Sai Baba Gita Reading for Today - Beyond Dualism

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Sai Baba Gita Reading for Today

November 19, 2003

 

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Beyond Dualism

 

In the same way, by either listening to learned people or by reading

and studying the scriptures you can get some idea of what God is

like. But ultimately you will not be satisfied and happy with just

this. It is still only a stage of dualism, for in this stage you and

God remain separate. Therefore, you will make an attempt to go

beyond the stage of dualism to the next step, which is qualified non-

dualism. This refers to the deep aspiration to see and experience

God directly. How can you get a vision of him? By picturing in your

own heart the form of God you heard described, and then continuously

thinking and contemplating on that form. Whatever you do, whatever

you say, whatever you see and whatever you listen to, you have to

become one with that sacred form.

 

The specific form of God you have pictured becomes a thought form in

your mind. The thought form should then become saturated with the

feeling of devotion so that it becomes a feeling form in your heart.

Gradually, gradually, these feelings will deepen and strengthen

until one day you will have a real vision of the Lord. So, first the

Lord is heard of and thought of, then he is sought through intense

feelings of devotion and yearning, and finally he reveals himself in

form and can be directly experienced. In other words, the thought

form turns into a feeling form, which then becomes transformed into

real experience. That describes the second stage on the path. Not

only do you get the personal vision of the Lord, whom you have

aspired to see, but you also get the chance to converse with him

face-to-face.

 

After seeing the Lord thus and talking to him directly, you gain a

little more satisfaction. But if you are a true devotee, even this

golden opportunity will not give you the full joy you long for. Now

you want to reach God and merge with him. You think, "I have

heard... I have seen... now I must reach him and be one with him."

In the first stage, when through reading and hearing you come to

know that God exists, you feel that God is separate and you are

separate. This is the state of dualism. But in the second stage you

see the Lord and get the feeling that you are part of him. This is

the state of qualified non-dualism. Finally you move on to the

feeling, 'The Lord and I are one and the same'. This is the stage of

complete non-dualism. Here you think, 'Either I must get merged with

him or he must become one with me.' Then there is complete unity.

 

Sri Sathya Sai Baba

 

Source:

http://www.atmapress.com/saibabagita/saigita051.html

 

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Sai Baba Gita

Compiled and edited by Al Drucker - Published by Atma Press

http://www.atmapress.com - ISBN: 0963844903

Online Edition: http://www.atmapress.com/saibabagita/index.html