IN THAT LABORATORY OF SPIRITUAL EXPERIMENTS THAT IS INDIA,
SUFISM CAME TO BE ACCEPTED IN THE COURSE OF THE CENTURIES
AS A HOLY FEATURE OF THE COMMUNITY, EVEN BY THE ORTHODOX,
AS IT BECAME INTEGRATED INTO THE "SHARIAT" (THE OBSER-
VANCE OF THE RULES OF MUSLIM RELIGIOUS LIFE). GHAZALI HAD
EXPLAINED THE RULES AWAY AND MOST GAVE UP THE HERESY OF
THEIR EARLY PREDECESSORS LIKE BASTAMI, HALLAJ, AND SARMAD,
BECOMING SO INTEGRATED INTO ORTHODOX LIFE THAT THEY
HAVE BEEN HAILED AS "THE PROOF OF ISLAM."
IN INDIA, THE IMPACT OF SUFISM MADE HISTORY, WHILE AL
HALLAJ AND ABU YAZID BASTAMI ARE SAID TO HAVE VISITED INDIA,
AND AL HUJWIRI IS SAID TO HAVE HAD A FOLLOWING, THE
BREAKTHROUGH CAME WITH KHWAJA MOIN-UD-DIN CHISHTI.
COMING FROM NORTHERN IRAN, HE BROUGHT THE CHISHTI
ORDER TO AJMEER, AND IT SOON HAD RAMIFICATIONS IN DELHI
WITH KHWAJA QUTUB-UD-DIN BHAKHTIAR KAKI, HIS SUCCESSOR. IT
IS SAID THAT A GREAT SECTION OF DELHI TOOK "BAYAT" (INITIA-
TION) INTO THE SUFI ORDER. MANY A MOGHUL KING SOUGHT
GUIDANCE AT THE FEET OF A SUFI PIR O MURSHID, WHO WOULD BE
LIVING IN THE MOST AUSTERE SIMPLICITY EVEN WHILE HANDLING
LARGE SUMS OF MONEY USED FOR THE COMMUNITY KITCHEN.
WILLOW BASKET
THE SUFIS' UNDOGMATIC RECOGNITION OF GENUINE
SPIRITUALITY, WHEREVER IT WAS LIVED, FOSTERED A CLIMATE
OF MORE THAN RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE: A REAL SPIRITUAL COM-
MUNION BETWEEN HINDUS AND MUSLIMS. MANY A SCHOLARLY
MIND TOYED WITH THE IDEA OF BRIDGING THESE TWO CURRENTS.
PRINCE DARAH SHIKU, THE HEIR TO THE THRONE TO THE EMPIRE,
WROTE A TREATISE ON THE CONFLUENCE OF THE OCEANS, "MAJ-
MUAH AL BAHREIN", AND EMPEROR AKBAR FOUNDED WHAT WAS
PROBABLY THE FIRST COUNCIL OF RELIGIONS IN THE HISTORY
OF THE WORLD AT FATEHPUR SIKRI. THIS COMMUNION WAS
SYSTEMATICALLY UPSET WHEN POLITICS FELL INTO BIGOTED
HANDS, AND THESE BOLD ATTEMPTS AT BRIDGING RELIGIOUS
DIFFERENCES WERE OVERTURNED. THE REACTIONS THAT
BROUGHT AURANGZEB (WHO KILLED HIS BROTHER DARAH SHIKU)
TO THE THRONE SWEPT SUFISM FROM THE CAPITOL, AND THE
SUFIS SOUGHT THE DISTANT BUT RELATIVE SECURITY OF AURAN-
GABAD. A FEW PIRS DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES THROUGH THEIR
WRITINGS: GESUDERAZ, SHAH IMULLAH JEHAN ABADI, ETC.
PRAYERS, RECITATIONS, AUDITIONS (SAMA) HAVE BEEN HELD AND
ARE STILL HELD AT THE TOMBS OF SUFI SAINTS THROUGHOUT
INDIA AND PAKISTAN.
HAZRAT KHWAJA ABU HASHIM MADANI, (SEE SILSIL P. 703), A VERY
FINE SCHOLAR FROM THE HEDJAZ (ARABIA), ON VISIT TO THE
NIZAM OF HYDERABAD, HAD RECEIVED HIS INITIATION AND
SUCCESSION FROM A GREAT DARVISHOF HYDERABAD, SHAH HASAN
QIBLA KALIMI DAHLEVI (THE SPIRITUAL SUCCESSOR OF MAULANA
NASIR UD DIN DALE MIYAN SAHIB). THE SCHOLAR MADANI WAS AT A
LOSS TO FIND AN ANSWER TO HIS METAPHYSICAL QUESTIONS THAT
WOULD SATISFY HIS BRILLIANT MIND FROM THE DARVISH IN PACTCHED
ROBES, LOST IN DIVINE CONTEMPLATION. AT LAST, ONE NIGHT,
WHILE HE WAS DOING HIS PRACTICES, THE DARVISH CAME IN AND
SAID: "I AM THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION." INDEED WHAT
MORE ELOQUENT AN ANSWER THAN A BEING TRANSFIGURED
BY ECSTASY?
PIR O MURSHID INAYAT KHAN WAS ENJOINED BY HIS MURSHID,
HAZRAT ABU HASHIM MADANI, (WHO INTIMATED THAT HE HAD
RECEIVED THE ORDER, HUKM, FROM KHWAJA MOIN UD DIN
CHISHTI, THE FOUNDER OF THE ORDER IN INDIA), TO BRING THE
MESSAGE OF SUFISM TO THE WEST.
HAZRAT INAYAT KHAN WAS CRITICIZED BY THOSE WHO CON-
SIDERED SUFISM TO BE EXCLUSIVELY ISLAMIC. YET, ALL HALLAJ WAS
CRUCIFIED, SHIHABUDIN SUHRAWARDI EXECUTED, ABU YAZID
BASTAMI LET OFF ON GROUNDS OF PRESUMED INSANITY, AND IBM
L'ARABI WAS ALWAYS ON THE MOVE. ON THE OTHER HAND SOME
OF THE SUFI ORDERS TODAY INCLUDE QUITE LARGE PERCENTAGES
OF HINDUS AND SIKHS, VIZ ABDUL LATIF IN SIND.
WHEN HAZRAT INAYAT WAS CRITICIZED BY FELLOW DISCIPLES FOR
HIS INTEREST IN ALL RELIGIONS, THE MURSHID TOOK HIS DEFENSE,
SAYING THAT HE HAD BEEN EARMARKED FOR A GREAT
WORLD MISSION.
QUITE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF RESEARCH HAS PROVEN THE
INFLUENCE OF VARIOUS SPIRITUAL CURRENTS OF RELIGIOUS
THOUGHT UPON SUFIS: HINDUISM ON BASTAMI, CHRISTIANITY ON
HALLAJ, HERMETISM ON AL MISRI, ZOROASTRIANISM ON
SUHRAWARDI, BUDDHISM ON BALKI.
(SEE CHAPTER: CHAIN OF THE SUFIS)
MANY SEEM TO HAVE IGNORED PROPHET MOHAMMED'S RELIGIOUS
TOLERANCE AND ALL-ENCOMPASSING RELIGIOUS GRASP OR THE
INSTRUCTIONS IN THE QU'RAN RESPECTING ALL PROPHETS.
UNDOUBTEDLY ISLAM FOSTERED AN UNQUESTIONABLY
OVERWHELMING INFLUENCE ON THE GROWTH OF SUFISM, SO
THAT SOME TAKE THE VIEW THAT IT IS JUST THE BREADTH OF
VIEW, CONDEMNED BY THE ORTHODOXY, THAT IS THE REAL ISLAM.
THE PROPHET SAID, "THE REAL ISLAM IS EXILED, EXPATRIATED,"
AND SO HAVE SUFIS ALWAYS BEEN. IT IS NOT SURPRISING, THERE-
FORE, THAT OUT OF THIS ALL-ENCOMPASSING AND CONVERGING
TREND, A MESSAGE OF UNITY SHOULD HAVE EMERGED
IN OUR TIME.
PIR O MURSHID INAYAT KHAN, A SUCCESSOR TO THE SILSILAH
(LINEAGE) OF SUFI PIRS IN THE CHISHTI ORDER, WAS ENJOINED BY
HIS MURSHID TO CROSS TO THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE AND
BRING THE SUFI MESSAGE TO THE WEST. HIS MESSAGE OF SPIRI-
TUAL UNITY BROUGHT A BREATH OF FRESH AIR IN A WORLD E-
MERGING OUT OF SECTARIANISM AND DOGMATISM, CLAMORING
FOR A NEW WORLD IDEAL THAT WOULD LINK TOGETHER THE
ASPIRATIONS OF ALL RELIGIONS. HE FOUNDED A CEREMONY
CALLED THE UNIVERSAL WORSHIP IN WHICH THE TEXTS OF THE
WORLD'S RELIGIONS ARE READ AND REVERED ON THE SAME
ALTAR, NAMING ALL THE PROPHETS OF ALL TIME,
KNOWN AND UNKNOWN.
ONE OF INAYAT KHAN'S LAST ACTS IN THE MIDST OF HIS WESTERN
DISCIPLES BEFORE HE PASSED AWAY WAS TO LAY A FOUNDATION
STONE IN THE CENTER OF A CIRCLE HE HAD DRAWN ON THE GREEN
SLOPES OF MONT VALERIAN, NEAR PARIS, FOR WHAT HE CALLED
"THE UNIVERSEL." THIS WAS TO BE THE MEETING PLACE OF THE
NEW AGE: A TEMPLE TO HOUSE THE UNIVERSAL WORSHIP, WHERE
ALL PEOPLE WOULD FIND THEIR TRADITIONS HONORED AND
WHERE THE ONE OMNIPRESENT GOD MIGHT BE WORSHIPPED IN
HARMONY WITH THE BASIC BELIEFS OF ALL THE WORLD'S
RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING.
UNLIKE TEMPLES, MOSQUES, AND CHURCHES OF THE PAST WHICH
WERE BASED ON ANIMAL, VEGETABLE OR GEOMETRIC MOTIFS AND
PATTERNS, THIS CENTER WOULD BE BASED ON THE FORM OF THE
HUMAN IN A COSMIC CARDINAL DIMENSION: FOUR SEATED
FIGURES GAZING OUT ACROSS THE FOUR DIRECTIONS IN
A BLEND BETWEEN SCULPTURE AND ARCHITECTURE.
THE ABOVE DRAWINGS ARE A CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECT'S RENDERINGS OF
INAYAT KHAN'S VISION OF THE UNIVERSEL. OTHER AND FURTHER IMPRESSIONS
WOULD BE WELCOMED.
TOWARD THE ONE, THE PERFECTION OF LOVE, HARMONY AND
BEAUTY, THE ONLY BEING, UNITED WITH ALL THE ILLUMINATED
SOULS WHO FORM THE EMBODIMENT OF THE MASTER, THE SPIRIT
OF GUIDANCE ... WE RECOGNIZE THEE AS RAMA, AS KRISHNA, AS
SHIVA, AS BUDDHA, AS ABRAHAM, AS SOLOMON, AS ZOROASTER, AS MOSES,
AS JESUS, AS MOHAMMAD, AND IN MANY OTHER NAMES AND FORMS
KNOWN AND UNKNOWN TO THE WORLD ...
MAY THE MESSAGE OF THE REACH FAR AND WIDE,
ILLUMINATING AND MAKING THE WHOLE OF HUMANITY AS
ONE SINGLE FAMILY IN THE LOVE OF GOD.
"BELOVED ONES OF GOD, YOU MAY BELONG TO ANY RACE, CASTE,
CREED OR NATION, YOU ARE ALL IMPARTIALLY BELOVED BY GOD.
YOU MAY BE A BELIEVER OR AN UNBELIEVER IN THE SUPREME BE-
ING, GOD CARES NOT. MERCY AND GRACE FLOW THROUGH ALL OF
GOD'S POWER WITHOUT DISTINCTION OF FRIEND OR FOE."
HAZRAT INAYAT KHAN, THE SUFI MESSAGE, VOL. 6
"A SUFI MESSAGE OF SPIRITUAL LIBERTY"
Whole Earth
Statistics: Posted by admin — Sat Sep 26, 2015 9:26 am
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THE SUFI MASTERS
SUFISM CARRIES A PERFUME
THAT STRIKES A NOTE PARTICULARLY IN THE NEW AGE
BECAUSE THE DARVISH LIVES INTENSELY
THE GLORY OF CREATION
LETS HIMSELF BE CARRIED INTO ITS MYSTERY
BY THE TRANSFIGURING MAGIC OF LOVE,
RATHER THAN COGITATING UPON THE NATURE OF REALITY
IN THE BLIND ALLEY OF OPINION.
HE LOSES HIMSELF THUS
IN THE OCEAN OF DIVINE INEBRIATION.
HOW ELSE CAN ONE FIND ONESELF
THAN BY LOSING THAT WHICH ONE THOUGHT ONE WAS?
THIS MEANS TOTAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE SUPREME ACT
OF TRANSFORMATION
-- NO HALF MEASURES:
"UNTIL LOVE HAS QUICKENED A SOUL, IT IS LIKE
AN UNFLEDGED BIRD,"
SAYS RUMI,
"ENOUGH OF PHRASES AND CONCEIT AND
METAPHORES"
"I WANT BURNING,
BURNING."
HOW CAN ONE FACE LIGHT WITHOUT BEING BLINDED,
HOW CAN ONE ARREST THE SECRET OF SECRETS
WITHOUT BEING DUMBFOUNDED AND PERPLEXED,
HOW CAN ONE UNDERGO TRANSFORMATION
WITHOUT BEING SHATTERED?
"WHEN TRUTH HAS OVERWHELMED A HUMAN
HEART,
IT EMPTIES IT OF ALL THAT IS NOT TRUTH.
WHEN GOD LOVES A BEING,
HE KILLS EVERYTHING THAT IS NOT HIM"
AL HALLAJ.
"MY ATTRIBUTES WERE ANNIHILATED IN HIS,
NOR DID HE ATTRIBUTE TO ME ANY OF HIS
ATTRIBUTES,
BUT THAT I ATTRIBUTED IT TO HIM"
BASTAMI.
"HE ANNIHILATED ME IN RECREATING ME,
EVEN AS HE CREATED ME IN THE BEGINNING
WHEN I WAS NO THING"
JUNAID
FOR HALLAJ PRE-ETERNITY IS NOT ENVISIONED IN A TIME
RELATIONSHIP,
BUT IN TERMS OF THE "DIGNITY OF ONTOLOGICAL PRIORITY."
RAZI
"IN THEIR EXTINCTION CREATURES SUBSIST,
WHEREAS IN THEIR ESSENCE THEY NEVER EXISTED ON EARTH."
JILI
"HE PRE-EXISTED HIS CREATURES IN PRE-ETERNITY,
ENCOMPASSING THEM WITNESSING THEM
IN THE BEGINNING
WHEN THEY WERE NOTHING, APART FROM THEIR ETERNAL BEING
IN WHICH THEY WERE FROM ALL PRE-ETERNITY."
JUNAID
THIS PROCESS RECURS CONTINUALLY THROUGH LIFE.
"THOSE WHO HAVE PLACED THEMSELVES UNDER DIVINE
GUIDANCE
ARE OVERWHELMED AND OBLITERATED
OF ALL THEIR ATTRIBUTES
"...DID HE NOT OBLITERATE EVERY TRACE OF ME
BY HIS ATTRIBUTE?"
BASTAMI
BASTAMI DESCRIBES THE CYCLE OF ANNIHILATION AND
RE-INSTATEMENT
AS A RECURRENT TEST FOLLOWED BY REBIRTH,
RENDERED IN HIS AUSTERE LANGUAGE
ALMOST IN TERMS OF A TRANSCENDENTAL ALGEBRA.
HE SAID,
'OH I.'
"DO NOT BEGUILE ME IN MY EGO."
RETORTED BASTAMI, THINKING IT WAS A TEST,
AND APOSTROPHIZING HIM
'OH THOU.'
GOD THEN REPLIES
'OH THOU'.
OBVIOUSLY HE HAD NOT YET DIED SUFFICIENTLY IN HIS EGO
TO WITHSTAND THE CHALLENGE OF THE DESIRED REALIZATION.
"HE LOOKED UPON ME FOR A MOMENT WITH HIS EYE OF POWER,
AND ANNIHILATED ME IN HIS BEING,
AND BECAME MANIFEST TO ME IN HIS ESSENCE.
I SAW I EXISTED THROUGH HIM.
I REMAINED WITHOUT SOUL OR BODY LIKE ONE WHO IS DEAD
... THEN DID HE REVIVE ME WITH HIS LIFE
... THEN HE SAID TO ME 'OH THOU',
AND I SAID 'OH I'.
WHEREUPON GOD SAID 'THOU ART THEE ALONE',"
GOD'S VISION OF THE WORLD IN THE VIEW POINT OF HIS UNITY.
"THOU DIDST CONTRIVE THIS 'I' AND 'WE'
IN ORDER TO PLAY THE GAME OF WORSHIP WITH THYSELF,
THAT ALL 'I'S' AND 'THOU'S' MIGHT BECOME ONE SOUL
AND AT LAST BE SUBMERGED IN THE BELOVED."
(RUMI)
BUT THERE IS A LIMIT TO THE ECSTACY ONE CAN TAKE.
JUNAID SAYS:
"HAVING OBLITERATED EVERY TRACE OF ME BY HIS ATTRIBUTE,
GOD MAKES THE SOULS AGAIN PRESENT TO THEIR EGOS,
CAUSING THEM TO FIND THEIR SPECIFIC NATURE
WHEREUPON THEY ARE REMOVED FROM THEIR COMMUNION WITH
HIM
AND HIM WITH THEM."
"SOMETIMES HE MAKES THE BELIEVER IN THE DIVINE IMMANENCE
A WITNESS OF HIS UNITY,
AND SOMETIMES HE DIVERTS THE BELIEVER IN THE DIVINE
TRANSCENDENCE
FROM HIS ALL-EXCLUSIVENESS,
BY REVEALING HIS MULTIFARIOUS FORMS."
OUR VERY IGNORANCE IS THE WAY HE PROTECTS US
FROM THE KNOWLEDGE THAT OVERWHELMS,
OUR BLINDNESS HIS SHIELD FROM THE LIGHT THAT BURNS THE
EYES,
OUR EGO, HIS PROP FOR THE DELICATE PLANTS OF OUR
PERSONALITIES
UNTIL WE KNOW HOW TO SURVIVE DEATH.
"I AM THE WINE
OF THE HOLY SACRAMENT,
... MY VERY BEING IS INTOXICATION:
THOSE WHO DRINK OF MY CUB
AND YET KEEP SOBER
WILL CERTAINLY BE ILLUMINATED:
BUT THOSE WHO DO NOT ASSIMILATE IT,
WILL BE BESIDE THEMSELVES
AND EXPOSED TO THE RIDICULE
OF THE WORLD."
HAZRAT INAYAT KHAN
THOSE EFFIGIES TAKEN FOR REAL
BY THOSE WHO WOULD BE ANNIHILATED
BY
THE 'REALITY OF REALITIES'
ARE A PROTECTION AGAINST THE 'CONSTERNATION OF
INTELLIGENCES'
EXPERIENCED BY THE DARVISH AS INEBRIATION.
THE VERY VEIL THAT IS DEEMED TO ENSHROUD
THE DIVINE COUNTENANCE
IS THE MIST IN THE EYES OF THE NOVICE
WHICH ITSELF, HOWEVER, BETRAYS THE CONTOURS
OF THE DIVINE FACE:
THEREFORE IN ALL THINGS, ONE DISCERNING MAY READ
THE 'SIGNS'
OF THE NATURE OF THE LOVED ONE,
AND INDEED THERE IS ECSTACY
IN THE CONTEMPLATION OF THAT DIAPHANOUS FABRIC
'IN WHICH A DRAFT OF HEAVENLY BEAUTY IS MIXED'.
YET "HOW CAN YOU BECOME FREE WITHOUT THE WINE OF HIM,
O YE WHO ARE CONTENT WITH THE SIGN OF HIM."
(RUMI)
HOW MUCH GREATER IS THE RAPTURE OF THE ONE
INVITED TO THE DIVINE BETROTHAL?
FOR HIS IS THE PRIVILEGE OF RENDING THE VEIL ASUNDER
IF HE DARE CONFRONT THE PRESENCE
OF THE KING OF KINGS FACE TO FACE.
"FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT STAND THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE LIGHT
OF MY INTELLIGENCE
I HAVE CREATED THE WORLD OF OBJECTS AS A SCREEN,"
(HEARS GILANI)
"AND FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT STAND THE SOLITUDE OF MY
UNITY,
I HAVE CREATED THE REALMS OF LIGHT AS A SCREEN."
HALLAJ, HOWEVER, REACHED THE POINT OF NO RETURN:
"THE SUN OF THE ONE I LOVE HAS RISEN IN THE NIGHT,
RESPLENDENT,
AND THERE WILL BE NO MORE SUNSET ...
I SAW MY LORD WITH THE EYE OF THE HEART,
AND I SAID 'WHO ART THOU' AND HE SAID, 'YOURSELF'."
WAS IT THE EXPERIENCE OF GOD THAT BASTAMI SOUGHT
RATHER THAN LOVING GOD?
TRULY ENOUGH THERE WAS IN HALLAJ A STRUGGLE WITH
HIMSELF
TO OVERCOME HIS EGO
"O TAKE AWAY THIS 'I AM'
FROM BETWEEN YOU AND ME."
BUT HE DID NOT CHALLENGE THE DIVINE ORDER
WITH HIS WILL.
BASTAMI DID:
"I SLOUGHED MYSELF OF MY EGO AS A SNAKE OF HIS SKIN
AND LO I WAS HIM ..."
"I REACHED THE THRESHOLD OF NONBEING
AND SOARED WITHIN IT,
PASSING FROM DENIAL TO DENIAL
... THEN I ATTAINED THE REACHES OF DEPRIVATION
THE THRESHOLD OF UNION,
AND SOARED WITHIN IT BY DINT OF DENIAL
IN UTTER DESTITUTION
UNTIL I WAS BEREFT OF DEPRIVATION
IN MY ABANDONMENT
AND WAS DEPRIVED EVEN OF MY DESTITUTION
BY THE SHEER DENIAL OF DENIAL
AND THE DEPRIVATION OF DEPRIVATION.
THEN I ATTAINED UNION
BY THE SEVERING OF CREATION FROM THE INITIATED
AND THE SEVERING OF THE INITIATE FROM CREATION."
THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY 'THE WAY OF LIBERATION'
AWAY FROM CREATION
NOT THE WAY OF LENDING ONESELF TO GOD'S EVER RENEWED
RECREATION
OF ONE AS AN ACT OF LOVE.
THEREFORE HALLAJ LETS GOD ANNIHILATE HIM
AND EARMARK HIM FOR HIS CREATIVE PROVIDENCE
RATHER THAN FORCE THE PORTALS OF THE ABSOLUTE
BY DINT OF PERSONAL WILL.
GOD SAYS TO BASTAMI,
"YOU ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO STAND THE SOLITUDE OF MY
UNITY."
AND BASTAMI ANSWERS,
"THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I WANT."
JUNAID, TOO, ADVOCATED "ANNIHILATION OF THE EXISTENT,
AND RETURNING TO THE STATE IN WHICH ONE WAS BEFORE ONE
WAS INVOLVED
IN THE PROCESS OF BECOMING,"
WHILE HALLAJ IS ETERNALLY CONSCIOUS
OF GOD'S PRESENCE AND OPERATION WITHIN HIM,
RIGHT DOWN INTO THE FLESH.
IS NOT THE PURPOSE OF CREATION
'TO MAKE GOD A REALITY IN ONE'S BEING'?
"THOU ARE THERE AS THE TEARS BETWEEN MY
EYELIDS,
THE WALLS WITHIN MY HEART
... THEY IMAGE IN MY EYES,
THY RECOLLECTION ON MY LIPS.
THERE IS NOTHING
IN MY HEART AND ENTRAILS
THROUGH WHICH I DO NOT COMMUNE WITH THEE ...
THY IMAGE IN MY EYES,
THY RECOLLECTION ON MY LIPS,
THY ABODE IN MY HEART,
BUT WHERE DOST THOU ABIDE? ... IS IT ME? IS IT THEE?
THAT WOULD BE TWO GODS;
FAR FROM ME THE AFFIRMATION OF TWO
... THERE IS A PERSONAL BEING WHICH IS THINE
AT THE BOTTOM OF THAT NEGATIVITY I CALL ME,
ALWAYS
TO ADD MY PLENITUDE TO THE PLENUM
WOULD BE HYPOCRISY.
WHERE IS THY ESSENCE
SEPARATED FROM MINE?"
ONCE ONE REALIZES THE HOLINESS AND PURPOSEFULNESS OF GOD'S
INFILTRATION
INTO THOSE PRECARIOUS CONSTRUCTIONS BUILDING UP
A PERFECT MODEL,
ONE CANNOT THINK OF THE PERSON AS A TRANSIENT EFFIGY IN
THE PLAY OF MAYA,
BUT AS A REALITY COME TO STAY,
ON CONDITION THAT HE PERPETUALLY TRANSMUTES HIMSELF
BY BEING GROUND AND KNEADED IN THE CYCLE OF DEATH AND
REBIRTH,
AS THE FABRIC OF THE UNIVERSE IS TRANSMUTED
IN THE PROCESS OF EVOLUTION.
'GODNESS, HAVING BECOME GOD' (ECKHARDT).
"O THOU WHO ART ABSENT THERE, WE HAVE FOUND THEE HERE"
(JILI).
GOD, ABSENT (GHAYB) IN HIS PRE-ETERNAL OCCULTATION,
WHEN HE CONTEMPLATES THE ATTRIBUTES,
BECOMES PRESENT BY CONVERSING WITH AND WITHIN
THE SOULS OF THE INFINITE IMAGES OF HIMSELF,
MORE PRESENT THAN THOSE PRESENT,
BY THE SHEER FACT OF THINKING ABOUT HIM.
BEING EAGER TO FULFILL GOD'S PURPOSE IN HIM,
RATHER THAN GIVE VENT TO HIS NOSTALGIA FOR BEYOND,
HALLAJ CONCERNS HIMSELF WITH THE TRANSFORMATION
TAKING PLACE IN MAN
THUS RECREATED AFTER THE ANNIHILATION (FANA) OF THE
INDIVIDUALITY
THAT HAD ISOLATED ITSELF IN ITS OWN EGOTISM
THAT HE MAY SUBSIST (BAQA) ETERNALLY IN GOD IN
POST-ETERNITY
BY HIS VERY CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE UNION OF HIS BEING WITH
THAT OF GOD, ETERNALLY IN GOD.
HE SAW IN HIS DEATH, ACCEPTED AS A GIFT, EVEN AS THAT OF LIFE,
THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE.
OF COURSE, FACED WITH THE VERDICT OF DEATH
WITH ITS UNKNOWN IMPLICATIONS,
THERE IS A MOMENT OF SOUL SEARCHING.
"HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT, HAVING TAKEN MY ESSENCE IN THE
BEGINNING
TO SERVE THEE AS A SYMBOL,
THOU SHOULD NOW WITH THAT THIS THY ESSENCE IN ME,
THOU SHOULDST NOW WISH
THAT THIS THY ESSENCE IN ME,
MY BODY,
SHOULD BE TORN ASUNDER,
HUNG UPON A CROSS,
MY ASHES SCATTERED TO THE WINDS?"
THE TRIUMPH OVER THE ANGUISH OF DISSOLUTION ...
AS AN INCENSE, BEARING THE PROMISE OF MY RESURRECTION."
YES, DEATH ACCEPTED AS A GIFT,
THE ULTIMATE VICTORY, THE OVERCOMING,
BECAUSE IT FORESTALLS ETERNALISATION OF THE ESSENCE.
FIRST "O TAKE AWAY THIS CHALICE,"
FAMILIAR WORDS
TYPIFYING THE CRUEL PRELIMINARY TO EVERY AUTHENTIC
INITIATION
INCLUDING THE CORONATION OF THE KING OF THE WORLD UPON
THE CROSS
"... WHY HAS THOU ABANDONED ME?"
THE SUPREME TEST ARRANGES EVENTS.
WE ARE ABANDONED PRECISELY WHEN WE NEED GOD MOST.
"BELOVED,
SINCE THOU HAS MADE ME SMILE, TURN NOT AWAY THINE EYES,
ONCE THOU HAS POURED THE WINE OF THY MAGIC GLANCE
INTO THE CUP OF MY HEART."
(HAZRAT INAYAT KHAN)
THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE CHALICE OF POISON,
THE PRICE OF RESURRECTION,
ACCEPTING THE UNACCEPTABLE
BECAUSE ITS DIMENSION SUDDENLY REVEALS COSMIC INTENTION.
"HE WHO INVITES ME TO THE DIVINE BANQUET
HAS OFFERED ME TO DRINK
FROM THE CUP WHICH HE HIMSELF DRINKS,
AS A HOST TREATS AN HONOURED GUEST."
HOUSE COULD HE REFUSE?
THIS WAS THE MOMENT OF OVERCOMING THE SUPREME VICTORY
ON EARTH AS IN HEAVEN.
"THOSE WHO ARE GIVEN LIBERTY TO ACT FREELY IN HEAVEN
ARE NAILED ON THE EARTH;
THOSE WHO ARE FREE TO ACT AS THEY CHOOSE ON THE EARTH,
WILL BE NAILED IN THE HEAVENS."
(AL HALLAJ)
DO YOU KNOW THE STATE OF ABANDON,
AFTER HAVING BEEN UNFOLDED BY THE DIVINE LOVER?
"TURN ME NOT ASIDE, BELOVED, TURN ME NOT ASIDE,
ONCE THOU HAS GRANTED ME THY FAVOUR,
STARVE ME NOT OF A KISS
AFTER THOU HAS ENFOLDED ME: GRIEVE ME NOT.
ONE WOULD EXPECT ONE SUFFERING SUCH ORDEAL TO LONG FOR
DEATH TO COME
HASTILY AS A WELCOME RELIEF;
BUT NO, HE WISHED TO PARTAKE DEEPLY IN ITS EXPERIENCE,
DRAGGING HIS BODY INTO THE VERY TESTIMONY OF DIVINE UNITY.
"HE WHO KNOWS THE MEANING OF DEATH WAITS FOR IT
REVERENTLY,
FOR IT IS THE MOMENT OF TRUTH."
HERE HIS SPIRITUAL ODYSSEY REACHES ITS HIGHEST FULFILLMENT;
TO LIVE IN EXTREMUS THE THRESHOLD OF REALIZATION:
THAT WHICH SAYS ME, I, IS THE UNCREATED,
IN SUFI TERMS, TRUTH INSTEAD OF REALITY
'ANA' L HAQQ
AND THAT IS WHAT I MEAN BY GOD
"LO I AM NIGH" (AU'RAN).
"IT SUFFICES TO THE SUPPLICANT IF GOD ALONE PROCLAIMS
UNITY."
THAT IS WHEN ONE HAS LOST ALL CONSCIOUSNESS OF ONESELF.
MUSLIMS ARE ENJOINED UPON TO REITERATE THE PROMISE MADE
IN PRE-ETERNITY,
BY AFFIRMING THE UNITY OF GOD.
LA ILLAHA ILLA'LLAH.
YET TO PRONOUNCE THIS,
WHILE YOU ARE STILL CONSCIOUS OF YOURSELF AS THE ONE
PROCLAIMING
IS A CONTRADICTION IN TERMS.
"THE PROPOSITION
ATTESTING UNITY CIRCULATES WITHIN THE MULTIPLICTY OF
APPARENT SUBJECTS"
(HALLAJ)
"GOD ALONE CAN MAKE US PRONOUNCE A REAL TESTIMONY
BY MAKING US CONSCIOUS OF HIS UNITY,
BY HIS VERY OPERATION WITHIN US
OF THE ACT WHEREBY HE MAKES US DENY OUR SELF
IN OUR HEART,
AND BY AFFIRMING HIMSELF BY HIS PRESENCE."
(HALLAJ)
"WHEN THE DIVINE ESSENCE REVEALS ITSELF THROUGH THE NAME
TRUTH,
THE CREATED NATURE OF THE CONTEMPLATIVE VANISHES.
ALL THAT REMAINS IS HIS HOLY AND TRANSCENDENTAL ESSENCE."
(JILI)
IT IS THEN GOD RESURRECTING OUT OF OUR DEATH
WHO PROCLAIMS HIS UNITY
THE UNIQUE SUBJECT BEHIND ALL OBJECTS
AND THE UNIQUE OBJECT BEHIND ALL SUBJECTS.
THROUGH US AT THE THRESHOLD WHERE WE MERGE INTO HIS
UNITY.
"WHERE THE UNITS ARE ERASED, THOU ART THAT UNITY."
FOR, IN ORDER TO TESTIFY TO HIS EXISTENCE, HE HAS TO EXIST
THROUGH US,
TO SURVIVE PERENNIALLY THE FALLING CURVE OF TIME
BY RESURRECTING THROUGH OUR RESURRECTING
BEYOND THE THRESHOLD OF TRANSIENCY OF EACH MANIFESTATION
OF HIMSELF,
THROUGH US: HIS PROCLAMATION OF HIS UNITY IN HIS CREATURES
HIS VERY CREATIVE POWER,
AND WHEN MAN IS BEING RECREATED AFTER ELIMINATING
ANY NOTION
OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY OR SEPARATENESS
THEN GOD CONSCIOUSNESS ARISES.
"WHEN GOD EFFACES THE NAME OF THE SERVANT
REPLACING IT WITH ALLAH SO THAT IF ANYBODY CALLS 'ALLAH',
HE WILL ANSWER 'HERE AM I'."
THIS IS THE ULTIMATE FULFILLMENT:
AFTER REALISING ONESELF TO BE THE EYES THROUGH WHICH GOD
SEES,
ONE IS THE DIVINE GLANCE,
ONE'S 'I' NOW LOOKED UPON FROM THIS VANTAGE
POINT,
NO MORE AS ONESELF
BUT AS THE WINDOW THROUGH WHICH THE DIVINE GLANCE
SCANS
THE MOVING SCENE OF LIFE.
TO SHARE THIS EXPERIENCE,
IT IS USEFUL AT THIS STAGE TO DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN TWO
LEVELS OF AWARENESS
OR TYPES OF EXPERIENCE.
FIRSTLY THE EXPERIENCE THAT GOD HAS OF HIMSELF
THROUGH US
AS BOTH THE OBJECT IN WHICH HE SEES HIMSELF
AND
THE SUBJECT THROUGH WHOM HE SEES HIMSELF.
IN US HE CAN ONLY SEE AS MUCH OF HIMSELF AS WE ARE ABLE TO
MANIFEST OF HIM
THROUGH OURSELVES,
WHICH IS THE MEASURE OF WHAT WE HAVE REALIZED OF HIM
IN US
AT A GIVEN MOMENT.
AS IBN L'ARABI SAYS,
"SUCH IS THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE IMAGE
WHICH WE DISCOVER OURSELVES TO BE,"
IN WHICH HE CREATES HIMSELF IN A MANNER
THAT IS LIMITED
BY THE VERY CONTINGENCIES OF EXISTENCE,
SO THAT IN MANIFESTING INCREASINGLY
THE BOUNTY OF QUALITIES
WITHIN THIS IMAGE,
WE CONFER UPON GOD, THE ABSOLUTE ESSENCE,
A MODE OF BEING,
IN WHICH HE IS MIRRORED.
WE ARE THUS THE 'SECRET' OF HIS SOVEREIGNTY
THAT IS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF US
THAT EXPRESSES ITSELF
AS OUR MANIFESTATION OF HIM,
THEREFORE HE IS THE "SECRET OF SECRETS,"
SAYS IBN L'ARABI.
THIS IS SPECULATIVE KNOWLEDGE, SAYS SUHRAWARDHI:
HALLAJ GRASPED THE DANGER
OF REDUCING ONE'S EXPERIENCE OF GOD
TO 'WHAT GOD SEES THROUGH OUR EYES'
WHICH PERFORCE IS LIMITED
BY OUR VERY LIMITATION AS CREATURES.
"CONFRONTED WITH THE DIVINE ESSENCE,
THE ONE WHO SPEAKS BECOMES DUMB,
THE ONE WHO IS AGITATED BECOMES MOTIONLESS,
THE ONE WHO SEES BECOMES BLINDED.
IT IS TOO NOBLE TO BE GRASPED BY INTELLIGENCES,
TOO LOFTY FOR THOUGHTS TO REACH IT
THE ONE WHO BREAKS THE SEAL IS WITH GOD IN HIS ESSENCE"
SAYS JILI
AYAT
THE SIGNS OF HIS PRESENCE.
DISCOVERING THE FOOT-PRINTS IN THE SNOW
IS NOT THE SAME AS SEEING THE BEING
WHO WANDERED THERE IN FLEETING TIME.
"HENCEFORTH, THERE IS NO MORE BETWEEN THOU AND ME
MY ELUCIDATION, OR DEMONSTRATION, OR SIGN SERVING AS A
PROOF.
THE PROOF IS HIS, FROM HIM, TOWARDS HIM.
"SPECULATIVE KNOWLEDGE IS RELATIVE TO GOD'S OVERFLOWING
BEYOND HIS ESSENCE,"
SAYS HALLAJ
"BUT HOW DOES WHATEVER QUITS THE ESSENCE
KNOW THE ESSENCE,
O YE WHO ARE REMOVED FROM HIS TRANSCENDENCE
BY THE ABYSS OF TIME."
THE FINAL SCIENCE
(THE INTUITIVE GRASP OF THE DIVINE INTENTION)
WHICH GIVES US AT THE VERY MOMENT OF ITS REALIZATION
THE SIMPLE UNDERSTANDING OF THE REAL RELATIONS BETWEEN
PERISHABLE THINGS,
THEIR DIVINE ALLOCATIONS, LINKING US CONSTANTLY
BEYOND THE NETWORK OF EVENTS
TO THE INTENTION OF GOD BY A PARTICIPATION TO THE LIFE OF
HIS ESSENCE.
"HENCEFORTH, SOMETIMES HE LOOKS UPON ME, AND SOMETIMES
I LOOK UPON HIM.
IF HE WISHES, HE CAN SWOOP DOWN UPON US FROM HIS HIGH
PINNACLE,
ONE DISCOVERS HIM INSIDE IN HIS 'INTENTION'."
(SUHRAWARDI)
AND AS RESPONSE TO THE NOSTALGIA OF GOD
WRAPPED IN THE BEGINNING OF TIME IN THE SOLITUDE OF HIS
UNITY,
IN THE DARK CLOUD OF UNKNOWING FOR ANOTHER HIMSELF
THROUGH WHOM HIS LOVE MAY MANIFEST IN THE FORM OF A
BELOVED,
MAN MAKES HIM THE ADORED ONE
ISHQ ALLAH MA'ABUD L'ILLAH
WHEREAS MAN'S LONGING FOR THE SECLUSION OF THE ETERNAL
PRINCIPLE OF HIS BEING
OF WHOM HE DISCOVERS HIMSELF TO BE
THE IMAGE
OR WHOSE IMAGE HE DISCOVERS IN HIMSELF
IS HIS RESPONSE TO GOD'S WITHDRAWAL WHEREBY HE RESORBS
THE ESSENCE
OUT OF THE ESSENCE OF THE ESSENCE OF ALL CREATED THINGS
INTO UNITY WHERE NO ATTRIBUTES, NO FORMS, NO MULTIPLICITY,
NO INDIVIDUATION APPEAR ANYMORE.
"GOD WAS AND THERE WAS NO THING WITH HIM."
(HADITH)
WE ARE PULLED IN TWO OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS,
OUR NOSTALGIA TO CONTEMPLATE THE IMAGE IN THE WORLD OF
EXILE,
OF SHADOWS,
AND OUR YEARNING TO ORIENT OURSELVES TOWARDS
THE DAWNING OF THE LIGHT
OF OUR CONSCIOUSNESS, THE LIGHT OF LIGHTS: 'NUR AL ANWAR'.
LIKE THE PLANETS WE ARE EQUILIBRATED BETWEEN
THE CENTRIFUGAL FORCE
DUE TO THE WEIGHT OF THE DENSITY OF OUR MATERIALITY
AND THE CENTRIPETAL FORCE OF OUR AFFINITY WITH THE LIGHT,
WHICH ILLUMINATES OUR INTELLIGENCE.
THE BALANCE BETWEEN THESE TWO DETERMINES OUR PLACE
OUR RANK IN THE HIERARCHY OF THE BEINGS OF LIGHT,
THE CELESTIAL PLEIADES OF SOULS OR INTELLIGENCES,
ARCHANGELS, CHERUBS, SERAPHS, ANGELS, EFFULGENT BEINGS.
EACH LIGHT BEING IS RELATED TO EACH OTHER LIGHT BEING
IN THAT EACH LIGHT BEING DRAWS ITS BEING,
AND CONSEQUENTLY ITS LIGHT
FROM THE BEING WHO IS HIERARCHICALLY ABOVE HIM,
AND IS THUS LINKED UP THROUGH A WHOLE CHAIN OF
INTERMEDIARIES
TO THE SOURCE OF ALL LIGHT: 'NUR AL ANWAR',
THE FLAMBOYANT ZOROASTRIAN XVARNAH,
THE CROWN OF GLORY OF THE DIVINE KING,
THE ONE WHO DISPENSES THE SOVEREIGNITY OF LIGHT.
EACH BEING IS ENDOWED WITH HIS DIMENSION OF
SUBSTANTIALITY
WHICH HE CONTEMPLATES TOGETHER WITH THAT OF ALL OTHER
BEINGS
IN THAT WORLD OF EFFIGIES WHICH WE TAKE FOR REAL
WHEREAS THEY ARE MERE SHADOWS OF THE WORLDS OF LIGHT.
YET THE LIGHT THAT IS THRUST UPON ONE,
GIVING THE KNOWLEDGE OF ONESELF,
EMANATES FROM A BEING WHOSE LIGHT SURPASSES
THE LIGHT WE CAN WIELD.
HE IN TURN DRAWS HIS LIGHT FROM THE BEING
HIERARCHICALLY ABOVE HIM.
THUS OUR HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS DERIVES ITS LIGHT
FROM THE ARCHANGEL OF THE EARTH WHO DERIVES HIS LIGHT
THROUGH THE ARCHANGELS OF SUNS AND GALAXIES
(ANWAR MODABBIRA)
RULING OVER EVER INCREASING DOMAINS TO
THOSE SUPREME SOVEREIGN LIGHTS
(ANWAR QAHIRA AL QAWAHIR)
THE DIVINE MAJESTY.
WHEN, LIKE THE HELIOTROPE, WE TURN TOWARDS THE ORIENT
FROM WHICH THE LIGHT OF THE ARCHANGEL OF THE PLANET
DAWNS UPON US,
IT MAY COME TO PASS THAT WE DISCOVER OURSELVES IN HIM
AS A BEING OF LIGHT AS HE IS AND LOSE OURSELVES
IN FARTHER AND FARTHER REACHES OF PURE LUMINESCENCE.
THEN AGAIN, CASTING OUR GAZE UPON THE HORIZON OF
THE WEST
LETTING EVER HIGHER GRADES OF LIGHT PASS THROUGH,
WE SHALL DISCOVER THE ARCHANGEL-ARCHETYPES OF ALL CREATED
THINGS,
THE ETERNAL MODELS OF ALL LIVING THINGS.
THE SPECIES AS LIGHT BEINGS (ARBAB AL ANWA),
AND ENVISION PHYSICAL OBJECTS AS SHADOWS
OF THE WORLD OF PURE IMAGES AND FORMS
(ALAM AL MITHAL, THE WORLD OF MYTHS)
IN SUSPENSE, JUST LIKE THE IMAGES ARE SUSPENDED IN A MIRROR,
THIS IS THE HORIZON (BARZAQ) BETWEEN THE WORLDS
OF PURE INTELLIGENCE AND MATTER.
SUCH IS THE IMAGE IN WHICH GOD CONTEMPLATED HIMSELF
IN ETERNITY
BEFORE THIS IMAGE BECAME THE EVER RECURRENT
FORMS IN WHICH HE EXISTENTIATES HIS LOVE.
"LO, THE ANGELS OF GOD ADVANCE
TOWARDS THE WANDERERS WHO KNOCK AT THE GATE
OF THE HIGH VESTIBULES OF LIGHT,
LURING THEM TOWARDS THE ORIENT OF LIGHT ...
WHEN THE DIVINE LUMINARIES HAVE CONVERGED UPON A HUMAN
BEING,
THEY INVEST HIM WITH ROBES OF LIGHT,
HE IS GIVEN SOVEREIGNTY AND HELD IN ESTEEM."
EACH ADEPT EXPERIENCES THAT WHICH IS PROGRAMMED FOR HIM
AT THIS STAGE, ('MAQQAM') OF DEVELOPMENT.
SOME MAY ENVISION GOD
AS THE PERFECTION OF QUALITIES UNDERLYING ALL CREATED
THINGS,
HIS FOOTPRINTS IN CREATION.
SOME MAY DISCOVER THEMSELVES AS THE IMAGE OF GOD
IN WHICH GOD SEES HIMSELF PROJECTED.
