of "knowing".

Raja Yoga teaches that discussions chase their own tails when the

nature of the intellect is misunderstood.

For example, to avoid misconception;

 

One must not confound the relative with the absolute. 'Can God

create a stone so heavy even He cannot lift it?' 'If I walk a mile

in one direction am I closer to infinity in that direction?' The

mind is limited to the relative. Questions dealing with the absolute

are doomed from the beginning. The words 'God' or 'infinity' simply

cover misconceptions about the mind's ability.

 

One must not confound the general with the specific. Individuals

feel justified in hating a group but loving each member individually

creating a distinct double standard which results in confusion and

great strife.

 

One must not confound the concrete with the abstract. This is

confusing the map (abstract) for the road (concrete). A cup is

concrete, the word "cup" abstract. The physical brain-body is

concrete, the mind is abstract. A thought is concrete, its content

is abstract.

 

One must not confound the Self with the not-self. This is the

confusion of the subject with the object. In grammar the subject is

the actor and the object receives the action. Words used as subject

may at other times be used as objects. The Self can never be known

as an object since by definition it is always the subject. The Self

cannot be known, but as the subject, it quite obviously cannot be

unknown.

The mind can be an object and therefore is not always the subject.

 

When discussing consciousness or 'knowing', problems arise when the

mind or intellect operates under the misconception that it is the

subject rather than the object.

 

Knowing is loving; loving knowing.

Bobby G.