T.K. Sundaresa Iyer- Where is the Divine World?

[Guest guest]

Where is the Divine World?When studying the Upanishads in my early days, I

always visualized the Divine Abode in the Sun God and

was performing the practices enjoined in certain texts.

Even later, after settling at the abode of Sri Maharshi, Icontinued this practice (upasana). It proved very hard

to succeed in this process and I had to undergo very

trying experiences, so I referred the whole matter to

Bhagavan.

 

"So you want to go to the divine world?" asked he.

"That is what I am trying to obtain; that is what the scripturesprescribe," I answered. "But where are you now?" the Master

asked. I replied, "I am in your presence.Poor thing! You are

here and now in the Divine World, and you want to obtain it

elsewhere! Know that to be the Divine World where one is

firmly established in the Divine. Such a one is full (purna);

he encompasses and transcends all that is manifest. He is

the substratum of the screen on which the whole manifestation

runs like the picture film. Whether moving pictures run or not,

the screen is always there and is never affected by the action

of the pictures. You are here and now in the Divine World.

You are like a thirsty man wanting to drink, while he is all the

time standing neck deep in the Ganga. Give up all efforts andsurrender. Let the 'I' that wants the divine world die, and the

Divine in you will be realised here and now. For it is already

in you as the Self, not different from the Divine (Brahman),

nameless and formless. It is already in you, and how are you

to obtain that which ever remains obtained? The Self (atman)

in you is surely not different from US?"

Thus spoke Bhagavan."So, then, Bhagavan says that he is the Self, (kutastha) in this,

the field of this soul (jiva), that this is already established in

Bhagavan as such, so this soul need do nothing but give up

the sense of being a separate soul?" I asked, prostrating

before Bhagavan."Yes, yes," he replied, "that is what one must do to drop the ego-sense.

If that is done the Self will be experienced as 'I-I' here and now and at all times. There will be no going into the divine world or coming out of it. You will be as you really are. This is the practice (sadhana) and this is the perfection (siddhi) too." This teaching of Sri Bhagavan, himself being the divine world,

is recorded for the benefit of all who are ever in Him.

 

taken from : AT THE FEET OF BHAGAVAN Leaves from the Diary of T.K. Sundaresa Iyer