SOME MAY GRASP GOD AS THE WITNESS
COUNTENANCING HIMSELF IN THEM AND ALL THINGS THROUGH
HIS EYES,
"HE IS AT THE SAME TIME THE ONE WHO KNOWS AND THE ONE
IN WHOM HE IS KNOWN."
IBN L'ARABI
SOME SEE MANIFESTATION AS A REVELATION OF KNOWLEDGE,
SOME AS A FULFILLMENT OF LOVE.
"GOD WISHED TO CONTEMPLATE HIS ESSENCE IN A GLOBAL
OBJECT,
WHICH BEING ENDOWED WITH EXISTENCE, RESUMES THE DIVINE
ORDER,
WITH A VIEW TO MANIFESTING HIS MASTERY TO HIMSELF."
IBN L'ARABI
THE DARVISH NIFFARI ANSWERS:
"IT WAS IN ORDER TO KNOW HIMSELF THAT GOD CREATED YOU,
IT WAS OUT OF HIS LOVE FOR YOU, THAT HE EMERGED FROM HIS
SOLITUDE
OF UNKNOWING."
HALLAJ LEADS US INTO A TRANSCENDENTAL EXPERIENCE OF THESE
TWO PHASES.
HE FASHIONS A FORM BY THE CREATIVE FORCE OF HIS GLANCE
WHICH STRUCTURES
A SHAPE OUT OF THE FORMLESS ATTRIBUTES OF CREATION IN
PRE-ETERNITY:
SECONDLY,
HE HANDS HIMSELF OVER IN US AS OUR VERY CONSCIOUSNESS AS
AN ACT OF LOVE:
HE SAID THAT THROUGH LOVE MADE INTO REALITY
HE WOULD MAKE EVERYTHING VISIBLE
(WHICH IMPLIES POLARISING ORIGINAL UNITY INTO SUBJECT AND
OBJECT).
HE LOOKED INTO PRE-ETERNITY, AND CREATED A PICTURE.
THIS PICTURE IS THE MIRROR OF THAT COUNTENANCE;
WHEN GOD BEHOLDS ANYTHING, HE CREATES HIS PICTURE IN IT
FOR ALL ETERNITY."
NOW COMES THE SECOND AND DECISIVE STEP:
"THEN HE CONVERSED WITH IT, ACCLAIMED IT, GLORIFIED IT, AND
LOVED IT."
IN THIS CONVERSATION IN PRE-ETERNITY
HE NOT ONLY ESTABLISHED US AS AN IMAGE BUT ENDOWED US
WITH THE GREATEST OF GIFTS:
FREE WILL.
OUR WORDS 'I WILL' IN THE ETERNAL COVENANT
"WHEN WE WERE STILL IN THE LOINS OF ADAM,"
SHEER VIRTUALITIES, WERE OUR FIRST ACT OF FREE-WILL,
ESTABLISHING OUR IDENTITY FOR ALL TIME.
THE PROMISE IN ETERNITY, REITERATED OVER AND OVER AGAIN
IN OUR LIFE.
NOT SIMPLY THE FULFILLMENT OF
HIS DESIRE TO KNOW HIMSELF
EVEN IF LATENT,
ESTABLISHING MAN IN THE DIGNITY OF A PARTNER
IN THE COLLOQUY OF LOVE,
MAKING HIM THE BELOVED.
MAN IN TURN RESPONDS TO GOD'S LOVE
BY MAKING HIM THE OBJECT OF HIS GLORIFICATION.
'ISHQ ALLAH, MA'ABUD L'ILLAH'.
THE ECSTASY OF DISCOVERING THE DIVINE ATTRIBUTES IN ONE
IS GREAT INDEED,
BUT WHAT OF THE ONE OF DISCOVERING ONESELF
AS THE 'THOU' TO WHOM GOD SPEAKS
IN HIS LOVE DIALOGUE?
"IT IS AS THOUGH I WERE A 'THOU' TO WHOM
THE WORD OF GOD WAS ADDRESSED,
BEYOND THE THOUGHTS THAT COME TO ME
REFERRING TO MY ATTRIBUTES."
WHAT IS ECSTASY?
IT IS AN INCITEMENT,
THEN A GLANCE OF GOD THAT GROWS AND GLOWS
IN THE SECRET OF HEARTS ...
HERE I AM, O MY TRUST, HERE I AM, O MY BEING,
O MY MEANING'
I CALLED THEE, NO IT WAS THEE WHO BECKONED UPON ME.
HOW COULD I HAVE DEEMED TO ASK 'IS IT THOU', IF THOU HADST
NOT ALREADY WHISPERED 'IT IS ME'.
O END AND AIM OF MY DESTINY, O MY LANGUAGE AND MY
STAMMERING."
HE WAS ACCUSED OF REVEALING THE SECRETS OF LOVERS.
"HAD WE NOT FORBIDDEN YOU TO WELCOME A GUEST?'
THAT GUEST WAS GOD.
"HE BECAME NOAH AND WENT INTO THE ARK
WHEN AT HIS PRAYER, THE WORLD WAS FLOODED.
HE BECAME ABRAHAM AND APPEARED
IN THE MIDST OF THE FIRE WHICH BLOOMED WITH ROSES
FOR HIS SAKE ...
THEN HE BECAME JESUS AND ASCENDED TO HEAVEN AND GLORIFIED GOD.
IT WAS HE THAT WAS COMING AND GOING IN EVERY GENERATION
THOU HAST KNOWN,
UNTIL AT LAST HE APPEARED IN THE FORM OF AN ARAB
AND GAINED THE EMPIRE OF THE WORLD ...
NO, NO. 'TWAS EVEN HE TAHT CRIED IN HUMAN SHAPE
'ANA' L HAQQ'.
THE ONE WHO MOUNTED THE SCAFFOLD WAS NOT MANSUR
(AL HALLAJ)
AS THE FOOLISH IMAGINED."
RUMI'S SOUL OUTSTRIPPED APPERTAINANCE TO A PARTICULAR
RELIGION:
"I AM NEITHER CHRISTIAN, NOR JEW, NOR GARR, NOR MOSLEM.
I AM NOT OF THE EAST, NOR OF THE WEST, NOR OF THE LAND,
NOR OF THE SEA,
I AM NOT OF NATURE'S MINT, NOR OF THE CIRCLING HEAVENS.
I AM NOT OF EARTH, NOR OF WATER, NOR OF AIR, NOR OF FIRE.
I AM NOT OF THE EMPYREAN, NOR OF THE DUST,
NOR OF EXISTENCE, NOR OF ENTITY.
I AM NOT OF INDIA, NOR OF CHINA, NOR OF BULGARIA,
NOR OF SAQSIN.
I AM NOT OF THIS WORLD NOR OF THE NEXT, NOR OF PARADISE
NOR OF HELL.
I AM NOT OF ADAM, NOR OF EVE, NOR OF EDEN AND RIZWAN.
MY PLACE IS THE PLACELESS, MY TRACE IS THE TRACELESS;
'TIS NEITHER BODY NOR SOUL,
FOR I BELONG TO THE SOUL OF THE BELOVED.
I HAVE PUT DUALITY AWAY, I HAVE SEEN THAT THE TWO WORLDS
ARE ONE.
ONE I SEEK, ONE I KNOW, ONE I SEE, ONE I CALL.
HE IS THE FIRST, HE IS THE LAST, HE IS THE OUTWARD,
HE IS THE INWARD;
I KNOW NONE OTHER EXCEPT
'YA HU' AND 'YA MAN HU'"
(JELAL UD DIN RUMI)
Statistics: Posted by admin — Sat Sep 26, 2015 9:20 am
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THE CHAIN OF THE SUFIS
AT A TIME WHEN THE BREAKING DOWN OF RELIGIOUS, INTELLECTUAL
AND CULTURAL BARRIERS BETWEEN EAST AND WEST
FOSTERS RICH FERMENTATION OF IDEAS, AND A RE-EVALUATION
OF IDEALS, THE AGE-OLD TRADITION OF SUFI ESOTERIC PHILOSOPHY
AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO THE PERENNIAL UNFOLDMENT
OF HUMAN THOUGHT REMAINS BUT LITTLE KNOWN EXCEPT
TO A FEW SPECIALISTS AND ENTHUSIASTS. YET AN EXPLORATION
OF ITS TEACHINGS THROWS A REVEALING LIGHT ON THE
PROBLEMS THAT THE WEST HAS USUALLY TRIED TO FATHOM WITH THE
MEASURING-ROD OF SPECULATIVE THOUGHT; AND IT MAY YET HAVE
AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO MAKE TO TODAY'S
SPIRITUAL RENAISSANCE
"Just tether your ass and commend it to God," goes a Turkish proverb. The West has always been of the belief that Islam is stagnant as a religion. Nothing is further from the truth; Islam is more viable than the Christian religion. It has proven its viability. The following exploration clearly shows us the well-spring of the power of Islam, it is up to us to make the well-spring useful to the Christian religion as well. It was living water from this well-spring that brought everything to fruition in the early period of the Church, and which produced the most glorious flowering of the Middle Ages; only rationalism and materialism blocked this well-spring.
-- The Practice of the Ancient Turkish Freemasons: The Key to the Understanding of Alchemy, by Baron Rudolf von Sebottendorf
A MESSAGE IN OUR TIME.
OUR APPRECIATION OF THE UNIVERSAL VALUE OF HUMAN
THOUGHT HAS BEEN GREATLY HAMPERED SO FAR BY OUR
ACQUIRED HABITS OF PIGEON-HOLING KNOWLEDGE INTO
SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT AND WATER-TIGHT RELIGIOUS GROUPS; WE
DISTINGUISH GREEK PHILOSOPHY FROM VEDANTA AND THE EGYPTIAN
MYSTERIES FROM THE KABBALA OR ZOROASTRIANISM, OR
CHRISTIANITY, OVERLOOKING THE CURRENTS AND CROSS-CURRENTS
THAT HAVE RUN FROM ONE SYSTEM (AS WE CALL IT) TO
THE OTHER, OR THAT PART PLAYED BY THOSE POWERFUL
THOUGHTS, ACTING AS POLLEN, FERMENTS OR CATALYSTS THAT
HAVE THROWN THESE GROUPS INTO BLOSSOM, ENRICHED THEIR
CONCEPTS, OR OPERATED THE SUDDEN AND PROFOUND TRANSFORMATIONS
THAT HAVE AT TIMES GALVANIZED CIVILIZATIONS
TO THE POINT OF TAKING THE LEAD FOR A TIME. FURTHERMORE,
ONE MUST NOT OVERLOOK THE PERSONAL STAMP OF THOSE WHO
HAVE REVEALED NEW BELIEFS UPON THE SURFACE OF THE SAME
OLD PROBLEMS THROUGH THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL OUTLOOK, OR
SHALL WE SAY, THEIR METTLE.
WHEN THE TORCH OF MYSTERY TEACHING THAT ILLUMINATED
GREEK THOUGHT WAS IN DANGER OF BEING EXTINGUISHED BY THE
CLOSING DOWN OF THE SCHOOL OF ATHENS UNDER JUSTINIAN IN
THE YEAR 529, IT WAS RESCUED AND REVIVED BY THE AWAKENING
ARAB WORLD WHICH INHERITED THE "FALSAFA" (ARABIC FOR
PHILOSOPHY) FROM THE HANDS OF THE NEO-PLATONISTS, DAMASCIUS
AND HIS BRETHREN, AT THE COURT OF THEIR ROYAL PERSIAN
HOST, NURSHIVAN, WHO HAD GIVEN THEM ASYLUM. THE
PHILOSOPHICAL CONTROVERSIES OF THE KHORASSAN SCHOOLS
WERE DOMINATED BY THE CROSS-CURRENTS BETWEEN THE PLATONISTS
CALLED ISHRAKIN, OR ILLUMINATED, BECAUSE THEY
REGARDED INTUITION, OR THE INTROSPECTIVE LIGHT OF CONSCIOUSNESS
AS THE SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE, AND THE PERIPATETICIANS,
OR MASHAIN, WHO ATTRIBUTED KNOWLEDGE TO
DIALECTICS AND THE INTELLECT. NO DOUBT, NOT ONLY THE NEO-PLATONIC GNOSIS BUT EVEN ITS TERMINOLOGY CAN BE
TRACED BACK TO THE WRITINGS OF THE SUFIS. BUT THE SWEEPING
AND CATEGORICAL NATURE OF THE ISLAMIC SHAHADA THAT IS
THE AFFIRMATION OF THE SOLE EXISTENCE OF GOD, TOGETHER
WITH THE DENIAL OF ANY OTHER EXISTENCE, INEVITABLY CALLED
FOR A TEARING RE-EXAMINATION OF THE "IMAGO MUNDI" OF THE
NEO-PLATONISTS, THAT HYPOSTATIC PROCESSION FROM THE ONE
AS PLOTINUS HAD OUTLINED IN THE ENNEADS. THE CONCLUSIONS
REACHED IN THIS SOUL-SEARCHING OF THAT MOST INTREPID OF
THINKERS ARE FAR-REACHING AND CANNOT LEAVE US INDIFFERENT.
SIMILARLY THE ZOROASTRIAN BACKGROUND WHERE THE NEW
CONQUERORS OF PERSIA ESTABLISHED THEMSELVES, STEEPED IN
THE AGE-OLD WISDOM OF THE MAGI WHOSE WORK HAD BEEN
DESTROYED BY THE PILLAGE OF ALEXANDER'S TROOPS,
CHALLENGED THE MORE ENLIGHTENED OF THE FAITH TO RE-EXAMINE
IT IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR SWEEPING OUT-LOOK. SO
MUCH SO THAT SHIHAB-UD-DIN YAHYA-AS SUHRAWARDI WHO WAS
PUT TO DEATH IN ALEPPO AT THE AGE OF THIRTY-SIX REFERRED TO
HIMSELF AS THE SPIRITUAL SUCCESSOR OF SUCH PERSIAN MAGI AS
KHOSRAU, ZOROASTER, JAMASP, FRASHAOSHTRA, BOZURGMEHR.
BUT HE INCLUDED IN THIS CHAIN OF TORCHBEARERS OF THE
ESOTERIC TRADITION EMPEDOCLES, PLATO, PYTHAGORAS, PLOTINUS,
PROCLUS AND HERMES, WHO FORM A PROPHETIC FAMILY,
WHOSE MISSION IS "THE CLOSE SAFEGUARD OF THE DIVINE PROOFS
UPON THE EARTH." THE BREATH-TAKING PERSPECTIVES OPENED
ON THE COSMOLOGY OF THE HEAVENLY ORBS BY AVICENNA IN HIS
"KITAB AL SHIFA" AND SUHRAWARDI IN HIS "HIKMAT AL ISHRAQ"
(PHILOSOPHY OF LIGHT) REINSTATE THE ANGELOLOGY OF THE
ZOROASTRIANS, WHICH IS THE MOST DETAILED SYSTEM KNOWN,
EVEN MORE SO THAN THAT OF THE KABALA, WHOSE ANGELOLOGICAL
SYSTEM HAS ENTERED SUFISM BY THE DOOR OF ISMAILISM.
CURIOUSLY ENOUGH THE ANCIENTS CONSIDERED PLATO
AS THE DISCIPLE OF THE PERSIANS THROUGH A LEAKAGE
TRICKLING THROUGH THE DARDANELLES OR ACROSS ASIA MINOR;
CONVERSELY, THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE ZOROASTRIAN ANGELOLOGY
WERE LATER SHAKEN IN THE MIND OF AVICENNA BY
THE THEOLOGY OF ARISTOTLE, THAT APOCRYPHAL MANUSCRIPT
ATTRIBUTED BY THE ARABS TO ARISTOTLE WHICH WAS NOTHING
BUT AN EDITED TRANSLATION OF THE ENNEADS IV AND VI AND A
FRAGMENT OF PORPHYRY. SUHRAWARDI WENT YET FURTHER,
CORROBORATING AND ENRICHING THIS "INTERPRETATIO MUNDI"
BY THE FRUIT OF HIS MEDITATIONS ON THE ESSENTIAL NATURE OF
KNOWLEDGE TO MEET THE CHALLENGE OF ISLAM.
THE OLD MYSTERY SCHOOLS OF EGYPT, SUPERSEDED AND
CORRUPT AS THEY WERE, ALSO LEFT A FERMENT THAT HAS FERTILIZED
THE SOIL OF SUFISM. THEY HAD GIVEN RISE TO THE
TREMENDOUS RESEARCH IN METAPHYSICS, ARITHMETIC, ALGEBRA,
SYLLOGISTICS, MEDICINE, ALCHEMY, ASTROLOGY, THAT HAS
RADIATED FROM THE THIRD TO THE SIXTH CENTURIES FROM THE
SCHOOLS OF ALEXANDRIA, THE SO-CALLED SCHOOLS OF ORIENTAL
SYNCRETISM. HERE THE ESOTERIC HERITAGE OF EGYPT, AS BORNE
BY HERMES AND OTHERS, THAT OF THE HELLENISTIC CULTURE BY
PROCLUS AND THE MANICHEANS, AND THAT OF ISRAEL BY DENIS
AND THE NESTORIANS AMALGAMATED INTO A "CORPUS HERMETICA".
THIS CORPUS BOLSTERED THE GROWTH OF THE EXACT
SCIENCES IN THEIR FORMATIVE STAGES IN BOTH EAST AND WEST
AND GAVE ALCHEMY ITS RICHNESS AND POWER TO THE EXTENT
THAT PSYCHOLOGISTS TODAY STILL FEEL THE NEED TO GROPE
INTO ITS MYSTERIES IN ORDER TO ENABLE THEM TO MAKE AN
EXACT SCIENCE OF PSYCHOLOGY. THROUGHOUT THE PROGRESS OF
SECULARIZATION OF PHILOSOPHY IN EAST AND WEST, THE BELIEF
IN AN HERMETIC KNOWLEDGE AVAILABLE ONLY TO THE INITIATED
AND COMMUNICATED BY A SAGE, SUCCESSOR IN THE SECRET
TRADITION TO HERMES AND FURTHER BACK TO THOTH, HAS NEVER
COMPLETELY DISAPPEARED. IN ISLAM THE FIGURE OF HERMES
WAS ASSUMED BY KHIDR OR BETTER STILL IN THE ESOTERIC
TRADITION BY IDRIS, THAT INEFFABLE MASTER OF THE HERMETIC
MYSTERY KNOWN ONLY TO THE FEW, WHO REMAINS THE HIDDEN
(BATIN) INITIATOR BEHIND THE OUTER (ZAHIR) PIR'S TEACHING.
THIS ESOTERIC SCIENCE TOGETHER WITH ITS EXOTERIC
DISCIPLINE WAS SPREAD IN ARAMAIC ASSYRIA
AND MESOPOTAMIA.
ONE OF THE SUFI HEIRS TO THE EGYPTIAN MYSTERY CULTS AND
HERMETIC WISDOM WAS THE EGYPTIAN DHUL NUN MISRI, (BY HIS
REAL NAME, ABU FAYE THAUBAN IBRAHIM MISRI) 798-856, WHO IS
PASSED DOWN IN THE HISTORY OF SUFISM AS A NEAR LEGENDARY
FIGURE FOR HIS KNOWLEDGE OF THE THEN ALMOST FORGOTTEN
HIEROGLYPHICS, WHICH HE DECIPHERED FROM EGYPTIAN
TEMPLES, HIS MASTERY IN THE ART OF ALCHEMY AND KABALA,
AND HIS ERUDITION IN HERMETIC WISDOM. BY ACCUMULATING
INITIATIONS IN THESE ESOTERIC DISCIPLINES HE WAS ABLE TO
COMBINE THEIR DOCTRINES IN AN OVERRIDING GNOSIS -- OR
VISION OF UNITY -- BROADENED YET BY HIS OWN
MYSTICAL EXPERIENCE.
DURING THE NINTH AND TENTH CENTURIES, THE ISMAILIS INJECTED
ISLAM WITH THE IDEAL OF INTER-RELIGIOUS RECONCILIATION
AND DIFFUSED THE FRUITS OF THE FINDINGS OF THE SCHOOL OF
ALEXANDRA. AN INDICATION OF THE ENCYCLOPEDIC CHARACTER
OF ISMAILISM MAY BE TRACED IN THE IKHWAN AL SAFA, WHICH
GIVES AN ALL-EMBRACING PANORAMIC VIEW OF HUMAN KNOWLEDGE
IN THE TENTH CENTURY. THIS MYSTERIOUS SECT, WHICH
SOUGHT TO ESTABLISH THE FATIMID IMMAMAT, WAS FOUNDED BY
MAYMOUN AL QUADDAH AND REACHED A DEPTH OF INTROSPECTIVE
ANALYSIS AS YET UNSURPASSED IN THE ANNALS OF METAPHYSICS
UNDER THE IMPULSE OF NAZIR KHUSARAU E JAMI AL HIKMATAIN
(THE BOOK LINKING THE TWO WISDOMS). IT WAS THE INFLUENCE
OF ISMAILISM THAT INTRODUCED ELEMENTS OF SUFI
ESOTERICISM INTO THE WEST THROUGH THE CONTACTS MADE
WITH THE CRUSADERS. THUS THE CATHARS, WHO INTRODUCED
THE ROSICRUCIAN SECRET ORDER INTO THE MEDIEVAL CHRISTIAN
MILIEU, BRANCHED OFF FROM THE STEM OF THE SUFI TRADITION.
THE LEGENDS OF PARSIFAL THAT PENETRATED GERMANIC
FOLKLORE THROUGH THE DRUIDS, THE CELTIC ONE IN CRESTIEN
DE TROYES FABLES, AND THE SAXON ONE, THROUGH THE KING
ARTHUR LEGENDS, REVEALS THE TRACE OF AN ENCOUNTER
BETWEEN ISLAMIC AND CHRISTIAN INITIATES. ACCORDING TO THE
TRADITION, PARSIFAL'S FATHER WAS AN ARAB, AND THE WORD
PARSIFA BETRAYS A PERSIAN ETYMOLOGY -- PAREH-FAL MEANS: "LE
FOL PUR" OR "LE FOU D'AMOUR" (IN ARABIC PARS MEANS PURE AND
WAL OR WALI, SAINT, OR FRIEND OF GOD). THE GRAIL LEGEND
BROUGHT BACK FROM PALESTINE BY THE ORDER OF THE TEMPLARS
INTRODUCED THE MYSTERY TRADITION INTO CHRISTIANITY. THE
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN TERMINOLOGY: KNIGHTS OF PURITY
AND IKHWAN AL SAFA, WHICH MEANS "BROTHERHOOD OF THE
PURE", WAS FOSTERED DURING THE CRUSADES.
THERE ARE MORE EXAMPLES OF THE INFLUENCE OF SUFI THOUGHT
UPON CHRISTIAN MYSTICISM THROUGH THE SPANISH SCHOOL
THAT FLOURISHED DURING THE FOUR CENTURIES FROM THE
THIRTEENTH CENTURY ONWARDS. RAMON LULL (1235-1315), WHO
MAY BE CONSIDERED AS THE INITIATOR OF THE GOLDEN AGE OF
CHRISTIAN MYSTICISM, WROTE IN THE "BOOK OF THE LOVER AND
THE BELOVED", WHICH WAS FRAMED IN TYPICAL SUFI TERMINOLOGY,
OF HIS MEETING WITH "CERTAIN MEN CALLED SUFIS WHO
SET DOWN WORDS O LOVE AND BRIEF EXAMPLES WHICH GAVE
US GREAT DEVOTION, AND THESE WORDS WHICH DEMANDED
EXPOSITION AND BY THE EXPOSITION THEREOF THE UNDERSTANDING
SOARS ALOFT, AND THE WILL LIKEWISE SOARS AND IS
INCREASED IN DEVOTION". THE DISTINGUISHED CONTEMPORARY
SPANISH ARABIC SCHOLAR AND WRITER, PROFESSOR MIGUEL ASIN
PALACIOS, HAS ATTEMPTED TO PROVE IN "ISLAM AND THE DIVINE
COMEDY" THE INFLUENCE OF THE ESOTERIC DOCTRINES OF ISLAM
OF DANTE'S "DIVINE COMEDY." HE HAS ALSO SHOWN THE
INFLUENCE OF AVERROES ON ST. THOMAS AQUINAS
AND OF IBN L'ARABI ON RAMON LULL.
THE CONVERSE IS EQUALLY TRUE: HASSAN BASRI (D. 728), WHO IS
CLAIMED AS THE FIRST AFTER HAZRAT ALI IN THE "ISNADS AND
SILSILS" OR "CHAINS OF SPIRITUAL AFFILIATION", ATTRIBUTED TO
DAVID AND JESUS THE AUSTERE PRACTICES UPON WHICH HE
MODELLED HIS LIFE. AS A MATTER OF FACT THE WORD SUFI IS
OFTEN ATTRIBUTED TO THE PRECEDENT HE SET BY WEARING A
ROBE OF WOOL (SUF IN ARABIC), FOLLOWING THEREBY THE
EXAMPLE OF JESUS, FOR WHICH HE WAS CRITICISED BY IBN SIRIN, A
CONTEMPORARY SCHOLAR WHO "PREFERRED TO FOLLOW THE
EXAMPLE OF OUR PROPHET WHO CLOTHED HIMSELF IN COTTON."
THE KHIRKA OR ROBE MARKED ALREADY AT THAT TIME THE
CLEAVAGE BETWEEN THE NON-CONSERVATIVE SUFIS AND THE DOGMATICS
OF THE FAITH. ABU HASHIM OTHMAN IBN SHARIK OF
KUFA, WHO IS CREDITED WITH HAVING SET UP THE FIRST TRUE
SUFI KHANKAH OR MONASTERY, IS SAID TO HAVE FOLLOWED, IN SO
DOING, THE EXAMPLE OF A CHRISTIAN AMIR WHO FOUNDED THE
FIRST MONASTIC EDIFICE IN RAMLEH IN PALESTINE. ABU HASHIM
WAS ATTACKED FOR THIS BY THE IMMAMITES ON THE STRENGTH
OF THE HADITH "YA RABANIH FIL ISLAM" (NO MONKERY IN ISLAM).
THIS WAS TO BE FOLLOWED BY THE KHANKAH SI RIBAT, BUILT BY
THE DISCIPLES OF IBN KHARRAM AT JERUSALEM IN 855.
SUFIS MAY BE TRACED DOWN TO IBRAHIM BEN ADHAM, WHO
LEARNED THE TRUE MARIFAT OR GNOSIS FROM FATHER SIMEON
AND A GROUP OF CHRISTIAN ANCHORITES WHO GAVE HIM
ASYLUM AND COVERED HIS HIDING WHEN HIS LIFE WAS IN DANGER
IN THE SYRIAN DESERT. IT WAS THROUGH HIM THAT BUDDHIST
INFLUENCES ARE SAID TO HAVE PENETRATED INTO THE MOSLEM
WORLD. FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF PRINCE SIDDHARTHA, THE
BUDDHA, IBN ADHAM, WHO WAS PRINCE OF KHORASSAN, LEFT HIS
PALACE TO DON THE PAUPER'S ROBE AND TAKE UP THE BEGGAR'S
BOWL (KASHKOUL) AFTER HAVING HEARD A VOICE BECKONING
WITH THE WORDS "IT WAS NOT FOR THIS THAT THOU WAST
CREATED." ROAMING AS A MENDICANT HE LEARNED, THEN TAUGHT,
A SYSTEM OF SELF-DISCIPLINE (ZUHD) WHICH WAS THEN IN ITS
FORMATIVE STAGE AND WAS FURTHER DEVELOPED BY HIS PUPIL
SHAQIQ WHO ADVOCATED "TAWAQHUL", ABANDON IN GOD. HE
GAVE HIS PUPILS THE FIRST PRECEPTS IN METHODS OF CONTEMPLATION
(MURAQUABAH) KNOWN TO THE SUFIS AND PRACTISED
THE PRESENCE OF GOD THROUGH "FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD"
(KHOLLA).
THE PHENOMENON OF OSMOSIS BETWEEN ISLAMIC AND HINDU
THOUGHT CAN ALSO BE TRACED BACK BY FOLLOWING CROSS-
CURRENTS. THE PORT OF BASRA ON THE RED SEA CONDUCTED
DURING THE SEVENTH CENTURY THE FLOW OF INDIAN CULTURE
INTO THE ISLAMIC WORLD. A STUDY OF ASTRONOMICAL AND
ASTROLOGICAL TABLES, TOGETHER WITH MATHEMATICAL METHODS
(THE SINEWS INSTEAD OF THE CHORD IN TRIGONOMETRY)
AND MEDICINE USED AT THE TIME PROVES THIS. BUT A CROSS-
CURRENT FLOWING NOW FROM THE SCHOOLS OF BASRA, BAGHDAD
AND KHORASSAN SOON TURNED THE TIDE IN THE
OPPOSITE DIRECTION WHEN THE GNOSTIC SCIENCES DEVELOPED
BEYOND THOSE OF INDIA. THE CHALLENGE OF ITS SINGLE DIVINITY
SET BEFORE THE MINDS OF MANY INDIAN THINKERS A NEW PROBLEM
OF INTEGRATION WHICH HAD FAR-REACHING EFFECTS. IT
GALVANIZED THE THEN DECADENT INDIAN CULTURE INTO RENEWED
SOUL-SEARCHING, FORCING IT TO OUTREACH ITSELF,
AND IT CATALYZED A NEW FORM OF SYNCRETISM, OR A SPIRITUAL
SYNTHESIS, SURPASSING IN ITS UNIVERSAL CHARACTER EVEN THAT
OF THE SCHOOL OF ALEXANDRIA. FROM THE EARLIER MASSIVE
CONVERSIONS THAT WERE EFFECTED BY THE POWER OF THE WORD
RATHER THAN THE SWORD IN INDIA ONE MAY JUDGE OF THE
SPIRITUAL ASCENDANCY OF MALIK BEN DINAR AMONG THE
MOPLARS OR HALLAJ AMONG THE DUDWALARS AND THE PINJARAS
OF GUJRAT, OR YUSUF AL DIN SINDHI AMONG THE MOMANS, OF
KUTCH, OF ABDALLAH HARAZI AMONG THE BOHARAS OF GUJRAT,
OF NASIR E KHOSRAU AMONGST THE TRIBES OF WAKHAN AND THE
AFRIDIS, AND NOUR STAGAR AND SADRAL DIN AMONGST THE
KHOJAS OF GUJERAT WHO ARE OF THE ISMAILI SECT OF WHICH HIS
HIGHNESS THE AGA KHAN IS THE LEADER TODAY. THE MOGHUL
INVASION OF NORTHERN INDIA FOSTERED THE EXODUS INTO INDIA
OF MANY SUFI FRATERNITIES AND ORDERS THAT PLAYED THE
LEADING ROLE IN CONVERSIONS: MOIN-UD-DIN CHISHTI (634 A.H.) WHO
WAS THE FOUNDER OF THE CHISTIA ORDER IN AJMER FROM
WHICH PIR-O-MURSHID INAYAT KHAN DESCENDS IN SPIRITUAL
AFFILIATION, PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN SETTING THE IDEAL
OF UNIVERSAL RELIGION, FOLLOWED BY THE MOGHUL EMPEROR
AKBAR WHO CONVENED THE FIRST INTER-RELIGIOUS CONGRESS IN
THE WORLD AT HIS COURT. QUTB KHAKI WAS ALSO A CENTER OF
SPIRITUAL RADIATION THAT DREW THOUSANDS IN DELHI.
IT WAS DURING THIS DYNAMIC PERIOD BETWEEN THE LATTER
HALF OF THE SIXTEENTH AND THE BEGINNING OF THE SEVENTEENTH
CENTURIES IN INDIA THAT THE SANSKRIT SACRED TEXTS
WERE TRANSLATED INTO PERSIAN AND THE ARAB TEXTS INTO
THE INDIAN DIALECTS. IT WAS AT THIS TIME THAT BIROUMI
TRANSLATED THE YOGA SUTRA OF PATANJALI FROM SANSKRIT INTO
ARABIC AND LEFT NUMEROUS STUDIES ON INDIAN PHILOSOPHY OF
A COMPARATIVE NATURE THAT WERE WIDELY SPREAD IN THE
ARAB WORLD, AND PRINCE DARASHIKH WAS ENCOURAGING MUTUAL
COMPREHENSION THROUGH THE EXCHANGE OF CULTURE.
THE PROFOUNDER MINDS OF THE TIME WERE SEEKING A RECONCILIATION
BETWEEN THE METAPHYSICAL DOCTRINES THAT WERE
THUS CONFRONTED. THIS MEANT A COMPLETE AND UTTER REEVALUATION
OF ALL THE PROBLEMS AND CONCURRENTLY THE
ESTABLISHING OF A TABLE OF CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE
TERMINOLOGIES NOT ONLY OF VEDANTA AND SUFISM, BUT ALSO
OF JAINISM, MAHAYANA, SAMKHYA, HINAYANA, TANTRA, AND THE
SCHOOL OF SHANKARA ON THE ONE HAND, AND ON THE OTHER HAND,
THE WHOLE COMPLEX WE HAVE EXAMINED SO FAR.
Ek Ong Kar Sat Nam Siri Wha Guru
THERE IS BUT ONE GOD, TRUTH IS HIS NAME,
GREAT IS HIS INDESCRIBABLE WISDOM.
KABIR (1518) FOUND A HAPPY COMPROMISE IN HIS POEMS. A MUSLIM,
THOUGH THE DISCIPLE OF A HINDU GURU, RAMANANDA, HE
TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES THE ISLAMIC IDEAL OF THE UNITY OF GOD,
TOGETHER WITH THE VEDANTA METAPHYSICS. SIMILARLY, THE
MOVEMENT THAT GAVE RISE TO THE SIKHS UNDER GURU NANAK
(1539) WAS A FURTHER EFFORT TOWARDS A RECONCILIATION, AND
MORE: A SWEEPING OVERBRIDGING. THE ADIGRANTH, OR SACRED
TEXT OF THE SIKHS, CONTAINS MANY HYMNS BY SUFIS AMONGST
WHOM IS SHAKARGANJ (664 A.H.) OF PAKPATTAN.
WHATEVER BE THE UNDERCURRENTS OF EXCHANGE, IT IS GRATIFYING
AND EXCITING FOR THE STUDENT OF COMPARATIVE
RELIGION TO SEE VEDANTA, ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY CONVERGING
UPON ADVAITA AND MONISM (AHADIAT); INDEED JUST AS THE
DIVERSITY OF THE OLYMPIAN GODS WAS LATER SEEN AS THE
MANIFOLD ASPECTS OF THE SINGLE ZEUS, WHO BECAME THE DEUS
OF THE CHRISTIANS. ONE MAY COMPARE THE CURRENTS THAT
LEAD THE PRE-ARYAN, DUALISTIC, REALISTIC JAIN PHILOSOPHY OF
MIND-VERSUS-SUBSTANCE TO THE VEDANTA OF SHANKARYACHARYA,
OR THE ETHICAL DUALISM OF ZOROASTRIANISM OR THE METAPHYSICAL
DUALISM OF THE PERIPATETICS TO THE INTEGRATION
OF THE ISMAILIS AND THE MONISM OF IBN L-ARABI, OR THE FORMALISM
OF ST. AUGUSTINE THROUGH ST. THOMAS AQUINAS' IDEALISM
TO MEISTER ECKHARDT'S MYSTICISM. THIS GIVES EVIDENCE
OF THE INEVITABLE MARCH OF THE HUMAN SOUL FACED WITH
THE TASK OF ASSIMILATING POINTS OF VIEW AT FIRST SO CONFUSINGLY
CONTRADICTORY AND YET FUNDAMENTALLY UNIFYING.
"GOD IS THE RECONCILIATION OF OPPOSITES"
SAYS THE SUFI KARRAS.
WHAT INTERESTS PARTICULARLY THOSE DRAWN TO THE ESOTERIC
LEARNING IS NOT THE THEORETICAL OR HISTORICAL ASPECTS OF
THIS PROBLEM, BUT THE FACT THAT THE PHILOSOPHICAL COGITATIONS
MEETING THE PROBLEMS HAVE LEAD TO A PSYCHOLOGICAL
DISCOVERY OF OUR FUNDAMENTAL NATURE, WHICH
IS NONE OTHER THAN THE NATURE OF GOD. THUS THE GREAT
PROGRESSION OF SUFISM IS NOTHING LESS THAN AN EXPERIMENTAL
ADVENTURE INTO THE PSYCHE.
BUT THE ERA OF GLOWING, BURNING DIVINE LOVE,
FORESHADOWING GREAT STRIDES IN MYSTICAL ACHIEVEMENT,
WAS OPENED BY A LADY SUFI SAINT OF BASRA, RABIA (801). THE
"GRACE OF LOVE," AS MARGARET SMITH HAS CALLED HER.
LIKE ST. THERESA SHE FORSOOK MARRIAGE, SAYING, "THE CONTRACT
SHOULD BE ASKED OF HIM, NOT OF ME, FOR I LIVE IN THE
SHADOW OF HIS COMMAND." LIKE ST. THERESA SHE PRAYED TO BE
SPARED THE GRACE OF THE EXPERIENCE OF HEAVEN, THAT MUST
NEEDS BE A FURTHER TEMPTATION WITHHOLDING THE YEARNING
SOUL FROM COMPLETE UNION. LIKE ST. THERESA SHE SET UP AN
EXAMPLE OF LOVE AND SELF-ANNIHILATION TO BE FOLLOWED BY
SUFI MYSTICS FOR GENERATIONS TO COME, RATHER THAN THE
QUEST FOR PERFECTION OR NOSTALGIA FOR LIBERATION
THROUGH SELF-DISCIPLINE. IN A FAMOUS QUATRAIN SHE DISTINGUISHED
HUMAN AND DIVINE LOVE, OR RATHER PERFECT AND
IMPERFECT: "I LOVE THEE WITH TWO LOVES, A LOVE THAT IS
PASSION, AND ONE WHICH DECIDES THOU HAST EARNED AS THY
DUE. THE PASSIONATE LOVE IS THE THOUGHT WHICH FORGETTING
ALL ELSE IS OF YOU, AYE, FOREVER OF YOU. THOU EARNEST
THE OTHER BY RENDERING ASUNDER ALL VEILS AND DISCLOSING
THYSELF TO MY VIEW. NOT MINE BE THE PRAISE FOR THE ONE
OR THE OTHER, THE PRAISE AND THE THANKS ARE
ALL THINE FOR THE TWO."
THE GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TERMS AND THE FOUNDATIONS OF
THE DOCTRINE WERE ESTABLISHED BY A PENETRATING AND SYSTEMATIC
MIND; ABDUL WAHID IBN ZAID (D. 793), WHO CODIFIED, AS
IT WERE, MYSTICAL EXPERIENCE. HE WAS THE FIRST TO PERCEIVE
THE ROLE PLAYED BY ISOLATION IN MYSTICISM AND HE BAPTIZED
THE TERM IFRAD -- THUS PREPARING THE WAY FOR THE SUBTLE
PSYCHOLOGICAL ANALYSES OF MYSTICAL EXPERIENCE MADE BY AL
HALLAJ. AT THE SAME TIME HE WAS ABLE TO FOLLOW THE WORK
ITTISAF (DEIFICATION) TO ITS ULTIMATE CONCLUSIONS, THUS
FORESHADOWING THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE INTRINSIC UNITY OF
ALL EXISTENCE WHICH ALL HALLAJ ELUCIDATED WITH SUCH SKILL,
OPPOSING IT TO HULLUL, THE IDEA OF INCARNATION, WHICH IS
FORBIDDEN IN ISLAM, AS IT IS ASSUMED THAT IT IMPLIES THE DUALITY
OF SPIRIT AND MATTER AND THE EXISTENCE OF DIVINITIES
OTHER THAN GOD. IT WAS HE ALSO WHO DISTINGUISHED ISHRAQ, OR
THE DESIRE OF GOD, FROM MUHABBA, WHICH MARKS
THE CONSUMMATION.
BUT IT WAS AL MUHASIBI (856) WHO WAS THE GREAT FORERUNNER
OF THE SUFI DOCTRINE. THIS ROLE HE FULFILLED BY INTROSPECTIVE
ANALYSIS (AS HIS NAME INDICATES). SCRUPULOUS AND
METHODICAL, HIS WORK ASSUMES THE FORM OF A PHILOSOPHICAL
CONFESSION IN WHICH THE TECHNICAL VOCABULARY OF HIS
PREDECESSORS IS ARRANGED AND SYSTEMATIZED. HIS STYLE
REVEALS AT TIMES A STRIKING CONCLUSION; FOR INSTANCE:
"ENDURANCE IS TO OFFER ONESELF AS A TARGET FOR
THE ARROWS OF PAIN."
WHILE MAINTAINING THE FORMS CONSECRATED BY DOGMA, HE
YET PASSES FROM FORMALISM TO THE CORRESPONDING
EXPERIENCE, AS FOR INSTANCE IN HIS DESCRIPTION OF THE
MUSLIM AFTER-LIFE, FROM THE LAST JUDGMENT TO THE BEATIFIC
VISION IN KITAB AL TAWAHHUM, WHERE HE MAKES USE OF
THE DOGMA TO DESCRIBE THE MYSTICAL STATES WHICH HE
EXPERIENCES. IN HIS EXEGESIS OF THE "STATIONS" (MAQMAT) AND
"STATES" (AWHAL) HE WAS A PRECURSOR OF DHUL NUN. ACCORDING
TO MUHASIBI, REASON NEED NOT SET ITSELF UP AS JUDGE
WHEN MAN IS PASSIVELY OPEN TO DIVINE INTUITION; IT IS
THEREFORE NOT NECESSARY TO JUDGE IN ORDER TO DECIDE -- AN
ATTITUDE STRANGELY FORESHADOWING THE THESIS OF
KRISHNAMURTI IN OUR TIME.
WITH BASTAMI, SUFFISM ENTERS INTO THE PHASE OF THE GREAT
MYSTICAL INTROSPECTION. HE TESTED HIMSELF TO THE VERY
BRINK OF DEATH IN AN INTENSE SOUL-SEARING AND INTROSPECTIVE
EXPERIMENTATION. THIS ANCHORITE, WHO LIVED IN
THE CAVES OF NORTHERN IRAN, WAS AN UNCOMPROMISING
STICKLER FOR UNBIASED TRUTH, DISCARDING ALL THEORIZATION,
AND STRIPPING HIS SOUL NAKED OF ALL THOUGHTS AND
EMOTIONS IN ORDER TO REACH THE DEPTH.
FOR YEARS HIS SOUL STRUGGLED TO FREE ITSELF FROM THE NON-SELF
BY THE DEATH-RAY OF NEGATION AND ANNIHILATION,
SUFFERING NOTHING UNREAL AROUND HIM OR
IN HIMSELF.
RATHER THAN BELIEVE IN THE UNITY OF ALL BEING, HE
PREFERRED REALIZING IT; AND THIS HE FOUND COULD ONLY BE
ACHIEVED BY REDUCING HIMSELF TO UNITY. TO THIS END HE ENDURED
THE MOST TERRIBLE PRIVATIONS. HE WAS ONE OF THE
FIRST TO GRAFT HIS MEDITATION UPON THE NIGHT JOURNEY OF
THE PROPHET TO JERUSALEM AND HIS ASCENSION TO THE FOOT OF
THE THRONE OF GOD. TO WIT, THE ITINERARY TO THE SEAT OF GOD
DEPICTED IN AVICENNA'S HAYIBN YAQZAN, OR IN THE "FLUTTER OF
GABRIEL'S WINGS" OF SUHRAWARDI, AND THE "CONFERENCE OF
THE BIRDS" (MANTIQ AL TAIR) OF FARID-UD-DIN ATTAR. IT WILL
BE REMEMBERED HERE THAT AL HALLAJ HAD NAILED THE IMPERFECTION
OF MOHAMMED'S EXPERIENCE FOR HAVING FAILED TO
PENETRATE WITHIN THE DIVINE SANCTUARY, REMAINING WITHIN
A DISTANCE OF "TWO DARTS OF AN ARROW". COULD BASTAMI HAVE
SECRETLY STRIVEN TO EMULATE OR EVEN SUPERCEDE THIS EXPERIENCE
AND ATTEMPTED TO PASS THE THRESHOLD OF THE
MYSTERY? NO DOUBT HE THOUGHT IT WAS THE MISSION OF THE
MYSTICS AND OF THE SUFIS IN PARTICULAR TO TREAD THE PATH
ALREADY BROKEN BY THE PROPHET AND LEAD HIS FIRST ATTEMPT
TO CULMINATION. DID HE SUCCEED? THIS IS DIFFICULT TO ASCERTAIN,
FOR HOW CAN ONE OVERLOOK THE CONTRADICTION
BETWEEN THOSE EXCLAMATIONS -- "SO NEAR DID HE BRING ME
THAT I BECAME NEARER UNTO HIM THAN THE SPIRIT TO THE BODY" --
AND HIS DISABUSED VITUPERATIONS AGAINST THE HOAX OF
CREATION -- "AH, GOD MISLEADS THEE IN THE MARKET-PLACE OF
THIS WORLD AND IN THE NEXT YOU WILL ALSO FIND YOURSELF IN
THE MARKET-PLACE AND DISCOVER THAT YOU ARE FOREVER THE SLAVE
OF THE MARKET"? OR WAS HIS REBELLION AGAINST DUPERY
NOT A REACTION AGAINST THE COMPENSATIONS PROMISED BY
THE FAITHFUL IN THE PARADISE OF AFTER-LIFE, WHICH HE DENOUNCES
AS A VAST HOAX KEEPING ONE YET LONGER AWAY
FROM THE ULTIMATE REUNION IN THE ESSENCE WHICH IS THE
ASPIRATION OF EVERY SOUL.
