The mystic’s discovery of the higher Self is only a step on a greater journey.

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`I went in search of myself' declared the Greek philosopher

Heraclitus in the fifth century BC. This is the start of the mystical

quest – the simple question `Who am I?' The mystic turns his

attention away from his perceptions, and goes in search of the

perceiver. He stops looking to the world for answers to the mysteries

of life, and begins instead to look within to explore his own

identity. What does he find? The mystical experience reveals to

himself his true nature – an immortal soul that will not decay and

die like his physical body; a permanent spiritual essence, beyond the

ever-changing flux of thoughts and emotions that he took to be

his `self'. `Ecstasy' means `to stand outside'; the mystic

experiences the ecstatic state of standing outside of his normal

awareness of himself, and discovers that he is more than he had ever

imagined.

 

Unlike the personality, which experiences itself as a separate

entity, distinct from others and the rest of life, the soul knows

itself to be a part of the whole, intimately connected to everyone

and everything. When the mystic realizes his true nature he does not

discover something private and personal, but rather something shared

by all. He is a spark of the one fire. The path of the mystic is to

find and then feed this spark, until it burns his separate ego.

 

The mystic's discovery of the higher Self is only a step on a greater

journey. The soul is only real in so far as it is a connection

between the separate personality and God. In the Upanishads it

says: `There is a bridge between time and eternity, this bridge is

Atman – the Higher |Self.' When this bridge is crossed and the mystic

experiences the vision of unity, the bridge itself is seen as an

illusion. Just like a person who discovers that the moon does not

shine by its own light, but only by reflecting the sun, the mystic

discovers that the soul is only a reflection of the light of God.

Ultimately he has no identity except as divinity. That is why Jesus

claimed, `I and my Father are One', and al-Hallaj declared, `I am

God.'

 

In the established Jewish, Christian and Islamic religion, to claim

to be one with God is seen as blasphemous. Both Jesus and al-Hallaj

were crucified by the religious authorities of their day for uttering

such a heresy. But this has not stopped mystics from within these

faiths discovering this truth for themselves…

 

Plotinus paradoxically describes this spiritual journey as a `flight

from the solitary to the solitary.' It is a voyage from `alone` to

àll-one`. With this realization, there is no longer any sense of

the `other': everything is the manifestation of the one

consciousness. The lover of God merges with his `beloved' and becomes

love itself. The knower of truth merges with the known and becomes

knowledge. There is no longer a subject (the searching mystic) and an

object (the searched for God) – there is only a simple state of

indescribable completeness. Meister Eckhart says: `The knower and the

known are one. Simple people imagine that they should see God as if

He stood there and they here. This is not so. God and I, we are one

in knowledge.'

 

When the mystic reaches the end of his search for himself, he finds

he has no self. He is nothing, yet paradoxically he is everything…

when the mystic finds the temple of his soul he discovers it is the

splendour of emptiness. The Buddhists call this

experience `enlightenment'. Like a drop of water dissolving back into

the mighty sea, the individual soul returns to the primal source.

 

This metaphor has filled some students of mysticism with horror. It

can sound like total annihilation – not a very appealing prospect –

but this is a misunderstanding. The personal self cannot cease to be,

because in truth it never existed – it was merely a transitory

illusion. An enlightened soul is not lost in the overwhelming

vastness of the ocean of being – it knows that there has only ever

been the ocean. When the Buddha was asked if a person who attains

enlightenment could still be said to exist, he replied, `It would be

wrong to say he does, and it would be wrong to say he does not.' The

separate self is like a wave upon the sea which, although distinct,

is no more than a disturbance on the surface of the waters.

 

Some 1400 years ago in China, Empress Wu became fascinated with the

relationship between the essential Oneness and the separate

multiplicity of life. She asked the sage Fu Tsang if he could give a

simple practical demonstration to help her understand. Fa Tsang

arranged one of the palace rooms so that eight large mirrors stood at

the eight points of the compass. He then placed a further mirror on

the floor, and another on the ceiling. A candle was suspended in the

centre of the room, and the Empress was invited in. Fa Tsang then lit

the candle and the room was filled with the splendour of reflected

light. The Empress Wu was awed and overcome by the beauty of this

vision. `You see, your majesty,` said Fa Tsang, `This is the one and

the many. The candle is the One Consciousness of God, and the

reflections are the many individual consciousness of his creation.

The soul is a reflection of One Consciousness. In a sense it is

individual, yet it could not be said to exist independently. Indeed,

the source and the reflection are the same light.

