[ramakrishna] Digest Number 415 space/time

[Guest guest]

space/time

 

Hello,

 

The discussion on space/time was interesting. Although no satisfactory

answer can ever be found we have to attempt the impossible for

purification and sharpening our reason. That is the only utility of such

discussions.

 

The space and time are first apparitions. The Reality divides Itself, so

to say, into 1) preparation, 2) experience and 3) the effect.

 

Scientists in the physical world equip and prepare themselves with

finest gadgets and instruments to learn about the Reality. However, they

come to know about the Reality in an indirect way, as the effect of an

experiment. They are not the part of middle process of experiencing the

change directly.

 

However, scientists in the realm of spirituality experience the process

of change through their preparation by way of control of mind. Take for

example how Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda directly visualized

the Reality:

 

Sri Ramakrishna:

 

(1) " When I sat and meditated, I had, in the beginning, the vision of

particles of light like group of fire-flies, I saw sometimes all

quarters covered with masses of mist-like light, and at other times I

perceived that all things were pervaded by bright waves of light like

molten silver. I saw these things sometimes with my eyes shut and

sometimes with my eyes open. I did not understand what I saw nor did I

know whether it was good or bad to have such visions. "

 

(2) " A terrible frenzy seized me at the thought that I might never be

blessed with the divine vision. I thought that if that were so then

enough of this life! A sword was hanging in the sanctuary of Kali. My

eyes seized upon it and thought ran through my brain like a flash of

lightening - 'The sword it will help me put an end to it.' I rushed up

to it and seized it like a madman ... And lo! The whole scene, doors,

windows, the temple itself simply vanished. It seemed as if nothing

existed anymore. Instead I saw the ocean of the spirit, boundless,

dazzling. In whatever direction I turned, great luminous waves were

rising. They bore down upon me with a loud roar, as if to swallow me up.

I lost all normal consciousness and fell to the ground... How I passed

that day and the next I know not, round me rolled an ocean of

unspeakable joy such as I had never experienced before. "

 

(3) 'Under the able guidance of Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda

undertook intense sadhana to realize the non-dual consciousness. Naren

was very much scientific as most of modern day educated youths are! It

will not be out of place to describe the experience of nirvikalpa

samadhi of Swami Vivekananda in his own words:

 

" One day in the Cossipore garden, I expressed my prayer [for nirvikalpa

samadhi] to Sri Ramakrishna with great earnestness. Then in the evening,

at the hour of meditation, I lost consciousness of the body and felt

that it was absolutely non-existent. I felt that the sun, the moon,

space, time, ether, and all had been reduced to a homogenous mass and

then melted far away into the unknown. Body-consciousness almost

vanished, and I nearly merged in the Supreme. But I had just a trace of

the feeling of ego so I could again return to the world of relativity.

In this state of samadhi all difference between " I " and " Brahman " goes

away, everything is reduced to unity, like the water of the Infinite

Ocean-water everywhere, nothing else exists. Language and thought; all

fail there… "

*

Thus we see that time and space are relative experiences according to

one's state of mind. As mind reaches higher plane so also disappear time

and space. One as if sees subatomic particles as waves of light etc.!!!

 

dr c s s

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