BASTAMI DESIRED ARDENTLY TO BE TRANSFORMED INTO THE
DIVINE "I", FOR HE THOUGHT THAT MAN'S AIM WAS TO INCORPORATE
GOD IN HIS PERFECTION: "HE RAVISHED ME AND PLACED
ME BEFORE HIM AND HE SAID: O ABU YAZID, MY CREATURES WISH
TO SEE YOU, AND I TOLD HIM: BEAUTIFY ME WITH THY UNITY,
ADORN ME WITH THY WONDERS AND ENRAPTURE ME WITH THY
UNIFYING NATURE, SO THAT WHEN YOUR CREATURES SEE ME, THEY
SHALL SAY: WE HAVE SEEN YOU. MAY YOU BE THAT AND MAY I NOT
BE THERE." IT WAS BASTAMI WHO FIRST USED THE METAPHOR OF THE
MIRROR; SEEN FROM A CERTAIN STANDPOINT, MAN IS THE MIRROR
REFLECTING GOD'S ATTRIBUTES; BUT AS MAN IS, IN HIS ESSENCE,
GOD, GOD IS THE MIRROR. THIS PLAY ON WORDS, JUMPING FROM
THE PARTICULAR TO THE GENERAL, IS EXEMPLIFIED AS FOLLOWS:
"I AM THY MIRROR, BUT I BECOME MYSELF THE MIRROR." HERE LIES
THE HOAX OF CREATION. THIS AUSTERE HERMIT, WHO CALLS
HIMSELF "THE SMITH OF HIS EGO", SAW IN THE DESTRUCTION OF
IDOLS IN BIRUMI'S TRANSLATION OF THE PATANJALI YOGA SUTRAS
A PARALLEL TO HIS OWN INDOMITABLE QUEST FOR THE ABSOLUTE.
IS NOT THIS THE EQUIVALENT OF THE NEGATIVE HALF OF THE
GREAT MUSLIM SHAHAD "LA ILLAAH ILLA 'LLA HU" (NOTHING EXISTS,
GOD ALONE IS). THE DESTRUCTION OF IDOLS IS PURSUED BY
REPEATED NEGATIONS AND ANNIHILATIONS, BY THE NEGATION OF
THOUGHT AND EMOTION AND EVEN OF THOSE CONCEPTS OF GOD'S
ATTRIBUTES THAT ARE IDEALIZED, EVEN IDOLIZED
IN MEDITATION.
THESE UTTERANCES SHOW TO WHAT EXTENT THE LOGIC OF THE
MYSTIC OUTREACHES EVEN THE LAWS OF ORDINARY GRAMMAR.
THE MYSTIC UNION "TAWHID" FOLLOWS ONLY WHEN THE PROCESS
OF NEGATION IS COMPLETED AND THE EGO IS COMPLETELY ABSENT,
WHEN THE HUMAN BEING HAS REDUCED HIMSELF TO UNITY. THEN
ONLY CAN THE REAL "I" PREDICATE ITS BEING, AS IN AN EXCLAMATION
THAT HAS SINCE RUN DOWN THE GENERATIONS OF
SUFIS AS AN ELECTRIFYING IMPULSE EJACULATED AT A MOMENT
WHEN HIS VERY NOTION OF I OR ME WAS TRANSFIGURED INTO THE
ETERNAL I: ("GLORY BE TO ME, HOW GREAT IS MY POWER"). "BUT
LET THERE NOT BE ONLY ME", HE CONTINUED IN HIS ECSTASY;
HOW PREGNANT AN IMPLICATION OF GOD'S GENEROUS DESIRE TO
SHARE HIS BEING OR CONSCIOUSNESS BY REPEATING IT AD INFINITUM
BY THE MAGNANIMOUS OUTPOURING (FAYD AL AQDAS AL RAHMAN)
AS AL JILI OUTLINED IT!
IT WAS JUNAID'S CIRCUMSPECT BUT PENETRATING ANALYSIS IN
"DAWA AL ARWAH" THAT REVEALED THE DOCTRINAL FOUNDATIONS
OF HALLAJ'S EXPERIMENT WITH THE SELF, WITHOUT ANY
PRETENCE OF HAVING ATTAINED UNION HIMSELF. A CONTEMPORARY
OF HALLAJ (HE DIED IN 922), HE TOOK THE TWO TERMS
"FANA" AND "BAQA" -- ANNIHILATION AND SURVIVAL -- WHICH
KHARRAS HAD ALREADY BROUGHT TO LIGHT AS TYPIFYING THE
TWO ASPECTS OF THE SUFI MEDITATIONS, AND DREW UP A RELATION
BETWEEN THE SECOND ONE, THAT IS SURVIVAL, AND THE
IDEA OF ETERNITY, OR EVEN PRE-ETERNITY. THIS HE DID BY
ELABORATION IN A MEDITATION ON WHAT IS NOW COMMONLY
KNOWN AS THE "PRE-ETERNAL COVENANT" ALLUDED TO IN THE
QU'RAN. ACCORDING TO JUNAID, GOD SPOKE TO MEN AT A TIME WHEN
THEY DID NOT EXIST IN THE MEASURE IN WHICH THEY WERE IN
HIM. IT WAS A TYPE OF EXISTENCE DIFFERENT FROM THAT
GENERALLY ATTRIBUTED TO CREATURES, SUCH AS GOD ONLY
KNOWS. GOD KNOWS OF THEIR EXISTENCE. HE SEES THEM IN THE
BEGINNING WHEN THEY ARE NON-EXISTENT AND UNCONSCIOUS
OF THEIR FUTURE LIFE. THIS GOD SPOKE TO THEM
IN THEIR UNFORMED EXISTENCE.
SEEN IN THIS LIGHT, MEDITATION ON THE SHAHADA IS A PROCESS
WHEREBY THE CONTINGENT IS SIFTED FROM THE ETERNAL, AND
THE SOUL THUS PURIFIED RETURNS TO ITS ORIGINAL CONDITION
(BIDAYAH) BEYOND TIME AND AS A PURE THOUGHT, A MERE POSSIBILITY
IN GOD'S CONSCIOUSNESS. THIS BASTAMI HAS ALREADY
FORESEEN. "I CONCERNED MYSELF TO REMEMBER GOD", HE SAID,
"TO KNOW HIM, TO LOVE HIM, TO SEEK HIM. WHEN I HAD COME TO
THE END I SAW THAT HE HAD REMEMBERED ME BEFORE I HAD
REMEMBERED HIM, THAT HIS KNOWLEDGE OF ME HAD PRECEEDED MY
KNOWLEDGE OF HIM, HIS LOVE TOWARDS ME HAD EXISTED
BEFORE MY LOVE OF HIM, AND HE HAD SOUGHT ME BEFORE
I HAD SOUGHT HIM."
JUNAID'S ANALYSIS PROCEEDS FURTHER INTO THE MEDITATIONS
ON THE DIVINE ATTRIBUTES, SHOWING HOW THE ATTRIBUTES OF
THE LOVER ARE CHANGED INTO THOSE OF THE BELOVED IN AN
OVERBEARING IDENTIFICATION: "THOUGH FROM MY GAZE
PROFOUND DEEP AWE HATH HID THY FACE, IN WONDER AND
ECSTATIC GRACE I FEEL THEE TOUCH MY INMOST GROUND."
THE NAME OF IBN MANSUR AL HALLAJ AWAKENS A DEEP RESONANCE
IN THE HEART OF EVERY SUFI, FOR HIS WAS THE LIVING EXAMPLE
OF THE ESSENTIAL TRUTH UNDERLYING SUFI DOCTRINE. THIS
"QU'RANIC CHRIST" AS PROFESSOR MASSIGNON HAS CALLED HIM,
WAS CONDEMNED FOR HERESY, EXCOMMUNICATED, TORTURED
AND CRUCIFIED FOR HAVING PUBLICLY GIVEN VOICE TO AN EXPRESSION
WHICH SHOCKED THE ORTHODOX MOSLEMS OF HIS
TIME. AND YET THAT ASSERTION WHICH EXPRESSED THE FINAL
CULMINATION OF HIS INNER EXPERIENCE AND THE FRUIT OF HIS
MYSTICAL EXPERIENCE WAS SIMPLY THE CONCLUSION AT WHICH
THE VERY LOGIC OF THE ISLAMIC DOCTRINE MUST INEVITABLY
ARRIVE; IT WAS THE CORONATION OF THAT FAITH IN A SINGLE GOD
WHICH IS THE VITALIZING POWER BEHIND THE CURRENT RUNNING
THROUGH THE TRADITIONS OF JUDAISM, CHRISTIANITY
AND ISLAM.
'ANA' L HAQ
WHAT THEN IS THAT PRODIGIOUS SAYING WHOSE MERE PRONOUNCEMENT
SET IN MOTION THE TREMENDOUS TRIAL IN
BAGHDAD ON A RAISED PLATFORM, SOMEWHAT RESEMBLING THAT
OF JOAN OF ARC? THE TRIAL LASTED NINE YEARS. WHAT WAS THE
HUMAN UTTERANCE THAT, OWING TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
DOCTRINAL POSITIONS IT OPPOSED AND THE VEHEMENCE OF THE
PASSIONS INVOLVED, ALMOST SPLIT ISLAM AND IN FACT DEALT THE
KHALIFAT A BLOW FROM WHICH IT NEVER RECOVERED? IT WAS
NOTHING OTHER THAN THE MUSLIM ADVAITA -- OR RATHER, THE
VERY ESSENCE OF SUFISM, WHICH BEGINS WHERE THE OTHER
ENDS, JUST AS THE ADVAITA TRANSCENDS AND OUTREACHES THE
VEDANTA WITHOUT BEING FOREIGN TO IT: THE ONE IS THE
NECESSARY AND LOGICAL CONCLUSION OF THE OTHER. THE DANGEROUS
AND FATAL EJACULATION OF AL HALLAJ -- "ANA'L HAQ"
(I AM THE TRUTH) WHICH GOES STILL FURTHER THAN THE "NA
AZ MA SHANI" OF BASTAMI; YET ESSENTIALLY THEY ARE THE
NATURAL AND INEVITABLE CONCLUSION OF THE ISLAMIC
SHAHADA -- I.E. THE AFFIRMATION OF THE DIVINE UNICITY.
ONLY ONE
THAT IF GOD ALONE EXISTS, ALL THINGS, AND MAN IN PARTICULAR,
MUST NECESSARILY EXIST IN GOD; THEY ARE THEREFORE IN THEIR
ESSENCE GOD, OR TRUTH -- THE ARABIC NAME FOR TRUTH BEING
MERELY A PRIVILEGED NAME FOR GOD. IF HALLAJ HAD SAID
"ALLAH AL HAZ -- GOD (IN HIS TRANSCENDENTAL ASPECT) IS THE
TRUTH, OR "HUWA AL HAQ" (HE IS THE TRUTH) IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
A COMMON STATEMENT. HOWEVER AL HALLAJ DECLARED THAT
GOD ALONE EXISTS: THEREFORE HE IS THE ONE SUBJECT AND THUS
HE ALONE CAN WITNESS HIS EXISTENCE.
ONCE THE MYSTIC HAS UNDERSTOOD THIS, GOD IN HIS IMMANENT
ASPECT CANNOT BE REFERRED TO IN THE THIRD PERSON. AND IT IS
PRECISELY THE IMMANENCE OF GOD THAT IS REFERRED TO IN
THE SHAHADA. BUT THE LAYMAN PRESUMES TO DECLARE THAT
GOD IS UNITY, WHEREAS FOR HALLAJ, ALL THE MYSTIC SEEKS IS
THAT PART OF HIM WHICH IS GOD SHOULD DECLARE ITS UNITY
WITH GOD. THE ILLUSION OF THE PERSONAL SELF INTERPOSES ITSELF
AS AN OBSTACLE TO GOD'S AFFIRMATION OF HIS UNITY, EVEN
IN UNIFICATION. AL HALLAJ DID NOT WANT ANY VESTIGE OF THIS
ACT OF IDENTIFICATION TO REMAIN.
"O LORD, REMOVE BY THY SELF, MY 'IT IS I' WHICH TORMENTS ME,"
HE CRIES, LONGING FOR MYSTICAL UNION AND EXASPERATED BY
THE PERSISTENCE OF THE FEELING 'IT IS I'.
ACCORDING TO MOSLEM TRADITION, IT WAS THE REFUSAL
OF SATAN TO RECOGNIZE THE DIVINE IN MAN THAT CAUSED HIS
DOWNFALL -- A TRUTH WHICH AL HALLAJ DID NOT FAIL TO
EMPHASIZE AT THE TRIAL. IN A DREAM JUNAID HAD SEEN SATAN
JUSTIFY HIMSELF BY POINTING OUT THAT IN SO DOING HE HAD
MERELY OBEYED AND RESPECTED THE SHAHADA IN RECOGNIZING
NO OTHER GOD BUT GOD. BUT HALLAJ REPROACHED SATAN WITH
HAVING TAKEN REFUGE IN THE UNICITY OF GOD WITHOUT ALLOWING
HIMSELF TO BE CARRIED AWAY BY THE MYSTERY OF HIS
UNITY. AND IT IS WITHIN THIS CONTEXT THAT AL HALLAJ ATTACKS
THE ALL-EXCLUDING SOLITUDE OF A MYSTIC SUCH AS BASTAMI, IN
WHOSE ATTITUDE THERE WOULD BE SOME DANGER OF BEING SATISFIED
WITH INNER SOLITUDE AND OF ISOLATION IN AN IVORY TOWER
FROM WHICH, BY DINT OF EXCLUDING ALL, ONE MIGHT FINALLY
EXCLUDE GOD HIMSELF. THAT IS WHY AL HALLAJ REPLACES
THE TERMS "TAJRID" AND "TAFRID" USED BY BASTAMI, WITH THE
TERMS "IFRAD" AND "INFIDAD" -- TO OUTSTRIP THE ONENESS OF ISOLATION
BY ALLOWING GOD TO PROCLAIM HIS ONENESS THROUGH
YOU. THESE ARE THE TWO PHASES THROUGH WHICH ST. JOHN
PASSED: "BECAUSE THOU HAST LOST ALL, ALL SHALT BE GIVEN BACK
TO THEE TRANSFIGURED AND ALL SHALL BE THINE." THE FIRST
STEP TOWARDS THE "TAWHID (MYSTICAL UNION) IS THE SUPPRESSION
OF "TAFRID" -- THAT IS, THE SOLITUDE OF ISOLATION. THE
"TAJRID" HAS BEEN COMPARED BY MASSIGNON TO THE SARVIKALPA
SAMADHI OF THE VEDANTA -- THAT IS, ABSORPTION IN A DIVINE
ATTRIBUTE, CONTEMPLATION WITH SEED -- AND THE "TAFRID"
TO NIRVEKALPA SAMADHI, WHICH IS THE ABOLITION OF ALL FORMS
AND DETACHMENT OF THE SELF FROM EVERY ACT. IT IS WITH THE
RENUNCIATION OF ACTION THAT THE RENUNCIATION OF ISOLATION
BEGINS. THIS IS THE "FANA AL FANA" OR "PARANIRVANA".
"MYSTICAL UNION" SAYS AL HALLAJ, "CONSISTS IN THIS: THAT YOU
REDUCE YOURSELF TO YOUR UNITY IN PROCLAIMING THE UNITY OF
GOD -- AND THUS GOD MAKES YOU THE WITNESS OF YOURSELF." THIS
IS TRULY AN ASPIRATION OF THE SOUL TO ITS SOURCE (THE SOURCE
OF ITS BEING), TOWARDS ITS PRIMORDIAL ACT OF EXISTENCE.
THOSE WHO JUDGED AL HALLAJ ACCUSED HIM OF "HULUL" -- I.E.,
OF HAVING AFFIRMED THE INFUSION OF THE SPIRIT INTO A HUMAN
BEING (I.E., WHAT ISLAM REPUDIATED IN THE CHRISTIAN CONCEPTION
OF CHRIST'S INCARNATION); EVEN THOUGH HALLAJ SPECIFIED
THAT THIS INFUSION (OR INSUFFLATION, TO REFER TO THE TRADITION
ACCORDING TO WHICH GOD BREATHED LIFE INTO ADAM
THROUGH HIS NOSTRIL) IS ONLY COMPLETE WHEN, AFTER THE
TRANSFORMATION OF HIS ATTRIBUTES, HE BECOMES
TRANSUBSTANTIATED AND A DEFINITE PERSONALITY.
THIS SAINT, WHO WITH ALL HIS STRENGTH CALLED FOR DEATH IN
ORDER TO LIVE, IS INDEED A STRANGE FIGURE.
"THEREFORE KILL ME, MY FAITHFUL COMRADES," HE SAYS, "FOR
ME, SURVIVAL IS DEATH AND TO DIE MEANS LIFE. I FEEL THAT THE
ABOLITION OF MYSELF IS THE NOBLEST GIFT I COULD MAKE AND
MY SURVIVAL AS I AM, THE GREATEST WRONG." DO NOT THESE
WORDS REMIND US OF ST. THERESA'S SAYING: "I DIE FOR THE
WANT OF DYING"?
IF WE FOLLOW THE DEVELOPMENT OF HALLAJ'S THOUGHT WE SEE
HIM RUSHING TOWARDS A PHILOSOPHICAL SUICIDE BY A SORT OF
ONTOLOGICAL NECESSITY SIMILAR TO THAT OF SOCRATES AND
PYTHAGORAS. HE LITERALLY FORCES HIS JUDGES TO CONDEMN
HIM. THERE IS AN ANECDOTE WHICH ILLUSTRATES HIS HASTE FOR
THE FINAL CONSUMMATION. HEARING THE NEW YEAR TRUMPETS HE
REMARKED: "AND WHEN WILL OUR NEW YEAR'S DAY COME? WHEN
MY BODY IS ANNIHILATED, I SHALL BE CLOSE TO GOD." THIRTEEN
YEARS LATER, WHILE HE WAS ON THE PILLORY FOR THREE DAYS,
A DISCIPLE ASKED HIM IRONICALLY: "HAST THOU RECEIVED THY
NEW YEAR'S GIFTS?" HALLAJ REPLIED, "YES, AND I AM ABASHED,
FOR I HAD NOT WISHED TO HASTEN TOWARDS MY JOY" -- REFERRING
TO A VERSE OF THE QU'RAN (XLII, 17) "THEY CRY OUT, LET
HER COME, THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN MAN, BUT THOSE
WHO BELIEVE AWAIT HER COMING WITH A LOVER'S TREPIDATION,
FOR THEY KNOW THAT SHE IS THE TRUTH."
BUT IT WAS HIS WORDS AT THE EXECUTION, WHEN HIS HANDS AND
FEET WERE CUT OFF AND HE WAS EXPOSED ON THE CROSS FOR
THREE DAYS, THAT MOVE US THE MOST DEEPLY BY THEIR NOBILITY,
WHICH ECHOES THE PLEA OF JESUS CHRIST, HIS EXAMPLE:
"OH LORD, I ENTREAT THEE GIVE ME TO BE THANKFUL FOR THY
GRACE WHICH YOU HAVE BESTOWED ON ME. YOU HAVE CONCEALED
FROM OTHERS WHAT YOU HAVE REVEALED TO ME -- THE
GLORIES OF THY SHINING COUNTENANCE. YOU HAVE MADE IT
LAWFUL FOR ME TO BEHOLD THE MYSTERIES OF THY INNER
CONSCIOUSNESS AND MADE IT UNLAWFUL FOR OTHERS. AS FOR
THESE OTHERS, THY SERVANTS, ZEALOUS OF RELIGION, DESIROUS
OF THY FAVOR, WHO HAVE GATHERED TO KILL ME, FORGIVE AND
HAVE MERCY ON THEM FOR IF THOU HADST REVEALED WHAT THOU
HAST HID I SHOULD NOT SUFFER THIS. ALL PRAISE BELONGS TO
THEE IN WHATSOEVER THOU DOST DECREE."
ALTHOUGH AVICENNA (1037) NEVER ADMITTED ANY INITIATION
INTO A SUFI ORDER, HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE EVOLUTION OF
SUFI THOUGHT HAS LEFT AN IMPORTANT IMPRINT, FOR HIS
ACADEMIC KNOWLEDGE WAS CROWNED BY INSPIRED INTUITIONAL
VISIONARY ALLEGORIES IN WHICH THE FLAME OF PERSONAL
AWARENESS BREAKS THROUGH THE RAFT OF HIS METAPHYSICAL
CONSTRUCTION. SUCH IS THE ALLEGORY CALLED BY
IBN YAQZAN IN WHICH HE RECOUNTS HIS MEETING WITH THE
ANGEL WHO DESCRIBES TO HIM THE LAYOUT OF THE REGIONS
BEYOND. AVICENNA'S COSMOGONY IS NOT THE DEAD PICTURE OF
OUR MODERN MECHANICAL "IMAGO MUNDI" BUT A LIVING AND
MOVING SCENE IN WHICH THE GREAT COSMIC DRAMA IS PLAYED,
AND WHICH IS INHABITED BY BEINGS IN THE FORM OF PURE INTELLIGENCES
(AQL) WORKING THEIR WAY TO MATERIALIZATION. IT IS A
STEP BEYOND, AFTER THE ARISTOTELIAN COSMOGONY WHICH IT
INHERITS IN PART. BUT THE UNIVERSE OF AVICENNA IS MOVED AND
INHABITED AND ILLUMINED BY SOULS, ANGELS OF LIGHT (MALEIKA)
INCORPORATING THE PRIMARY INTELLIGENCE, AND THEREFORE
HAVING PROCEEDED FROM THE ONE (ACCORDING TO THE NEO-PLATONIC
CONCEPTION). IT IS THE NOSTALGIA OF THESE SOULS,
SOULS OF THE PLANETS AND STARS TO MANIFEST THE UNMANIFESTED
AND AT THE SAME TIME TO REUNITE AT THEIR SOURCE, WHICH
EXPLAINS THEIR RESTLESS ENERGY THAT MANIFESTS ITSELF AS
MOVEMENT. THOUGHT IS THE GENESIS OF BEING. FROM THE
FIRST INTELLIGENCE (THE "ONE" OF PLOTINUS), PROCEEDS AN
ARCHANGEL GENERATING ITS OWN ANGEL, MATERIALIZING ITS
OWN ORB AND DEFINING ITS OWN ORBIT OR SPHERE, UNTIL THE
ADVENT OF THE LAST ARCHANGEL, GABRIEL, WHO GENERATES A
MULTITUDE OF ANGELS, THE SOULS OF MEN. HE IS THE HOLY SPIRIT
WHO BREATHES LIFE. BUT THE SHADOW, LUCIFER, IS GENERATED
FROM THE VERY FIRST STAGE IN THE PROCESSION OF HYPOSTASES,
WHEREBY, ACCORDING TO THE PYTHAGOREAN PRINCIPLE, "WHEN
FROM THE CAUSE EMANATES THE ONE, THEN IS EMANATED
LIKEWISE THE NON-ONE." IN OTHER WORDS, THE SHADOW IS
DISSOCIATED FROM ITS LIGHT AT THE INCEPTION OF MANIFESTATION.
THEREFORE THE HUMAN SOUL IS SPURRED TO MOVEMENT
AND STRIFE BY ITS NOSTALGIA TO MEET ITS ARCHANGEL AND RETURN
FROM WHENCE IT IS EXILED; AND IT IS THE HIERARCHY OF
LIGHT BEINGS WHO TURN THE SOULS IN THE DIRECTION OF THE
DAWNING LIGHT AND DRAW THE SOULS TOWARDS THE SOURCE
OF LIGHT, THE ORIENT, FROM THEIR EXILE IN THE OCCIDENT
(HENCE THE TERM 'ORIENTAL PHILOSOPHY", THE "AURORA CONSURGENS"
OF JACOB BOEHME, AND HENCE THE NOSTALGIA FOR
FREEDOM FROM THE FRUSTRATION OF EXILE THAT IS FELT BY MOST
SOULS. THE CULMINATION OF LIFE IS REACHED WHEN ONE MEETS
ONE'S ANGEL. THIS IS THE REUNITING OF THE SELF (NAFS) WITH
THE HIGHER SELF (AQL) AFTER THEIR FIGHT IN THE SHADOW OF
ILLUSION LIKE THE BATTLE OF JACOB WITH THE ANGEL.
SHIHAB-UD-DIN YAHYA-AS SUHRAWARDI'S (D. 1191) ANALYSIS OF THE
PROBLEM OF INTUITIVE KNOWLEDGE AND HIS COSMOGONY SURPASSES
EVERYTHING THAT WAS REACHED BEFORE HIM. THIS
YOUNG INITIATE AND MARTYR, WHO WAS REFERRED TO EARLIER
AS THE SUCCESSOR OF THE ZOROASTRIAN, GREEK AND GNOSTIC
TRADITIONS, HAD BASTAMI'S THIRST FOR SELF-MADE DISCOVERY
TOGETHER WITH AN ERUDITION IN METAPHYSICS SURPASSING
THAT OF AVICENNA. HIS KNOWLEDGE AND INITIATION INTO THE
ZOROASTRIAN MYSTERIES AND IN PARTICULAR ITS ANGELOLOGY,
TOGETHER WITH HIS CARE TO CHECK THEORIES BY EXPERIENCES,
ENABLED HIM TO OVERHAUL AVICENNA'S SYSTEM AND PUSH IT
MUCH FURTHER. THIS HE DOES IN A REMARKABLE BOOK CALLED
"HIQMAT AL ISHRAQ" (THE WISDOM OF LIGHT) WRITTEN, AS HE
DESCRIBES, DURING A MEMORABLE DAY AFTER HAVING RECEIVED A
VISION OF ZOROASTER AND HERMES AND HAVING BEEN INSPIRED
BY THE HOLY SPIRIT -- A DAY WHEN ALL THE SEVEN PLANETS
WERE IN CONJUNCTION IN THE SIGN OF THE BALANCE (LIBRA).
EACH HYPOSTASE OF LIGHT EMERGING FROM THE SOURCE, THE
"FLAMBOYANT MAJESTY" OR ORIENT OF LIGHT (THE XVARNAH
OF THE ZOROASTRIANS) PROCEEDS FURTHER INTO MATERIALIZATION,
MULTIPLYING THE SOURCE INDEFINITELY AND
COMMUNICATING ITS PROPERTIES TO THE NEXT HYPOSTASE.
PROCEEDING FROM AHURA MAZDA, LIGHT THEREFORE MANIFESTS
THROUGH THE SEVEN ARCHANGELS OR DOMINATING LIGHTS,
THROUGH THE ARCHETYPES OF THE SPECIES (SUCH AS THE ETERNAL
IDEAS OF PLATO) OF WHICH THE FIRST IS GABRIEL, THE HOLY
GHOST OR PARACLETE, TO THE GOVERNING LIGHTS OF SOULS
THROUGH WHICH THE ARCHANGELS GOVERN THE UNIVERSE. ONE
MAY DISTINGUISH AMONGST THE LATTER THE MOTOR ENERGIES
OR SOULS OF THE ORBS AND PLANETS, THE SOUL CONDUCTING
EACH TYPE OF EARTHLY EXISTENCE OR SIMILAR FORMS OF EXISTENCE,
ON OTHER PLANETS, AND FINALLY THE SOUL OF EACH
INDIVIDUAL HUMAN BEING.
BEHIND THE SCENE OF MANIFESTATION IS A GREAT DRAMA, AND
THE GREAT BATTLE IS FOUGHT BETWEEN THE FORCES OF LIGHT
AND DARKNESS WHEREIN THE ARCHANGEL MICHAEL -- THE
ANGELUS VICTOR -- PLAYS THE LEADING ROLE. MAN ALSO IS
INVOLVED IN THIS BATTLE AND CAN BE AWARDED A DECORATION
FOR HIS GALLANTRY IN THE FORM OF A ROBE OF LIGHT, THE ROYAL
XVARNAH OF THE ZOROASTRIANS, THAT IS THE AURA. THE BATTLE
FOR LIGHT IS THE EXODUS FROM EXILE IN THE OCCIDENT
TYPIFIED IN THE TRADITION BY THE FLIGHT FROM EGYPT. IT IS THE
CONFINEMENT IN SPACE THAT IS EXILE. SO SPACE MUST BE OVERCOME
BY REACHING THE "PLACE OF NOWHERE" (NAKUJA ABAD) BY
REACHING BEYOND THE SPACE LIMITED BY THE CATEGORIES OF
THE BODY. THIS EXILE HAD ITS PURPOSE, FOR IT WAS HERE
THAT LIGHT WAS ABLE TO BURST OUT. SUHRAWARDI CALLS THIS
"THE GREAT BREAKDOWN", REFERRING NO DOUBT TO THE TRADITION
ACCORDING TO WHICH THE PROPHET CAUSES THE MOON
TO SPLIT ON THE SACRED WORDS "ANA AL SHAMS" (I AM THE SUN).
THE BREAKING OF THE RECEPTACLE OF LIGHT IS SYMBOLICAL
OF THE PASSAGE FROM THE EXTERIOR (ZAHIR) TO THE
INTERIOR (BATIN) -- IT IS THE FREEING OF LIGHT, REMINISCENT
OF THE ISMAILIAN TRADITION OF THE BURSTING OF THE COLUMN
OF LIGHT, OR THE TREMBLING OF THE COLUMNS OF THE TEMPLE
SEEN BY ISAIAH IN HIS VISION, OR AGAIN THE TEARING OF THE
VEIL IN THE SANCTUARY AT THE TIME OF THE CRUCIFIXION.
I WANT TO BE FREE
IT IS THE MISSION OF THE PROPHETS AND MAGI TO FREE THE LIGHT
IMPRISONED IN MEN AT THEIR EXILE AND TO TURN THEM TOWARDS
THE DAWNING LIGHT AT ITS SOURCE. THIS MISSION STARTED WITH
ADAM AND IS CONTINUED BY THOSE WHO WORK FOR THE ARCH-ANGEL OF THE HUMAN SPECIES, GABRIEL, WHO INSPIRED THE PROPHETS
AND SAGES -- "THE GUARDIANS OF THE DIVINE PROOFS UPON
THE EARTH." "DELIVER THE PEOPLE OF LIGHT AND LEAD LIGHT
TO THE LIGHT" HE EXCLAIMED IN PRAYER.
BUT PERHAPS IT WAS IN THE SPHERE OF CONTEMPLATION THAT
SUHRAWARDI'S LIFE PROVED THE MOST REVEALING, FOR HERE
HE SHOOK TO THEIR CORE ALL OUR PRECONCEIVED IDEAS ABOUT
KNOWLEDGE. IN THE FIRST STAGE, IN MEDITATION, WE THINK WE
ARE A CONSCIOUSNESS CONCENTRATING UPON AN OBJECT,
SOMETHING TANGIBLE, OBJECTIVE, UNAWARE THAT WE ARE BEING
DUPED BY AN ANTHROPOCENTRIC MIRAGE: FOR WHAT WE THINK
WE KNOW IS ONLY A REFLECTION OF REALITY; THIS IS SPECULATIVE
KNOWLEDGE, KNOWLEDGE OF THE MIRROR (SPECULUM.)
SECONDLY YOU REALIZE THAT EVERYTHING IN THE UNIVERSE IS TO
BE FOUND WITHIN YOU IN YOURSELF, REFLECTED AS IN A MIRROR
SO THAT YOU DISCOVER THAT WHAT YOU ARE CONTEMPLATING
IS THE REFLECTION OF THE UNIVERSE IN YOURSELF AND THAT
YOU ARE THE MIRROR. THIRDLY YOU REALIZE THAT IT IS NOT YOUR
CONSCIOUSNESS THAT IS AWARE, BUT THAT IT IS ONLY A CHANNEL
OF THE DIVINE CONSCIOUSNESS AND THAT YOU ARE ONLY A WITNESS
OF THIS PHENOMENON. FINALLY YOU UNDERSTAND THAT
THERE IS NO ROOM FOR ANOTHER PRESENCE OR SUBJECT THAN
THE ONE AND ONLY BEING; AND YOU REALIZE THAT HE IS THE
ONLY KNOWER. THIS ANLAYSIS REMINDS ONE VERY MUCH
OF BASTAMI.
"FOR THIRTY YEARS GOD MOST HIGH WAS MY MIRROR, NOW I AM MY
OWN MIRROR AND THAT WHICH I WAS I AM NO MORE, FOR "I" AND
GOD" REPRESENT POLYTHEISM, A DENIAL OF HIS UNITY. SINCE I AM
NO MORE, GOD MOST HIGH IS HIS OWN MIRROR. BEHOLD NOW I
SAY THAT GOD IS THE MIRROR OF MYSELF, FOR WITH MY TONGUE
HE SPEAKS AND I HAVE PASSED AWAY."
-- The Rosicrucian Emblems of Daniel Cramer: The True Society of Jesus and the Rosy Cross, by Daniel Cramer
ACCORDING TO SUHRAWARDI, THERE IS NO KNOWLEDGE OF GOD
AS OBJECT (MARIFA). CONTEMPLATION OF THE SHAHAD OR AFFIRMATION
OF THE UNITY OF GOD BROUGHT SUHRAWARDI TO A
BREATH-TAKING CONCLUSION, AROUND WHICH HIS WHOLE
THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE GRAVITATES. THE GENERALITY AMONGST
THE FAITHFUL SAYS THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD, NOT REALIZING
THAT BY SO ASSERTING THEY TESTIFY TO THEIR OWN SEPARATE
EXISTENCE AS THE ONE WHO MAKES THE STATEMENT, AS AL
HALLAJ HAD POINTED OUT. SOME HOWEVER AFFIRM "THERE IS NO
HE (HUWA_ BUT HE," REFERRING TO GOD IN THE THIRD PERSON,
AS TO A PERSONAL REALITY; BUT THIS AGAIN LIKEWISE TESTIFIES TO
THE EXISTENCE OF THE SUBJECT. THE MYSTIC HOWEVER WHO
ENTERS INTO A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD REFERS TO HIM IN
THE SECOND PERSON AS THEE, HOPING FOR THE MERGING
OF THEIR "I" WITH THIS "THEE", BUT STILL PRESERVING THE
DUALITY THEY WISH TO OVERCOME. THE FINAL REALIZATION IS,
HOWEVER: "THERE IS NO I EXCEPT I," THUS BRINGING KNOWLEDGE
FROM THE OBJECTIVE TO THE SUBJECTIVE LEVEL. IF THERE IS NO
OTHER I THAN GOD, THEN EVERY REALIZATION AND AFFIRMATION
IS MADE BY GOD AND THE TONGUE THAT PRONOUNCED IT IS THE
TONGUE OF GOD. HENCE THE LOGIC OF AL HALLAJ WHO CRIED
OUT "ANA'L HAQ", FOR THE ONLY SUBJECT WHO CAN AFFIRM A
PREDICATE IS GOD. THEREFORE THE LIGHT OF KNOWLEDGE IS NOT
AN OBJECT, A RAY THROWN UPON PHENOMENA; IT IS THE SUBJECT
HIMSELF THAT ILLUMINATES HIMSELF. KNOWLEDGE AND CONSCIOUSNESS
ARE NOT SOMETHING THAT IS ADDED TO THE ESSENCE:
THEY ARE THE INNATE PROPERTY OF THE ESSENCE, AND IT IS THIS
SELF-SAME LIGHT THAT IS THE SUBJECT THAT MAN APPROPRIATES
AS HIS INTELLIGENCE, OR IDENTIFIES AS HIMSELF.
"TO THE LIGHTS OF THE LIGHT OF GOD CORRESPOND LIGHTS
IN THE HEARTS OF MEN" WRITES SUHRAWARDI, "AND TO THE SECRET
IN THE SECRETS OF LOVING HEARTS THERE IS
A DIVINE SECRET."
HU ALLAH ANNA, ANNA ALLAH HU
Statistics: Posted by admin — Sat Sep 26, 2015 8:05 am
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DHIKR
LA ILLAHA ILLA 'LLA' HU
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
ONCE WHEN ON A RETREAT IN AJMER, THE CENTER
OF THE CHISHTI SUFIS IN INDIA, FOR FORTY DAYS
REPEATING THE WAZIFAS (NAMES OF GOD), I WAS
FEELING SO HIGH, EXPERIENCING ALL THE DIVINE
QUALITIES, WHEN A MURSHID CAME TO ME AND
SAID, "THE TIME HAS NOW COME FOR YOU TO
MEDITATE SOLELY UPON THE DIVINE PRESENCE." I
SAID, "HERE I AM, MEDITATING ALL THE DAY ON
THE DIVINE ATTRIBUTES, IT'S SO RICH AND WONDERFUL.
DO YOU MEAN THE DIVINE BEING BEYOND
QUALITIES" "YES," HE SAID, "NO QUALITIES, JUST
THE DIVINE PRESENCE." "WELL, I COULDN'T DO
THAT," SAID I, "MY MIND WOULD HAVE NO PATTERNS
TO WEAVE UPON." "YOU'LL DO IT, YOU'LL DO
IT," HE SAID. "hOW CAN I DO IT?" "BY REPEATING
DHIKR." "HOW CAN JUST REPEATING DHIKR DO
THAT?" "YOU'LL SEE, YOU'LL SEE, BUT ONLY ON THE
CONDITION THAT YOU ARE PREPARED TO BE
COMPLETELY SHATTERED IN YOUR SENSE OF THE
SELF, OTHERWISE YOU CAN'T DO IT." "YES," I SAID,
"THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO."
SO I PROCEEDED ON A NEW RETREAT SOLELY
PRACTICING THE DHIKR.
"YES, NO QUALITIES, JUST THE DIVINE
PRESENCE."
"I COULDN'T DO IT."
"YOU'LL DO IT, YOU'LL DO IT."
"HOW CAN I DO IT?"
"YOU'LL SEE, YOU'LL SEE."
NO QUALITIES, JUST ESSENCE
ONE CAN LOVE HUMAN BEINGS AND PLANTS AND
ANIMALS,
ONE CAN LOVE BEAUTY IN ALL ITS FORMS,
ONE CAN LOVE THE DIVINE QUALITIES
MERCY AND COMPASSION AND JOY AND PEACE AND
LIGHT,
BUT HOW CAN ONE LOVE JUST THE BEING OF GOD?
AT FIRST IT SEEMS JUST IMPOSSIBLE, AND YET THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS.
BUT IT'S A VERY STRANGE KIND OF LOVE,
IT'S A LOVE BEYOND LOVE,
ALWAYS GOING BEYOND,
ALWAYS GOING BEYOND
WHEN YOU REPEAT DHIKR,
UNLESS IT IS A TOTAL EXPERIENCE, YOU WILL FIND IT TERRIBLY
BORING,
YOU WILL WONDER JUST HOW LONG YOU CAN GO ON SAYING THESE
WORDS.
THE ONLY ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE IS THE EXPERIENCE OF DEATH
AND RESURRECTION.
DHIKR GIVES ONE NO SCOPE FOR IMAGES,
IT IS TRANSCENDENT,
BEYOND ANY FORMS, IT'S ARID, IT'S AUSTERE,
REALLY IT'S VERY HIGH.
THE HESYCHASTS, THE HERMITS OF THE DESERT, ADVOCATED NOT
TO USE WORDS TO PRAY,
BECAUSE THEY EVOKE
IMAGES WHICH WILL HOLD ONE ON THE PLANE OF
CREATED FORMS.
THOSE VERY ATTRIBUTES WHOSE CONTEMPLATION IS SO ENRICHING
BELONG TO THE MAGIC REALM OF IMAGERY,
THE PLANE OF MAYA,
GOD'S IMAGINATION WHICH MANIFESTS IN THE FORMS OF ALL
CREATED THINGS
THAT WHICH IS BEYOND ALL FORM.
AS LONG AS ONE IS INVOLVED IN THE FORMAL,
ONE WILL NEVER COME INTO CONTACT WITH THAT ULTIMATE REALITY
WHICH IS BEHIND IT.
SUFIS CALL FORM THE VEIL UPON THE FACE OF THE
CONTEMPLATIVE
VEILING THE LIGHT OF GOD THAT WOULD SHATTER HIM.
ABU YEZID BISTAMI CALLS IT
A LURE, A VEIL, AND A HOAX ...
"THE ONE WHO IS INVITED TO THE DIVINE BETROTHAL
WILL NOT SUFFICE HIMSELF WITH THE VEIL OF THE BELOVED."
THERE COMES A TIME WHEN ONE EXPERIENCES SUCH A NEED FOR
THE ABSOLUTE, FOR THAT COLD REMOTE EMOTIONLESS BEYOND
WHERE NOTHING STIRS, WHERE THERE IS NO AGITATION, THERE IS
JUST THAT VERY IMMACULATE, ALMOST UNREACHABLE HEIGHT OF
THE ALONENESS OF GOD. THIS IS WHERE THE LAST SYLLABLE OF
THE DHIKR LEADS. DHIKR EXPRESSES THE ABSOLUTELY HIGHEST
POINT THAT ONE COULD EVER ATTAIN, ONE NEVER DOES ATTAIN
IT, BECAUSE IN ORDER TO GET ANYWHERE NEAR IT ONE HAS TO DIE
AND RESURRECT IN GOD. THE PRACTICE OF DHIKR IS LIVING THAT
MYSTERY TO THE EXTENT OF TOTAL INVOLVEMENT ... IT IS MORE
THAN ENJOYING AND ADMIRING ALL THE BEAUTIFUL ASPECTS OF
GOD, WHICH IS GLORIFICATION. IT IS SHARING THAT STATE
WHEREBY GOD WITHDRAWS FROM THE MULTIFARIOUS SPECTRUM
OF HIS MANY-SPLENDORED ATTRIBUTES INTO THE ALONENESS OF
HIS UNITY. MAN EXPERIENCES HIS ETERNAL PRINCIPLE. DHIKR IS
NOT OF THE NATURE OF VISION, WHICH ALWAYS IMPLIES DUALITY,
ALWAYS THE SUBJECT WHICH IS ME CONTEMPLATING THAT OBJECT
WHICH IS GOD, WHICH I SEE MANIFESTING THROUGH ALL
LIVING THINGS. WHERE THERE IS DUALITY, ONE TRIES TO REACH
BEYOND THIS MANIFESTATION INTO THE ORIGINAL ARCHETYPES.
WHERE ALL IS ONE, THE VERY ARCHETYPES
FALL OUT OF FOCUS.
"OH YOU WHO HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM GOD
IN HIS SOLITUDE
BY THE ABYSS OF TIME,
HOW CAN YOU EXPECT TO REACH HIM
WITHOUT DYING?
(AL HALLAJ)
HOW CAN THE OUTPOURING OF THE DIVINE ESSENCE
FLOWING OUT OF THE ESSENCE
GIVE YOU THE EXPERIENCE OF THE ESSENCE? ...
"HENCEFORTH THERE IS NO NEED FOR PROOF
IN ORDER TO GRASP THY REALITY."
(AL HALLAJ)
THE ATTRIBUTES ARE CALLED BY THE SUFIS AYAT,
WHICH MEANS THE SIGNS.
BUT THE VERY SIGN WHICH MANIFESTS GOD IS ITSELF A VEIL.
THERE ARE MOMENTS WHEN ONE CANNOT STAND ONESELF
BECAUSE ALL ONE KNOWS OF ONESELF SEEMS LIKE A VEIL
EVERYTHING AROUND ONE SEEMS SHAM, DECEPTIVE,
DISAPPOINTING, AND ONE FEELS THE CALL FOR THE SOLITUDE,
FOR RETIREMENT. THERE IS A NEED TO FREE ONESELF FROM
THE EMOTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE QUALITIES AND
EXPERIENCE SERENITY, YET TO ISOLATE ONESELF
OUT OF ONE'S OWN VOLITION
WOULD BE ISOLATING ONESELF IN THE POVERTY OF ONE'S OWN
EGO,
THE IVORY TOWER OF SPLENDID ISOLATION,
GIVING VENT TO THE DESIRE FOR HTE ABSOLUTE.
THEREFORE THE DEATH THAT SPELLS LIFE CAN ONLY RESULT FROM
THE ENCOUNTER WITH THE OVERWHELMING DIVINE LIFE THAT
SHATTERS.
GIVE UP ISOLATION,
THEN GOD MARKS YOU WITH THE STAMP OF HIS UNITY.
THE HIGHER STAGES IN MEDITATION CANNOT BE REACHED BY
ONE'S OWN ACTION,
BUT SOLELY BY GRACE.