 

The Complete Guide to World Mysticism (Paperback)

by Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy, page 133-35

Publisher: Piatkus Books; New Ed edition (October 1998)

ISBN-10: 0749917768

ISBN-13: 978-0749917760

 

 

Question: How does one discard all the organization and useless

activities (of Sahaja Yoga) and seek her (Holy Spirit/Adi Shakti)

only in the Sahastrara (Kingdom of God)?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: I am still unable to rid myself of catches and other chakra

problems despite years of daily (Sahaja Yoga) footsoaking and

treatments. What do I do now?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: I am far from a Sahaja Yoga collective. How do I continue

practicing Sahaja Yoga?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: My collective leader has told me to leave Sahaja Yoga due

to some personal problems. What do I do now?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: Despite being years in Sahaja Yoga I do not agree with what

our leaders are doing. I am thinking of leaving my collective. Can

you suggest something that will help me continue on my own?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: I am a Muslim who absolutely am against worshipping of any

idol or image. How then is Sahaja Yoga and Shri Mataji compatible

with Islam?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: We are devout Christians who are very uncomfortable with

Hindu rituals, and see the same in Sahaja Yoga. Is there any way we

can do without such rituals?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: You loudly claim on your website that all religions and

holy scriptures preach the same message. I don't see such evidence.

What have you got to say?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: I do not want to meditate on anything non-Christian but

agree that the Holy Spirit is feminine. How do I only worship the

Holy Spirit but not the Adi Shakti?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: My parents and husband are against worshipping Shri Mataji.

How can I solve this serious family problem but still continue to

practice Sahaja Yoga without their knowledge?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: I completely agree with your belief that if you have to

take a single step in any direction to seek the Divine you are going

the wrong way. How and why did you reach this incredible conclusion

only now despite spending so many years meditating, checking the

scriptures and listening to Shri Mataji's speeches?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: How can we spread Shri Mataji's message successfully? So

many have failed all these years and Sahaja Yoga is very slow. Most

of the seekers have never heard of Shri Mataji. Other than Her Divine

Message what can we teach new seekers that will attract them?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: I do not want to follow any religious organization or yoga

teacher but still am interested in spirituality. You think that is

possible?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: My mother-in-law is totally against Shri Mataji and regards

Her as just another false guru. But I know Shri Mataji is the Adi

Shakti and want to continue. However, i do not want to antagonize my

mother-in-law. Any suggestions?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: I am a Sikh. I am completely against any Hindu ritual or

worshipping of their idols and gods. Sikhism is completely against

such practices. But Sahaja Yoga is also so full of such rituals and

gods. What have you got to say, being a Sikh yourself?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: I am getting somewhat ridiculed for my own spiritual

experiences regarding the crown chakra and the divine feminine.

People think I'm weird by emphasizing that the Devi is the true

nature of brahman and it is creating doubt about my path (despite my

own experiences). Should I continue with my meditations and ignore

them or try to explain to them? What do you suggest?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: There is so much information about yoga and meditation. I

am so confused and do not know which path to take. What then is the

truth? How do I attain it?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: I have been in Sahaja Yoga for years but still do not know

what is Self-realization. Can you tell me in detail what you

understand by it?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: I have been a SY for many years and some of us find shoe-

beating and some rituals quite absurd. You also are against them. How

then can we solve our subtle system problems without such treatments?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: I am a Muslim living in Pakistan who want to practice

Sahaja Yoga. But there are no centers here. How can I continue?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: What will happen after Shri Mataji passes away? Will She

still be in the photograph? Where will the vibrations come from then?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: I have just started meditating on Shri Mataji in the

Sahasrara but find it very difficult. Is there a better way?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: I do not want to join Sahaja Yoga but believe in a number

of Shri Mataji's teachings. Can you help me?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: I am an established SYogini who am concerned at the way the

organization is heading. However, I still want to spread Shri

Mataji's teachings. What do you suggest I tell others?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: I want to practice meditation but find it impossible to

stop the thoughts. I value you opinion. If you don't mind my asking,

but how do you do it?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: What is the shortest and surest route to realize God?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: Some religions claim that humans are divine in nature and

that liberation is from within. Can you tell me how all this is

realized in such a hectic and materialistic world?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: As a SY I am concerned that after Shri Mataji takes

Mahasamadhi there will great grief and sense of loss. How can I cope

with this eventuality and continue my faith and devotion? Do I

continue to meditate on Her photo even though She is not physically

present anymore?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: Jagbir, you are already telling us to discard Shri Mataji's

photo and meditate on Her is the Sahasrara. A number of SYs have been

offended by this and have left the forum. What makes you so sure you

are right?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: What is the most profound and deepest enlightenment you

have discovered after all these years, based on the teachings of Shri

Mataji? She also claims that all religions teach the same truth about

the spirit. How is that so given all the religious differences and

centuries-old rivalry?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: Hi, man-made religions, sects and denominations are wide

spread. So much misdeeds and divisions are committed and blood is

shed in the name of God and religion. Is there a way to make humans

realize that they are all worshipping the One and same Creator, no

matter how different religious organizations have made God to be?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: It seems that religions are all preaching about a God that

is to be found only in their organizations. Why then is it that the

Divine can only be realized through one's own experience? What and

where is God then?

 

Answer: Silence on Self