TO BECOME THE INSTRUMENT THROUGH WHICH GOD BECOMES A
REALITY ONE HAS TO DIE TO ONE'S SENSE OF AUTONOMY IN ORDER
TO SURVIVE IN THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF HIS UNITY. THIS IS NOT THE
DEATH THAT BRINGS ONE BACK TO THE ORIGIN (AZALIAT) BUT THE
DEATH THAT TAKES ONE INTO ETERNAL LIFE (QIAMAT.). SUCH IS
THE MEANING OF THE DHIKR. NOT THE DISMANTLING AND THE
DISSOLUTION OF THE EGO CENTER BUT THE INTEGRATION OF THE
EGO CENTER INTO THE TOTAL UNITY. THE RELINQUISHING OF
ONE'S OWN QUALITIES TO MAKE ROOM FOR PURE BEING, WHICH
MAY THEN MANIFEST ITS QUALITIES AT WILL, IRRESPECTIVE OF
WHATEVER QUALITIES ONE HAD APPROPRIATED AS BEING ONE'S
PERSONALITY. THEREFORE THE DHIKR IS NOT SIMPLY RETURNING
TO THE STATE IN WHICH YOU WERE IN THE BEGINNING. THE CONTEMPLATION
OF DIVINE ATTRIBUTES OR QUALITIES TENDS TO
ORIENT ONE BACK TO THE STATE IN WHICH ONE WAS IN THE
BEGINNING, BUT THE DHIKR MEANS THAT GOD HAS BECOME
THROUGH US A REALITY SO THAT THROUGH THE DEATH OF OUR
EGO HE MAY PROCLAIM HIS UNITY. IT IS A CONTRADICTION IN
TERMS, SAYS AL HALLAJ, TO PROCLAIM HIS UNITY IF YOU ARE
CONSCIOUS OF BEING THE ONE WHO PROCLAIMS IT. IT IS ONLY
WHEN YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS OF YOURSELF HAS DISAPPEARED ALTOGETHER
BY ELIMINATING THE VERY ROOTS OF YOUR PERSONALITY
THAT YOU MAY SERVE AS AN INSTRUMENT IN WHICH GOD
PROCLAIMS HIS UNITY. THE SUFIS ALWAYS USE BOTH TERMS FANA
AND BAQA TOGETHER. IT IS NOT SO MUCH THE DISSOLUTION OF
THE EGO AS THE OVERCOMING OF ITS ISOLATION WHICH MARKS
THE DHIKR: THEREFORE, IT IS THE ULTIMATE PRACTICE.
SHOULD ONE REPEAT THE DHIKR WILLFULLY ONE DEFEATS THE
WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE DHIKR.
THE FORMULA IS VERY POWERFUL AND ONE IS EASILY TEMPTED TO
SAY IT FORCEFULLY.
THE DHIKR CAN STRENGTHEN THE EGO IN A VERY DANGEROUS WAY
UNLESS IT IS DONE IN SUCH A MANNER THAT ONE LETS THE DIVINE
POWER TAKE OVER.
IT IS VERY SUBTLE, ONE GETS VERY EASILY CAUGHT UP
IN ONE'S EMOTIONS.
IT EXPRESSES THE HIGHEST OF EMOTIONS AND THEREFORE THE
MOST IMPERSONAL.
THE WHOLE ART OF LIFE IS TO KNOW HOW TO CHANNEL POWER
WHILE BEING FRAGILE AND SELFLESS IN ORDER TO BE
RECEPTIVE. THE MAN OF GOD IS A KING IN A BEGGAR'S GARB,
A PALACE IN A RUIN.
THE COLLAPSE OF HUMAN ENDEAVOR BEFORE THE OVERWHELMING
GREATNESS AND THE SENSE OF IMMENSITY.
IT IS WHEN ONE ALLOWS THE DIVINE MADNESS TO INFLATE ONE'S
EGO
THAT THE WORLDLY MANIFEST THEIR DISAPPROVAL BY SCORN,
FOR AN EGO RESENTS ANOTHER EGO.
HAVING EXPERIENCED BEING CARRIED BEYOND THE CONSCIOUSNESS
OF OURSELVES AS SEPARATE BEINGS,
WE ARE BROUGHT BACK INTO OUR LIMITED CONSCIOUSNESS OF OURSELVES,
THIS TIME HOWEVER TRANSFORMED BY THAT VISION,
BECAUSE ONE CAN NEVER BE THE SAME AFTER ONE HAS HAD THAT VISION.
MAYBE THE NEXT TIME ONE WILL BE STRENGTHENED A LITTLE MORE
UNTIL ONE IS ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE DIVINE CONSCIOUSNESS CONTINUOUSLY,
AND THE VISION OF THE SELF DOES NOT TAKE ANYTHING AWAY
FROM THE VISION OF ONENESS.
ALL HALLAJ REACHED THAT STAGE WHEN HE SAID,
"THE LIGHT OF THE DIVINE AWARENESS HAS RISEN IN MY HEART
LIKE THE SUN OVER THE HORIZON,
AND IT WILL NEVER SET."
THE LIGHT
OF THE DIVINE AWARENESS
HAS RISEN IN MY HEART
LIKE THE SUN OVER THE HORIZON,
AND
IT WILL NEVER SET.
IT IS GOD WHO RECITES THE DHIKR THROUGH YOU.
THIS IS WHEN THE PRACTICE REALLY BECOMES EFFECTIVE.
THE SHEIKS AMONGS THE SUFIS ARE REQUIRED TO UNDERGO VERY
EXACTING TESTS ... REPEATING THE DHIKR TWENTY TWO
THOUSAND TIMES A DAY FOR FORTY DAYS.
EVENTUALLY YOU BECOME THE DHIKR.
YOUR BODY IS JUST LIKE A FLUTE ON WHICH THE DHIKR IS BEING
PLAYED,
AND NOTHING IS IMPORTANT, YOU ARE NOT IMPORTANT, NO ONE ELSE
IS IMPORTANT,
ONLY THE DIVINE PRESENCE IS IMPORTANT.
THEN IT COMES THROUGH WITH TREMENDOUS FORCE.
YOU ARE JUST IN IT AND IT IS NOT YOU WHO IS SAYING IT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO SHOUT IT.
IN FACT, IN YOU REALLY HAD IT IN YOU, THEN YOU COULD WHISPER
IT OR BREATHE IT
AND IT WOULD BE JUST AS POWERFUL
IN THE HIGHEST DHIKR YOU OVERCOME ALL NEGATION,
THERE IS NOTHING TO NEGATE; YOU CAN ONLY NEGATE ILLUSION
IF YOU ARE STILL IMMERSED IN IT.
THE TWO BASIC PHASES ARE NOW:
(1) YOU BECOME THE IMMENSITY, THE TOTALITY:;
(2) YOUR BEING BECOMES THE INCORPORATION
OF THAT IMMENSITY THAT IS GOD.
HEARKEN
TO THE SOUND OF THE REED
EVER SINCE I WAS TAKEN FROM MY BED
MY CRY HAS SET TO TEARS
ALL THE WOMEN ALL THE MEN
I WANT A HEART TORN BY SEPARATION
THAT I MAY FULLY DECLARE THE AGONY OF YEARNING OF
EVERY ONE FAR FROM HIS TRUE LOVE WHO REMEMBERS
THE JOY OF UNION
&
I HAVE SUNG THIS SONG WITH ALL KINDS OF BEINGS
MISERABLE & HAPPY
I SEEK THE FRIEND WHO KNOWS THE SIGN
ONE
WHO WILL MINGLE HIS SOUL WITH MINE
THE SECRET OF MY SONG IS NEAR
WHO CAN SEE WHO CAN HEAR
BODY IS NOT VEILED FROM SOUL, NOR SOUL FROM BODY
YET WHO IS GIVEN LEAVE TO SEE THE SOUL
THE CRY OF THE REED IS FIRE
NOT WIND
WHOEVER HOLDS NOT THIS FIRE LET HIM BE NOTHING
THE FIRE OF LOVE SETS THE REED TO FLAME
IT IS THE SURGE OF LOVE
IT IS THE TRUE COMPANION OF EVERY ONE PARTED
FROM A TRUE FRIEND & LOVER
THE SONG HAS TORN THE VEILS WHICH SHROUD OUR HEART
IT TELLS THE HISTORY OF THE BLOOD-SPATTERED WAY
JELALUDDIN RUMI
THE CLASSICAL FORMULA OF THE DHIKR IS
LA ILLAHA ILLA 'LLA' HU
IN ITS EXOTERIC SENSE IT MEANS:
THERE ARE NOT SEVERAL DEITIES, THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD.
ESOTERICALLY IT MEANS:
THERE ARE NOT SEVERAL BEINGS, THERE IS ONLY ONE BEING.
IT WILL BE OBSERVED THAT THE INTONATION OF THE FORMULA
OSCILLATES FROM THE A TO THE L AND VICE VERSA,
SHOWING AN INTRINSIC POLARIZATION.
LA IS NEGATIVE, AL AFFIRMATIVE,
COMPLETING ONE ANOTHER AS ACTION AND PASSION
IN AN ETERNAL COUPLE.
THE A, DIVINE MANIFESTATION,
FLOATS ON THE TIDAL WAVE OF THE PERENNIAL L
IN HARMONIC SONIC UNDULATIONS.
IN THE ARABIC A (ALIF) IS WRITTEN LIKE A STRAIGHT LINE, AND
THE L IS A CURVE LIKE THE ARC OF A CIRCLE,
AND SO ONE GOES FROM THE VERTICAL PRINCIPLE,
WHICH IS ALWAYS THE LINE OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN
HEAVEN AND EARTH,
BETWEEN TRANSCENDENCE AND POLARITY ON THE EARTH, TO THE
CIRCLE,
WHICH IS ALWAYS THE PRINCIPLE OF CREATION,
THE WHEEL OF BECOMING, OF TRANSFORMATION,
THE CIRCLE OF LIFE,
THE VORTICES OF THE GALAXIES,
THE STORMS OF STARS IN THE HEAVENS,
THE GALGANIM OR BEINGS OF LIGHT
DEPICTED IN THE SEPHIROTH OF THE JEWS,
AS IN THE WHEELS OF THE VISION OF EZEKIEL.
WE HAVE TWO PRINCIPLES:
THE VERTICAL LINE DESCENDING FROM ABOVE, FORMING A
BRIDGE BETWEEN GOD AND MAN,
TWO POLES OF THE SAME THING,
AND THEN THE CIRCULAR PRINCIPLE,
WHICH GRAVITATES AROUND A CENTER.
THE WORD ALLAH THEREFORE STARTS FROM THE POINT AT THE
TOP OF THE LINE
GOING DOWN AND THEN MOVES INTO THE CIRCLE, COMING BACK
TO THE ORIGIN AGAIN,
THUS EVOKING THE WHOLE PRINCIPLE OF LIFE.
NOW AT THE END OF THE WORD ALLAH THERE IS AN H (HAMZA),
WHICH IS THEN FOLLOWED BY A U,
REMINISCENT OF THE H THAT STANDS FOR THE HIGHEST NAME OF GOD IN THE
KABBALA:
JUST THE H ALONE, NEVER PRONOUNCED BECAUSE WITHOUT A SUPPORTING
VOWEL.
THE WORD EHIE
BEING THE NEAREST APPROXIMATION TO IT --
A WORD WHISPERED IN THE HOLY OF HOLIES.
THE H REPRESENTS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT PRINCIPLE TO THE A AND
THE L,
IT IS THE TANGENT LEADING ONE OUT OF THE VICIOUS CIRCLE OF THE L
PERPETRATED BY THE A.
THE WORD HU STANDS FOR THE NON-MANIFEST,
THE PERSON NOT PRESENT, THAT PART OF GOD THAT HAS NOT
APPEARED IN CREATION,
BEYOND THE REALMS THAT MANIFEST HIM
EITHER IN FORM OR IN TIME AND SPACE OR EVEN
THROUGH CONSCIOUSNESS.
INDEED, IT IS EVEN BEYOND CONSCIOUSNESS.
WE ARE REFERRING TO THE ARUPA PLANES OF THE BUDDHISTS, THE PLANES
BEYOND FORM.
THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF MAN IS A VEIL
CONCEALING THE REALITY OF GOD IN THE STATE OF
NON-MANIFESTATION.
WE ARE OURSELVES THE VEIL
COVERING GOD'S REALITY.
ON A PILGRIMAGE TO AJMER
ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE HAD CONVERGED ON THE TOMB OF
KHWAJA MOIN-UD-DIN CHISHTI,
SOME OF THEM SUFIS FROM PLACES LIKE MONGOLIA AND LYBIA AND CHINA.
AT NIGHT
LISTENING TO THE MUSICIANS EXTEMPORIZE ON THE VERSES OF THE SUFI POETS,
SOME DARVISH CARRIED BEYOND THEMSELVES BEGAN TO SHOW THEIR
REVERENCE
A GESTURE THAT SOON BECAME A GYRATION.
THIS IS THE DARVISH DANCE WHICH MAY GO ON UNTIL DAWN;
EVERYBODY GETS VERY HIGH.
WHEN THE MURSHIDS LEAVE, THE DARVISHES CONTINUE THEIR DHIKR
CONVERSING IN SONG AND GESTURE,
COMMUNICATING THEIR ECSTASY TO EACH OTHER,
THEIR SOULS SOARING HIGHER AND HIGHER.
ONE OF THE SONGS THEY SANG WAS
ALLAH HU,
THEY WENT ON AND ON AND ON,
AND THE WHOLE COMPANY WAS IN A STATE OF RAPT
INTOXICATION.
A BREATH OF GOD WAS BLOWING UPON OUR SOULS.
THE MODE OF RECITATION OF THE DHIKR VARIES FROM SCHOOL
TO SCHOOL.
HERE IS THE METHOD FOLLOWED BY THE CHISHTI SUFIS.
THERE ARE ACTUALLY FOUR STAGES. NUMBER ONE:
LA ILLAHA, THERE IS NO DIVINITY.
THE LA IS INTONED WHILE DESCRIBING A CIRCULAR MOTION OF
THE HEAD:
THIRD EYE FACING LEFT SHOULDER, SOLAR PLEXUS,
RIGHT SHOULDER.
ILLAHA IS INTONED AS ONE REACHES UPWARDS TO THE APEX OF
THE CIRCLE.
ALL THE WHILE ONE IS DENYING THAT THINGS ARE THE WAY THEY
LOOK,
UNMASKING THE HOAX OF MAYA.
THE DARVISH SAYS THIS MOST CATEGORICALLY AND
UNCOMPROMISINGLY.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO LEARN HOW TO SAY
"NO"
NUMBER TWO: ILLA, EXCEPT, A SIGNIFICANT WORD BECAUSE IT
MARKS EXCLUSIVENESS: THE EXCEPTION CONFIRMS THE RULE.
THERE IS SUBTLE METAPHYSICAL SEMANTICS BEHIND THE WHOLE
FORMULA. THE SOUND OF THE I IN ILLA PRODUCED BY THE
DARVISH IS QUITE INCREDIBLE: LIKE THE SOUND OF A CRYSTAL
GLASS THAT HAS BEEN HAMMERED BY A SPOON. THIS IS INTONATED
WHILE THRUSTING THE HEAD DOWNWARDS LIKE AN ARROW, THE
THIRD EYE FACING THE SOLAR PLEXUS, ALL THE WHILE DENYING
THE ASSUMPTION OF BEING WHAT ONE BELIEVES THE SELF TO BE.
BOMBARDING THE SOLAR PLEXUS WITH THE THIRD EYE HAS A
TRANSFORMING EFFECT UPON THE CHAKRA, OPENING IT UP LIKE A
LOTUS. THIS IS THE POSITION IN WHICH THE ESSENES WERE BURIED.
SOME OF THE HESYCHAST CONTEMPLATIVES USED TO MEDITATE
BREATHING THEIR BREATH INTO THEIR ENTRAILS. THE
SUFIS CALL THIS PART OF THE DHIKR THE DESTRUCTION OF THE
IDOL, THAT IDOL THAT YOU HAVE MADE OF YOURSELF. FOR EXAMPLE,
YOU THINK, "AH, VILAYAT IS DEAD, LONG LIFE PIR!"
THAT IS THE IMPERSONAL VEHICLE OR CHALICE FOR GOD'S
PRESENCE. THE ANNIHILATION OF THE SELF IS MORE TRAUMATIC
IF ONE EXPERIENCES THE SHATTERING EFFECT UPON ONE'S PERSON
OF THE ENCOUNTER WITH THE DIVINE IMMENSITY. IT IS THE
CONFRONTATION WITH GOD THAT OBLITERATES THE SENSE OF
EGO-NESS, RATHER THAN ANY EFFORT TO DISSOLVE ONE'S EGO INTO
THE VOID.
NUMBER THREE: ALLAH ('LLA')
THE MEANING OF ALLAH IS "THE WORSHIPPED ONE."
ACCORDING TO ARABIC GRAMMAR, WHEN THE FIRST A OF A WORD FOLLOWS
THE LAST A OF A PREVIOUS ONE,
ONE ELIMINATES THE A IN THE SECOND WORD.
AS IT IS CONSIDERED BY THE PIOUS DISRESPECTFUL TO ERADICATE ANY LETTER
OF THE WORD ALLAH,
THE FIRST A IS UTTERED INAUDIBLY,
CARRYING A SLIGHT BREAK INTO THE FORMULA WHICH IS AESTHETICALLY
HARMONIOUS.
THIS IS THE GREAT PROCLAMATION,
THE PRONOUNCEMENT OF THE GREAT NAME OF GOD:
THE SUPREME MOMENT OF GLORIFICATION,
ONE'S PARTICIPATION IN THE COSMIC
HALLELUJAH
WHICH ORIGINATED ALL FORMS.
IT IS SAID BY THE DARVISH WITH GREAT EMPHASIS.
IN GLORIFICATION MAN ATTAINS HIS FULFILLMENT,
ESPECIALLY IN ITS ULTIMATE FORM
IN AFFIRMING UNITY, WHERE ONE IS NO MORE THERE TO AFFIRM IT.
ONE DISCOVERS ONESELF AS THAT ONE AND ONLY BEING,
BEING LOST IN THE VISION OF ONENESS.
BEING LOST IN THE VISION OF ONENESS.
SUCH IS THE ULTIMATE AFFIRMATION,
UNACCEPTABLE TO THOSE WHO ARE STILL CONSCIOUS OF
THEMSELVES.
THAT IS WHY AL HALLAJ WAS CRUCIFIED.
THERE COMES A TIME, SAYS HAZRAT INAYAT KHAN,
WHEN THE GODLY SOUL CRIES,
ANA'L-HAQQ, I AM THE TRUTH.
WHEN YOU MAKE THE ULTIMATE AFFIRMATION,
YOU ARE A KNIGHT, OR THE TRUMPET
THROUGH WHICH GOD MAKES HIS PROCLAMATION,
THAT IS WHERE YOU CAN DECLARE IT WITH GREAT FORCE,
AND THIS ACCOUNTS FOR THE POWER OF THE DARVISH.
IN FACT, ONE OF THE GREATEST MOMENTS IN THE LIFE OF A
HUMAN BEING IS WHEN HE SAYS
"SO BE IT" OR "I WILL."
THIS IS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM SAYING "IT MAY BE,"
"I AM NOT SURE," "IT LOOKS AS THOUGH" ....
THE CREDO IN THE CATHOLIC MASS AFFIRMS THE FAITH THAT
DOES NOT HAVE TO REST ON REASON:
ONE STANDS FOR WHAT ONE BELIEVES
BEYOND EVEN THE PROOF OF THE CONTRARY.
Take the famous utterance, 'I am God.' Some men reckon it as a great pretension; but 'I am Gael' is in fact a great humility. The man who says 'I am the servant of God' asserts that two exist, one himself and the other God. But he who says 'I am God' has naughted himself and cast himself to the winds. He says, 'I am God': that is, 'I am not, He is all, nothing has existence but God, I am pure non-entity, I am nothing.' In this the humility is greater.
--Discourses of Rumi, translated by A. J. Arberry
ACCORDING TO THE HEKALOTH OF THE JEWS,
EACH TIME A NEW SOUL IMPINGES UPON THE SURFACE
OF THE OCEAN OF LIFE
IT PRODUCES A VIBRATION IN THE GREAT SYMPHONY OF THE
SPHERES
THAT IS REVERBERATING THROUGHOUT THE COSMOS.
DHIKR MEANS RECOLLECTION,
TO REINSTATE THE PROMISE MADE AT THE BEGINNING OF TIME
AT THE MOMENT OF THE BIRTH OF ONE'S SOUL IN PRE-ETERNITY
WHEN ONE SAID
"I WILL."
RECOLLECT, REDISCOVER IN THE DEEP LAYERS OF THE
UNCONSCIOUS
THE PRIMEVAL COVENANT WHERE ONE MADE THE GREAT
PROCLAMATION
THAT INVESTS ONE WITH ONE'S MEASURE OF RELATIVE
AUTONOMY.
THE SOLEMN PROMISE
WHEREBY ONE PLEDGES ONESELF TO SUZERAINTY TO THE DIVINE
SOVEREIGNTY
TO FULFILL THE DIVINE WILL, YET ANSWER FOR IT ONESELF.
THAT IS WHY HAZRAT INAYAT KHAN SAYS,
"LET THY WISH BECOME MY DESIRE."
NUMBER FOUR: THE H AT THE END OF ALLAH ATTENDED WITH A U
GOD'S REPLY TO ONE'S INVOCATION
COMES IN THE FORM OF THE PRONOUN IN THE THIRD PERSON: HIM,
PERSON NOT PRESENT.
THE NON-MANIFEST, FREEING ONE FROM THE CIRCLE OF BECOMING
ON A TANGENT.
THROUGH US HE BECOMES ANA,
THE SUBJECT THAT EXPERIENCES,
WHEN WE INVOKE HIM BEYOND HIS ATTRIBUTES WE FOCUS ON THE
PERSON NOT PRESENT HERE AND NOW,
AND HIS ANSWER, INSTEAD OF BEING I AM THAT I AM, IS
HE IS THAT HE IS:
HUWA,
THE MOST IMPERSONAL MODE OF EXPRESSION.
HU IS THAT HE WHO WEAVES THE ARIADNIAN THREAD THAT YOU
THOUGHT WAS YOU INTO HIS UNITY.
YOU CRANE YOUR NECK,
YOUR WHOLE BEING IS IN THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE STATE OF
SUSPENSE,
THE DOORS BETWEEN THE MANIFEST AND THE NON-MANIFEST ARE
OPEN,
AND YOU ARE TRANSFIGURED EVEN AS YOU ARE PULVERIZED
BY THE SUDDEN FLASH OF IMPONDERABLE LIGHTNING.
HOW CAN YOU EXPERIENCE THE NON-MANIFEST
EXCEPT BY IT MANIFESTING TO YOU?
ONLY IF YOU ARE NOT THERE TO
EXPERIENCE IT.
HUWA
IS VERY MUCH WHAT THE UPANISHADS CALL PARATPARAM,
BEYOND THE BEYOND.
THE THRESHOLD MOVES FORWARD, LIKE THE
HORIZON,
THE FURTHER YOU ADVANCE THE FURTHER IT
RECEDES,
YOU NEVER REACH IT
THE FRONTIER, ("BARZAQ") DESTROYS
ITSELF
AS YOU ADVANCE.
THERE IS NO MORE MANIFEST OR NON-MANIFEST
OR GOD AND ME,
BUT ALL IS ONE.
WHEN THE DHAKIR REACHES THE STATE OF REALIZATION
HE WATCHES, AS IT WERE, FROM ABOVE
HOW THE SPIRIT STIRS THAT LUMP OF FLESH CALLED THE BODY
INTO A MOTION
SWINGING THE HEAD AS HIGH AS IT CAN GO
CATAPULTING THE INDWELLING CONSCIOUSNESS
INTO THE IMMENSITY
AND HOW AGAIN THAT VERY FLESH IS IMPRINTED
WITH THE IMPRESSION OF THE BOUNTY GRASPED BY
CONSCIOUSNESS.
THEN IT IS CLEAR THAT WHAT IS ULTIMATELY GAINED IS
REALIZATION OF THE DIVINE INTENTION, BECOME A REALITY IN
THE PERSON.
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
THE DHIKR SHOULD NOT BE PRACTICED
WITHOUT BEING PRESCRIBED BY AN AUTHORIZED SUFI
IN THE TRADITION OF THE SILSILA (THE CHAIN OF TRANSMISSION)
THERE ARE NUMEROUS FORMS WHICH MAY NOT BE GIVEN HERE
AFTER MASTERING THE INTONATED FORMULA
IT MAY BE REPEATED INTERNALLY ON THE RHYTHM OF THE
BREATH:
ONE BREATHES OUT LA ILAHA
AND IN ALLA 'LLA
HOLDING THE BREATH AS ONE THINKS HU,
THINKING THE WORDS, NOT INTONING THEM.
THIS IS CALLED FIKR-DHIKR.
WHEN YOU HAVE ACCUSTOMED THE VARIOUS PARTS OF YOUR
BODIES TO BE EXPOSED TO CERTAIN SOUNDS,
YOU WILL FIND THAT THEY STIR TO THE INTERNAL SOUND
CURRENT
THUS SET INTO MOTION, ACTING EVEN MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN
THE SPOKEN WORD.
IN THIS FORM IT IS EASIER TO CONCENTRATE ON THE MEANING OF
THE DIFFERENT PHASES GIVEN ABOVE.
ONE'S WHOLE BEING BEGINS TO OSCILLATE ON A COSMIC IMPULSE
THAT TOUCHES UPON THE AXIOMATIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ENTIRE
LIFE PROCESS.
LAUNCHING AS IT WERE A SOUND CURRENT
INTO ONE'S VERY CIRCULATORY SYSTEM.
THE PRACTICE ATTAINS ITS ULTIMATE EXPRESSION WHEN ONE CEASES TO
THINK OF THE WORDS,
ONLY CONCENTRATING ON THE MEANING,
WHILE PERFORMING THE MOTION OF THE HEAD, PERHAPS LESS AMPLY, MORE
INTERNALLY.
THIS IS CALLED FIKR AS-SIRR, THE SECRET OF THE FIKR OF THE DHIKR.
BEHIND ONE SIGNIFICANCE ONE DISCOVERS A DEEPER SIGNIFICANCE,
THEN A YET DEEPER ONE, DIVING DEEPER INTO THE DIVINE INTENTION,
"MA'ANA," THE CONCEALED SECRET, SIRR AL GHAYB, THE CONSTERNATION OF
INTELLIGENCES.
ONE MAY REACH A POINT IN THE REALIZATION OF THE DHIKR
WHERE TO NEGATE ILLUSION IS SUPERFLUOUS BECAUSE IT HAS FALLEN OUT
OF FOCUS.
IN THE FIRST PHASE THERE IS A SENSE OF IMMENSITY AS ONE EXTENDS INTO
OUTER SPACE,
COEXTENSIVE WITH THE TOTALITY;
IN THE SECOND PHASE ONE INCORPORATES THE BOUNTY OF THE UNIVERSE AS
A POINT OF CONVERGENCE.
AT THIS STAGE THE PRACTICE BECOMES COSMICALLY POWERFUL,
ACCOUNTING FOR THE INCREDIBLE MAJESTY OF THE DARVISH
THE KING IN BEGGAR'S GARB, A PALACE IN A RUIN,
THE LIVING DEAD WHO GIVES ETERNAL LIFE.
Statistics: Posted by admin — Sat Sep 26, 2015 7:56 am
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THE CAUSAL PLANE
SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE IS THE ART OF
MAKING A BEING BECOME WHAT HE
IS.
THE PUPIL SENSES BEYOND HIS PERSONALITY
THAT DIVINE MODEL WHICH HE IS,
YET OF WHICH HE IS ONLY VAGUELY AWARE,
THE TEACHER
IS SUPPOSED TO MAKE HIM SEE
WHAT HE IS
RATHER THAN TELL HIM
WHAT HE SHOULD BE.
THIS MEANS GRASPING INCOMPARABLY VASTER DIMENSIONS THAN
THE ONES USUALLY EXPERIENCED. ONE CANNOT KNOW ONESELF
IF ONE REDUCES ONESELF TO THE QUALITIES IN THE CONDITION
IN WHICH THEY APPEAR IN ONE'S PRESENT DEGREE OF UNFOLDMENT.
WE SO EASILY LET OURSELVES BE DRAWN DEEPER AND
DEEPER INTO THE LIMITATIONS OF OUR ENVIRONMENT AND OUR
CONCEPTS, AND BE EXILED IN OUR HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS, CONSEQUENTLY
SUFFERING FROM AN UNBEARABLE FEELING OF LIMITATION,
FRUSTRATION AND INADEQUACY. W4E CAN ONLY OVERCOME
THIS BE RE-EXPERIENCING OURSELVES AS PART OF
THE DIVINE NATURE,
OUR HOMELAND.
IF MAN IS URGED ON FROM STAGE TO STAGE
TOWARDS AN INEXORABLE ADVANCE,
OPENING UP VASTER AND VASTER HORIZONS OF PERFECTION,
IT IS BECAUSE SOMEWHERE IN HIS SOUL HE HAS A HUNCH
ABOUT A PURPOSE BEING SERVED BY HIS EXISTENCE
BEYOND ANYTHING HE COULD DO OR ACHIEVE.
THIS IS NOTHING LESS THAN MANIFESTING A PORTION
OF THE NOT-YET-MANIFEST ALLOTTED TO HIS ETERNAL BEING,
WHICH, THOUGH THUS APPORTIONED, IS HOWEVER SO
INEXTRICABLY
MINGLED WITH THE TOTAL RICHNESS OF THE NON-MANIFEST
THAT,
WHEREAS ON EARTH HIS PERSONALITY
SEEMS TO CONTRAST CLEARLY FROM THAT OF OTHERS,
AT THE SEED LEVEL,
IT SEEMS TO DOVE-TAIL AND OVERLAP AND INTERFUSE
WITH THE WHOLE FABRIC
THE PLANE OF ARCHETYPES.
THE EFFICACY OF THE USE OF THE WAZIFA AS A METHOD
OF SPIRITUAL UNFOLDMENT LIES IN THE FACT THAT, BY
INVOKING THE PARTICULAR ARCHETYPE IT STANDS FOR, ONE
EXTENDS ONE'S CONSCIOUSNESS BEYOND THE CORRESPONDING
QUALITY IN ONE'S SOUL (OR IN A PERSON, OR IN NATURE).
THERE IS A KIND OF ELASTICITY IN CONSCIOUSNESS THAT
KNOWS THAT IT CAN ALWAYS GRASP A GREATER NUMBER
THAN THE GREATEST NUMBER ONE HAS SO FAR IMAGINED,
A WIDER SPACE, A GREATER PERFECTION, ETC.
IT IS BEING AWARE OF ONE'S PERFECTION.
"HUMANITY, DIVINE LIMITATION;
DIVINITY, HUMAN PERFECTION."
(HAZRAT INAYAT KHAN)
IN ORDER TO GRASP THE PERFECTION
OF A QUALITY
WE MAY OBSERVE IN ITS LIMITED EXEMPLIFICATION IN US,
WE HAVE TO SHIFT THE FOCUS OF
CONSCIOUSNESS.
OUR LIMITED NATURE FALLS OUT OF FOCUS
OUR ETERNAL BEING COMES INTO FOCUS.
THIS IS THE POINT OF INGRESS
INTO THE CAUSAL PLANE:
THE PLANE WHERE ALL REALITY IS STILL
IN THE ARCHETYPAL STATE.
AT FIRST ALL WE EXPERIENCE IS THE PARTICULAR QUALITY WE WERE
DWELLING UPON IN THE REPETITION OF THE WAZIFA, BUT AS EACH
QUALITY IMPLIES ITS NEIGHBORS AD INFINITUM, AS LOVE IMPLIES COMPASSION,
AND POWER MAJESTY, AND SPIRIT PURITY, SO DOES ONE EXTEND
FROM THIS PORT OF ENTRY INTO WIDER AND WIDER STRETCHES OF THIS
PLANE, INCREASING ONE'S REALIZATION, AS ONE PROCEEDS FROM
BAFFLEMENT TO BAFFLEMENT.
ONE EXPERIENCES ONE'S SELF IN ONE'S ETERNITY
AS A PACKAGE
A NETWORK OF ATTRIBUTES
CHARACTERISTIC OF ONE'S ETERNAL ORIENTATION.
FROM THIS VANTAGE POINT WATCH THE WAY
THESE 'SEMINAL PRINCIPLES' HAVE BEEN CARRIED THROUGH
IN THE IDIOSYNCRASIES OR BENTS OF ONE'S PERSONALITY
IN THE COURSE OF
ONE'S
MANY REINCARNATIONS.
NOW CONCENTRATE ON THE ARCHETYPE YOU HAVE INVOKED IN THE WAZIFA,
WATCH THE CORRESPONDING QUALITY IN YOUR PERSONALITY WITHOUT
DESCENDING INTO PERSONALITY CONSCIOUSNESS,
CONSIDER YOUR PERSONALITY AS AN ASPECT,
A PROJECTION OF YOUR SELF,
NOT AS YOUR SELF.
MAINTAIN YOURSELF IN FOCUS ON THE CAUSAL PLANE
IDENTIFY YOUR SELF WITH THE BEING YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN
SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME,
ARE AND ALWAYS WILL BE.
IT MUST BE NOTED, HOWEVER, THAT AT THE CAUSAL LEVEL THE
PAST OR FUTURE ONLY APPLY TO THE OUTCOME OF WHAT ONE IS,
WHICH IS INVOLVED IN BECOMING, SO THAT ONE CANNOT THINK
ONE HAS BEEN INT HE PAST WHILE ONE IS FOCUSSED UP HERE. NO
SOONER DOES ONE PASS THE THRESHOLD INTO TRANSIENT CONSCIOUSNESS,
THAN IMMEDIATELY ONE'S ETERNAL BEING IS CONTEMPLATED
FROM THE HUMAN VANTAGE POINT THROUGH THE
MEMORY ONE HAS OF IT, AND THIS IS WHERE ONE FEELS AS
THOUGH ONE'S REAL SELF, OF WHICH ONE NOW HAS A
REMINISCENCE, HAS ALWAYS BEEN AND ALWAYS WILL BE.
MAINTAIN YOURSELF AT THE VANTAGE POINT
OF YOUR ETERNAL BEING,
SEE WHAT YOUR PERSONALITY LOOKS LIKE FROM THIS ANGLE,
"ONE CAN ONLY KNOW AS MUCH OF ONE'S SELF
AS HE SEES
OF ONE'S SELF."
IN THE LIGHT OF YOUR CAUSAL BEING,
THE PERSONALITY ENTERS
INTO ITS PERSPECTIVE AS A PROJECTION OR EXEMPLIFICATION.
IF YOU ARE ABLE TO PERCEIVE POWER IN YOUR PERSONALITY,
IT IS BECAUSE YOUR SOUL CARRIES THE SEEDS OF DIVINE POWER.
NOR COULD YOU JUDGE WHETHER A PERSON IS PEACEFUL OR NOT
UNLESS PEACE WERE KNOWN TO YOU
IN THE IMPALPABLE DEPTHS OF BEING.
THE SIGHT OF THE EXEMPLAR:
YOUR POWER OR YOUR PEACE OR YOUR KINDNESS,
ECLIPSES THE ARCHETYPE.
BY SHATTERING THE PERSONALITY CONFRONTED WITH ITS
GROUND,
THE WAZIFA REFORMS THE PERSONALITY
OUT OF THE PRIMEVAL PRINCIPLE IN YOU
ACCORDING TO A NEW PATTERN.
IN ALMOST EVERY CASE THE INITIAL ENCOUNTER
WITH THE MAGIC OF VIBRATION
MAY BE UNDERTAKEN WITH THE WAZIFA
FAZ'L
WHICH MEANS BLESSING.
THE SOUND 'A' PLACED IN THE HEART CHAKRA
MADE VIBRANT BY TRANSFORMING ONE'S WHOLE BEING
INTO A GONG STRUCK BY THE HAND OF GOD
EVERY FRESH IMPULSE IN THE COSMIC RHYTHM,
THUS CAPTURED AND REACHED TO.
THE NAME OF GOD WHICH GIVES UNLIMITED SCOPE
TO ONE'S BEING
YA WAHHABO
THE OUTPOURING OF DIVINE POTENTIALITIES INTO CREATION,
AND IN PARTICULAR TO YOURSELF
LIKE A STREAM RUSHING FROM ITS SOURCE WITH GREAT FORCE.
IF YOU LISTEN TO THE PURR OF A MOUNTAIN STREAM, YOU MAY
DISCERN A LOW SOUND CREATED BY THE FRICTION OF THE
WATER
AGAINST THE RIVER BED,
AND A HIGH SOUND CREATED BY THE FRICTION OF THE WATER
AGAINST THE SURFACE AIR.
THESE ARE PRODUCED IN THE SOUND
'AH' OF WAHHA AND THE 'O' OF BO,
CREATING IN THEIR INTER-REACTIONS
NUMEROUS ECHOES AND OVERTONES.
THE USE OF THIS NAME INDICATES MOTION, PROGRESS INTO ONE'S
BEING OR UPON THE ENVIRONING CIRCUMSTANCES,
SHOULD THEY BECOME STAGNANT.
WHILE WAHHABO REFERS TO THE OUTPOURING
AND EXISTENTIATION
THE TOTALITY OF ARCHETYPES CARRIED BY THE FORWARD MARCH
OF STRUCTURES REFINING THEMSELVES IN THEIR INTRICACIES
IN THE COURSE OF EVOLUTION,
YA HAYYO
IS THE EVER CHANGING AND TRANSFORMING FLOW
OF LIFE ENERGY IN ALL ITS FORMS
TO EVER FARTHER SHORES BEYOND OUR UNDERSTANDING
IN THE CYCLE OF BECOMING ... OFTEN CONTRASTED WITH
YA QAYYUM,
THAT WHICH IS NOT TRANSIENT,
THEREFORE EVERLASTING, AND CONSEQUENTLY SURVIVING
THE FALLING CURVE OF DISINTEGRATION
ALL THE COMPONENTS OF THE FLOW OF LIFE AS IT PASSES LIKE A
FLAME FROM LOG TO LOG,
A CURRENT FROM CATHOD TO ANODE,
EVENTUALLY WEARING OUT
SIMULTANEOUSLY RECREATING EVERYTHING IT TOUCHES.
HAYYO
THE SAP RISING IN THE TREES.
THE FORCE OF LIFE SPROUTING IN THE BUDS IN SPRING,
THE POWER THAT PROPELS THE PLANETS'
ORBITS AROUND THE SUN,
THE WHOLE MOTION OF THE HEAVENLY SPHERES
THE HEAVING POWER OF THE WAVES OF THE SEA
AND THE CRASH OF THE THUNDER,
THE MYSTERY OF LIFE IN THE BIRTH OF THE CHILD,
THE WHOLE UNFOLDMENT OF LIFE,
LIFE BUBBLING OVER AND SPROUTING.
HAYYO
IS EVERYTHING IN YOUR BEING WHICH IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE,
LEAVES ON THE TREES AND THE CLOUDS IN THE SKY,
THOUGHTS IN THE MINDS OF MEN,
EVERYTHING THAT PASSES:
YOUR BODILY STATES, YOUR EMOTIONS, YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS,
CONSCIOUSNESS CONTINUALLY FLOWING, CONTINUALLY CHANGING,
THE DANCE OF SHIVA.
WHEN ONE SAYS
YA HAYYO
ONE EXPERIENCES BEWONDERMENT, LIKE A KIND OF NOSTALGIA,
AS ONE WATCHES ONE'S LIFE FLOWING FASTER,
SEEING IT IN A PANORAMIC VISION.
PONDERING UPON THE DIFFERENT EVENTS ONE MAY WONDER
WHY THINGS HAPPENED THE WAY THEY DID,
WATCH THEIR SEQUENCE, DISCERN THE LESSONS, GRASP THE LAW
OF CAUSATION.
THE EMOTION EXPERIENCED WHEN ONE IS CONFRONTED WITH THE
PASSAGE OF TIME
HAVING DISPLACED THE CENTER OF CONSCIOUSNESS.
ONE FEELS ONESELF CARRIED IN THAT FLOW IRRETRIEVABLY,
AS ONE DETACHES THE CENTER OF ONE'S BEING FROM THAT FLOW,
WATCHING IT, AS IT WERE, OBJECTIVELY,
ONE BECOMES AWARE OF THAT SOMETHING IN ONESELF WHICH IS
ETERNAL AND SURVIVES THE FLOW.
THIS IS THE MOMENT OF TRIUMPH OVER DEATH.
YA QAYYUM
LIFE EVERLASTING
NOT THE LIFE THAT FLOWS, CONTINUALLY RENEWING ITSELF
BUT THAT WHICH REMAINS
UNCHANGED BEHIND ALL CHANGE,
ETERNAL THROUGH THE PASSAGE OF TIME,
THAT WHICH LIFE BECOMES
WHEN THE ESSENCE OF THE ESSENCE OF THE ESSENCE HAS BEEN
EXTRACTED
DERIVED FROM THE FLOW AND GLEANED FOR SURVIVAL
IN EVERLASTINGNESS.
FROM THE HUMAN VANTAGE POINT,
WHAT YOU WERE ETERNALLY IN THE MIND OF GOD,
UNBECOME, UNFORMED,
YOU HAVE BECOME,
WHILE STILL REMAINING IN YOUR ETERNAL SELF,
THAT WHICH YOU WERE AND ALWAYS WILL BE.
FROM THE HIGHER VANTAGE POINT,
TRANSFORMATION IS THE UNREELING OF WHAT ALREADY IS.
QAYYUM IS THE VICTORY OF THE EVERLASTING,
THE VICTORY OF RESURRECTION OVER DEATH,
THE PROCLAMATION OF EASTER DAY:
'YOU ARE RISEN INTO ETERNAL LIFE BY THE FICTORY OF
RESURRECTION OVER YOUR FRAGILE TRANSIENCY.'
THIS IS WHAT SERAPHIEL ANNOUNCES AS HE BLOWS THE TRUMPET
ON THE DAY OF RESURRECTION.
THE QURANIC WORDS CORRESPONDING TO THIS WAZIFA ARE
"EVERYTHING PASSES EXCEPT FOR HIS FACE."
THE ONE WHO DISCOVERS THE MYSTERY
YA HAYYO YA QAYYUM
BECOMES INTOXICATED,
YA HAYYO,
THE RENEWAL OF LIFE IMPLIES DEATH
THERE IS NO GREATER INTOXICATION THAN SURVIVING DEATH
GOD UNDERGOES A THOUSAND DEATHS IN EVERY DEATH,
NOT ONLY OF OUR BODIES BUT OF OUR PERSONALITIES,
SO THAT WE MAY BE RESURRECTED BY THE SURVIVAL
OF HIS ESSENCE IN US
EVERY TIME THAT OUR LIMITATION GIVES WAY TO HIS
PERFECTION.
ANOTHER WAZIFA ASSOCIATED WITH THE WATER OF LIFE IS
YA QUDDUS,
(BOTH VOWELS IN THE THROAT CHAKRA),
YA WAHHABO
REFERS TO THE STREAM OF FORMATIONS AND FLOWS IN
THE TIME VECTOR
YA QUDDUS
REFERS TO THE SOURCE AND IS TIMELESS AND FORMLESS.
IN HINDU TERMS ONE WOULD SAY,
WAHHABO IS PRAKRITI QUDDUS IS PURUSHA.
KNOW THE STATE WHERE, HAVING LIFTED YOURSELF ON THE
WINGS OF DETACHMENT
ABOVE ALL THE EMOTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH FORMS
AND THE WELL-BEING OF THE EGO,
YOU RE-EXPERIENCE THE STATE PRIOR TO CAUSATION
THE STATE IS REACHED BY PURIFICATION UNTIL ONE
REACHES THE IMMACULATE CONDITION
TYPIFIED BY THE DIAPHENE LIGHT OF THE MOON
OR THE CLARITY OF THE DIAMOND.
MEDITATION IMAGE:
A CLEAR FOUNTAINHEAD OF WATER GUSHING OUT
OF A CRYSTAL CAVE,
GLISTENING IN SIDEREAL LIGHT.
FIND YOURSELF BACK IN A CERTAIN PLACE WHICH IS FAMILIAR TO
YOU IN YOUR UNCONSCIOUS,
A PLACE BEYOND TIME AND SPACE WHERE EVERYTHING IS
EFFERVESCENT WITH LIGHT.
IF YOU CAN FIND THAT CERTAIN PLACE INSIDE,
YOU RE-ESTABLISH CONTACT WITH YOUR SOURCE.
WE ARE ALL SUFFERING FOR HAVING BEEN TORN AWAY FROM OUR
SOURCE
WE NURTURE THE SEED FOR A PILGRIMAGE TO OUR ORIGIN.
THEREFORE IT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH SIMPLY TO MEDITATE ON
THE IMAGE:
ONE MUST FIND THE CORRESPONDING IMAGE WITHIN ONE'S SOUL.
TO DO THIS ONE HAS TO TAKE A SPIRITUAL BATH,
RETURN TO A STATE OF ORIGINAL INNOCENCE.
HAVING SHED ALL EARTHLINESS, ONE BECOMES PURE SPIRIT.
QUDDUS
IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE ARCHANGELS, TO THE HOLY SPIRIT,
AND TO THE SOURCE OF THE WATER OF LIFE WHERE ELIJAH
QUENCHED HIS THIRST.
QUDDUS
A JET OF SUPER-CHARGED ENERGY THAT BREATHES LIFE
INTO ALL THINGS, VITALIZING ALL THINGS:
QUITE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF CREATIVE FORCE
THAN THE POWER THAT CREATES
AND PERPETRATES FORMS.
IT INFUSES FORMS WITH A NEW LEASE OF VITAL ENERGY.
YA RAHMAN
(DIVINE COMPASSION)
IS DESCRIBED AS A BREATH (NAFAS AR RAHMANI)
FREEING THE ARCHETYPES FROM THE SOLITUDE OF
UNKNOWING
LAUNCHING THEM INTO CREATION.
THIS FULFILLMENT OF THE NOSTALGIA FOR CAUSAL EXISTENCE
INEVITABLY CARRIES SUFFERING IN ITS WAKE
WHICH IS THE PRICE OF SENSITIVITY AND THEREFORE
AWARENESS.
RAHMAN IS FOLLOWED BY RAHIM:
COMPASSION FOR THE CREATURES WHO HAVE SUFFERED
FOR BEING THE BEARERS OF THE DIVINE ATTRIBUTES
INTO MANIFESTATION.
RAHMAN (THE MALE ASPECT),
EMANATING FROM THE DIVINE HEART CENTER,
IS AN EXTENSION OF LOVE BECOME ALL PREVAILING,
RAHIM (THE FEMALE ASPECT) IS
ALL-ENCOMPASSING,
THE HEART HAVING BECOME AN ACCOMMODATION
IT STRETCHES TO THE HORIZON OF THE UNIVERSE
LOVE REACHES THE QUALITY OF COMPASSION IN ITS FULLNESS IN
THE MOTHER.
THE MOTHER OF THE WORLD INCORPORATES ALL SUFFERING
BEINGS IN HER HEART.
RAHIM IS SHARING SUFFERING WITH THOSE WHO SUFFER.
RAHMAN IS ENJOYING THE FACT THAT ANOTHER IS HAPPY,
EVEN AT YOUR COST.
IT IS THE OPPOSITE OF JEALOUSY OR COVETOUSNESS.
THIS IS JOY IN BEING A CHANNEL OF DIVINE BOUNTY.
WHEN ONE SAYS RAHMAN,
ONE ENJOYS THE JOY THAT BEINGS HAVE
IN MANIFESTING THE DIVINE ATTRIBUTES.
WHEN ONE SAYS RAHIM,
ONE SUFFERS IN SOLIDARITY WITH THEM
IN TH KARMIC LOAD THEY ARE CARRYING,
PREFERRING TO CARRY IT ONESELF.
THINK OF THOSE PERSONS WHO ARE DIFFICULT TO LOVE BECAUSE
OF THEIR STRONG EGOS OR THEIR UNPLEASANT ACTIONS
TOWARDS YOU,
THINK OF THEM WITH LOVE MADE COMPLETE BY SHARING IN
WHATEVER SUFFERING THEY HAVE AND ENJOYING
WHATEVER JOY THEY ENJOY.
THIS IS THE PATH OF SAINTLIHOOD.
"IF YOU WISH TO FOLLOW THE PATH
OF SAINTS,
LEARN TO FORGIVE."
[HAZRAT INAYAT KHAN)
YOU CANNOT FOLLOW THE PATH OF THE MASTER WITHOUT
HAVING STARTED ON THE PATH OF SAINTLIHOOD,
WHICH ULTIMATELY PROVES TO BE THE GREATEST MASTERY,
BECAUSE TO LOVE ONE'S ENEMY ONE HAS TO OVERCOME
ONESELF.
OVERCOME ALL THAT RESENTMENT AND INTOLERANCE AND
BITTERNESS
BE FREE.
ONE CANNOT BE FREE WHEN ONE IS NURTURING A GRUDGE
IN ONE'S HEART.
YOUR ABILITY TO FORGIVE IS THE MEASURE OF YOUR GREATNESS.
YOUR ABILITY TO LOVE IS THE MEASURE OF YOUR CAPACITY FOR
THE GREATNESS OF GOD.
THE MEASURE OF YOUR LOVE IS THE EXTENT OF YOUR
FORGIVENESS.
IF YOU CANNOT EXTEND YOUR LOVE,
THEN EXPERIENCE HIS LOVE PASSING THROUGH YOU
TOWARDS THAT BEING:
THE GREATNESS OF HIS LOVE THE TREMENDOUS POWER
BE FREE.
IF YOU WISH TO FOLLOW
THE PATH OF SAINTS
LEARN TO FORGIVE
YA ALIM IS SUPREME UNDERSTANDING, THE UNDERSTANDING
BEHIND OUR UNDERSTANDING, THE EYES BEHIND OUR EYES, PURE
INTELLIGENCE BEYOND CONSCIOUSNESS, THAT IS BEYOND WHERE
THERE IS PERCEPTION OR COGNITION. THIS IS THE KNOWLEDGE
THAT CONFERS ILLUMINATION
WHERE ALL BECOMES CLEAR.
JE LANGER JE LIEBER [THE LONGER IT LASTS, THE MORE I LIKE IT]
YA ALIM
CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE DIVINE AWARENESS,
BEING AWARE OF BEING AWARE.
AL JILI DESCRIBES THREE DEGREES OF AWARENESS:
YOU SEE THE INTENTION BEHIND A SITUATION
(I) AFTER IT HAS HAPPENED
(II) AS IT HAPPENS (III) BEFORE IT HAPPENS.
IT IMPLIES SCANNING BEYOND THE SURFACE, GRASPING THE INTENTION
BEHIND THINGS, THE PURPOSE BEHIND THE INTENTION.
IF ONE FAILS TO SEE THE INTENTION ONE WONDERS WHY THINGS
HAPPEN THE WAY THEY DO, THINGS DO NOT SEEM TO MAKE SENSE.
THE IGNORAMUS SAYS, HOW CAN YOU BELIEVE IN GOD, LOOK AT
ALL THE CHAOS IN THE WORLD, ALL THE SUFFERING.
OBVIOUSLY THE PLANNER DOES NOT SCHEDULE THINGS TO FIT
WITH OUR PLANS.
IF YOU HYPOTHESIZE THAT THE OBJECTIVE PROPOSED BY THE PLANNER
IS TO TEST US THAT WE MAY REACH REALIZATION,
EVERYTHING MAKES SENSE.
YA ALIM IS OFTEN BALANCED BY
YA QADER:
DIVINE OMNISCIENCE BY DIVINE OMNIPOTENCE,
THE 'I' IN THE THIRD EYE WITH THE 'A' IN THE HEART.
YA ALIM MARKS THE CARRYOVER OF THE CENTER OF GRAVITY OF ONE'S
BEING FROM THE PERSONAL TO THE SUPER-PERSONAL CENTER.
YA QADER MARKS THE INCORPORATION OF DIVINE POWER INTO
THE BODY, CONVERGED INTO AND THEN RADIATED
FROM THE HEART CENTER.
WHEN ONE ABANDONS ONE'S OWN MEASURE OF APPROPRIATED
PERSONAL POWER, THERE IS A SENSE OF THE INVESTITURE OF
A POWER FAR BEYOND WHAT ONE WOULD EVER BE ABLE TO YIELD
OUT OF ONE'S OWN INITIATIVE.
ONE KNOWS ONE IS AT GRIPS WITH IT BY ITS OVERWHELMINGNESS.
WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT DIVINE POWER IS. WE MAY HAVE COME ACROSS
THIS POWER IN THE THUNDER OR AN EARTHQUAKE
OR A MAD ELEPHANT,
BUT OBVIOUSLY DIVINE POWER IS BEYOND
ANY OF ITS MANIFESTATIONS.
TO ENCOUNTER
IT
IS
TO BE
SHATTERED
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO SHUN POWER
BECAUSE THEY HAVE SUFFERED FROM ITS ABUSE
FOR PERSONAL ENDS.
YET THE ABSENCE OF THIS QUALITY IN A PERSON LEAVES A LACUNA
WHICH MAY HAMPER THEIR NATURAL UNFOLDMENT.
THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE OF A SENSITIVE PERSON.
IT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR THINGS TO BE PLANNED
THEY STILL HAVE TO BE DONE:
FOR THE INTENTION TO BECOME A REALITY,
ENERGY HAS TO BE LAUNCHED INTO OPERATION.
THE ONE CHANNELING THIS POWER IN THE DIVINE SERVICE
MAKES THINGS HAPPEN AND GIVES STRENGTH TO THE WEAK AND
DIS-SPIRITED.
IT IS A MATTER OF OPENING THE CHAKRA OF THE
HEART
BY THE EXPANSIVE EFFECT OF THE VIBRATION OF
THE LETTER
'A'
WHEN ONE HAS FREED IT
OF ALL PERSONAL LIMITATIONS.
THIS CAN BE HEARD IN THE VOICE WHEN THE CHEST BECOMES A
PERFECT RESONANCE BOX
AND THE VIBRATIONS PRODUCED ARE PERFECTLY CLEAR.
ISHQ ALLAH MA'ABUD L'ILLAH
GOD IS LOVE
GOD
IS
THE ONE
BELOVED
GOD IS THE ACT OF LOVE
ISHQ ALLAH MA'ABUD L'ILLAH
GOD IS LOVE, GOD IS THE ADORED ONE
THIS IS ONE OF THE WAYS IN WHICH THE DARVISHES OR MADZUBS,
THE GOD-INTOXICATED ONES, GREET ONE ANOTHER.
IT WAS NOT IN ORDER TO KNOW HIMSELF THAT GOD CREATED THE
UNIVERSE, BUT IT WAS OUT OF LOVE FOR YOU AS A PART OF HIMSELF,
BEFORE YOU WERE THRUST INTO EXISTENCE, THAT HE
CREATED YOU. EXPERIENCE BEING BORN AS AN EXPRESSION OF
DIVINE LOVE FOR THE BEAUTY WITHIN HIM WHICH IS SEEKING TO
MANIFEST THROUGH THE QUALITIES INHERENT IN THIS PARTICULAR
PROJECTION OF HIMSELF. THEN MANIFEST THE BEAUTY
OF THAT SOUL YOU CALL YOUR SOUL WHICH HAS BEEN COVERED
UNDER A BUSHEL BASKET.
THE REALIZATION THAT GOD'S LOVE HAS MADE ONE HIS BELOVED
STIRS INTO THE ONLY POSSIBLE RESPONSE: ONE'S ADORATION
OF HIM. FOR THERE IS NO COMMON MEASURE
BETWEEN MAN AND GOD.
DO YOU RECALL IN THE ACT OF ADORATION THE PRIMEVAL HIGH
MASS CELEBRATED IN THE HEAVENS IN WHICH GALAXIES OF
HEAVENLY BEINGS MANIFEST THEIR GLORIFICATION?
YOUR SOUL IS THE VERY LANGUAGE THEY USE TO EXPRESS THEIR
MAGNIFICATION.
THERE IS NO GREATER INTOXICATION THAN THAT OF LOVE
WHEN IT TRANSCENDS THE HUMAN OBJECT AND IS DIRECTED
TOWARDS THE DIVINE BEING.
IF ONE DOES NOT EXPERIENCE THIS LOVE, IT MAY HOWEVER BE
COMMUNICATED BY THE GOD-INTOXICATED.
ONE CANNOT EXPERIENCE LOVE FOR GOD UNTIL ONE
EXPERIENCES HIS PRESENCE.
THIS IS CALLED BY THE SUFIS "THE STATION OF INTIMACY"
WHICH IS REACHED WHEN ONE UNDERGOES THE TRAUMA OF THE
DEATH OF ONE'S PERSON
AFTER HAVING BEEN BURNING INTENSELY IN THE FIRE OF LOVE.
IT TAKES A STRONG LOVE
PROTECTED BY THE FREEING QUALITY OF FORGIVENESS
TO ENCOMPASS THE EGOS OF ALL PEOPLE
INCLUDING
THE INSULTS OF THOSE WHO DO NOT
UNDERSTAND.
IT IS EASIER TO GLORIFY GOD THAN LOVE HIS
CREATURES,
EASIER TO GLORIFY GOD THAN TO LOVE GOD.
THE REALIZATION OF BEING THE OBJECT
OF GOD'S LOVE
UNLEASHES ONE'S CAPACITY FOR LOVE
Statistics: Posted by admin — Sat Sep 26, 2015 7:44 am
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SOUND
FROM THE STANDPOINT OF OUR DIURNAL CONSCIOUSNESS, THE
WORLD APPEARS AS A NETWORK OF PHYSICAL OBJECTS; BUT IF WE
WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN OUR CONSCIOUSNESS ON ONE OF THOSE
LEVELS FROM WHICH WE SOMETIMES SEE FLASHES OF INTUITION,
WE WOULD FIND THAT REALITY APPEARS UNDER THE FORM OF
VIBRATIONS
THAT ONE IS
ONESELF
A NETWORK OF VIBRATIONS
ONE HAS THE IMPRESSION OF BATHING IN A WORLD OF SOUNDS IN
WHICH EACH VIBRATION HAS ITS SCOPE, ITS DIRECTION, ITS SIGNIFICANCE,
ITS OWN PARTICULAR DURATION OF LIFE, AND EVEN
ITS OWN INDIVIDUALITY. WE DISCOVER THE INTERFERENCES, INTERRELATIONS
AND INTERACTIONS BETWEEN DIFFERENT VIBRATIONS.
A BEWILDERING WAY OF CONSIDERING THE UNIVERSE
OPENS UP: EVERY HUMAN BEING SEEMS TO BE A NOTE IN A
SYMPHONY, NAY, A SYMPHONY WITHIN A MULTI-DIMENSIONAL
SYMPHONY WHICH MAY BE PART OF THAT STILL VASTER
SYMPHONY
THE SYMPHONY OF THE SPHERES
IF WE ARE ABLE TO ATTUNE OUR CONSCIOUSNESS TO THE LEVEL
CALLED BY THE HINDUS THE AKASHA WE SHALL TOUCH UPON THE
ORIGIN OF ALL THINGS, ALL ACTIONS
A PLACE WHERE REALITY REMAINS
ETERNALLY UNCHANGED
INT HE PERENNITY OF AN ARCHETYPAL VIBRATORY
STRUCTURE
THE ESOTERIC TRADITIONS HAVE HANDED DOWN TO US THE KEY
TO TUNING IN TO THIS PLANE. IT IS THE 'MANTRAM' OF THE HINDUS,
THE 'NEMBUTSU' OF THE BUDDHISTS, THE REPETITIONS OF
KYRIE ELEISON OF THE HESYCHASTS, ORTHODOX HERMIT MONKS,
THE 'WAZIFA' OF THE SUFIS. SUCH TECHNIQUES DERIVE FROM AN
EXPERIMENTAL KNOW HOW THAT TEACHES ONE HOW TO ATTUNE
THE FREQUENCY OF HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS IN SUCH A MANNER
AS TO ENABLE ONE TO BE RECEPTIVE TO VIBRATIONS OF A
DIFFERENT ORDER FROM THOSE GENERALLY PERCEIVED
BY THE EARS.
THERE ARE MANTRAMS IN SANSKRIT, IN PALI, IN TIBETAN, IN
JAPANESE, IN HEBREW, IN ARABIC. THE WAZIFAS ARE PROBABLY
ARABIC AND POSSIBLY EVEN PRE-ARABIC, OF THAT ANCIENT SEMITIC
LANGUAGE PRIOR TO ARAMAIC WHICH IS THE COMMON ROOT
OF HEBREW AND ARABIC. AND ALTHOUGH THE HISTORICAL
SOURCE OF THESE CURRENTS SEEMS TO BE FAR REMOVED FROM
ONE ANOTHER, THE SOUNDS SEEM TO CORRESPOND.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN AUM YOU HAVE THE A IN THE HEART CENTER,
THE U IN THE THROAT CENTER, AND THE M AT THE TOP OF THE
HEAD, WHICH IS VERY SIMILAR TO ALLAH HU, WITH THE DIFFERENCE
THAT THE M IS DIRECTED UPWARDS THROUGH THE CROWN
WHEREAS THE HU IS DIRECTED OUTWARDS THROUGH THE THROAT:
AND IN HINDUISM THE WHOLE TREND IS TOWARD UNITY, THE EXPERIENCE
OF ONENESS, WHEREAS IN SUFISM IT IS TOWARDS BECOMING
A CHANNEL THROUGH WHICH GOD MAY MANIFEST
HIMSELF IN MAN.
WE ARE DEALING WITH AN AREA WHICH SCIENCE HAS NOT YET
EXPLORED, BUT I AM CONVINCED THAT WITHIN THIRTY OR FORTY
YEARS THESE PHENOMENA WILL ENTER THE PURVIEW OF SCIENCE,
WHICH IN NO WAY NEED BE LIMITED TO THE PHENOMENA WHICH WE
DEFINE IN OUR PRESENT VIEWS AS PHYSICAL. THIS MAY THEN POSSIBLY
HELP ESOTERICISTS TO ELABORATE MORE PRECISE METHODS
THAN THOSE RATHER PRAGMATIC ONES BASED ON TRIAL AND
ERROR PRACTICED SO FAR.
LET US BEAR IN MIND THAT OUR PURPOSE IS NOT THE CURIOSITY OF
EXPERIENCE, BUT THE RESULTANT TRANSFORMATION OF OURSELVES.
IF THE UNFOLDMENT OF OUR BEING IS MEASURED BY THE DEGREE
TO WHICH WE INCORPORATE THE RICHNESS OF THE UNIVERSE,
EXPERIENCE IS ESSENTIALLY AN INTERPENETRATION AND INTERFUSION
BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF THE SAME
THING. HOW MUCH DO WE KNOW ABOUT OUR SENSITIVITY TO
SOLAR RAYS OR TO VIBRATIONS BEYOND THE KNOWN RANGE
OF THE EARDRUMS?
IF SOUND CAN BE USED AS A LANGUAGE, IT IS A MEANS OF COMMUNICATING
PHYSICAL OR PSYCHIC OR EVEN SPIRITUAL ENERGY:
LIKEWISE, SUPER-SONIC VIBRATIONS COMMUNICATE THEIR
ENERGY AND MESSAGES TO THE UNCONSCIOUS OR SUPER-CONSCIOUS.
WHAT DO WE KNOW OF THE OVERTONES IN OUR VOICES
THAT ARE PICKED UP BY THE UNCONSCIOUS OF OUR HEARERS,
COMMUNICATING A FAR GREATER RICHNESS THAN OUR OFT
INADEQUATE WORDS ....
THE VOICE OF SILENCE
ONE MIGHT CALL THE SIGNIFICANCE OF A WORD THE NON-PHYSICAL
REALITY. BY VIBRATING SYMPATHETICALLY WITH THE
RESONANCE OF THE CORRESPONDING SOUNDS, ONE DISCOVERS
THE REAL SIGNIFICANCE BEYOND THE CONCEPT OF THE MIND:
THE SIGNATURE, AYAT, THE IMPRINT, SIGN, THE SIGNIFICANCE OF
THAT REALITY OF WHICH MATTER CARRIES THE IMPRESS, THAT
REALITY THAT STRIVES TO MANIFEST ITSELF
IN AND THROUGH MATTER.
WE HAVE LITTLE IDEA HOW WE HAVE BEEN MARKED BY THE CONCEPTS
OF THE MIND STANDING IN THE WAY OF TRANSCENDENTAL
EXPERIENCE, FOR AT HIGHER LEVELS ALL CONCEPTS MUST DISAPPEAR
IN ORDER TO PLACE US FACE TO FACE WITH REALITY IN ALL
ITS NUDITY AND NAKEDNESS.
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
1. By the Sky
and The Night-Visitant
2. And what will explain to thee
What the Night-Visitant is?
3. (It is) the Star
Of piercing brightness;
4. There is no soul but has
a protector over it
5. Now let man but think
From what he is created
6. He is created from
A drop emitted --
WHEN ONE PRACTICES THE MANTRAM OR WAZIFA, ONE BECOMES
THE SUBTLE INSTRUMENT COMMUNICATING DIVINE SIGNIFICANCE
TO ONE'S CONSCIOUSNESS TRICKLING OVER THE THRESHOLD OF
THE UNCONSCIOUS THROUGH THOSE OVERTONES THAT ONE IS
TAUGHT TO BRING INTO RELIEF.
UNLIKE ORDINARY LANGUAGE, WHERE WORDS ARE LINKED TO
THEIR SIGNIFICANCE BY PURE CONVENTION, THE MANTRAM OR
WAZIFA HAVE BEEN HANDED DOWN FROM ARCHAIC LANGUAGES
WHERE EACH SOUND IS THE VIBRATORY COUNTERPART OF A
TRANSCENDENTAL SIGNIFICANCE. ON THE PHYSICAL PLANE EVERY
OBJECT HAS A SPECIFIC RATE OF VIBRATION, WHICH MIGHT
INCLUDE SEVERAL FREQUENCIES RUNNING PARALLEL.
AT TIMES ONE IS HIGHLY CONSCIOUS OF THE IMPERFECTION OF
THE MEANS WITH WHICH ONE COMMUNICATES WITH OTHERS; WE
ARE LIMITED BY WORDS, CONDITIONED BY THE CONCEPTS ATTACHED
TO WORDS BY OUR EDUCATION. THIS IS WHY ZEN
BUDDHISTS AND THE SUFI IBN L'ARABI PLAY WITH WORDS IN ORDER
TO DESTROY THE CONCEPTS. PARADOX IN NO WAY BETRAYS A
DESIRE TO SHINE BY ONE'S WIT, BUT TO EXPLODE CONFINING
CONCEPTS BREAKING THROUGH BEYOND.
THE MANTRAM HAS THE ADVANTAGE OF NOT BINDING US TO A
CONCEPT. THERE IS OF COURSE A DANGER IN ATTACHING A CONCEPT
TO A MANTRAM. IF YOUR TEACHER PRESCRIBES A MANTRAM
TO YOU, YOU ARE LIKELY TO ASK HIM FOR ITS SIGNIFICANCE.
SHOULD HE TELL YOU ITS MEANING, AND SHOULD YOU ATTACH
YOURSELF TO ITS SIGNIFICANCE SUCH AS YOUR MIND CONCEIVES
IT, YOUR CONCEPT OF IT WOULD STAND IN THE WAY OF YOUR
DISCOVERING ITS DEEPER SIGNIFICANCE.
THE TEACHER, THEREFORE, ENCOURAGES ONE TO DISCOVER THE
MEANING OF ONE'S SELF IN REFERENCE TO ONE'S SELF
IN THE COURSE OF THE REPETITION OF THE MANTRAM.
MAYBE ONE IS AT FIRST PERPLEXED AS TO WHY THE TEACHER HAS
TO BE SO MYSTERIOUS ABOUT IT, UNTIL ONE UNDERSTANDS THAT
HE IS OPENING ONE TO THE MULTI-DIMENSIONAL CONNOTATION
CATALYZED BY THAT PARTICULAR WORD, SO THAT, AT EVERY
FRESH STAGE, ONE DISCOVERS FURTHER MEANING IN WHAT AT
FIRST APPEARED AS AN EVIDENCE CONCEPT.
THE ADVANTAGE OF A MANTRAM IS THAT
IT DOES NOT HAVE A MENTAL SIGNIFICANCE
THEREFORE IT FORCES ONE TO SUPERSEDE
THE MENTAL CONCEPT
ALTHOUGH ONE HAS TO PASS THROUGH
THE MENTAL CONCEPT TO START WITH
TO GIVE ONE A SENSE OF DIRECTION.
IN THE WEST IT SOUNDS BRUTAL TO SAY:
THE PURPOSE OF THE MANTRAM IS TO DESTROY THE MIND
IT IS TO BYPASS CONCEPTUALIZATION
IN ORDER TO BREAK THROUGH THE RATIONALIZING STRATA OF
THE MIND
TO REACH OUT TO THOSE MENTAL LEVELS USUALLY REFERRED TO
AS
INTUITION
THE CURIOUS THING ABOUT IT IS THAT ONE HAS RECOURSE TO THE
BODY TO DETRACT CONSCIOUSNESS FROM THE SEIZURE OF THE
CONCEPTUAL STRATA OF THE MIND BY FOCUSSING CONSCIOUSNESS
ON THE OVERTONES, BYPASSING THIS STRATUM TO REACH OUT
TO THE ARCHETYPAL ONE
A REASON FOR NOT REPEATING MANTRAM MORE OFTEN
THAN PRESCRIBED
THE DRAWBACK OF THE PHYSICAL REPETITION IS OBVIOUSLY ITS
HYPNOTIC EFFECT WHICH, BY DESTROYING THE INDIVIDUAL
CENTER OF CONSCIOUS WILL, THROUGH THE TAKE-OVER OF AUTOMATION,
BRINGS ONE TO THE FRINGE OF TRANCE, UNLESS ONE
STIMULATES CONSCIOUSNESS BY CHECKING ON THE QUALITY OF
THE SOUNDS PRODUCED AND FLASHING ON THE OVERTONES, OR
AT A FURTHER STATE
CONCENTRATING ON THE MEANING
THE FOCUS OF CONSCIOUSNESS THUS ACQUIRED WILL LIFT ONE
ONTO A LEVEL OF AWARENESS USUALLY CALLED REVERIE,
BECAUSE AS ONE DOES NOT GENERALLY KNOW HOW TO OPERATE
CONSCIOUSLY AT THIS LEVEL, IT SEEMS NEBULOUS.
WHEN ONE IS ABLE TO DO THIS
ONE WAKENS FROM THE REVERIE THRESHOLD
INTO
A STATE OF INTENSE LUCIDITY
WHERE
WHAT SEEMED UNREAL NOW ASSUMES ITS FULL REALITY
AND WHAT SEEMED REAL
NOW FALLS OUT OF FOCUS AND SEEMS ILLUSORY
A WORLD OF VIBRATIONS COMES INTO FOCUS
SUCH AS YOU HAD ALWAYS BELIEVED IN DESPERATELY AND THEN
GIVEN UP AS MAKE-BELIEVE
AT FIRST YOU THINK
YOU
ARE PRODUCING THE SOUNDS
THEN YOU FEEL LIKE
THE ORGANIST WHO HEARS THE MUSIC
HE TRIGGERS OFF AT THE OTHER END
OF THE CATHEDRAL AND FINDS IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT HE
IS PRODUCING IT, IN FACT, YOU NOW ENVISION YOURSELF AS THE
INSTRUMENT THROUGH WHICH THE SOUND PASSES AND THE INSTRUMENT
THROUGH WHICH IT IS HEARD. THIS IS BROUGHT ABOUT
BY LISTENING TO THE OVERTONES INSTEAD OF THE BASE SOUND,
THEN USING THE SCALE OF OVERTONES
AS A JACOBS LADDER
TO CLIMB
JACOB'S LADDER
IT IS LIKE LISTENING TO THE ECHO OF THE ECHO OF AN ECHO
ZOOMING IN ON THE REFLEX IMAGE OF THE REFLEX OF A REFLEX
ONE MUST BE SILENT IN ONE'S SOUL
TO LISTEN TO THE SOUNDS ONE SPLASHES INTO THE ETHER
THAT ARE REVERBERATED FROM ONE STRATUM OF THE ETHER FIELD
TO THE OTHER
THROUGH THAT SUBTLE TRANSFORMER
ONE IS CONNECTING WITH ALL PLANES OF THE UNIVERSE
-- The Pictorial Language of Hieronymus Bosch, by Clement A. Wertheim Aymes
THE TECHNIQUE OF THE MANTRAM THEN CONSISTS IN FOLLOWING
THE OVERTONES OF THE SOUND BEYOND THE LIMITS OF THE
RANGE OF THE EAR, INTO THE SUPERSONIC RANGE PICKED UP BY
THOSE AREAS OF CONSCIOUSNESS USUALLY REFERRED TO AS THE
UNCONSCIOUS. ONE CONTINUES TO LISTEN, BUT NOT WITH THE
EAR. THUS CONSCIOUSNESS IS INDUCED TO EXTEND BEYOND ITS
SPAN, SHIFTING ITS THRESHOLD WITH THE UNCONSCIOUS,
PROVING THAT THE CONSCIOUS CAN PICK UP STIMULI BEYOND
THE ACCEPTED RANGE OF THE SENSES.
THE CLASSICAL TECHNIQUES REQUIRE ONE TO REPEAT THE
PRESCRIBED MANTRAM A GIVEN NUMBER OF TIMES: 21, 33, 101, 10001,
ETC.; BUT IT IS BETTER TO INTERRUPT THE SEQUENCE IF ONE IS NOT
ENTIRELY SATISFIED WITH THE SOUND PRODUCED. THERE IS NO
POINT IN REPEATING THE SAME MISTAKE OR PERPETRATING THE
SAME IMPERFECTION OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
DO NOT CONTENT YOURSELF WITH THE SOUND PRODUCED.
IN FACT, ONE IS LIKE THE INDIAN MUSICIAN WHO, IN GUISE OF
TUNING HIS INSTRUMENT, IS ACTUALLY TUNING HIMSELF TO THE
RIGHT PITCH. AN INDIAN MUSICIAN MAY TAKE HOURS TO TUNE HIS
VINA. IT LOOKS AS THOUGH HE IS TUNING HIS VINA, BUT ACTUALLY
HE IS TUNING THE SOUL
YOU SAY THE SOUND, AND 'OH, NO, THAT'S NOT IT', SO YOU DO IT
AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN, AND YOU GRADUALLY GET YOUR
SOUL INTO A CONDITION WHICH ENABLES YOU TO PRODUCE THE
DESIRED SOUND IN THE CHAKRA. ONE FEELS THINGS IN ONE'S SELF
THAT ONE DOESN'T LIKE IN THE SOUND THAT ONE PRODUCES: IT'S TOO
PERSONAL OR IT'S TOO HARSH OR THERE'S TOO MUCH EGO IN
IT OR IT'S TOO INHARMONIOUS OR THERE'S SOME THING IN IT THAT
YOU DON'T LIKE: ALL THOSE THINGS WHICH YOU SUFFER FROM IN
YOUR SENSE OF BEAUTY, WHICH CAUSE DESPAIR
IN THE MINDS AND HEARTS OF MEN.
YOU KEEP ON TUNING INTO THE SOUND
TURNING INTO THE SOUND
YOU BECOME MORE AND MORE HARMONIOUS
MORE AND MORE IMPERSONAL
UNTIL YOU BECOME LIKE THE AEOLIAN HARP THAT THE GREEKS
USED TO EXPOSE TO THE HIGH WINDS ON THE HILLS: THE WINDS
WOULD BLOW INTO THE HARP AND PRODUCE
CELESTIAL HARMONIES.
WORK WITH THE SOUND UNTIL YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY AMAZED
THAT YOU COULD PRODUCE SUCH A SOUND AND IT SEEMS TO YOU
THAT YOU ARE JUST THE INSTRUMENT THROUGH WHICH THE
DIVINE PIED PIPER BLOWS THE WHISPER OF THE INCANTATIONS OF
HIS MAGIC SPELL.
IN THE ADVANCED TECHNIQUES, ONE SHOULD REPEAT THE
PRESCRIBED WORD ONCE, TWICE, THREE TIMES, OR A FEW TIMES
MORE, UNTIL OE STRIKES THE RIGHT NOTE, THEN LISTEN TO THE
ECHO PRODUCED, THEN LAUNCH THE SOUND AGAIN,
BUT INTERNALLY, SO TO SPEAK, WITHOUT SAYING IT ALOUD.
YOU HAVE THUS USED THE BODY AS A SPRINGBOARD TO PASS FROM
PHYSICAL SOUND TO ETHERIC SOUND.
NOW FOLLOW UP THIS SOUND IN THE ETHER, THUS STRENGTHENING
YOUR THOUGHT FORMS, BECAUSE, EVEN AS ONE CAN PRODUCE
A PHYSICAL SOUND BY THINKING IT AND WILLING IT, EVEN SO ONE
CAN PRODUCE A SOUND IN THE ETHER.
THEN YOU LISTEN TO IT:
YOU ARE
SIMULTANEOUSLY
THE CREATOR AND THE WITNESS
OF THE SOUND
ONE IS ACTUALLY WORKING WITH THAT MAGICAL INSTRUMENT,
CREATIVE IMAGINATION, IN THE REALM OF SOUND,
FASHIONING SOUNDS RATHER THAN FORMS. ONE ACTUALLY TUNES
ONE'S BODY OF VIBRATION LIKE A VIOLIN OR A CELLO BY
MODULATING THE SYMPATHETIC RESONANCE OF THE VOCAL
CHORDS. SHOULD YOU PLACE A HARP AND A PIANO IN THE SAME
ROOM AND ATTUNE THEM TO THE SAME PITCH, THE PERCUSSION
OF A CHORD ON ONE OF THESE INSTRUMENTS WILL SET THE
CORRESPONDING CHORD IN THE OTHER INSTRUMENT RESOUNDING
SYMPATHETICALLY. IN THE HUMAN BEING, NATURE HAS DEVISED
A MORE SUBTLE DEVICE: IMAGINE THAT BY TUNING THE PIANO,
THE HARP WOULD FALL INTO TUNE AUTOMATICALLY.
BECOME YOURSELF
PURE VIBRATION BEYOND SPACE
IF THE SOUND GENERATED BY THE VOCAL CHORDS INTO THE
VIBRATORY NETWORK OF THE UNIVERSE HAS THE FACULTY OF
TUNING ONE, IT IS BECAUSE IT LINKS ONE WITH THE COSMIC
SYMPHONY. THE REPETITION OF A PHYSICAL SOUND SETS OFF A
SOUND CURRENT, A VIBRATORY TIDAL WAVE IN THE ETHER BY
BUILDING UP ENERGY THUS SUBLIMATED THE SOUND CURRENT
FUNCTIONS LIKE A SILVER CHORD WHICH CARRIES ALL OUR
VIBRATORY IMPULSES ON ALL LEVELS TO AND FRO.
CONSIDER THE WAY THE ENERGY OF A FALLING STONE HITTING
THE SURFACE OF THE WATER OF A SEISMIC CONVULSION WILL SET
UP A RIPPLE, WHICH MAY EXTEND ACROSS THE ENTIRE STRETCH
FROM SHORE TO SHORE UNLESS OVERCOME BY THE INERTIA OF THE
WATER., LIKEWISE, THE SOUND OF THE MANTRAM SETS UP AN UNDULATION
IN THE NEIGHBORING AIR, VOIDING ITSELF INTO INFINITY,
UNTEEMED UNDULATIONS IN LESS AND LESS DENSE SUBSTANCE,
UNTIL ONE REACHES THE INERTIA ZERO POINT WHERE THE
WAVES SHOULD BE DEATHLESS.
IN THIS CONNECTION THE MANTRAM ACTS AS A FEED-BACK SYSTEM
OSTENSIBLY BRINGING PARTICULARLY TO ONE'S NOTICE THOSE
ASPECTS OF ONE'S SELF THAT ONE DOES NOT LIKE, THUS ENJOINING
UPON ONE TO OPERATE AN INTERNAL READJUSTMENT WHICH
IS IMMEDIATELY HEARD IN THE VOICE AND HAS A CONSEQUENT
REPERCUSSION IN THE VIBRATORY SHEATH.
THE MASTER IN THE ART KNOWS HOW TO MAKE USE OF ALL
SOUNDS, OPERATE ON ALL VIBRATORY LEVELS, PLAY ON ALL
SCALES. IN ONE'S SCHOOLING, ONE IS GIVEN IN THE COURSE OF
YEARS DIFFERENT SOUNDS TO WORK WITH, CORRESPONDING TO
SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS, IN ORDER TO ENABLE ONE TO EXTEND
ONE'S SCOPE. THIS IS A VERY VALUABLE SCIENCE PRESERVED
AS A CLOSELY GUARDED SECRET THROUGHOUT THE AGES IN THE
ESOTERIC AND INITIATIC TRADITIONS OF THE WORLD AND
REVEALED TO A DISCIPLE AS HE ADVANCES, IN ORDER TO
PRECLUDE THE MISUSE OF THE SECRET WORDS FOR
PERSONAL GAIN OR THE PRESCRIPTION OF THE WRONG MANTRAM.
THE SAME MUST HOLD GOOD OF OUR VIBRATORY NETWORK
AT A CERTAIN STAGE IT SEEMS AS THOUGH YOU ARE PICKING UP
NOT ONLY THE OVERTONES, OR EVEN THE ECHO OF THE VIBRATION
LAUNCHED INTO THE ETHER, BUT THE RESPONSE, REACTION OR
REJOINDER OF THE BEINGS WHOSE PARTICULAR WAVE LENGTHS
ONE HAS STIRRED AND QUICKENED BY RESOUNDING THEIR VERY
SPECIFIC VIBRATIONAL RATE, LIKE THE HARP AND THE PIANO. AS
THEIR NUMBERS MAY BE LEGION, ONE IS AWED BY THE BILLIONS OF
SOUNDS THAT ONE HAS SET INTO MOTION BY ONE'S OWN SOUND
THAT NOW APPEARS MISERABLY DWARFED!
ACCORDING TO THE SUFIS, THE ANGELS SEEK A MEANS OF
EXPRESSING THEIR GLORIFICATION -- LIGHT, VIBRATION -- AND WE
ARE BORN OF THESE. BY OUR ACTS OF GLORIFICATION
WE COMMUNE AND HENCE COMMUNICATE WITH THEM
AT THEIR LEVEL.
AT FIRST IT SOUNDS LIKE AN ELECTRIC MACHINE, OR VENTILATOR
FAN, OR SOME ELECTRONIC MUSIC -- MAYBE THE BEST
EXAMPLE IS THE SOUND OF THE AEOLIAN HARP. IT MAY SOUND A
LITTLE HUMDRUM AND MONOTONOUS AT FIRST, LIKE A CONTINUOUS
HUM, THEN ONE DISCOVERS MORE AND MORE RICHNESS
WITHIN THIS SOUND, NEW HORIZONS OF HARMONY, MANY SAY LIKE
A CHOIR OF ANGELS. IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE TO TRY TO DESCRIBE
IT BECAUSE IT HAS NO EARTHLY EQUIVALENT.
ONE RUNS THE RISK OF INDUCING PEOPLE INTO THE WRONG EXPECTATION.
SOME WILL RECOGNIZE FAMILIAR HARMONIES FORGOTTEN
ALL THIS TIME YET CONSIGNED ALL THE WHILE IN THE
REGISTRY OF UNCONSCIOUS MEMORY. IF A PERCEPTION (PROBABLY
PRENATAL) STIRS ONE, IT IS BECAUSE IT REVIVES A KNOWN
IMPRESSION WHICH SUDDENLY IS QUICKENED: A BABY DOES NOT
KNOW WHAT HE PERCEIVES UNTIL HE HAS PERCEIVED SOMETHING
SIMILAR BEFOREHAND. THUS THE REPETITION OF A MANTRAM IS
OPENING A DOOR TO THE HEAVENLY SPHERES. IT FOCUSSES ONE'S
SENSITIVITY TO PLANES WHICH ONE THEN INCORPORATES INTO
ONE'S PERSONALITY, THUS ENRICHING ONE'S INCARNATE NATURE
WITH THE ATTRIBUTES OF ONE'S SOUL WHICH MAY NOT HAVE
FOUND THEIR WAY DOWN INTO EVERYDAY REALITY YET. ONE
ACQUIRES A NOTION OF ONE'S REAL IDENTITY WHICH HAD BEEN
REDUCED IN ONE'S MIND TO ONE'S EARTHLY COUNTERPART.
THIS IS WHERE ONE'S AFFINITY WITH THE ANGELIC BECOMES
MEANINGFUL AND EXHILARATING, BY THE SPELL OF
THE RECOGNITION OF PRENATAL IDENTITY.
IMAGINE
YOU ARE STROLLING
IN A WONDER FULL SPOT
THE GRASS IS GREEN
THE SKY IS BLUE
NOW IMAGINE THAT YOU ARE HIGH
THROUGH RELIGIOUS OR MEDITATIVE EXPERIENCE, OR BECAUSE
YOU ARE IN LOVE, IN A STATE OF EUPHORIA, YOU WILL HAVE THE
IMPRESSION OF BEING CAUGHT UP IN A TRANSFIGURED WORLD,
LURED INTO THE COSMIC DANCE OF SHIVA. IT IS THE SAME COUNTRYSIDE,
AND YOU ARE THE SELF SAME PERSON, YET SOMETHING IS
CHANGED: SUDDENLY YOU ARE ABLE TO PERCEIVE WHAT YOU HAD
NOT BEEN ABLE TO PERCEIVE BEFORE. IT IS AS THOUGH
A LANDSCAPE OF THE SOUL
HAD SUPERIMPOSED ITSELF
UPON AN EARTHLY SCENE.
SUCH IS THE ATTUNEMENT
TO
CELESTIAL SENSITIVITY
WE LIVE ON SEVERAL PLANES AT THE SAME TIME
'When we understand that slide, we'll have won the war:' US generals given baffling PowerPoint presentation to try to explain Afghanistan mess
by Mail Foreign Service
28th April 2010
Its coloured charts, graphs and bullet-points are supposed to make the most incomprehensible data crystal clear.
But even the sharpest military minds in American were left baffled by this PowerPoint slide, a mind-boggling attempt to explain the situation in Afghanistan.
'When we understand that slide, we'll have won the war,' General Stanley McChrystal, the US and NATO force commander, remarked wryly when confronted by the sprawling spaghetti diagram in a briefing.
***
-- Be Here Now, by Ram Dass
THIS KNOWLEDGE REQUIRES VERY MUCH
PRACTICE AND CONCENTRATION INDEED.
MOREOVER, IT IS THANKLESS, BECAUSE, AFTER
REPEATING MANTRAM EVERY DAY FOR WEEKS, MONTHS, YEARS, ONE
MIGHT ASK ONESELF: WHAT GOOD HAS IT DONE ME? HAS MY
CONSCIOUSNESS BEEN LIFTED IN THE LEAST? LITTLE DOES ONE
KNOW WHAT A BAD JUDGE ONE IS OF ONESELF, THAT ONE CANNOT
DETECT CHANGES IN ONESELF AS WELL AS OTHERS CAN.
CURIOUSLY ENOUGH, THESE PRACTICES CAN BEAR THEIR FRUIT A
LONG TIME AFTERWARDS, EVEN AFTER HAVING GIVEN UP THE
PRACTICE. IT TAKES A LONG TIME FOR A PROCESS TO MATURE
ONCE STARTED.
IT IS SAID IN THE HAKHALOTH, THE BOOK OF THE HEAVENLY SPHERES OF THE JEWS,
THAT EACH TIME A NEW SOUL DESCENDS IN THE OCEAN OF THE MANIFESTED REALM,
CROSSING THE THRESHOLD FROM YONDER INTO THE SEVENTH HEAVEN, IT GENERATES
A VIBRATION WHICH IS COMMUNICATED TO THE ENTIRE COSMIC OCEAN,
WHICH MEANS ALL CREATED REALMS, EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY, PHYSICAL AND
SUPER-PHYSICAL. AS EACH OF THESE VIBRATIONS BRING INTO RESONANCE A HOST
OF CONSONANT ONES THROUGHOUT THE UNIVERSE, THEIR UNIMAGINABLE INTERFERENCES
PRODUCE GLOBALLY THE SYMPHONY OF THE SPHERES REFERRED TO
BY PYTHAGORAS. EACH CREATURE AND EVERY SO-CALLED THING (ONE SHOULD SAY
BEING) IS A CRYSTALLIZATION OF A PART OF THIS SYMPHONY OF VIBRATIONS. THUS
WE ARE LIKE A SOUND PETRIFIED IN SOLID MATTER AND WHICH CONTINUES
INDEFINITELY TO RESOUND IN THIS MATTER
AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH
AND THE WORD BECAME
FLESH
AND THE WORD
BECAME FLESH
AND ...
IN THE MANTRAM PRACTICES ONE ACTUALLY KNEADS THE VERY
FLESH OF OUR BODIES WITH SOUND. THE DELICATE CELLS OF
THESE ELABORATE BUNDLES OF NERVE FIBERS THAT ARE THE
PLEXI OR GANGLIA OF THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM, SUCH AS
THE SOLAR PLEXUS OR THE CARDIAC PLEXUS, ARE SUBJECTED TO A
CONSISTENT HAMMERING, WHICH UNDOUBTEDLY HAS A TRANSFORMING
EFFECT UPON THESE. THERE IS A KIND OF SEIZURE OF
THE FLESH BY THE VIBRATIONS AND AN ADAPTION OF THE FLESH
TO THE FORCEFUL SWAY OF THE VIBRATIONS. ALTHOUGH WE DO
NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE RECIPROCAL TRANSFERENCE OF
PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS, THE EXTENT OF
THE TRANSFORMATION IS CERTAINLY VISIBLE IN A PERSON ON
COMPLETION OF A FORTY DAY RETREAT. THIS ADAPTATION OF FLESH
TO SOUND IS REMOTELY REMINISCENT OF THE ADAPTATION OF
PHYSICAL MATTER TO THE PASSAGE OF INTENSE LIGHT RAYS, OF
WHICH WE HAVE AN EXAMPLE IN THE PHENOMENON OF
CRYSTALLIZATION.
PRACTICALLY SPEAKING THE MANTRAMS OPEN THE CENTERS
CALLED CHAKRAS IN HATHA OR KUNDALINI YOGA, AND THERE IS
AN ART IN KNOWING WHICH CHAKRAS TO DEVELOP ACCORDING
TO THE IDIOSYNCRASIES OF EACH INDIVIDUAL.
THERE IS HARDLY ANY DANGER IN DEVELOPING THE ANAHATA
CHAKRA OR HEART CENTER, WHICH IS A RADIANT, SOLAR AND
WARMLY VIBRANT CENTER COMMUNICATING LIFE, ENERGY, EXPANDING
SYMPATHY. MANY HIGHLY SENSITIVE PEOPLE PROTECT IT
INSTINCTIVELY FROM THE HARSHNESS OF HUMAN EGOS WITH A
HARD SHELL THAT BLURS ITS RADIANCE, WHEREAS THE INITIATE IS
TAUGHT TO PROTECT HIMSELF WITH INNER INDIFFERENCE WHILE
RADIATING LOVE.
WHEN THIS CENTER DEVELOPS
IT UNFOLDS LIKE A BUD IN THE SUN
THIS CAN BE SEEN BY PERCEPTIVE INITIATES. PEOPLE WHO ARE
HEMMED INTO THEMSELVES WILL BENEFIT BY THE OPENING OF
THIS CENTER. AN EGYPTIAN PAPYRUS SHOWS A HEIROPHANT
OPENING HIS NEOPHYTE'S HEART CHAKRA WITH A BEAM THRUST
FORWARD FROM HIS THIRD EYE. ONE CAN EFFECT THIS OPENING
ONESELF WITH THE THIRD EYE OR WITH THE USE OF THE
APPROPRIATE SOUND.
THE HEART CHAKRA
IS
PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE
TO AN EXPANSIVE SOUND
LIKE THE SOUND
AH
IT IS THEN A MATTER OF KNOWING
HOW
TO PLACE THE SOUND.
AH
THROUGH CONCENTRATION ON THAT
PARTICULAR SPOT IN THE BODY. CONCENTRATE ON THE HEART AS
YOU REPEAT THE SOUND "AH". THERE IS A CONVERGENCE OF ONE'S
ENTIRE ORGANISM ON THIS SPOT. THIS IS HOW VOICE TEACHERS
TEACH THEIR PUPILS TO PLACE THEIR VOICE HIGH OR LOW. THE
RESULT IS A CLEARLY CONCENTRATED PHYSICAL EFFECT:
AN AUDIBLE RESONANCE IS INTRODUCED INTO YOUR CHEST
ORIGINATING IN YOUR VOCAL CHORDS EXACTLY AS THE
VIBRATIONS OF THE CHORDS OF A VIOLIN OR CELLO
ARE COMMUNICATED TO THE RESONANCE BOX.
THIS RESONANCE BECOMES MORE AND MORE VIBRANT UNTIL YOUR
WHOLE BEING BECOMES VIBRANT. IF THIS PRACTICE IS PRACTICED
EVERY DAY, YOUR WHOLE BEING WILL BECOME HIGHLY VIBRANT
WITH LIFE AND ENHANCED ENERGY, BECAUSE THE "AH" HAS A
COSMICISING EFFECT, EXPANDING CONSCIOUSNESS TO
COSMIC DIMENSIONS.
THE "U" OR THE SOFT "OO" HAVE A TRANSCENDING EFFECT, IN
CONTRAST TO THE COSMICISING EFFECT OF THE "AH", AND
RESOUND IN THE THROAT CHAKRA OR LARYNGEAL PLEXUS
WHICH IS NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE VOCAL CHORDS. THE
SOUND "U" PLACES ONE IN A VERY SUBTLE FRAME OF MIND, ATTUNING
ONE TO HIGHER SPHERES. IT IS A HUM LIKE THAT OF THE
BEE, THE ONE HEARD IN A SHELL PICKED UP FROM THE SEASHORE,
OR THE MURMUR OF THE WIND IN THE TREES, OR THE FLAPPING OF
THE WINGS OF A DOVE. AS ONE PRODUCES THE SOUND, ONE LETS
ONESELF BE SENSITIZED AND LULLED BY IT, THEN PERMEATED BY
IT UNTIL ONE IS CARRIED UPON ITS WINGS
INTO YONDER HORIZONS.
IT IS DIFFICULT TO PRODUCE. MANY PUPILS MISTAKENLY RESOUND
IT IN THE HEART, WHICH OFTEN RESULTS FROM SINGING IT. IT
SHOULD BE PLACED FORWARD BETWEEN CLOSED LIPS, ALLOWING
THE OVERFLOW OF COMPRESSED AIR TO CAUSE A VIBRATION IN
THE PALATE. SOMETIMES IT IS STRATEGICAL TO MAKE A NASAL
SOUND, THEN LET THE SOUND SETTLE DOWN INTO THE PALATE.
THE SOUND "I" OR "EE" IS PLACED IN THE PINEAL GLAND, ABOVE
THE PALATE, KNOWN AS THE THIRD EYE. BUT IT SHOULD BE OBSERVED
THAT A NUMBER OF RISHIS REFER TO AT LEAST TWO
FURTHER CENTERS PLACED HARMONICALLY ABOVE THE FIRST
ONE AT A RESPECTIVE DISTANCE OF TWO FEET ABOVE THE CROWN
AND THE SECOND ONE SIX FEET. OTHERS SPEAK OF
A WHOLE CHAIN OF CHAKRAS.
ITS A MATTER OF CONCENTRATION
THE THIRD EYE
IS
THE POINT
THAT GOES OUT, THAT BEAMS FORWARD, JUST LIKE A NEEDLE OR A NAIL, THAT IF YOU
PUT THE SLIGHTEST PRESSURE BEHIND IT HAS A TREMENDOUS PENETRATING POWER.
YOU GO OUT INTO IT, EEEE. DON'T THINK ABOUT PRODUCING A BEAUTIFUL SOUND.
DON'T SING IT. IT'S SUPERSONIC, IT'S LIKE THE HISSING OF A SERPENT. WHEN YOU
CATCH YOURSELF DOING IT RIGHT YOU SUDDENLY FEEL AS THOUGH YOU WERE
HEARING THE SOUND OF THE PLANET MERCURY.
THE HIGHER YOUR CONCENTRATION POINT, THE HIGHER YOU
WILL BE LIFTED, TO THE EXTENT THAT ONE DOES NOT KNOW ANY
MORE WHETHER THE INSTRUCTIONS APPLY TO A SPECIFIC DISTANCE
ABOVE ONE'S PHYSICAL BODY OR WHETHER IT IS ABOVE THE
ETHERIC, ASTRAL OR MENTAL, BECAUSE THE BODY SEEMS NOW
WAY DOWN THERE SOMEWHERE! WHILE YOUR WHOLE BEING
IS CONCENTRATED (EKAGRATA) IN A SINGLE DOT, WITHOUT SURFACE
OR VOLUME, "THE FINE EDGE OF THE SOUL", THE LANCE OF PARSIFAL
THAT RISES HIGHER AND HIGHER AS A FILAMENT, IS REDUCED
TO ONE'S SIMPLEST EXPRESSION, AS IN THE BUDDHIST NIRVANA,
THAT ON ACCOUNT OF ITS SHARPNESS PASSES THROUGH ALL
OBSTACLES, LEADING BEYOND THE ANGELIC AND ARCHANGELIC
PLANES INTO THE ABSOLUTE.
WE ARE ALL FIRED BY THIS THIRST FOR THE ABSOLUTE, THIS NOSTALGIA
FOR A BREAKTHROUGH INTO A BEYOND; HOWEVER HIGH
ONE REACHES, ONE WOULD LONG FOR FURTHER HORIZONS, IF IT
WERE NOT FOR ONE'S FEAR OF NOT BEING ABLE TO RETURN, OBVIOUSLY
THE SAME THING AS THE FEAR OF DEATH, WHICH IS
NOTHING LESS THAN AN INSTINCT OF SELF-PRESERVATION WHICH
NATURE SAW USEFUL FOR ORDINARY PURPOSES. BUT THIS HAS
blip
TO BE SURPRISED IF ONE SEEKS FOR SPIRITUAL REALIZATION TO
THE EXTENT THAT THE ULTIMATE SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE IS THAT
OF A DEATH THAT AVERS ITSELF TO BE RESURRECTION, BUT ONE
PASSES THROUGH A BLACK-OUT, LIKE A PILOT OPPRESSED BY
THE G FORCES.
THE "I" PROPERLY RESOUNDED AND DIRECTED UPWARDS
THROUGH THE CAVITY AT THE TOP OF THE CROWN CENTER WHEN
CONCENTRATED ON A POINT RECEDING FURTHER AND FURTHER
UPWARDS, WILL DRAW YOU BEYOND THE BLACK-OUT, INTO THE
AKASHIC REALMS, PROVIDING YOU MAINTAIN JUST ENOUGH BODY
CONSCIOUSNESS TO GIVE YOU CONFIDENCE YOU WILL NOT GET
LOST, YOUR BODY ACTING AS AN ANCHOR.
THE M IN THE YOGIC AUM FUNCTIONS AS A PROTECTION SAVING
ONE FROM DISINTEGRATION BY HOLDING ONE WITHIN THE
VIBRATIONAL FIELD OF THE SAHASRARA CHAKRA. ANOTHER WAY
OF COUNTERING THE DANGER OF DISINTEGRATION BY FLYING OUT
OF HAND TOO HIGH INTO A VOID IS TO STRENGTHEN THE VIBRATIONAL
CAPACITY OF THE SOLAR PLEXUS, MANIPURA CHAKRA, OR
EVEN THE SWADHISTHANA CHAKRA, CALLED IN ZEN 'HARA'. THE 'E'
OF ILLA 'LLA' IN THE ISLAMIC DHIKR, PRONOUNCED SOMEWHERE
BETWEEN 'I' AND 'E', GROUNDS ONE DEEP DOWN IN THE ENTRAILS.
THE SOLAR PLEXUS IS BASICALLY A RECEPTIVE CENTER AND THE
SEAT OF ACUTE SENSITIVITY IN MOST PEOPLE, OFTEN DISTURBED
UNDER EMOTIONAL STRESS, WHEN ITS VIBRATIONS FALL OUT OF
STEP. THE HARMONY OF THE WHOLE INSTRUMENT DEPENDS UPON
THE ATTUNEMENT OF EVERY CHORD.
ONE HAS THE IMPRESSION OF REACHING INTO THE DEPTHS OF
ONE'S BEING, PASSING OVER A THRESHOLD FROM OUTSIDE TO INSIDE
IN AN INVERTED SPACE; THEREFORE THE SOUND 'E' TRIGGERS
OFF STRANGE HARMONIC TRIADS OR EVEN SERIES INTO AN INVERTED
SPACE THAT OPENS UP INSIDE. THE SOUND IS DIFFICULT TO
PRODUCE BECAUSE WHILE BEING LOW IT SHOULD BE
VIBRANT LIKE A GONG.
MMMMMMMMMMM
eee
UUUUUUUUUUU
EEEEE
OOOӨOOO
THE 'O' AS THE JAPANESE PRONOUNCE IT REACHES RIGHT
DOWN INTO THE SWADISTHANA IN THE ABDOMEN. IT CERTAINLY
STRENGTHENS THE EGO WILL AND IS FAIRLY DENSE, BUT HAS THE
ADVANTAGE OF GIVING ONE STABILITY AND THEREFORE IS
RECOMMENDED FOR HYSTERICAL PEOPLE AND THOSE WHO TRY
TO FLY BEFORE THEY CAN WALK.
Pythagorean Tetraktys
-- Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis, English Grand Lodge for the Americas
***
Some called the Tetraktys the great oath of the Pythagoreans, because they considered it the perfect number, or even because it is the principle of Health.
-- The Pythagorean Sourcebook and Library, Translated by Kenneth Sylvan Guthrie
HAVING MASTERED THE VOWELS, ONE DISCOVERS THE VALUE,
MEANING AND EFFECT OF THE CONSONANTS. THIS IS PART OF THE
SCIENCE OF THE WORD OF WHICH CLUES MAY BE GLEANED IN THE
HEBREW KABBALAH AND THE JAFR OF THE MUSLIMS. SEE THE
MYSTERIOUS LETTERS FOUND PREFACING SOME OF THE SURAS OF
RAPT CONJECTURE SINCE THE ONSET OF THE HEJIRA,
PARTICULARLY BY THE SUFIS.
N IS FEMININE IN CONTRAST TO M, IN A SENSE AN ECHO OF IT, AS
IN THE WORD MAN (SANSKRIT MANAS); ALTHOUGH CONTRASTED
TO MORE MALE TONES LIKE P, THE M AVERS ITSELF TO BE NEGATIVE
(LIKE PA AND MA). THE CONTRAST IS EVEN STRONGER WHEN
CONFRONTED WITH HIGHLY MALE TONES LIKE R IN RAM. THE K IS
THE MOST MALE OF CONSONANTS (QADEM, QADIR, QAHR),
GENERALLY PRESCRIBED TO MEN, FORTIFYING THE VOWEL IT
PRECEDES AND USUALLY CONNOTING THE INCORPORATION OF
POWER OR LIFE, I.E., THE EGYPTIAN KA WHICH TRANSLATES MEANING
INTO CREATED FORM. THE R PROTRACTS THE RESONANCE OF
THE K, WHILE S THAT OF WATER AND T THAT OF FIRE, AS IN THE
WORD, 'ASTROLOGY' ORIGINATING IN THE ATLANTEAN WORD
'ASATAR'. T ALWAYS DRILLS A CHANNEL THROUGH ANY OBSTACLE,
AS IN FATAH: IN ITS SOFTER FORM, AS IN ISHTAR, ITS EFFECT
IS INSIDIOUS, LIKE WATER WENDING ITS WAY ACROSS THE ROCKS;
AND FINALLY IN ITS PUREST FORM, AS S IN SALAM OR SALIM,
IT IS PEACEFUL, I.E., TO GIVE SOLACE TO THE DYING.
'L' FEATURES THE GRAVITATIONAL MOVEMENT OF THE PLANETS,
THE UNFOLDMENT OF THE WHEEL OF LIFE, THE DANCE OF SHIVA.
IN ISLAMIC CALLIGRAPHY IT FIGURES AS THE ARC OF A CIRCLE, A
CIRCULATORY MOTION, ALWAYS GRAVITATING AROUND THE 'A'
ACTING AS A RADIANT CENTER:
THE CONCENTRIC AND THE CENTRIFUGAL.
THIS IS THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE UNDERLYING THE DHIKR:
LA ILLAHA ILLA LLA HU. LA IS NEGATIVE, AI AFFIRMATIVE,
COMPLETING ONE ANOTHER, AS ACTION AND PASSION
IN AN ETERNAL COUPLE.
THE DIVINE MANIFESTATION 'A' FLOATS
ON THE TIDAL WAVE OF THE PERENNIAL 'L'
IN HARMONIC SOUND CONDITIONS, BREAKING OFF ON A TANGENT
IN THE 'H' (HAMZA), WHICH SIGNIFIES THE TRANSCENDENCE
BEYOND ALL CREATED ASPECTS, AND STANDS FOR HU.
IT IS THE LEAST CONSONANT OF THE CONSONANTS,
RESOUNDING LIKE THE HUSH HUM HEARD IN A SHELL
PLACED AGAINST ONE'S EAR. WITHOUT THE ADJOINING VOWEL
ONE CANNOT HEAR IT.
AFTER PRACTICING THE WAZIFAS
LISTEN
TO THE HARMONICS
IN THE ATMOSPHERE
CLIMB THE LADDER OF THE HARMONICS
BECOME YOUR SELF
PURE VIBRATION
BEYOND SPACE
YOU HEAR IN EACH VIBRATION
THE HARMONICS OF THAT VIBRATION
AND THE HARMONICS OF THE HARMONICS OF THAT VIBRATION
FLOAT ON THE SEA OF VIBRATIONS
YOU ARE IN
SHABD NAHD
ABSOLUTE INNER SOUND
YOU CAN DO IT ONLY IF YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF WITH PURE
VIBRATION, BECAUSE IF YOU THINK OF YOURSELF AS YOUR BODY, IF
YOU THINK OF YOURSELF AS YOUR MIND, IF YOU EVEN THINK OF
YOURSELF AS CONSCIOUSNESS, YOU CAN'T DO IT.
CONSCIOUSNESS IS BORN AT THE LEVEL OF THE ARCHETYPES
THE CAUSAL PLANE
WHERE THE CAUSES OF ALL CREATED THINGS ARISE
THE INTENTION BEHIND ALL MANIFESTATION EMERGES
AND BEYOND THAT LEVEL THERE IS NO CONSCIOUSNESS:
JUST PURE INTELLIGENCE
WAZIFAS HAVE THEIR EXISTENCE ON THE CAUSAL PLANE, BUT
THEY ARE ALSO VIBRATORY CHANNELS TO THE PLANE BEYOND
WHERE THERE IS JUST PURE INTELLIGENCE. SO YOU MUST BECOME
PURE VIBRATION AND PASS ON THROUGH TO THE OTHER SIDE.
TO THE OTHER SIDE
Statistics: Posted by admin — Sat Sep 26, 2015 7:27 am
]]>
BREATH
YOU HAVE TO BUILD THE CENTERS OF PERCEPTION IN THE HIGHER
BODIES. THEY'RE THERE BUT THEY'RE STILL ASLEEP. A BABY BORN
ON THE EARTH PLANE HAS TO START LEARNING TO USE HIS EYES
AND EARS AND TRY TO RELATE WHAT HE EXPERIENCES TO THE
PATTERN OF TIME AND SPACE. A BABY WILL REACH OUT TO THE
MOON; HE DOESN'T REALIZE THAT IT IS BEYOND THE REACH OF HIS
HANDS. AND SO WE HAVE TO PREPARE OURSELVES FOR
MEDITATION.
THERE IS A FACET OF OUR WILL WHICH ENABLES US TO INTERVENE
INTENTIONALLY IN THE BALANCE BETWEEN THE ANABOLIC
AND THE CATABOLIC SETTINGS, WHICH GOVERN THE SCOPE OF
PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL ACTIVITY. BY SLOWING
DOWN THE BREATH THE HEART BEAT SLOWS DOWN, AND THE
BALANCE BETWEEN THE SYMPATHETIC AND THE PARASYMPATHETIC
NERVOUS SYSTEMS IS SHIFTED TOWARD THE ANABOLIC RATE:
THE BODY BECOMES INERT, INSENSITIVE, THE AUTONOMIC FUNCTIONS
TAKE OVER INCREASINGLY, IT ESCAPES THE ACTION OF THE
WILL, TENDING TOWARD THE CATALEPTIC STATE.
PERIPHERAL CONSCIOUSNESS IS SUSPENDED AND CONSCIOUSNESS
SINKS INTO DEEPER AND DEEPER LAYERS. ONE PERCEIVES ARCHETYPES,
ONE ENVISIONS CAUSAL RELATIONSHIPS, ABSTRACTIONS,
RATHER THAN THINKING CONCRETE OR CONTINGENT THOUGHT
PATTERNS OR IMAGES. BY THE SHEER FACT OF DOING CONSCIOUSLY
WHAT IS NORMALLY DONE UNCONSCIOUSLY, PARTICULARLY
WITH REGARD TO THIS MOST IMPORTANT OF HUMAN
FUNCTIONS REGULATING THE FLOW OF ENERGY AT ALL LEVELS,
ONE SHIFTS THE THRESHOLD BETWEEN CONSCIOUS AND UNCONSCIOUS
FURTHER INTO AREAS THAT FELL UNDER THE DARKNESS OF
THE UNCONSCIOUS, REACHING CONSCIOUSLY NOW INTO THE
ROOTS OF OUR ORDINARY THINKING:
FROM THE PARTICULAR TO THE UNIVERSAL.
FURTHERMORE, THE CONTROL OF THE BREATH MAY BE DIRECTED
TOWARDS ENHANCING THE MAGNETIC FIELD, TRANSFORMING OR
ORIENTING ITS ENERGY AS DESIRED. AS THE PHYSICAL BODY
DRAWS OXYGEN INTO THE BLOOD AND EXPELS TOXIC GASES, THE
PRANA MAYAKOSHA, THE ETHERIC BODY, SOMETIMES CALLED THE
MAGNETIC FIELD, REPLENISHES AND RECHARGES ITSELF WITH
COSMIC ENERGY, THEN DIGESTS OR TRANSMUTES THIS ENERGY,
CIRCULATING AND DISTRIBUTING IT THROUGH THE COMPLEX SYSTEMS
OF CHAKRAS (CORRESPONDING TO THE PLEXI OF THE AUTONOMIC
NERVOUS SYSTEM) THEN RADIATES IT, IN ENERGY PATTERNS
ACCORDING TO THE NATURE OF EACH RADIATING CENTER.
ONE CANNOT OTHERWISE ACCOUNT FOR THE ENERGY ACCRUED
DURING THE HOURS OF SLEEP. THIS PROCESS OF RECHARGING CAN
BE INTENSIFIED DURING THE SO-CALLED WAKING HOURS BY DOING
CONSCIOUSLY WHAT IS DONE UNCONSCIOUSLY DURING ONE'S
DAILY OCCUPATIONS. SHOULD ONE WITHDRAW CONSCIOUSNESS
FROM THE BODY AND ITS PERCEPTION, TONE DOWN ONE'S EMOTIONAL
VIBRATION AND MENTAL ACTIVITY, AND IDENTIFY ONESELF
WITH ONE'S MAGNETIC FIELD, CONSCIOUSNESS SHIFTS OF ITSELF
FROM BODY CONSCIOUSNESS TO ETHERIC CONSCIOUSNESS
EVERYTHING
IS ENERGY
IN MOTION
HOWEVER, IDENTIFICATION WITH THE ETHERIC OR ASTRAL
PRESENTS THE DANGER OF A LOSS OF THE SENSE OF REALITY IN
EVERYDAY LIFE, AND IN EXTREME CASES UNCONTROLLED OR EVEN
OBSESSIVE ASTRAL PROJECTION, SHOULD ONE LOSE THE ARIADNEAN
THREAD MAINTAINING A REMOTE AWARENESS OF THE PHYSICAL
BODY SIMULTANEOUS WITH ONE'S IDENTIFICATION WITH
THE ENERGY FIELD. CONSEQUENTLY, WE PREFER LEADING THE
BREATHING PRACTICES INTO THOSE CONNECTED WITH LIGHT,
AS NO HARM CAN COME TO ONE BY ENTERING INTO ONE'S
CONSCIOUSNESS OF ONE'S LUMINOUS NATURE.
THE BODY IS ITS CRYSTALLIZATION
HERE OUR PRACTICES WITH BREATH BEGIN
SLOW DOWN YOUR BREATH, SLOW DOWN YOUR HEART BEAT, THE
VIBRATIONS OF THE BLOOD, SLOW DOWN THE TONUS OF YOUR
EMOTIONS, CLEAR YOUR BREATH, CLEAR THE MIND OF THOUGHTS,
REFINE YOUR BREATH, SURROUND YOURSELF WITH A ZONE OF
SILENCE, SIMPLY BE INTENSELY AWARE OF BREATHING.
BECOME CONSCIOUS OF CONTRACTION AS YOU INHALE, EXPANSION
AS YOU EXHALE, CONCENTRATION AS YOU INHALE, RADIATION AS
YOU EXHALE. WITH THE EXHALATION EXPEL ALL THE POLLUTED
MAGNETISM FROM YOUR BEING. REACH OUT AS FAR AS YOU CAN GO
AND DRAW IN COSMIC ENERGY AS YOU INHALE.
BE CONSCIOUS OF THE CONVERGENCE OF THE WHOLE UNIVERSE
INTO THE CENTER OF YOUR BEING, YOUR SOLAR PLEXUS, AS YOU
INHALE. CONSCIOUSNESS IS JUST A FOCAL CENTER IN THE TOTALITY,
AN EDDY IN THE SEA OF COSMIC CONSCIOUSNESS, AN EGG
IN THE TOTALITY. CONCENTRATE THE TOTALITY IN THE CENTER,
AS YOU INHALE.
THE SOLAR PLEXUS IS A RECEPTIVE CENTER. IT IS THE DEPTH OF
YOUR BEING, ALMOST LIKE A PIT, A DEEP SEA, A SEA OF FIRE.
INHALE DEEP WITHIN THE SOLAR PLEXUS, SUCK MAGNETISM INTO
THE VORTEX OF THE SOLAR PLEXUS, IMAGINE THAT YOU ARE
ROLLED WITHIN AND THAT YOU DISCOVER A NEW DIMENSION OF
SPACE WITHIN. IMAGINE THAT YOU ARE WALLED IN, SO THAT
THERE IS NO EXIT TO THE OUTSIDE, AND THEN YOU DISCOVER THIS
VAST EMPTY SPACE, AN INFINITY OF SPACE WITHIN.
THE HEART CENTER IS A CENTER OF EXPRESSION OF RADIATION, IN
FACT IT IS VERY MUCH LIKE THE SUN, IT IS THE CENTER OF THE
ETHERIC BODY. AS YOU BREATHE OUT YOU GO OUT FROM THE
CENTER, RADIATING INTO THE TOTALITY, BROADCASTING
MAGNETISM, WARMTH, LOVE, UNDERSTANDING, ENERGY,
LIKE THE SUN.
SO YOU BREATHE DEEP INTO THE SOLAR PLEXUS, THE SEA OF FIRE,
AND THEN BREATHE OUT, RADIATING LIGHT,
FROM THE HEART CENTER.
YOU BEGIN TO BE CONSCIOUS OF AN EMANATION, WHICH YOU FEEL
VERY PRECISELY AROUND THE SHOULDERS,
A MANTLE OF LIGHT
... BUT TO START WITH SIMPLY A MAGNETIC FIELD THAT SEEMS TO
BE CARRYING LIGHT AT ITS EDGES. A MAGNETIC FIELD CAN GIVE
OUT LIGHT, LIGHT IS AN ELECTROMAGNETIC PHENOMENON,
AND IN FACT
THE AURA IS BORN
IT EMANATES FROM THE MAGNETIC BODY. EXPERIENCE EXPANSION,
TO THE POINT OF MERGING WITH THE TOTALITY. DISIDENTIFY
WITH THE DENSENESS OF THE PHYSICAL BODY. EXPERIENCE YOURSELF
AS EMPTY AND LIGHT, INDEED ETHERIC, LIKE STEAM. THE
PHYSICAL BODY SEEMS TO BE THE CONDENSATION AND CRYSTALLIZATION
OF THAT STEAM, STATIC AND FOSSILIZED
AS COMPARED WITH THE PULSATION OF THE MAGNETIC FIELD,
WHICH IS BREATHING ALL THE TIME:
AS IT BREATHES IN IT CONTRACTS, AS IT BREATHES OUT IT EXPANDS.
AND THE SAME THING WITH THE LIGHT WHICH ISSUES FORTH:
IT IS LIKE A PULSATING STAR.
LET US ADD A FEW FACTS TO THIS BREATH. STAND UP AND HOLD
YOUR HANDS OUT IN FRONT OF YOU. AS YOU INHALE DRAW ENERGY
IN THROUGH THE SOLAR PLEXUS, THROUGH THE SOLES OF THE
FEET, AND THROUGH THE CAVITY AT THE TOP OF THE HEAD; SO WE
HAVE THREE INLETS FOR ENERGY: EARTH ENERGY, THE ENERGY OF
THE MAGNETIC FIELD OF THE EARTH, THROUGH
THE SOLES OF THE FEET,
PRANA OR COSMIC ENERGY THROUGH THE SOLAR PLEXUS,
CELESTIAL ENERGY THROUGH THE CROWN.
AND AS YOU EXHALE YOU RADIATE FROM THE HEART CENTER, BUT
YOU ALSO FEEL THE DILATION OF THE MAGNETIC FIELD THROUGH
YOUR SHOULDERS AND SEND OUT ENERGY THROUGH
THE PALMS OF YOUR HANDS.
WORK WITH THIS ENERGY NOW, SO AS TO BE ABLE TO REPLENISH
OURSELVES WITH MAGNETISM, TO BUILD UP MAGNETISM, TO HOLD
IT AND DIRECT IT AND MOST ESPECIALLY
TO PURIFY OURSELVES WITH IT.
THERE IS A POLLUTION PROBLEM WITH HUMAN BEINGS
IT HELPS TO KNOW JUST HOW TO CLEANSE ONESELF.
Key Concepts in Nazi Antisemitism:
3. Pollution
by Jonathan Harrison
June 27, 2008
On 13 March 1942, a Nazi court delivered a death sentence against Lehman Israel Katzenberger, whose age at that time was over 68 years, for the crime of 'racial pollution' under Article 2 of the Law for the Protection of German Blood and Honor. Katzenberger was beheaded by guillotine at Stadelheim Prison in Munich on 2 June 1942. The presiding judge, Oswald Rothaug, declared that “It is sufficient for me that the swine said that a German girl had sat upon his lap.” He also stated that:Together with his offense of racial pollution he is also guilty of an offence under paragraph 4 of the ordinance against people’s parasites. It should be noted here that the national community is in need of increased legal protection from all crimes attempting to destroy or undermine its inner cohesion.
Rothaug thus admitted that a key political strategy of the Nazi state was to maintain the 'cohesion' of its mythical racial identity by accusing Jews of polluting the body politic. Why did the Nazis pick this particular strategy and what were its historical antecedents?
Pollution is a syncretic political strategy which exploits a myth that appears historically in three different but overlapping contexts: religious, medical and nationalist. The strategy enabled the Nazis to overcome resistance to their political authority among religious believers, doctors, academics and the armed forces by tapping into their mentalities and igniting themes that were part of their institutional histories but were often marginalized during the century of relative liberalization that preceded the Nazi rise to power. Uncovering the genealogy of the myth therefore gives an insight into how the Nazis melded old and new prejudices into a dogma of genocidal force.
The link between pollution and social cohesion strategies has been noted by anthropologists. The most famous of these, Mary Douglas (1966), argued that pollution myths concerning the body were projected on to the entire group in order to symbolize dangers to its unity. Dirt signified "matter out of place" (p. 36) and came to represent pollution of the entire social order (p. 5):Reflection on dirt involves reflection on the relation of order to disorder, being to non-being, form to formlessness, life to death.
Pollution thus came also to represent social death in certain caste systems. For example, Lifton (1986: 482) notes that the Japanese outcaste group, the Burakumin, used to:bear the name "Eta", whose literal meaning is "full of filth", "full of pollution" or "abundant defilement".
However, anthropologists like Douglas were referring primarily to the social cohesion of minority sects, such as the Israelites in the Biblical era. Pollution myth only became genocidal when it was used by a majority against a stigmatised minority. In Europe, that process dates from the eleventh century, when the Church and state united to form a 'Persecuting Society' (R.I. Moore, 2001). From around the time of the First Crusade in 1096, Jews began to be accused of crimes such as 'ritual murder' and 'usury'. An example of the pollution discourse used to frame these accusations is provided by Robert Chazan (1997: 122):William of Chartres, in concluding his report on the discussion between Louis IX and his advisers with respect to Jewish usury, has the king speaking of Jews as infecting his land with their poison. The discussion ends with the king telling his advisers: “Let those prelates do what pertains to them concerning those subject Christians, and I must do what pertains to me concerning the Jews. Let them abandon usury, or they shall leave my land completely, in order that it no longer be polluted with their filth.”
However, at this point, the alleged pollution was spiritual, not biological. The Jew was usually allowed (or forced) to convert to Christianity. This began to change in the aftermath of the Spanish Inquisition, when converted Jews were accused of being false converts or 'Marranos' (pigs). Pollution began to find expression in peculiar beliefs about the Jew's Body (Gilman, 1991). For example, Beusterien cites this claim by a royal physician:In 1632 Doctor Juan de Quiñones, an official in the court of King Philip IV, devoted an entire treatise to Jewish maladies, focusing on the allegation that Jewish males menstruated. He wrote: "every month they suffer from a blood flow as if they were women."
Even before the emergence of racial science, therefore, there was already a potential for the syncretic merging of religious and medical delusions about Jews. It was not necessary to invent biological racism from scratch, as its seeds were already in the culture of post-Inquisition Europe. The fact that was unique to the post-1800 period was the inclusion of classes below the ruling elites in the definition of the 'body politic'. This was due to the fact that race and nation functioned as tools of vertical integration. This had the effect of multiplying the numbers of groups eligible to be included in the myth of the nation, until it became a concept that was amenable to socialist and liberal applications as well as reactionary ones. We therefore find that, by 1900, Jews could be blamed by a range of political groups for a variety of national ills across the European continent, expressed in terms of biological degradation.
For example, in France, Jews were blamed for the loss of the Franco-Prussian war (Brustein, 'Roots of Hate', p.121), and this fuelled the Dreyfus Case two decades later. French and German nationalism borrowed from the 'degeneracy' theories of Gobineau, whilst German Volkish discourse took on a virulently antisemitic tone in the work of Wilhelm Marr and Houston Stewart Chamberlain. Marr had been a socialist in his youth. In Italy, Cesare Lombroso was an assimilated Jew and a socialist who nonetheless believed that the "white race" was threatened by the innate criminality of degenerate breeds. In Britain, the Eugenics Society included such liberal figures as the Webbs, Beveridge and Keynes. Beveridge, the future founder of the Welfare State, wrote in 1905 that:It is essential…to maintain the distinction between those who, however irregularly employed, are yet members, though inferior members, of the industrial army and those who are mere parasites, incapable of performing any useful service whatever…[The unemployable] must be removed from industry and maintained adequately in public institutions, but with the complete and permanent loss of all citizenship rights -- including not only the franchise but civil freedom and fatherhood [cited in Rose, 1999: 254-255]
The influence of these ideas on antisemitism became apparent in the passing of the 1905 Aliens Act, which was designed to keep out East European Jews (Gainer, 1972). Beatrice Webb, a leading Fabian, had referred to "the greed of the Jew" in her research into the textile industry in the East End; and the liberal economist J.A. Hobson had blamed financiers, "chiefly German in origin and Jewish in race" for the Boer War.
However, it should be noted that radical antisemitic parties fared poorly in national elections in Britain in 1906 and Germany in 1907, so there was no immediate risk prior to 1914 of such ideas leading to mass killing. It was Germany's defeat in 1918, followed by the displacement of educated elite groups by Germany's economic problems in the 1920's, that allowed the Nazis to intensify these ideas into forms of hatred that could appeal to mentalities that would be amenable to its policies.
The result of these alliances was support among carefully chosen elites for the kind of state murder discussed in the opening paragraph. Hitler declared that Jews were a "race of criminals" and was able to recruit enough doctors to carry out sterilizations, judges to pass death sentences, and SS men with PhD's to lead the Einsatzgruppen (Stahlecker, Rasch, Ohlendorf).
It was thus a simple exercise to escalate from individual judicial and medical murders to a mass genocide. The willingness of doctors and judges to knowingly conspire in individual murder leading to genocide is made clear in primary sources. On 11 May 1942, Dachau doctor Rascher wrote to Himmler that:For the following experiments Jewish professional criminals who had committed race pollution were used.
Similarly, the correspondence from the Reich Minister of Justice Thierack to Reichsleiter Bormann dated 13 October 1942 revealed that:With a view to freeing the German people of Poles, Russians, Jews, and gypsies and with a view to making the Eastern territories which have been incorporated into the Reich available for settlements for German nationals, I intend to turn over criminal proceedings against Poles, Russians, Jews, and gypsies to the Reichsfuehrer SS. In so doing I base myself on the principle that the administration of justice can only make a small contribution to the extermination of members of these peoples. The Justice Administration undoubtedly pronounces very severe sentences on such persons, but that is not enough to constitute any material contribution towards the realization of the above-mentioned aim.
Pollution had thus escalated from a 'crime' that warranted individual death penalties to a menace that required the extermination of all Jews.
THERE ARE ACTUALLY FOUR DIFFERENT PHASES: PURIFICATION
WITH EARTH, WITH WATER, WITH FIRE, AND WITH AIR. AND THESE
ARE ONLY THE OLD-FASHIONED TERMS; IN THE NEW AGE
WE WOULD SAY: THE SOLID, FLUID, IGNEOUS,
AND VOLATILE ELEMENTS.
THE FIRST PRACTICE IS PURIFICATION WITH THE EARTH ELEMENT.
STANDING UP, YOU BECOME CONSCIOUS OF THE GRAVITATIONAL
PULL OF THE EARTH ON YOUR FEET, THROUGH THE SOLES OF YOUR
FEET, YOU FEEL THE WAY THAT YOUR BODY IS BEING PULLED
DOWN TO THE EARTH. YOU EXPERIENCE THE GRAVITY PULL OF
THE MAGNETIC FIELD OF THE EARTH UPON THE MAGNETIC FIELD
OF YOUR BODY, NOT THE PHYSICAL BODY, AS THOUGH THE LOWER
PART OF THE MAGNETIC FIELD OF YOUR BODY WERE BEING
SUCKED INTO THE MAGNETIC FIELD OF THE EARTH. AS YOU
EXHALE, FEEL THE WAY THAT THE MAGNETIC FIELD OF THE
EARTH DRAWS THE MAGNETIC FIELD OF YOUR BODY TOWARDS IT,
AND AS YOU INHALE, BE CONSCIOUS OF THE WAY IN WHICH THE
MAGNETIC FIELD OF YOUR BODY DRAWS THE MAGNETIC FIELD OF
THE EARTH INTO ITSELF, JUST LIKE THE PLANT THAT DRAWS THE
EARTH AND THE WATER INTO ITSELF. BE AWARE OF YOURSELF AS A
MAGNETIC FIELD WHICH SURROUNDS AND PENETRATES
THE PHYSICAL BODY
BE AWARE OF THE EBB AND FLOW OF MAGNETISM
THROUGH YOUR SOLES.
AS YOU BREATHE IN, DRAW THE ENERGY UPWARDS THROUGH THE
BODY. AS IT PASSES THROUGH THE DIFFERENT CHAKRAS, IT HAS TO
BE FILTERED OR SUBLIMATED: THE LOWER EARTH ENERGY CANNOT
OR SHOULD NOT ENTER INTO THE FINER CENTERS, THEY MUST
BE PROTECTED. IT'S A CHAIN REACTION, A BILLIARD BALL EFFECT,
AS THE ENERGY RISES ALONG YOUR SPINE IT RELEASES THE LATENT
ENERGY IN THE DIFFERENT CENTERS, ONE AFTER ANOTHER, EACH
CHAKRA IN TURN ENERGIZES THE NEXT CHAKRA WHICH ENERGIZES
THE NEXT CHAKRA AND SO ON, UNTIL YOU HIT THE TOP AND
BREAK THROUGH THE BARRIER AT THE TOP OF THE HEAD. AND
THEN YOU HOLD YOUR BREATH IN A STATE OF SUSPENSE, AND AS YOU
EXHALE YOU BECOME LIKE A CHANNEL THROUGH WHICH THE
TRANSCENDENTAL ENERGY FROM ABOVE DESCENDS, SO THAT YOU
CAN LET IT FLOW OUT THROUGH THE HEART CENTER. YOU HAVE
TO LET THE CAVITY AT THE TOP OF THE HEAD REMAIN OPEN SO
THAT THE ENERGY FROM ABOVE MAY DESCEND.
YOU FEEL THE BUOYANCY,
YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS IS DRAWN UPWARDS AS THE
ENERGY RISES, JUST AS A RUBBER BALL ON TOP OF A FOUNTAIN
WOULD KEEP ON BEING LIFTED UPWARDS. BE AWARE OF THE WAY
IN WHICH THE MAGNETIC FIELD OF YOUR BODY IS PURIFIED AND
REPLENISHED BY THE EARTH, THE WAY THE EARTH DRAWS THE
DENSER ASPECTS OF YOUR MAGNETIC FIELD
INTO ITSELF.
IF YOU CAN BECOME AWARE OF THE OPPOSITE POLE TO THE
MAGNETIC FIELD OF THE EARTH, I.E. THE MAGNETIC POLE OF THE
HEAVENLY SPHERES, YOU WILL FIND THAT AS YOU BREATHE OUT
YOUR MAGNETIC FIELD IS PULLED DOWNWARDS BY THE MAGNETIC
FIELD OF THE EARTH AND UPWARDS AS THE MAGNETIC PULL
OF THE CELESTIAL POLE, AND AS YOU INHALE YOU DRAW THE
MAGNETISM OF THE HEAVENS AND THE MAGNETISM OF THE
EARTH INTO YOUR MAGNETIC FIELD. THERE IS AN ACCORDION
EFFECT, THE DENSER ASPECTS OF YOUR MAGNETIC FIELD ARE
DRAWN DOWNWARDS AND THE LIGHTER ASPECTS RAISED
UPWARDS: IT IS A KIND OF ORDERING, A KING OF FILTERING.
FILTERING IS THE PRINCIPLE OF PURIFICATION
WITH THE EARTH ELEMENT.
THE SECOND BAPTISM IS PURIFICATION WITH WATER. YOU
EXPERIENCE YOUR MAGNETIC FIELD IN ITS FLUID STATE. THE
FLUID COMPONENT OF YOUR MAGNETIC FIELD IS LIKE A LAKE
THROUGH WHICH A RIVER FLOWS, LIKE A KIND OF FLUID MAGNETISM
THAT IS CONTINUALLY CIRCULATING THROUGHOUT THE
ATMOSPHERE, WHICH HAS THE EFFECT OF WASHING YOU CLEAR,
CLEANSING YOU BY A FLOW, TAKING INTO ITSELF ANY OF THE
IMPURITIES IN YOUR MAGNETIC FIELD. YOU FEEL POROUS,
LIKE A SIEVE, WITH LOTS OF LITTLE HOLES IN YOUR SOLIDITY.
IMAGINE THE SPACES BETWEEN THE CELLS IN YOUR BODY, THE
ENORMOUS SPACES BETWEEN THE PARTICLES,
THE SPACES BETWEEN THE STARS.
LET THE ENERGY FLOW THROUGHOUT YOUR BODY,
NOT JUST AROUND YOUR BODY AS THOUGH YOU WERE
IMMERSED IN THE JORDAN,
BUT ALL THROUGH YOUR FLUID BODY. STAND ON YOUR TIPTOES,
LET YOUR HANDS JUST HANG IN THE AIR AS IF IN STILL WATER, AND
SHAKE YOUR HANDS AS HEALERS DO WHEN THEY CLEAR THEMSELVES
OF POLLUTED MAGNETISM IN THEIR FINGERS. BREATHE IN
THROUGH THE NOSE AND OUT THROUGH THE MOUTH, CLOSING
THE LIPS SO THAT THE BREATH IS BLOWN THROUGH THE LIPS. JUST
FEEL COMPLETELY RELAXED, AND LET THE ENERGY FLOW
THROUGH YOU FROM UPWARDS DOWNWARDS. AS THE ENERGY
FLOWS THROUGH YOU IT DISSOLVES ANY IMPURITIES
AND CARRIES AWAY ALL THE POLLUTION.
YOU ARE BEING WASHED CLEAN. YOU FEEL AS THOUGH YOU WERE
SOAKING WET, AS THOUGH YOU WERE HAVING A SHOWER. YOU ARE
HAVING A SHOWER INSIDE. YOU CAN EVEN FEEL THE FLOW
OF MAGNETISM THROUGH YOUR HAIR.
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST SAID, "I BAPTIZE YOU WITH WATER, BUT ONE
COMES AFTER ME WHO WILL BAPTIZE YOU WITH FIRE
AND WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT."
BAPTISM WITH FIRE, WITH THE IGNEOUS STATE, IS A MORE
RADICAL FORM OF PURIFICATION. WE ARE IN A CONTINUAL STATE
OF COMBUSTION, EVEN THE HEAT OF OUR BODIES IS A PRODUCT OF
THIS BURNING PROCESS. IT IS A PERPETUAL HOLOCAUST IN THE
TEMPLE, WHICH IS CALLED IN THE VEDAS THE ETERNAL
SACRIFICE OF PURUSHA, THE SPIRIT, IN WHICH ALL CREATED
BEINGS PARTICIPATE. WE ARE CONTINUALLY UNDERGOING
THIS PROCESS OF COMBUSTION.
[O]bedience is a holocaust in which the whole man without the slightest reserve is offered in the fire of charity to his Creator and Lord through the hands of His ministers....the obedient man becomes a living holocaust most pleasing to His Divine Majesty.
-- Ignatius Loyola: 25 Most Evil People of the 16th Century C.E., by One-Evil.org
WE CAN EVEN ENHANCE THIS BURNING PROCESS. YOGIS ARE ABLE
TO ENHANCE THE HEAT PRODUCTION OF THEIR BODIES BY IMMERSING
THEMSELVES IN THE COLD WATERS OF THE GANGES
14,000 FEET UP IN THE HIMALAYAS, THEN WRAPPING THEMSELVES
IN A WET TOWEL IN THIS COLD, AND DRYING THE TOWEL
BY THE HEAT OF THEIR BODIES.
EVEN EMOTION CAN ENHANCE THE BODY TEMPERATURE. WHEN
ONE GETS INTO A TEMPER, ONE BURNS MORE INTENSELY, ONE IS
BURNING FOR THE TRUTH, LIKE JOAN OF ARC, ONE WILL STAND UP
FOR ONE'S IDEAL AT THE COST OF WHATEVER SACRIFICE IT MIGHT
MEAN, LIKE MANY OF THE JEWS WHO WERE BURNT
BY THE GESTAPO.
The Germans have forgotten how to hate. Virile hate has been replaced by feminine lamentation. But he who is unable to hate cannot love either. Fanatical love and hate -- their fires kindle flames of freedom. Passionlessness, matter-of-factness, objectivity, are impersonality, are sophistry. Only passion gives knowledge, creates wisdom.
-- A Soldier Believes in Plain Talk, by Ernst Rohm, Nazi Culture: Intellectual, Cultural and Social Life in the Third Reich, by George L. Mosse
THE FIRE OF TRUTH PRODUCES
LIGHT AND ILLUMINATION
WE ARE ABLE TO BRING ABOUT ILLUMINATION BY BURNING
MORE INTENSELY IN OUR LIVES
BY BEARING THE COSMIC CROSS
BY OFFERING OUR SELF
AS A JOYFUL SACRIFICE
DECREPITUDE AND OLD AGE ARE A SIGN OF THE PROCESS OF
COMBUSTION WHICH HAS TRANSFORMED THE PHYSICAL BODY AT
ITS OWN EXPENSE INTO A SUBTLE BODY, INTO THE BODY
OF RESURRECTION. OUR SUFFERINGS ARE A SIGN OF BEING BURNED, OF
BEING ANNIHILATED IN OUR EGO.
THE MORE WE ARE SHATTERED THE MORE OUR CONSCIOUSNESS
RISES WITH GREATER BRIGHTNESS, GREATER INCANDESCENCE
WE GLOW
WE BECOME TRANSPARENT TO LIGHT
THIS IS THE PASSAGE FROM FIRE TO
LIGHT
And I looked, and beheld a white cloud, and upon the cloud I saw one sitting like unto the son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
-- Rev. xiv: 14.
***
THE ANGEL WHO DELIVERED ME FROM ALL EVIL. This is the same as the one mentioned in the verse: "Behold I send an angel before thee, etc." (Ex. XXIII, 20), who, as we have laid down, is the deliverer of the world, the protector of mankind, and the one who procures blessings for all the world, he himself receiving them first. This angel is sometimes male, sometimes female. When he procures blessings for the world, he is male, resembling the male who provides blessings for the female. But when he comes to bring chastisement on the world he is called female, being, as it were, pregnant with the judgement. Similarly, in the words, "the flame of the sword which turned every way" (Gen III, 24), there is a reference to the angels who are God's messengers, and who turn themselves into different shapes, being sometimes female and sometimes male, sometimes messengers of judgement and sometimes of mercy. In the same way, this angel can take all colours like the rainbow, and treats the world correspondingly.
-- The Zohar, translated by Harry Sperling and Maurice Simon
ABRAHAM TURNED THE SWORD, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE
SACRIFICED ISAAC, UPWARDS, AND IT BECAME THE FLAMING
SWORD WHICH BREAKS THROUGH ALL PLANES, RESULTING IN THE
PRODUCTION OF LIGHT. ALL THIS MAKES POSSIBLE, IN THE
HEKALOTH OF THE JEWS, THE PASSAGE OF SOULS FROM THE
FOURTH PLANE, THE PLANE OF THE SERAPHIM, WHO ARE ANGELS
OF FIRE, TO THE FIFTH PLANE, THE PLANE OF THE CHERUBIM, WHO
ARE BEINGS OF LIGHT. EVERYTHING SEEMS TO TEND TO MAKE
US PURE CONSCIOUSNESS. THE FIRE IS ONE'S VIBRATION TO THE
TRUTH, AND IT IS THAT WHICH TRANSFORMS ONE INTO A BEING OF
LIGHT.
IT IS A MATTER OF BECOMING AWARE OF THE PROCESS OF COMBUSTION
IN OURSELVES BY FANNING THE FIRE IN THE SOLAR
PLEXUS WITH THE BREATH, THEREBY REALIZING THE PURIFYING
IGNEOUS ELEMENT IN OUR MAGNETIC FIELD.
IN A CERTAIN SENSE WE ARE LIKE A FLAME. THE BUDDHISTS HAVE
THE IMAGE OF THE FLAME THAT PASSES FROM LOG TO LOG, BURNING
THROUGH LOG AFTER LOG; FOR THE FLAME TO PERSIST THERE
ALWAYS HAS TO BE ANOTHER LOG, OTHERWISE THE FLAME IS
EXTINGUISHED. THE LOWER ASPECT OF OUR CONSCIOUSNESS IS
LIKE A FLAME WHICH DEPENDS ON WHAT IT CAN BURN. IN A CERTAIN
SENSE THIS FLAME IS OUR DESIRES, OUR CRAVINGS. WE ARE A
CONTINUITY OF CRAVINGS: THE CRAVING OF ONE BEING IS
CONTINUED THROUGH ANOTHER BEING, THE WHOLE OF LIFE
IS TENSIONED TOWARD THE FULFILLMENT OF DESIRE.
RESURRECTION IS THE OVERCOMING OF DESIRE
WE ARE FIRE WHICH IS BURNING NOT ONLY OUR BODIES BUT OUR
PERSONALITIES
UNTIL THEY ARE PURIFIED AND ILLUMINATED
PURIFICATION HAPPENS WHEN THERE IS JUST COLD LIGHT.
IN THE HEART CENTER THERE IS HEAT AND LIGHT, IN THE THROAT
CENTER THERE IS HEAT AND NO LIGHT, AND IN THE HIGHER
CENTERS THERE IS JUST THIS COLD LIGHT AND NO HEAT. BY HAMMERING
THE FIRE IN THE SOLAR PLEXUS WE UNLEASH A CHAIN
REACTION WHICH WILL IGNITE THE LIGHT OF THE SUN IN THE
HEART CENTER, WHICH WILL THEN BE SUBLIMATED INTO THE
COLD LIGHT OF THE CROWN CENTER, A VERY COOL TRANSCENDENTAL
LIGHT CORRESPONDING TO THE LIGHT OF VERY HIGH
ALTITUDES, ALMOST FROZEN, IMMACULATE AND DIAPHANOUS,
RISING LIKE A FOUNTAIN OF LIGHT ABOVE THE TOP OF THE HEAD.
BREATHE IN THROUGH THE MOUTH AND OUT THROUGH THE NOSE.
AS YOU BREATHE IN THROUGH THE MOUTH YOU FAN THE FIRE IN
THE SOLAR PLEXUS, AND THEN AS YOU HOLD YOUR BREATH YOU
DRAW YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS UP THROUGH THE HEART CENTER,
THERE IS A SUDDEN EXPLOSION OF LIGHT IN THE HEART CENTER,
WHICH RISES UP TO THE FOUNTAIN OF LIGHT OF THE CROWN.
WHEN YOU BREATHE IN THROUGH THE MOUTH YOU KEEP YOUR
LIPS CLOSED, SO YOU HAVE A CURRENT OF AIR RUNNING THROUGH
YOUR LIPS DIRECTLY TO THE SOLAR PLEXUS. AS YOU BREATHE OUT
THROUGH THE NOSE THE HEART CENTER OPENS UP AND RADIATES
LIKE THE SUN, RADIATES ALSO BACKWARDS THROUGH THE
SHOULDER BLADES, FORMING A MANTLE OF LIGHT, RISING ALSO
UPWARDS THROUGH THE CROWN LIKE A FOUNTAIN OF LIGHT
THAT BREAKS THE LIGHT UP INTO ALL THE COLORS OF THE SPECTRUM,
ALL SCINTILLATING LITTLE SPARKS OF DIFFERENT
COLORED LIGHTS FALLING LIKE A SHROUD AROUND THE AURA.
YOU FEEL LUMINOUS, YOU BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE YOURSELF
AS A BEING OF LIGHT.
INHALE THROUGH THE MOUTH,
FANNING THE FIRE IN THE SOLAR PLEXUS
EXHALE THROUGH THE NOSE,
RADIATING LIGHT FROM THE HEART CENTER
KEEP YOUR LIPS CLOSED, SO YOU HAVE A CURRENT OF AIR RUNNING
THROUGH YOUR LIPS DIRECTLY TO THE SOLAR PLEXUS.
INHALE FIRE, EXHALE LIGHT
THE LAST AND MOST REFINED PURIFICATION IS THE BAPTISM WITH
AIR. IT IS BEST EXPERIENCED STANDING UP, IDEALLY OUT OF
DOORS IN THE WIND. BREATHE IN THROUGH THE MOUTH AND OUT
THROUGH THE MOUTH, MOUTH ALMOST CLOSED, BREATH VERY
REFINED. AND AS YOU BREATHE IN YOU FEEL LIKE AN EAGLE
RUFFLING HIS FEATHERS, LETTING THE AIR FLOW THROUGH
THEM. BREATHE IN THROUGH THE PORES OF THE SKIN, FEEL THE
WIND BLOW THROUGH YOU, PASSING THROUGH THE SPACES
BETWEEN THE CELLS, THE ATOMS OF YOUR BODY. FEEL THE
SPACIOUSNESS OF YOUR BODY: YOU HAVE NO EDGES, NO FRONTIER.
AS YOU BREATHE OUT YOU DISSOLVE IN THE AIR CURRENTS, THE
CIRCULATION OF THE BREATH OF THE WORLD. THE BREATH IS A
FISHING NET: THE OUTBREATH IS THE NET AND THE INBREATH IS
THE KNOT, BUT THE NET AND THE KNOT ARE NOT SEPARATE, THEY
ARE ONE. STAY IN THE SPACE BETWEEN YOUR BREATH. FEEL THE
AIR OF THE WORLD BLOW THROUGH THE THROAT CHAKRA LIKE A
FLUTE. KEEP THE BREATH LIGHT, ALMOST IMPERCEPTIBLE, IN
THROUGH THE MOUTH AND OUT THROUGH THE MOUTH. ALLOW
THE FLUID MOTION OF THE WIND TO TAKE YOU WHERE IT WILL.
YOU MAY FEEL IT SWAY YOU, SPIN YOU, LIFT YOU UP LIKE A BIRD, ON
THE TIPS OF YOUR TOES, YOUR ARMS ARE WINGS, YOU ARE FLYING.
ALL DENSITY, ALL GRAVITY IS LEFT BEHIND. YOU ARE TOTALLY
RECEPTIVE TO THE EVER-FLOWING CURRENTS OF THE
BREATH OF LIGHT, THE HOLY SPIRIT.
PRANAYAMA
BREATHE IN FOUR BEATS, HOLD THE BREATH EIGHT BEATS.
BREATHE OUT FOUR BEATS. BREATHE IN THROUGH THE LEFT NOSTRIL
AND OUT THROUGH THE RIGHT, THEN BREATHE IN THROUGH
THE RIGHT NOSTRIL AND OUT THROUGH THE LEFT. IN KUNDALINI
YOGA, YOU ALTERNATE THE CURRENTS IN THE NADIS, THE IDA AND
THE PINGALA, THE SOLAR AND LUNAR NERVE CURRENTS WHICH
CRISS-CROSS UP THE SPINE AND MEET IN THE THIRD EYE,
AS IN THE CADUCEUS OF MERCURY.
THERE IS SOMETHING IN US THAT IS CONTINUALLY STRIVING
TOWARD THE FUTURE, AND AS YOU BREATHE IN THROUGH THE
LEFT NOSTRIL AND OUT THROUGH THE RIGHT YOU WILL FEEL THE
WHOLE FORWARD THRUST OF CONSCIOUSNESS THAT IS MOVING
YOU ALONG THE HORIZONTAL AXIS OF LINEAR TIME, YOU BECOME
FUTURE-ORIENTED. THEN AS YOU BREATHE IN THROUGH THE
RIGHT NOSTRIL AND OUT THROUGH THE LEFT YOU WILL BE MOVING
BACK IN TIME, IF YOU ARE CONSCIOUS OF IT YOU WILL BE
LOOKING RIGHT BACK INTO PAST LIFETIMES,
UNREELING THE WHEEL OF BECOMING AND
GOING RIGHT BACK
INTO PREVIOUS STATES.
NOW WE SHALL MOVE CONSCIOUSNESS ALONG THE SECOND AXIS,
WHICH IS VERTICAL INFINITE TIME ETERNITY. AS YOU BREATHE IN
THROUGH BOTH NOSTRILS TRANSFER YOUR ATTENTION FROM THE
SOLAR PLEXUS TO THE HEART CENTER, UP THROUGH THE THROAT
CENTER, THIRD EYE, BROWN CENTER, TO THE CENTER ABOVE THE
HEAD. AT THE END OF THE IN-BREATHING YOU HOLD YOUR
BREATH, AND THEN AS YOU BREATHE OUT YOU LOOK DOWN FROM
THAT HIGH POINT AND RADIATE THROUGH THE THIRD EYE,
THROAT CENTER, HEART CENTER. THIS IS THE VERTICAL AXIS OF
TRANSCENDENCE, THE LINE OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN
HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS AND DIVINE CONSCIOUSNESS.
NOW IF YOU COMBINE THESE TWO PRACTICES YOU WILL COORDINATE
BOTH AXES, VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL, OF THE COSMIC
CROSS. BREATHE IN THROUGH THE LEFT NOSTRIL, HOLD THE
BREATH, BREATHE OUT THROUGH THE RIGHT NOSTRIL, BREATHE
IN THROUGH THE RIGHT NOSTRIL, HOLD THE BREATH, BREATHE
OUT THROUGH THE LEFT NOSTRIL. BREATHE IN THROUGH THE
SOLAR PLEXUS, TRANSFER YOUR ATTENTION UPWARDS. HOLD
YOUR BREATH ABOVE YOUR HEAD, AND THEN DO NOT BRING YOUR
CONSCIOUSNESS DOWN BUT LOOK DOWN FROM THAT VANTAGE
POINT AND RADIATE ENERGY THROUGH THE THIRD EYE,
THROAT CENTER, HEART CENTER.
Statistics: Posted by admin — Sat Sep 26, 2015 7:13 am
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LIGHT
-- Be Here Now, by Ram Dass
***
Seth, the reputed forefather of Israel, is only a Jewish travesty of Hermes, the God of Wisdom, called also Thoth, Tat, Seth, Set, and Satan. He is also Typhon — the same as Apophis, the Dragon slain by Horus; for Typhon was also called Set. He is simply the dark side of Osiris, his brother, as Angra Mainyu is the black shadow of Ahura-mazda. Terrestrially, all these allegories were connected with the trials of adeptship and initiation. Astronomically, they referred to the Solar and Lunar eclipses.
-- The Secret Doctrine -- The Synthesis of Science, Religion, and Philosophy, by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky
IN ORDER TO PASS FROM CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE MAGNETIC
FIELD
TO THE BODY OF LIGHT
ONE
HAS TO BE AWARE OF BURNING WITH A BRIGHT FLAME
THAT
ONE HAS THE FEELING OF BEING INCANDESCENT
TRANSPARENT
A CRYSTAL
ONE HAS THE FEELING OF BEING POROUS AS A MAGNETIC FIELD
CRYSTALLINE OR TRANSLUCENT AS AN AURA
THE BODY OF LIGHT EXTENDS
THERE'S NO SKIN ON IT
NO EDGES
NO FRONTIER
IT EXUDES RAYS
IT RADIATES
WHEN WE SAY LIGHT, WE DON'T MEAN THE ELECTRIC LIGHT OR
THE LIGHT OF THE SUN.
WE SPEAK ABOUT PEOPLE AND SAY: THIS PERSON HAS A LOT OF
LIGHT IN HIM, SHE HAS A RADIANT SMILE: WE KNOW WHAT WE
MEAN BY THAT, WE ARE WORKING WITH THE NOTION OF LIGHT.
AND YOU YOURSELF KNOW WHAT IT IS TO HAVE LIGHT WITHIN
YOU, THERE ARE MOMENTS WHEN YOU FEEL IT VERY STRONGLY,
AND THEN THE DARK CLOUDS OF GLOOM COME ALONG AND THERE
IS RESENTMENT AND DESPONDENCY AND THIS IS WRONG AND
THAT IS NOT RIGHT AND THIS PERSON IS UNFAIR TO ME AND WHY IS
FATE SO CRUEL TO ME AND SO ON AND ON ...
THE SUN HAS LEFT
OUR CHIEF PROBLEM IN THESE PRACTICES IS TO AVOID SIDE-
TRACKING INTO A PHANTASMAGORIA OF PURE FICTION. HOW CAN
ONE EXPERIENCE ONE'S LIGHT FIELD, UNLESS ONE CHANNELS THIS
FINE FACULTY OF INNER PERCEPTION IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO
PROMOTE ITS ACTIVITY? AND IS NOT CREATIVE IMAGINATION OR
REPRESENTATION PRE-STRUCTURED? MATHEMATICS IS PURE
REPRESENTATION, YET HAS PRACTICAL APPLICATION, BECAUSE IT
CONSISTS IN THE PERCEPTION OF THE STRUCTURE INHERENT IN
PHYSICAL REALITY, SENSED IN TRANSCENDENT AREAS OF
THE MIND, TRANSCENDENT PLANES OF BEING.
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE SOUL PROJECTS ITS INTERNAL STRUCTURE
AND NATURE IN THE NEAREST POSSIBLE TANGIBLE WAY: AS AN
IMAGE WHICH CAN ONLY BE THE SHADOW OF WHAT IS? COULD WE
HYPOTHESIZE THAT, AS OUR INTUITION GRASPS EVANESCENT
VALUES, REACHING FURTHER AND FURTHER BEYOND THE
PHYSICAL, CREATIVE IMAGINATION PROJECTS THESE INTO FORMS
WHICH THEY ARE NOT, YET WHICH APPROXIMATE THESE JUST AS
THE OUTLINE OF THE FACE APPROXIMATES ITS COUNTENANCE.
WHEN WE LET OURSELVES BE CAUGHT UP IN THE FEATURES, WE
MISS OUT ON THE COUNTENANCE. SIMILARLY OUR REPRESENTATIONS
OF LIGHT MAY BETRAY REAL EXPERIENCE, YET IF WE ARE
ABLE TO REALIZE OURSELVES IN OUR LIGHT NATURE, INSTEAD OF
INDULGING IN THE HALLUCINATORY FORMS THAT MAY ARISE IN
OUR PRACTICES, THEN WE PROCEED FROM IMAGINATION
TO EXPERIENCE.
THE AIM OF THESE PRACTICES WITH LIGHT IS
TO ENVISION ONESELF AS A PURE LIGHT
PART OF THE WORLDS OF LIGHT
BY BECOMING SENSITIVE TO ONE'S NATURAL LUMINOSITY, TO DISCOVER
WITHIN ONESELF A SENSE OF TRANSPARENCY WITHIN THE
SPACES BETWEEN THE ATOMS OR CELLS OF THE BODY.
THE METHOD WE ADOPT WILL BE TO RECAPTURE REAL
EXPERIENCES THAT TRIGGER OFF SIMILAR EXPERIENCES WITHIN,
RATHER THAN IMAGINING THESE INNER EXPERIENCES. WE HAVE
ALL BEEN EXPOSED AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER TO THE
SHEER THRILL OF BEING LIT UP
INTENSELY,
BY THE HEADLIGHTS OF A CAR, THE FLASH OF A STROBE,
POWERFUL SPOTS, BLAZING ARCS
THE ATOMIC FLASH.
IT IS SUCH A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE BECAUSE IT MAKES ONE
SUDDENLY AWARE OF AN ASPECT OF ONE'S BEING THAT MOST
TIMES REMAINS UNCONSCIOUS
OUR LUMINOSITY
THAT IS WHAT IS CALLED IN ESOTERIC SCHOOLS
AURIC CONSCIOUSNESS, CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE AURA
HERE OUR EXERCISES BEGIN
RECOLLECT AND RELIVE AN EXPERIENCE
IN WHICH YOU WERE FLOODED
BY THE GLARE OF A LIGHT.
RECALL HOW YOU FELT
WHEN LIGHTED UP,
THE EMERGENCE OF YOUR FEELING OF EFFULGENCE,
AS THOUGH YOU WERE DISCOVERING YOURSELF
AS SOMETHING YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN:
A LUMINOUS BEING
RADIATING RADIATING
LIKE A RADIO-ACTIVE SUBSTANCE
THE FORCE OF THE EXPERIENCE IS IN THE BLINDING INTENSITY OF
THE LIGHT RELIVED, AND THE CONTEMPLATIVE'S COURAGE IN
FACING IT: MORE SO, GOING RIGHT INTO IT, LIKE A MOTH INTO A
FLAME, LETTING YOURSELF BE BATHED, NAY, BURNED WITH
LIGHT.
THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT YOU BECOME FLOODED
WITH LIGHT, BLINDED WITH LIGHT, EXPERIENCE THAT
WONDERFUL JOY BEING DRUNKEN,
STONED BY LIGHT.
AS PLOTINUS SAID: ONLY EYES THAT HAVE BECOME LIKE UNTO THE
SUN CAN LOOK INTO THE SUN.
THE MORE TRAUMATIC THE EXPERIENCE THE MORE IT WILL ACT
AS A CATALYST BRINGING TO THE FORE THE AWARENESS OF A
LUMINOUS FIELD, SOMETIMES CALLED BY THE ESOTERICISTS
THE MANTLE OF GLORY
THE BODY OF RESURRECTION
WHICH NOT ONLY ENSHROUDS THE BODY AND THE ETHERIC BODY
BUT ALSO INTERPENETRATES IT.
SUNYATA, THE VOID
BECOME LIKE A CRYSTAL,
CRYSTAL CLEAR,
TOTALLY RECEPTIVE TO THE PASSAGE OF LIGHT.
IN THE CRYSTAL THE MOLECULES HAVE
ALIGNED THEMSELVES
IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO ENABLE LIGHT WAVES
TO PASS.
MATTER HAS ADAPTED ITSELF TO BECOMING
TRANSPARENT TO LIGHT
INSTEAD OF VISUALIZING TRANSLUCENT ANGELS,
DISCOVER YOUR OWN ABILITY
TO LET LIGHT PASS THROUGH
YOUR PHYSICAL BODY.
BECOME NON-SOLID
LET THE BREEZE BLOW THROUGH YOU
THE LIGHT PASS THROUGH YOU
BECOME PURE SPIRIT
AT THIS STAGE ONE MAY FEEL A SENSE OF EFFULGENCE
THROUGHOUT, SOMEWHAT LIKE THE RING OF LIGHT BROKEN UP
INTO FLAMES AROUND THE SUN. SO LONG AS ONE STILL IDENTIFIES
ONESELF WITH ONE'S BODY IT WILL APPEAR THAT THE BODY IS
SURROUNDED BY A SHEATH OR SHROUD OF LUMINESCENCE. THIS IS
THE MOMENT TO IDENTIFY UNCONDITIONALLY WITH THE LUMINOUS
BODY. CONCENTRATE ON BOTH THE LIGHT OUTSIDE AND
INSIDE THE BODY AS A CONTINUOUS WHOLE, AND LIKEN THE BODY
TO A TRANSLUCENT CRYSTAL WHICH THE LIGHT
INTERPENETRATES AND OUTREACHES.
EXPERIENCE THE PENETRATION OF THE RAYS OF LIGHT THAT ARE
REACHING INTO THE BODY LIKE
X-RAYS
DISCOVER THE TRANSPARENCY OF YOUR BODY, ITS POROUSNESS, AS
THOUGH THERE WERE SPACES BETWEEN THE CELLS, BETWEEN
THE ATOMS.
THIS WILL STRENGTHEN YOU IN THE CONVICTION THAT YOU ARE A
BEING OF LIGHT AND WILL BRING BACK THE MEMORY OF THOSE
PLANES OF LIGHT THROUGH WHICH YOU PASSED, NOT ONLY ON
THE WAY DOWN TOWARDS INCARNATION, BUT IN WHICH
YOU STILL ARE.
EXPERIENCE YOURSELF AS BEING CREATED OUT OF THIS SPLENDOR
-- IT IS THE BEING OF GOD LOOKING THROUGH YOUR EYES,
NOT LOOKING DOWN UPON THE PHYSICAL PLANE, BUT LOOKING INTO A
CERTAIN LEVEL WHERE THE FORMS OF ALL BEINGS ARE
BORN AND EMERGE. DON'T FALL BACK ON IT, JUST GO RIGHT INTO
IT, GO RIGHT INTO THE PICTURE AND GIVE FREE EXPRESSION TO
THE ANGEL IN YOU. DO NOT STAY BEHIND LIKE THE SPECTATOR
THAT IS ON THE EARTH LOOKING INTO THE SKY, LET YOURSELF BE
DRAWN INTO THE PICTURE, NOT AS A BODY, BUT AS
A BEING OF LIGHT.
THE RELEVANT PRACTICES AT THIS STAGE ARE A KIND OF
PSYCHOLOGICAL CATHARSIS: TO BRING ABOUT A SENSE OF CRYSTALLINE
CLEARNESS BY ELIMINATING DARKNESS AND OPACITY.
THE STRENGTH OF YOUR LIGHT CAN LOOK INTO THE LIGHT, IT
OPENS UP ALL THE DARK RECESSES,
THERE IS NO REASON TO HIDE ANYTHING
ANY
MORE.
IT'S ALL OPEN
YOU ARE COMING INTO THE OPEN FROM THE DARKNESS. IT'S NOT
IMAGINATION BUT A TRANSFORMATION OF YOUR BEING. IT
DOESN'T HAVE TO TAKE ANY TIME, YOU CAN DO AWAY WITH ANY
DARKNESS RIGHT NOW. EVERYTHING IS COMING TO LIGHT NOW
VERY CLEARLY.
THIS IS THE MOMENT TO SEE THINGS CLEARLY
WASH THE EYES WITH LIGHT
FEEL THE CLARIFYING ACTION OF LIGHT UPON EYES THAT MAY
HAVE BECOME DULLED BY EGO, STRIFE OR EVIL AND UGLY
IMPRESSIONS. WASH THE EYES WITH LIGHT UNTIL THEY BECOME
COMPLETELY CLEAN, COMPLETELY PURE
THE EYES OF A CHILD
THE GLANCE OF INNOCENCE
WASH THE HEART CENTER WITH LIGHT, FEEL THE EFFECT OF
LIGHT UPON THIS CENTER, WHICH OPENS UP LIKE A SUNFLOWER
WHEN EXPOSED TO LIGHT. EXPERIENCE THE EXTENSION OF THE
RAYS FORWARD THROUGH THE SHOULDERS, THE SHOULDER BLADES,
DEPICTED BY ARTISTS AS THE WINGS OF ANGELS. FLOOD THE
CROWN CENTER WITH LIGHT. IT SHOULD REACT BY
FLASHING MORE INTENSELY THAN USUAL.
CONCENTRATION SHOULD BE FOCALIZED 5-1/2 INCHES
ABOVE THE SKULL
THE WASHING OF THE CHAKRAS WITH LIGHT IS PART OF A
GREATER EXPERIENCE, WHICH IS WASHING THE EMOTIONS FROM
ANYTHING THAT IS NOT TOTALLY BEAUTIFUL, MAKING OUR EMOTIONS
LUMINOUS, SUBJECTING THEM TO THE TEST OF AUTHENTICITY.
ANYTHING THAT FALLS SHORT OF TOTAL AUTHENTICITY
JUST HAS TO BE REMOVED.
IT IS AS THOUGH ONE WERE LOOKING THROUGH A ROUND DOOR
INTO A WORLD OF LIGHT WHICH IN TURN SEEMS LIKE A DOOR
OPENING ONTO
A STILL SUBTLER WORLD OF LIGHT
ONE'S ATTENTION MAY SHIFT TO THE THIRD EYE.
ONE WILL NOTICE THAT IT IS CONNECTED
WITH THE CROWN CENTER
AS THOUGH IT MIGHT BE
ITS EXTENSION,
IT APPEARS LIKE A BEAM
GENERALLY PURPORTED TO FLASH FORWARD
FROM THE PINEAL GLAND.
ROTATE YOUR EYEBALLS UPWARDS,
SLIGHTLY CONVERGING THEM TOWARDS THE FONTANELLE,
AND ORIENT THE BEAM RIGHT THROUGH THE CORONARY CAVITY
UPWARDS.
SOMETIMES IT SEEMS THAT WE ARE FOCUSED TO A HIGHER PLANE,
YET SEE NOTHING BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE THE TRAINING, JUST
AS A CHILD HAS TO LEARN TO REALIZE WHAT HE SEES, WHICH
FOR A BABY MAY APPEAR A BLUR. YET WE MAY LEARN TO DISCERN
THE PROFILES, MODES AND COLORATIONS OF HIGHER PLANES BY
TRAINING TO AWAKEN FROM OUR EVERYDAY CONSCIOUSNESS,
WRONGLY CALLED THE WAKING STATE. CHUANG TZU DREAMT HE
WAS A BUTTERFLY, AND WHEN HE AWOKE HE DID NOT KNOW
WHETHER HE WAS A MAN WHO HAD DREAMT THAT HE WAS A BUTTERFLY
OR A BUTTERFLY DREAMING THAT HE WAS A MAN. IF WE
COULD REMEMBER IN DIURNAL CONSCIOUSNESS WHAT OUR DIURNAL
CONSCIOUSNESS APPEARED LIKE TO US WHEN WE WERE
DREAMING, WE WOULD REMEMBER WHEN IN DIURNAL CONSCIOUSNESS
THAT WE HAD THE IMPRESSION IN OUR SO-CALLED
DREAM CONSCIOUSNESS OF AWAKENING FROM DIURNAL
CONSCIOUSNESS AS FROM A DREAM.
ATTENTION WILL TEND TO TRAVEL FROM ONE AREA OF THE AURA
TO THE OTHER, BRINGING ITS DETAILED STRUCTURE MORE PARTICULARLY
INTO VIEW: THE RADIATION FROM SHOULDERS AND
SHOULDER BLADES LINKED WITH THE HEART CENTER (ANAHATA),
COUNTERWEIGHED BY THE SYPHONISING EFFECT OF THE SOLAR
PLEXUS (MANIPURA) AS A SEA OF FIRE WITHIN, REACHING RIGHT
DOWN INTO THE CENTER AT THE BASE OF THE SPINE (MULADHARA).
AND CONTRASTING WITH THESE: THE SUPERIOR POLE,
THE CROWN CENTER (SAHASRARA) GUSHING UPWARDS FROM
THE FONTANELLE LIKE A FOUNTAIN OF BRIGHT LIGHT AND
FALLING BACK INTO A SPRAY OF MULTICOLORED DROPLETS EFFUSING
THE CENTRIFUGAL RADIATION FROM THE HEART AND
FALLING AROUND THE SHOULDERS WITH A FINE MANTILLA OF
LUMINOUS FLUID OF AMAZING HUES. THIS CENTER SEEMS TO BE
MULTIDIMENSIONAL, SO THAT SHOULD ONE DISPLACE ONE'S
FOCUS UPWARDS, ONE DISCOVERS AT EACH FURTHER LEVEL, LIKE
THE REFLEX OF THE PREVIOUS LUMINARY, EVER MORE SUBTLE AND
REMOTE WORLDS OF SPLENDOR.
SOME OF US MAY REMEMBER HOW IN THE MORNING WE COULD
SHIFT OUR CONSCIOUSNESS OVER THE THRESHOLD FROM A DREAM
TO DIURNAL CONSCIOUSNESS AND VICE-VERSA UNDER THE IMPULSE
OF A SEMI-UNCONSCIOUS WILL. WE SEEM TO ASSUME A
DIFFERENT PERSONALITY IN DREAM CONSCIOUSNESS, FREER,
MORE DARING, EMANCIPATED FROM THE SENSE OF IMPOSSIBILITY
WHICH HEMS US INTO FOSSILIZED PATTERNS IN EVERYDAY
THINKING AND BEHAVIOR. WE MAKE THINGS HAPPEN BY WISHING
THEM, BECAUSE HERE WE ARE NOT ONLY THE OBSERVER OF WHAT
WE EXPERIENCE BUT ALSO THE CREATOR. IN OUR CREATIVITY
WE PROLONG THE MAGIC ACTION OF THE CREATOR OF MAYA IN
THE OVERFLOW OF HIS IMAGINATION, WHICH IS ALL THAT REALITY
IS, WAS, AND EVER WILL BE: THE DANCE OF SHIVA. HERE
WE AFFIRM A NOBLER DIMENSION OF BEING THAN IN PERCEIVING,
FOR WE ARE NO MORE A PUPPET REACTING TO 'OUTSIDENESS', BUT
ACTIVELY INSTRUMENTAL IN
PROJECTING 'OUTSIDE' WHAT IS GLEANED INSIDE.
IN ORDER TO EFFECT THIS PROPENSITY WE HAVE TO APPLY A
DIFFERENT SETTING OF CONSCIOUSNESS ONTO THE UNCONSCIOUS
BORDERLINE AREAS WHERE THE RICHNESS OF CREATION IS HELD
IN ABEYANCE BEFORE IT MAY FIND A PHYSICAL CONFIGURATION
TO FOSTER ITS EXISTENTIATION AS A PHYSICAL REALITY, AND WE
MUST ALSO APPLY A DIFFERENT WILL THAN THE CONSCIOUS WILL,
WHICH IS INEFFECTIVE AS SOON AS ONE CROSSES THE THRESHOLD
BETWEEN CONSCIOUS AND UNCONSCIOUS. THE REASON IS THAT THE
FIGURATIONS OF THE CREATIVE FORMS OF THE UNCONSCIOUS ARE
GOVERNED BY A HIGHER WILL AND CONFORM TO THE LAWS OF A
HIGHER ORDER THAN IS ALLOCATED TO THE VERY LIMITED SCOPE
OF ACTION OF OUR CONSCIOUS WILL. WHILE FANTASY IS THE
OUTCOME OF THE CAPRICIOUS PLAY OF OUR HUMAN DIURNAL
WILL WITHIN THE LIMITS OF ITS FIELD OF ACTION, CREATIVE
IMAGINATION SPARKS THE CREATIVE FLOW IN ITS WOMB, IN ITS
INCOMPARABLY WIDER DIMENSIONS, FORCING A WAY FOR IT INTO
THE SYNAPSES OF OUR CONSCIOUS MIND, WHICH HAS TO READAPT
ITSELF IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE IT, GIVING BIRTH TO
CLEARER REPRESENTATIONS THAN OUR HUMAN WILL
COULD EVER FOSTER.
WE CARRY WITHIN US
DIM AND SHIFTING INTUITIONS OR THESE GREATER PERFECTIONS
BEYOND THOSE NORMALLY SEEN OR EXPERIENCED ON EARTH
WE TRY TO GRASP THEM WHILE REMAINING IN OUR EVERYDAY CONSCIOUSNESS, AND ATTRIBUTE OUR FAILURE TO THE ASSUMPTION
THAT THEY MUST HAVE BEEN PURE CONJECTURE, ASTRAL
FANTASY OR WISHFUL THINKING, AND SUFFER FOR WANT OF GIVING
THEM EXPRESSION IN OURSELVES, FOR THEY ARE KNOCKING AT
OUR DOOR, OFFERING TO FERTILIZE US WITH THEIR BOUNTY, AND
OUR FEELING OF SLIPPING FAILURE IS NATURE'S WAY OF REMINDING
US OF THE URGENCY OF FULFILLING THIS IMPERATIVE HUMAN
NEED.
UNDOUBTEDLY A PART OF OURSELVES IS CONTINUALLY ACTING
CONSCIOUSLY AT THESE LEVELS WORKING BACKSTAGE OF OUR
PERSONALITY, AND IF WE COULD INTEGRATE ITS EXPERIENCE INTO
OUR EVERYDAY AWARENESS, AS IS OUR MENTAL CONSCIOUSNESS
WITH OUR BODY CONSCIOUSNESS, WE WOULD BECOME MORE AND
MORE CREATIVE OF EVER GREATER BEAUTY, RICHNESS AND
LUMINOSITY,
RIGHT DOWN INTO OUR PERSONALITY.
-- The Rosicrucian Emblems of Daniel Cramer
IT IS THEN A MATTER OF NEUTRALIZING THE CRITICAL RESISTANCE OF THE
CONSCIOUS MIND IN ORDER TO MAKE ACCOMMODATION IN IT FOR THE
UNIVERSAL DIMENSIONS OF CREATIVE IMAGINATION, AND THEN REACH UP
AND FLOW OUT INTO THE PLACE
WHERE THE COSMIC PATTERNS
OF ALL CREATED THINGS
ARISE ON THE HORIZONS OF ONE'S VISION.
THE IMAGINATION OF THE UNCONSCIOUS MIND AND THE UNCONSCIOUS WILL HAS MUCH
MORE COURAGE THAN THE INDIVIDUAL WILL BECAUSE IT HAS A VISION OF IMMENSITY
AS OPPOSED TO THE VISION OF NARROWNESS OF THE INDIVIDUAL WILL. IF YOU
TRUST THE ACTION OF THE TRANSCENDENTAL FORCES IN YOU TO PROJECT VISION
INTO YOUR CONSCIOUS MIND, AND THEN IF YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO BELIEVE IN
THE IMPOSSIBLE, YOU WILL BRING THE VISIONS OF YOUR SOUL RIGHT DOWN ONTO
THE SCREEN OF YOUR MIND AND SEE IT ALL WITH PERFECT CLARITY. YOU WILL
BECOME WHAT YOU SEE, THAT IS THE SECRET OF BECOMING, YOU BECOME WHAT YOU
THINK MAY BE YOUR VISION, BUT IT IS THE VISION OF GOD WITHIN YOU.
THERE ARE ONLY TWO THINGS
TO BE DONE
THE NECESSARY
AND THE IMPOSSIBLE
(IBN L'ARABI)
CLEARLY NOW IT IS A MATTER OF KEEPING THE DOOR OPEN
BETWEEN UNCONSCIOUS AND CONSCIOUS, SO THAT THE ELUSIVE
PATTERNS OF THE COLLECTIVE UNCONSCIOUS MAY FLOW INTO
THE CONSCIOUS. AS THE CONSCIOUS WILL CANNOT OPERATE BEYOND
THE THRESHOLD BETWEEN THESE, ONE HAS TO TRUST
ONESELF TO AN UNCONSCIOUS WILL WHICH CAN ONLY BE TRIGGERED
OFF BY AN AUTOSUGGESTION OF THE CONSCIOUS WILL,
AFTER WHICH THE CONSCIOUS WILL MUST RETIRE, ABSTAINING
FROM ANY FURTHER INTERVENTION. ONCE THE CONSCIOUS WILL
OF A PIANIST HAS TRAINED HIS FINGERS, AN AUTOMATION TAKES
PLACE, TRANSFERRING CONTROL OF THE PLAYING TO THE UNCONSCIOUS
WILL. SHOULD HE THEN INTERFERE WITH HIS CONSCIOUS
WILL, HE WOULD DISTURB THE COURSE OF THE BUILT-UP
PATTERN OF ACTION WHICH THE UNCONSCIOUS WILL CAN NOW
PERFORM MUCH BETTER THAN THE CONSCIOUS WILL. YET THE
CONSCIOUS, CEASING TO WILL, CAN ACT PASSIVELY BY OBSERVING
OR LISTENING, CAN EVEN EXERCISE AN ACTION AT A DIFFERENT
LEVEL ALTOGETHER, ON AN OVERALL SCALE. FOR EXAMPLE,
IT CAN CONTROL ACCENTUATION AND PUNCTUATION, OR
MUSICAL INTERPRETATION IN GENERAL.
PRECISELY THE SAME APPLIES HERE TO THE CONTEMPLATIVE: YOU
MUST MAINTAIN YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS AT THE THRESHOLD BETWEEN
CONSCIOUS AND UNCONSCIOUS. OBVIOUSLY IF YOU SHIFT
TOWARD THE UNCONSCIOUS, THE CONSCIOUS BECOMES UNCONSCIOUS,
YOU CANNOT BRING YOUR EXPERIENCE THROUGH TO YOUR
DIURNAL MEMORY, AND CONSEQUENTLY FALL INTO THE STATE OF
SLEEP. SHOULD YOU SHIFT TOO FAR TOWARDS THE CONSCIOUS,
WHICH HAPPENS IF YOU REGAIN IDENTIFICATION, YOU LOSE HOLD
ON THE PATTERNS OF THE UNCONSCIOUS.
BY SUSPENDING ONESELF AT THE THRESHOLD
ONE KEEPS THE DOOR OPEN BETWEEN THE TWO
BY TRYING TO INTRODUCE CONSCIOUSNESS INTO THE UNCONSCIOUS,
THE SETTING SHIFTS IMMEDIATELY TOWARD THE CONSCIOUS.
BY LOSING A HOLD OF THE CONSCIOUS, THE DOOR IS
CLOSED IRRETRIEVABLY. THERE MUST BE A CONSCIOUS CONTROL
OVER THE UNCONSCIOUS WILL, TRAINING IT TO GLEAN ARCHETYPAL
PATTERNS IN THE UNCONSCIOUS AND PROJECT THEM INTO
IMAGES IN THE CONSCIOUS. TO PERFORM THIS ORIENTATING ACTION,
THE CONSCIOUS WILL HAS NO OTHER MEANS WITHIN ITS
GRASP THAN TO CATALYZE THE FLOW OF ARCHETYPES BY MUSING
UPON THE IMAGES WITH WHICH IT IS FAMILIAR, SELECTING
IMAGES WHICH TEND TO CONJURE INFINITE ELUSIVE AND
INSPIRATIONAL REMINISCENCES OF OTHER DIMENSIONS.
YOU BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE WIDER RANGES OF THE UNIVERSE
WHICH ARE ALL WITHIN YOUR REACH
WIDER RANGES OF YOUR SELF
REMEMBER THE BARDO THODOL. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE
COURAGE TO FACE THE CLEAR LIGHT, THEN YOU WILL BE
REMOVED TO WHATEVER PLANE CORRESPONDS TO YOUR ASPIRATIONS,
AND IF THOSE PLANES ARE PLANES OF SPLENDOR YOU WILL
BE LED INTO EXPERIENCING THE INCREDIBLE LUMINOUS BEINGS
OF THE HIGHER REALMS OF THE HEAVENS; AND IF YOU ARE
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE SPICY, THEN YOU MAY
START FINDING YOURSELF ON PLANES WHERE YOU EXPERIENCE
THROUGH THE SENSES; AND IF EVEN THAT IS NOT QUITE ENOUGH,
YOU MIGHT FIND YOURSELF IN DEMONIC WORLDS ... AFTER ALL,
SOME OF US SEEK THIS IN THE MOVIES.
YOU WILL ALWAYS LAND ON THE LEVEL
THAT CORRESPONDS TO YOUR BEING
IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU WANT
IF YOU ARE SEEKING FOR THE WAY OF ILLUMINATION,
THEN THIS IS THE WAY,
THE WAY IS OPEN TO YOU
BY BECOMING AWARE OF YOURSELF AS
A BEING OF LIGHT.
IMMEDIATELY YOUR WHOLE BEHAVIOR WILL BEGIN TO CHANGE,
YOU WILL BEGIN TO CORRECT THINGS THAT ARE NOT IN KEEPING
WITH THE BEING OF LIGHT THAT YOU KNOW YOU ARE. ONE MAY
FORGET IT AND THEN REITERATE THE EXPERIENCE AGAIN AND
AGAIN, UNTIL IT BECOMES SO DEEPLY IMBUED THAT ONE HAS TO
READJUST ONE'S WHOLE LIFE IN KEEPING WITH ONE'S EXPERIENCE.
THIS IS AN ESSENTIALLY CREATIVE PROCESS.
VISIONS OF LIGHT
COLORS AND LANDSCAPES OF LIGHT
TEMPLES OF LIGHT
ILLUMINATED FACES
ALL KINDS OF VISIONS OF THAT KIND THAT MAY OR MAY NOT ARISE.
WHETHER THEY ARISE OR NOT IS NOT IN ANY WAY AN INDICATION
AS TO WHETHER YOU ARE ILLUMINATED OR NOT.
THE KEY IS NOT TO SEE IMAGES
THE KEY IS TO BECOME LUMINOUS IN YOUR BEING
THIS WILL NO DOUBT OPEN UP AN AWARENESS OF THE ANGELIC
PLANES; THE REASON BEING, AS BUDDHA SAID, THAT IF YOU REACH
THE STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS CORRESPONDING TO A PLANE, YOU
EXPERIENCE WHAT IS ON THAT PLANE. IF YOU BECOME TOTALLY
LUMINOUS, YOU BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE THE CONDITION OF THOSE
ANGELS THAT ARE CALLED ANGELS OF LIGHT. IF YOU BECOME
TOTALLY IMMACULATE, BEYOND EMOTION, YOU EXPERIENCE THE
CONDITION OF
THE ANGELS OF PEACE.
STAY SUSPENDED AT THE THRESHOLD
THESE VISIONS OF BEAUTY START RUSHING THROUGH YOU
-- CLOUDS FROM OFF THE OCEAN --
YOU ARE RAPT IN A CONTEMPLATION OF PURE SPLENDOR
TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF IMAGES TO CONJURE WOULD BE
THOSE WONDROUS PANORAMIC SCENES OF A
BREATHTAKING
SUNRISE OR SUNSET WHERE THE SKY BREAKS INTO A FLURRY OF
THE MOST AMAZING MULTICOLORED HUES OF INFINITE SHADES
AND PATTERNS.
WHY DO THEY AFFECT US SO PROFOUNDLY, IF NOT THAT
THEY REVIVE IN US AN EXPERIENCE
PRESERVED IN THE UNCONSCIOUS STRATA OF MEMORY
FOR SO LONG
SUDDENLY EMERGING
AT THE SPECTACLE OF THEIR LIKENESS IN THE PHYSICAL WORLD.
AS ONE HOVERS OVER THE THRESHOLD, THE CONSCIOUS
REPRESENTATION OF THE SUNRISE OR SUNSET WILL
TRIGGER OFF THE UNCONSCIOUS PATTERNS OF
A LANDSCAPE OF THE SOUL
WHICH WILL FLOW THROUGH TO OUR AWARENESS, PROVIDING WE
ABANDON ANY FURTHER CONSCIOUS ACTION AND CEASE IDENTIFYING
OURSELVES WITH OUR BODY OR MIND CONSCIOUSNESS. IT
IS THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE UNLIKELY, UNREAL AND IDEALISTIC,
EVEN IDYLLIC, WHICH THE CRITICAL MIND WILL ENSURE
IF ONE SHIFTS THE SETTING BACK TO
THE CONSCIOUS.
Brandenburger Tor, Deutchland Erwacht: Werden, Kampf und Sieg der NSDAP (Germany Awakes: Growth, Battle and Victory of the NSDAP, 1933]
1 Mai 1933 [May 1, 1933], Deutchland Erwacht: Werden, Kampf und Sieg der NSDAP (Germany Awakes: Growth, Battle and Victory of the NSDAP, 1933]
-- Das Feuervert am "Tag der Arbeit" [Day of the Working Class], 1 Mai 1933 [May 1, 1933], Deutchland Erwacht: Werden, Kampf und Sieg der NSDAP (Germany Awakes: Growth, Battle and Victory of the NSDAP, 1933]
***
Over and over again, in mass rallies so carefully staged that they left no one immune, [Hitler] pummeled home, with the force of a master magician such as has not been seen before or since, the startling doctrine that he and the people were one. Through torchlit night parades, striking military bands, cathedral-like arcs of light, and the patterns and colors of swastika flags, a religious fervor was created among audiences wearied with waiting for hours until he came before them, suddenly, late at night, thundered his oration, and left just as suddenly.
-- Gods & Beasts -- The Nazis & the Occult, by Dusty Sklar
MAINTAIN YOURSELF
ABOVE THE THRESHOLD
CONTIGUOUS TO IT
SURVEYING BODY AND MIND FROM THIS VANTAGE POINT
INSTEAD OF INTRODUCING DIURNAL CONSCIOUSNESS INTO
DREAM CONSCIOUSNESS, ONE INTRODUCES DREAM CONSCIOUSNESS
INTO DIURNAL CONSCIOUSNESS. AFTER THE CONSCIOUS HAS
TRAINED THE UNCONSCIOUS INTO SKIRTING THE BORDERLINE,
THE UNCONSCIOUS TRAINS THE CONSCIOUS TO SUPERIMPOSE ITS
DEEPER VISION UPON ITS OWN. IT IS AS THOUGH THE INNER EYE
WERE ABLE TO CONTEMPLATE
A TRANSFIGURED LANDSCAPE OF LIGHT
WHILE VAGUELY PERCEIVING THE EARTHLY PANORAMA, WHICH
LOOKS LIKE ITS PETRIFICATION IN A DIMINISHED DIMENSIONALITY,
LIKE A THREE DIMENSIONAL WORLD TO BE THE PROJECTION
OF A FOUR-DIMENSIONAL ONE AT A DIMENSION YOU CAN
ONLY GRASP IN DREAM CONSCIOUSNESS. BEING IN ONE'S DREAM
CONSCIOUSNESS ONE IS NOT CONSCIOUS OF BEING SITUATED AT
ANY POINT OF PHYSICAL SPACE AND THEREFORE CAN DISPLACE
ONE'S CENTER
WITHIN THE LANDSCAPE
SUCH IS THE WAY OF ACCESS TO THE HEAVENLY SPHERES OF
CELESTIAL SPLENDOR. THEY CAN BE REACHED BY A KEEN CONTEMPLATIVE
AT THE PRICE OF UNSPARING TRAINING AND INDOMITABLE
PERSEVERANCE, USING THE WILL TO NEUTRALIZE
THAT VERY WILL AND LET A MORE COSMIC ONE TAKE OVER. IT
SEEMS AT FIRST AS THOUGH ONE WERE REVIVING MEMORIES OF
PRISTINE CONDITIONS OF THE SOUL STORED IN THE DEEPER STRATA
OF THE UNCONSCIOUS, UNTIL ONE REALIZES THAT PARTS OF
ONE'S COMPOSITE BEING STILL FUNCTION AT THESE LEVELS. IT'S
JUST A MATTER OF FINDING THE CORRESPONDING STATE
OF CONSCIOUSNESS.
DISCOVER YOUR SELF AS A BEING OF LIGHT
NOT AS AN AURA BUT AS A PURE LUMINOUS CONSCIOUSNESS WHICH
LIGHTS UP ALL THINGS AS IT TURNS TOWARDS THEM. ALL THE REST
IS JUST THE LAMP THE SCAFFOLDING, THE OUTSIDE,
THE WRAPPING
THE LAMP THROUGH WHICH GOD SEES
IT HAS TO BE JUST AS LUMINOUS AS THE EYES WHICH SEE THROUGH
IT. IT IS A STATE IN WHICH YOU FEEL THAT WHEREVER YOU WALK,
YOU ARE BRINGING A LIGHT THAT SHINES, THAT THRUSTS A LIGHT
UPON YOUR PATH, AND WHEREVER YOU TURN YOUR FACE YOU ARE
CASTING THE FLOODLIGHT OF YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS UPON ALL
THINGS. AND EVERYTHING BECOMES CRYSTAL CLEAR. YOU SEE
RIGHT INTO THE INSIDE OF THINGS,
RIGHT INTO THE DEPTHS OF MATTER,
INTO THE SOULS OF BEINGS.
Statistics: Posted by admin — Sat Sep 26, 2015 6:58 am
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NEW AGE PRACTICES IN MEDITATION
WHATEVER THE NEW AGE MEANS,
IT CERTAINLY CARRIES IN ITS INEVITABLE FORWARD MARCH
A BREEZE OF HOPEFULNESS.
THE CONQUEST OF OUTER SPACE
IS A SYMPTOM OF SOMETHING THAT IS HAPPENING
TO OUR CONSCIOUSNESS.
THE PRESSING ADVANCE OF THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF MANKIND,
THAT COMPOSITE BEING WE ALL ARE, HAVING EMERGED FROM ITS
GEOLOGICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WELLSPRINGS, SEEMS TO HAVE
BROKEN THROUGH A FURTHER THRESHOLD OF MATURITY
INTO NEW DIMENSIONS OF THE MIND.
FROM THE MOMENT WE SET FOOT UPON THE MOON, A NEW VAN-
TAGE POINT FROM WHICH TO SEE THE EARTH, WE WERE UNWIT-
TINGLY FACED WITH A NEW WAY OF THINKING OF THE PLANET
AND CONSEQUENTLY OF OURSELVES: THAT IS, WITH
THE PERSPECTIVE OF OBJECTIVITY.
WHENEVER, AT RAPT MOMENTS, OUR NOSTALGIA FOR WIDE
HORIZONS REDEEMS OUR THINKING FROM THE NARROWNESS OF
OUR IMMEDIATE SURROUNDINGS, OUR HEART LEAPS AS WE EN-
VISION OURSELVES, NOT ONLY AS A CELL IN THAT COMPOSITE BODY
THAT IS THE PLANET, BUT AS INDISSOLUBLY ENMESHED IN THE
GALAXIES. MORE SO: A STAGE, AND FURTHER, A CONTRIBUTING
FACTOR IN THE GROWTH, NOT ONLY OF PLANET EARTH,
BUT OF THE UNIVERSE.
STAGGERING THOUGHTS ROCK OUR MINDS'
UNDERSTANDING!
THAT UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAD ALWAYS TAKEN TO BE SO
SELF-EVIDENT NOW SHOWS ITSELF TO VARY ACCORDING TO THE
VANTAGE POINT, SETTING AND ORIENTATION OF
THAT INTANGIBLE: CONSCIOUSNESS.
SOME DIFFERENCE, INDEED, BETWEEN THE WORM'S EYE VIEW
AND THE EAGLE'S!
BUT WHAT MUST THE DIFFERENCE BE BETWEEN
THE ATOM'S PURVIEW AND THE SUN'S MIGHTY OPTICAL TAKE
OF THE SIDEREAL DRAMA.
THAT VERY SAME CONSCIOUSNESS, WHICH SHINES THROUGH THESE
EYES UPON ALL CREATURES WITHIN THEIR REACH, HAS BEEN
HANDED DOWN FROM ONE CREATURE TO ANOTHER LIKE A FLAME
FROM LOG TO LOG SINCE THE EARLY STIRRINGS OF THE ATOMS
INSIDE THE ROCKS RIGHT BACK IN THE PRE-CAMBRIAN AGE, LONG
BEFORE THE PLANET SPROUTED ITS SHEATH OF GREEN VEGETA-
TION, THAT VERY SAME CONSCIOUSNESS IS IN OUR AGE THREADED
THROUGH THE GIANT TELESCOPE AND THE HIGHLY SENSITIZED
SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT. IT IS CATAPULTED ON DEXTROUS HUMAN
ANTENNAE -- LUNAR, PLANETARY, AND SOLAR PROBES -- INTO THE
LONG BODY OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM, WHICH IS OUR
SPIRAL MOVEMENT
THROUGH THE WHIRLING ECSTASY OF THE UNIVERSE.
THE STARS WILL SEEM TO THE UNTRAINED BUT A SPRINKLING OF
SPOTS OF LIGHT SCATTERED OVER WIDE STRETCHES OF SPACE,
EXCEPT WHEN THAT INTERNAL INSTRUMENT, THE USUALLY COARSELY
CONDITIONED MIND, IS SUBJECTED TO ELABORATE TRAINING IN
VIEW OF ADAPTING IT TO THE WIDER HORIZONS OF AWARENESS.
CONSIDER WHAT SKILLFUL DISCIPLINE OF THOUGHT HAS LED THE
WORLD'S MOST BRILLIANT MINDS TO GLEAN THE HARMONIC LAWS
GOVERNING THE ORBITING, VELOCITY, DENSITY, COMPOSITION
AND RADIATION OF THE HEAVENLY BODIES! NOW GAUGE WHAT
ALL-ENCOMPASSING AND ALL-INTEGRATING VISION, WHAT IN-
CISIVE PENETRATION, WHAT AESTHETIC SENSITIVITY, WHAT
GENIAL INTELLIGENCE IT WOULD TAKE FOR A SUPERHUMAN
CONSCIOUSNESS TO COMPUTE THESE MILLIONFOLD HARMONIC
DATA IN THE LIGHT OF PYTHAGORAS' COSMIC MATHEMATICAL
GUIDELINES INTO AN INNER EXPERIENCE OF
THE SYMPHONY OF THE SPHERES!
QUANTUM LEAP
THAT VERY SELF-SAME CONSCIOUSNESS WHICH HAS WOUND ITS
WAY INTO OUTER SPACE HAS EQUALLY GAINED ACCESS, THROUGH
THE MICROSCOPE AND THE OSCILLOSCOPE, INTO THE HARMONIC
GYRATIONS OF THE ELECTRONS AND PROTONS WITHIN THE ATOM
AND THE SEETHING PROLIFERATIONS OF THE LIVING CELLS
GROWING WITHIN THE BODY, ALL OBEYING THE SAME LAW AND
DISPLAYING THE SAME HARMONY AS THE CHOREOGRAPHY
AT THE MACROSCOPIC SCALE!
THE OUTCOME OF THIS INEXORABLE ADVANCE OF CONSCIOUSNESS
IS SHATTERING OUR INFANTILE EVERYDAY CONCEPTS OF WHAT WE
MEAN BY ME AND YOU, FORCING OUR MINDS TO AWAKEN TO
THE MESSAGE OF UNITY.
HOW CAN SOMETHING SO AWE-INSPIRINGLY COSMIC, SO
INALIENABLE FROM ITS MILIEU AS THIS BODY, LET ALONE THIS
MIND, A PHASE IN A GROWTH PROCESS, BE LABELLED ME? IMAGINE:
THE CONCEPT OF I-NESS, THE AXIS OF ALL OUR SYLLOGISTIC LOGIC
OF THE AGES, UPON WHICH WE HAVE UNQUESTIONABLY RELIED
FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL AND WHICH HAS SERVED US IN SUCH
GOOD STEAD, PROVES ITSELF, AS CONSCIOUSNESS WIDENS,
TO BE VALID ONLY WITHIN A VERY NARROW SCALE.
NEW DIMENSIONS OF CONSCIOUSNESS
THE HORIZON OF I-NESS INVARIABLY RECEDES BEFORE THE
EVOLUTIONARY PROCESSION OF AWARENESS:
AS HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS PASSES THE THRESHOLD OF REFLEC-
TION, IT TURNS UPON ITSELF, LOOKING UPON THE BODY, THE MIND,
AND ITS OWN INDIVIDUATION NO LONGER AS THE SUBJECT, BUT AS
THE OBJECT. AS CONSCIOUSNESS AWAKENS INTO THOSE WIDER
HORIZONS OF AWARENESS TOWARDS WHICH IT IS IRRETRIEVABLY
ADVANCING, ONE LOOKS UPON ALL THAT ONE NATURALLY ASSUMED
TO BE THE SELF WITH THE OBJECTIVITY OF ONE WHO HAS SHAKEN
OFF A NARROW SCALE OF VALUES AND ENVISIONS
WHAT ONE THOUGHT TO BE THAT ENTITY.
ONE EXPERIENCES ONESELF BEING
AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE UNFOLDMENT OF THE PLANET
AND THE INTER-GALACTIC REALITY.
THE ATTRIBUTION OF I-NESS MAKES NO SENSE WHATSOEVER.
WHAT IS HERE IS ELSEWHERE
WHAT IS NOT HERE IS NOWHERE
IN FACT, CONSCIOUSNESS, OR RATHER THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE
PLANET THROUGH ITS POINT OMEGA, THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF
MANKIND AS A TOTALITY, IS BEGINNING TO TAKE STOCK OF ITSELF
AS THE BREAKTHROUGH OF SOME IMPONDERABLE SENSITIVITY,
BREAKING INTO EDDIES OF INDIVIDUATED AWARENESS, DIMLY
DETECTED IN THE MINERAL, IN THE ALIGNMENT OF MOLECULES
INTO STRUCTURES, OBEYING COSMIC LAWS AS IN THE CRYSTAL;
AWAKENING IN THE PLANT, OBSERVABLE IN THE UNCANNY SENSI-
TIVITY OF THE RUDIMENTARY ELECTRO-CHEMICAL NERVOUS SYS-
TEMS OF PLANTS; FINALLY TO EMERGE IN BEINGS EQUIPPED WITH
ELABORATELY CELEBRATED NERVOUS SYSTEMS; AND ARISING
HIGH AND BRIGHT AND PARAMOUNT
IN THE ADAMANTINE PERSPICACITY OF THAT MUCH COVETED STATE,
RARELY ATTAINED BY HUMAN BEINGS, CALLED
ENLIGHTENMENT.
WHAT DO WE KNOW OF ELUSIVE, INTANGIBLE CONSCIOUSNESS?
WE HAVE DISPLACED ITS CENTER IN SPACE, WE HAVE APPLIED TO
IT A TELESCOPIC AND A MICROSCOPIC LENS. WE SHALL NOW EQUIP
IT WITH A PARABOLIC AND A PANORAMIC LENS ENABLING IT TO
SEE 360º OR EVEN PULVERIZE ITS CENTER INTO
A LEGION OF VANTAGE POINTS.
CONSCIOUSNESS OPERATES PERCEPTION IN THE HUMAN BEING BY
CENTERING ITSELF IN A HIGHLY CONVERGENT FOCAL POINT, BUT
FROM THIS SETTING CAN ONLY PERCEIVE THE SURFACE APPEAR-
ANCE. WHEN PITTING OUR POWER OF CONCENTRATION AGAINST
REALITY, WE ARE BAFFLED TO DISCOVER HOW LITTLE OF THE
MULTI-DIMENSIONAL RICHNESS OF REALITY IS ACTUALLY
REGISTERED BY OUR ORDINARY EXPERIENCE.
IN OUR USUAL WAY
WE ONLY GLOSS A THIN VENEER OF THESE THINGS
OR RATHER BEINGS
-- THERE ARE ONLY BEINGS --
WE CONTINUALLY CROSS LIKE SHIPS IN THE NIGHT
CONSCIOUSNESS IS
EQUIPPED WITH A SCREEN
PROTECTING ONE FROM A PLETHORA OF IMPRESSIONS
WE COULD NOT ASSIMILATE BY FILTERING
THROUGH THE MORE OBVIOUS FILTERS.
YET TECHNIQUES ARE AVAILABLE WHICH ENABLE ONE TO
INCREASE ONE'S POWER OF CONCENTRATION TO THE EXTENT OF
BEING ABLE TO DISCOVER GREATER RICHNESS IN REALITY IN
THOSE AREAS ONE PRE-SELECTS, WHILE CUTTING OUT UNWANTED
PERCEPTION. WHAT A DIFFERENCE EXISTS BETWEEN JUST
LOOKING AT A FLOWER AND THE EXPERIENCE OF SCANNING
EVERY MINUTE DETAIL OF STRUCTURE IN THE FLOWER,
INCLUDING INNER STRUCTURES WITHIN OUTLINE STRUCTURES
AND SO ON INTO INFINITESIMAL DETAILS!
CONVERSELY, CONSCIOUSNESS CAN DECENTRALIZE ITSELF,
SCATTERING ITS CENTER IN THE COSMOS.
THE SENSE OF LOCALIZATION CAN BECOME SO TRANSFORMED
ONE FEELS AS THOUGH ONE'S CENTER WERE EVERYWHERE
ONE'S CIRCUMFERENCE NOWHERE
IMAGINE WHAT IT MUST BE LIKE TO WALK UPON
THE STARRY COSMOS
TO ARRIVE AT SEVERAL MULTI-DIMENSIONAL VANTAGE POINTS
SIMULTANEOUSLY PROGRAMMED BY THE MIND.
THE "OTHERNESS" OF THE UNIVERSE IS DUE TO OUR TENDENCY
TO OBJECTIVIZE AND CONTRAST THE OBJECT
WITH OUR PRECONCEIVED IDEA OF OUR PERSON AS A SUBJECT.
BUT WHEN THE INTERCHANGE BETWEEN OUR PERSON
AND THE UNIVERSE
BECOMES TRANSFORMED
INTO AN INFLOW OF THE UNIVERSE IN US
AND A PROJECTION OF OURSELVES INTO THE UNIVERSE
THEN THE ABYSS BETWEEN SUBJECT AND OBJECT
BEGINS TO BE BRIDGED OVER:
EXPERIENCE IS TRANSFORMED INTO COMMUNION.
WHAT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN THE OBJECT OF OUR COGNIZANCE IS
TRANSFIGURED
FORMS ALLOW THEIR INSIDE LINKING TO
TRANSPIRE
SITUATIONS ALLOW A HIDDEN MEANING TO
TRANSPIRE THROUGH THEM.
SUCH IS THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE OBJECT BY THE LIGHT
FLOWING FROM THE SUBJECT, DISCOVERING THE DEPTH RATHER
THAN STOPPING AT THE APPEARANCE.
ON THE OTHER HAND, WHAT SEEMED TO BE THE SUBJECT ALSO
UNDERGOES TRANSFORMATION, SO THAT THAT WHICH AT FIRST
WE IDENTIFIED AS OURSELVES
ALLOWS THE GREATER SELF TO COME THROUGH.
IT IS A MATTER OF MODULATING THE SETTING OF CONSCIOUSNESS.
WHEN WE NO MORE LIMIT OUR NOTION OF OURSELVES
WITHIN THE REACHES OF AN INDIVIDUAL CONSCIOUSNESS,
THEN THE EXPERIENCE OF I-IT IS TRANSFORMED INTO THE
COMMUNION OF AN I-THOU RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DIVINE
PRESENCE. BY MERGING ONE'S EGO INTO THE EGO OF OTHER BE-
INGS, THEIR RICHNESS ACCRUES TO ONE'S PERSONALITY, SO THAT
ONE DISCOVERS ONESELF IN THEM AND THEM IN ONESELF
IN AN EXCITING INTERPLAY OF CREATURES WHEREBY
GOD MEETS HIMSELF IN THE ENCOUNTER
OF EACH PART OF HIMSELF WITH EACH OTHER PART.
THE EXPERIENCE IN WHICH CONSCIOUSNESS IDENTIFIES ITSELF
WITH THE MIND IS CONCEPTION. IF ONE CAN EXTEND ONE'S
AWARENESS TO THE EXTENT OF IDENTIFYING ONESELF WITH A
GREATER REALITY OF WHICH THE MIND IS A PART, ONE CEASES TO
LIMIT ONESELF TO THE CONCEPTUAL THINKING OF THE INDI-
VIDUATED PART OF THE MIND AND ALLOWS THE HIGHER STRATA
OF THE MIND, WHOSE DIMENSIONS ARE COSMIC, TO TAKE OVER.
THUS ONE IS ABLE TO BRING INTO ACTION HIGHER MENTAL FUNC-
TIONS WHICH ARE GENERALLY INHIBITED BECAUSE ONE IS USED
TO THINKING OF ONESELF IN TERMS OF
A LIMITED INDIVIDUAL BEING.
IT WAS TEILHARD DE CHARDIN WHO POINTED OUT THAT THAT
WHICH TRIGGERED THE LEAP BETWEEN THE ANIMAL STAGE IN
THE PROCESS OF EVOLUTION TO THE HUMAN STAGE WAS THAT,
WHILE THE ANIMAL IS SIMPLY AWARE OF BEING, MAN IS ABLE TO
EXTEND HIS AWARENESS TO THE POINT OF COGNIZING HIMSELF AS
A BEING WHO IS PART OF A GREATER BEING.
A CELL OF THE BODY MAY BE AWARE OF ITSELF AS A CELL YET NOT
BE AWARE OF THE KINESTHETICS OF THE BODY. SUPPOSE THAT A
BODY CELL SHOULD INTUIT WITHIN ITSELF THE GENERAL
FEELING OF THE BODY. IT WOULD THEN PASS
FROM THE DIMENSION OF CELL CONSCIOUSNESS
TO THE DIMENSION OF BODY CONSCIOUSNESS.
IT IS THIS INTUITION WHICH IS SPIRITUAL. IT WAS
SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE WHICH DREW THE ANIMAL UPWARDS INTO
THE RANKS OF THE HUMAN. IT IS THIS EXPERIENCE WHICH MAY
LINK MAN AT HIS PRESENT STAGE OF EVOLUTION
TO NEW AGE CONSCIOUSNESS.
THE KEY TO GROWTH IS THE INTRODUCTION OF
HIGHER DIMENSIONS OF CONSCIOUSNESS
INTO OUR AWARENESS.
THIS SUDDEN ONRUSH
OF LUMINOUS CONSCIOUSNESS
BREAKS THROUGH THE MIST
WHICH HEMS OUR MINDS INTO PRECONCEIVED
PRISONS AND OPENS UP
AN INTENSE OSMOSIS
BETWEEN WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS OURSELVES
AND WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS THE UNIVERSE
SUDDENLY ENRICHING OUR PERSONALITY, WHICH IDENTIFIES
ITSELF WITH THE COSMOS AND INTEGRATES MORE AND MORE
OF THE COSMOS INTO ITSELF.
IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE SUCH A RAREFIED FORM OF
CONSCIOUSNESS INTO THE COMPLEX OF OUR PERSONALITY, WE
MUST FIRST BE ABLE TO ISOLATE CONSCIOUSNESS FROM ITS
VARIOUS IDENTIFICATIONS WHICH WEIGH IT DOWN. THIS CAN ONLY
BE DONE BY BRINGING INTO ACTION THE FORCES OF DETACH-
MENT, WHICH ENABLE ONE TO APPREHEND REALITY OBJECTIVELY,
INSTEAD OF LOSING ONESELF TO THE POINT OF
NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE THE FOREST FOR THE TREES.
THIS IS MEDITATION
CALL A HALT AND TAKE STOCK
PROCEED TO FREE CONSCIOUSNESS FROM ITS TRAPPINGS:
FREE CONSCIOUSNESS FROM IDENTIFICATION WITH THE BODY,
IDENTIFICATION WITH THE MIND,
IDENTIFICATION WITH THE EMOTIONS.
WHEN CONSCIOUSNESS IS EMPTIED OF OBJECTIVE CONTENT, IT BUTTS UP AGAINST
THE ROOT OF CONCEPT, WHICH IS THE EGO. THIS IS A CEILING WHICH MUST BE
TRANSFORMED INTO A THRESHOLD IF ONE IS TO AVOID BEING TRAPPED IN THE
IMPASSE OF TAUTOLOGY.
ONE CAN ONLY ASCEND FROM ONE LEVEL OF AWARENESS TO THE
NEXT BY ABANDONING THE VANTAGE POINT
OF THE PREVIOUS LEVEL.
WHEN CONSCIOUSNESS COGNIZES ITSELF AS THE OBJECT OF ITS
KNOWLEDGE, THE FORM OF CONSCIOUSNESS WHICH IS FUNC-
TIONING IDENTIFIES ITSELF WITH THE UNITY OF ONE'S ACT OF
EXISTENCE BEYOND THE VARIETY OF THE ATTRIBUTES OF ONE'S
PERSONALITY. THIS UNITY MAY OFTEN BE TAKEN TO BE THE UL-
TIMATE UNITY BEHIND THE DIVERSITY OF PERSONALITIES, WHICH
IT IS NOT. THEREFORE ONE CAN ONLY RISE ABOVE THE LIMITING
LEVEL OF CONSCIOUSNESS WHICH IS OUR USUAL ONE, BY ALLOW-
ING THE CONSCIOUSNESS WHICH IS AWARE OF ITSELF AS BEING
THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF ALL BEINGS TO TAKE OVER. THIS CAN
ONLY BE ACHIEVED BY CONSIDERING THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF
ONE'S INDIVIDUALITY TO BE A PART OF THE TOTAL CONSCIOUS-
NESS. IT FOLLOWS THAT ASCENSION TO HIGHER DIMENSIONS OF
THOUGHT REQUIRES OUR INDIVIDUAL CONSCIOUSNESS TO FOREGO
ITS IDENTIFICATION WITH THE CONCEPT OF INDIVIDUALITY AND
ALLOW THIS WIDER CONSCIOUSNESS TO FUNCTION THROUGH IT.
CONSCIOUSNESS IN ITS FULL COSMIC BREADTH FUNCTIONS DIF-
FERENTLY FROM CONSCIOUSNESS LIMITED BY THE CONCEPT OF THE
INDIVIDUAL IN THAT IT DOES NOT APPREHEND PHYSICAL REALITY
AS SUCH BUT RATHER AS A MODE THROUGH WHICH THE GREATER
REALITY APPEARS:
AND IT APPREHENDS THIS GREATER REALITY DIRECTLY.
EXTEND CONSCIOUSNESS BEYOND THE HERE AND NOW TO EN-
VISION THE FLOWER IN ITS GENESIS FROM ITS BUD TO ITS FADING
IN ONE SWEEP -- AND SO ALL CREATURES IN THE ENTIRE PROCESSION
OF THEIR GROWTH -- INSTEAD OF CIRCUMSCRIBING OUR VISION
TO THE PRESENT APPEARANCE. ONE GATHERS TOGETHER THE
PAST AND THE FUTURE OF THE FLOWER IN ONE ALL-EMBRACING
VISION, INCLUDING TRANSFORMATION IN THE UNREELING OF TIME.
LIFE IS SEEN AS A KALEIDOSCOPE
CONTINUALLY CHANGING FORMATIONS AND DISINTEGRATIONS
A CURRENT IN WHICH, AS BUDDHA SAID,
THE ONLY CONTINUITY IS THAT OF YEARNING
A CHAIN IN WHICH
THERE IS NO SUCH THING
AS AN ENTITY
OR INDIVIDUALITY
THERE ARE MOMENTS WHEN ONE LIFTS CONSCIOUSNESS ABOVE ITS
EVERYDAY SETTING. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH CONSCIOUSNESS WERE
POISED ABOVE OR BEYOND THE BODY. ONE IS AWARE OF THE
GRAVITY OF BODINESS, YET A FLICK OF CONSCIOUSNESS RESISTING
IDENTIFICATION WITH THE SOLID STATE WILL MAKE ONE AWARE
OF THE BUOYANCY OF THE SUBTLER STRATA OF ONE'S BEING, AND A
MERE SWITCH OF ONE'S EMOTIONAL TONUS, FROM EGOISTIC
INTEREST IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD INTO SUBLIME INDIFFERENCE
TO SENSE DATA, WILL DISPLACE THE CENTER OF CONSCIOUSNESS
FROM THE BODY TO A SETTING WHERE CONSCIOUSNESS OPERATES
FROM ONE'S NON-SPATIAL COMPONENTS. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH
ONE HAD AWAKENED FROM A DREAM. ONE SEES THE COURSE
OF ONE'S LIFE AS A PART OF THE GREAT MOVING SCENE
OF THE UNIVERSE, MARCHING INEXORABLY TOWARDS SOME
MONUMENTAL APOTHEOSIS AT THE END OF TIME,
BEMISTED BEYOND THE HORIZON OF ONE'S UNDERSTANDING.
ALL THINGS SEEM TO BE INFUSED WITH RADIANT LIFE FORCE.
WHAT USED TO SEEM LIKE OBJECTS NOW APPEAR LIKE THE
CRYSTALLIZATION OF THAT RADIANCE WHICH ONE MIGHT
HAVE THOUGHT EMANATED FROM THEM.
TIME RELATIONS HAVE SUDDENLY CHANGED. IT BECOMES EX-
CEEDINGLY CLEAR THAT IN OUR ORDINARY PERCEPTION WE ONLY
SAW A CROSS-SECTION IN TIME OF THE REALITY OF THOSE THINGS
WE NOW VIEW DYNAMICALLY, INSTEAD OF STATICALLY, AS A
PROCESS OR A STREAM, INSTEAD OF AS AN ENTITY OR AN OBJECT.
REALITY UNFURLING UNRAVELING FROM THE SEED
NOT CALCIFIED INTO ONE STAGE OF ITS PROGRESS
LIKE A FROZEN WATERFALL
AT THIS STAGE ONE MAY HAVE GRANDIOSE VISIONS OF THE
EVOLUTIONARY PROCESS OF THE PLANET EARTH AS IT
UNFOLDS ACROSS THE AEONS OF TIME, OR EXTEND THIS VISION
TO THE MIGHTY EMPYREAN OF THE CELESTIAL SPHERES:
WORLDS IN BECOMING
WORLDS BLASTED INTO UTTER
DESTRUCTION
BEINGS RISING AND BEINGS FALLING
ALL PARTS OF THE COSMIC DREAM
THERE ARE PSYCHOLOGICAL MOODS OF THE SOUL THAT STIR ONE
INTO CAPTURING THAT STAGE OF TIMELESSNESS WHICH MOST OF
US HAVE EXPERIENCED AT RAPT MOMENTS.
A DISCERNING MIND WILL EARMARK TWO STATES:
1. SARVITARKA SAMADHI
BEING AWARE OF ONE'S UNFOLDMENT THROUGHOUT THE COURSE
OF EVOLUTION, REDISCOVERED AND RELIVED RETROSPECTIVELY
THROUGH ONE'S ANCESTRY RIGHT BACK INTO THE
MINERAL STAGE.
2. NIRVITARKA SAMADHI
IDENTIFYING ONESELF WITH THE ETERNITY OF ONE'S BEING
UNCHANGED, THUS HAVING BECOME WHAT ONE ALWAYS WAS,
AND LINKING THE TWO LEVELS OF CONSCIOUSNESS;
THE ABILITY TO GRASP CONTINUITY IN CHANGE.
3. SARVIKARA SAMADHI
BEYOND THE CAUSAL PLANE, AT WHICH POINT
ONE DISCOVERS THE ORIGIN OF CONSCIOUSNESS AND ONE IS
PURE CONSCIOUSNESS BEYOND TIME.
4. NIRVIKARA SAMADHI
CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE PLANE OF THE ETERNAL ARCHETYPES
OF ALL SOUL STRUCTURES BEFORE THEY FASHION
MATTER OR FLESH
TO CONFORM TO THEIR INNER PATTERN.
WE ARE SO ENGROSSED IN OUR PERSONAL LIVES THAT WE ALLOW
OURSELVES TO BE PROGRAMMED BY OUR CONDITIONED MINDS
AND LET OURSELVES IN FOR THE GAME OF THOSE WHO ARE
LIKEWISE LOST IN THE EGO PLAY, UNTIL WE AWAKEN WITH A
TRAUMATIC START AND MAKE TIME FOR OUR TIMELESS VALUES BY
RESISTING THE AGITATION IN OUR MINDS THAT SPURS US ON
TO ACTIVITY AND DIVERSION.
WE MISTAKE ACTIVITY FOR ACTION.
ACTION IS ALWAYS GIVING EXPRESSION TO THE
TIMELESS STATE BY MANIFESTING IT IN THE CYCLE
OF BECOMING. IT IS OPENING THE DOOR BETWEEN
TWO WORLDS. IT IS INITIATING A CHAIN OF
CAUSALITY DRAWN FROM THE CAUSAL PLANE, AS
OPPOSED TO REACTING TO THE EFFECTS OF
THE CAUSAL CHAIN.
PART OF WHAT WE MEAN BY OURSELVES UNFOLDS IN TIME: IT IS
THE PLANT. PART OF US REMAINS UNCHANGED: THAT IS THE SEED.
THEY ARE NOT ACTUALLY PARTS BUT RATHER POLES OF
OURSELVES. WE USE THE SAME PRONOUN FOR BOTH.
WE MAY CONSIDER OUR PERSONALITY AS A PLANT
WHICH UNFOLDS IN TIME AND MAY EVEN HAVE TO DISINTEGRATE
SO AS TO REGENERATE. AS IT UNFOLDS, IT GIVES EXPRESSION
TO SOMETHING WHICH WAS ALREADY IN THE SEED BUT WHICH
MAY NOT NECESSARILY HAVE MANIFESTED TO VIEW. WHEN USING
INTROSPECTION WE ARE WORKING WITH THE PLANT, TRYING TO
PRUNE THE UNDESIRABLE GROWTHS AND FOSTER THE DESIRABLE
ONES. IN INTROSPECTION THERE IS IDENTIFICATION OF ONESELF
WITH THE PERSONALITY WHICH ONE IS TRYING TO CORRECT. IN
MEDITATION, HOWEVER, ONE IS WORKING WITH THE SEED AND
THEREFORE ONE IDENTIFIES WITH THE SEED, WITH THE POTEN-
TIAL OF ONE'S BEING, RATHER THAN WHAT HAS DEVELOPED FROM
THIS SEED. IT IS DYNAMIC RATHER THAN STATIC. WHEREAS THE
PLANT IS SUBJECT TO RAPID CHANGE AND RAPID DECAY, THE
TRANSFORMATIONS IN THE SEED ARE MUCH SLOWER BUT AFFECT
ALL THE PLANTS ISSUING FROM IT AND ARE THEREFORE
MUCH MORE FUNDAMENTAL.
IT IS A MATTER OF INTRODUCING FACTORS INTO
THE SEED WHICH WILL CREATE MUTATION.
THESE FACTORS ARE NEW PERSPECTIVES OF AWARENESS WHICH
HAVE THEIR IMMEDIATE REPERCUSSION ON
THE INNER STRUCTURE OF THE SEED.
THERE IS A STAGE IN MEDITATION
WHERE OUR AWARENESS EXTENDS
TO THE POINT OF COGNIZING THE REALITY OF OUR BEING,
WHICH IS THE SEED, INSTEAD OF THE IDIOSYNCRACIES OF OUR
PERSONALITY, WHICH IS THE PLANT. SINCE THE TIME FACTOR IS
DIFFERENT IN THE SEED THAN IN THE PLANT, WE ARE UNDER THE
IMPRESSION THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING OUR ETERNAL BEING.
"I WAS ALWAYS IN THE FAR UNKNOWN AND I HAVE BECOME
ALL THAT I EVER WAS," SAID MEISTER ECKHART.
ACTUALLY, THE ETERNITY OF THE SEED OF OUR BEING IS
RELATIVE.
IT ALSO UNDERGOES TRANSFORMATION
PASSING FROM PRE-ETERNITY TO POST-ETERNITY
ENRICHED BY OSMOSIS WITH OTHER BEINGS.
THAT WHICH COGNIZES THIS DEEPER ROOT OF OUR BEING IS THE
COSMIC DIMENSIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS WHICH FUNCTIONS AS SOON
AS ONE FREES ONESELF FROM IDENTIFICATION WITH
ONE'S INDIVIDUAL CONSCIOUSNESS.
CONSEQUENTLY, THE RECESSIVE MEMORY IN THE DEEPER STRATA
THAT I MIGHT TRY TO UNEARTH RETROSPECTIVELY
-- IN ORDER TO REDISCOVER AND RECOVER MY PRIMAL STATE
BEFORE I WAS INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS OF BECOMING --
IS THE SAME STATE IN WHICH I STILL AM IN MY ETERNAL BEING,
AND WHICH I CAN REACH, NOT BY DISPLACING MY CONSCIOUSNESS
ALONG THE VECTOR OF TIME FOLLOWING THE ARIADNEAN THREAD
OF CONTINUITY IN CHANGE, BUT BY DISPLACING MY
CONSCIOUSNESS
ALONG THE VECTOR OF TRANSCENDENCE,
LINKING THE CYCLE OF TIME WITH THE TIMELESS,
THE TEMPORAL WITH THE ETERNAL.
ONE MAY DISCERN FURTHER DIMENSIONS
OF CONSCIOUSNESS
STRUNG AS IT WERE
BETWEEN THE EXTREMES OF CONCRETENESS
AND ABSTRACTNESS.
GAUGE THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE GRASP OF A MIND
THAT MERELY REGISTERS FACTORS
AND ONE WHICH SENSES MEANING
IN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS.
LET TIME STAND STILL
AND REMAIN SUSPENDED
IN EVER-WIDENING FRONTIERS OF AWARENESS:
THE MIND WILL YIELD NEW POTENTIALITIES,
AS IF TRANSFERRED
BY THE EFFIGY OF THE FLOWER
OR THE PERSON
YOU ARE COMMUNING WITH
STANDING MOTIONLESS ACROSS THE GULF OF TIME FLEETING UNCEASINGLY
BY, THE FLOWER OR THE PERSON WILL STAND OUT IN ITS OR HIS TRANSCENDENCE,
AS A GENUS INSTEAD OF A SPECIMEN, THE PERSON WILL LOOM UNIQUE
AND UNCHANGED BEYOND THE EVER-CHANGING PATTERN OF ALL THE
IDIOSYNCRACIES YOU HAVE ASCRIBED TO HIM, ALL THE PERSONALITIES THAT
HE OR SHE HAS SHOD AND SHED IN AN UNBROKEN CHAIN OF EXISTENCE AS A
PROTOTYPE, RATHER THAN AS AN INDIVIDUAL, A BLEND OF QUALITIES.
IN ORDER TO PROMOTE THE GROWTH OF THE HUMAN PERSON,
INVOLVING BOTH THE PLANT AND THE SEED,
ONE INCORPORATES THE VERY PRINCIPLE OF REGENERATION,
WHICH IS CONSCIOUSNESS.
AND THIS CAN ONLY BE DONE
IF THE CONSCIOUSNESS WHICH ONE INSTILLS
IS FREED FROM ITS EARLIER LIMITATIONS
AND IDENTIFICATIONS.
THIS IS THE SECRET OF ALCHEMY:
TO ISOLATE MERCURY FROM THE AGGREGATE OF THE MATERIAL WHICH ONE
IS WORKING WITH, THE PRIMA MATERIA, THEN PREVENT IT FROM VOLATILIZING
ITSELF INTO THIN AIR, FIXING IT BY MEANS OF SULPHUR, IN ORDER TO
PRODUCE THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE WHICH IS THE CATALYST OF GOLD.
SIMILARLY, CONSCIOUSNESS, SYMBOLIZED BY MERCURY, MUST BE FREED FROM
ITS IDENTIFICATIONS WHEN IT IDENTIFIES ITSELF WITH ITS COSMIC DIMENSIONS.
THERE WOULD BE A LOSS OF A SENSE OF PERSONALITY, IN FACT A
DISINTEGRATION NOT ONLY OF THE PLANT BUT OF THE SEED, UNLESS CONSCIOUSNESS
WERE PROJECTED INTO THE SEED, OR THROUGH THE SEED, AND IT
IS THIS NEW AMALGAMATE WHICH WILL ACT AS A CATALYST TO TRANSFORM
THE PERSONALITY INTO THE MODEL OF PERFECTION,
SYMBOLIZED BY GOLD.
The black state of the matter on which the process of the [alchemical] art is engaged is the body of this death, from which the adepts have asked to be detached. It is more especially our natural life.
-- The Hermetic and Rosicrucian Mystery, by Arthur Edward Waite
IN FACT, THE EXPERIENCE OF LIFE
CONSISTS OF THE EXPERIENCE
WHICH THE SPIRIT HAS OF ITSELF
IN MATTER AND AS MATTER,
IN MIND AND AS MIND,
IN EMOTION AND AS EMOTION, ETC.
THIS IS HOW CONSCIOUSNESS, WHICH HAS IDENTIFIED ITSELF
WITH MATTER, IS ABLE TO EXPERIENCE SPIRIT IN MATTER IN A WAY
IN WHICH IT COULD NOT EXPERIENCE SPIRIT WITHOUT MATTER.
THE PERSONALITY BECOMES GREATLY ENRICHED
WHEN ONE IS AWARE OF THE SPIRIT IN ONE
WHICH IS EXPERIENCING ONESELF IN ONE'S PERSONALITY
Statistics: Posted by admin — Sat Sep 26, 2015 6:48 am
]]>
THEORY
OUR OBJECTIVE IN MEDITATION IS UNFOLDMENT
INCORPORATING EVER FURTHER RICHNESS OF THE UNIVERSE
INTO OUR BEINGS.
TO INCORPORATE THIS RICHNESS WE HAVE TO EXPERIENCE IT, AND
WE CANNOT EXPERIENCE IT SO LONG AS WE ARE SNOWED UNDER
BY THE INVASION OF INDISCRIMINATE PERCEPTIONS FROM ALL
SIDES, SUBJECTED TO THE FANCIFUL CONSTRUCTIONS OF THE
UNCONTROLLED MIND, OUR HEARTS CHURNED BY THE EMOTIONS
THEY AROUSE IF NOT PROTECTED BY DETACHMENT.
WE ORDINARILY INTUIT THESE HIGHER DIMENSIONS OF REALITY
WE AIM AT EXPERIENCING, AND THEN DISMISS THEM, AS OUR
MINDS ARE NOT, UNLESS TRAINED,
GEARED TO ACCOMMODATE THEM.
TO EXPERIENCE THEM FULLY WE MUST WORK WITH CONSCIOUS-
NESS, SHIFTING ITS FOCUS, ITS CENTER, EVEN DECENTERING IT,
AND MUST HAVE THE COURAGE TO QUESTION THE VERY CONCEPTS
AND NOTIONS WE MOST TAKE FOR GRANTED:
'I AM MY CONSCIOUSNESS' ' SEEING IS BELIEVING'
'THE OBJECT IS THERE'
1953 JULY 19
AT FIRST WE PROTECT CONSCIOUSNESS IN ITS GRASP OF TWILIGHT
AREAS OF AWARENESS FROM THE FULL GLARE OF PHYSICAL
REALITY, ONLY TO INCORPORATE THE LATTER INTO A WIDER PIC-
TURE OF THE WORLD, ONCE THE EXPERIENCE OF THE VALUES
THAT LIE BEYOND PHYSICAL REALITY HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY
SECURED TO SUBSIST IN OUR CONSCIOUSNESS ALONGSIDE THE
PHYSICAL STRATUM THAT NOW SEEMS LIKE ITS PROJECTION.
THE PHYSICAL SCENE NOW LOOKS SOMEWHAT LIKE THE GROUND
SCENE OBSERVED FROM AN AIRPLANE
THROUGH THE LATTICE-WORK OF THE CLOUDS:
SUPER-IMPOSED IMAGES OF THE SAME THING
LIKE ICE, WATER, STEAM
CAPTURED AT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF DENSITY ...
A SYMPHONY OF LIGHT PETRIFIED INTO A CRYSTAL
WHERE ONE SEES SIMULTANEOUSLY THE DYNAMIC AND STATIC
STATE OF THE SAME THING.
WHAT WE GENERALLY EXPERIENCE IS THE WAY REALITY APPEARS
TO CONSCIOUSNESS INDIVIDUATED, FOCUSED BY
THE NOTION OF THE 'SELF.'
A ROPE IN A CERTAIN FOCUS LOOKS LIKE A SNAKE.
SHOULD WE TAKE OURSELVES TO BE A CONSCIOUSNESS, WE
BELIEVE THAT WHAT WE SEE AND HEAR IS REALITY.
IF WE ARE ABLE TO SENSE THAT WHAT WE TAKE TO BE
OUR CONSCIOUSNESS IS BUT A
TEMPORARY AND CHANGING EDDY IN THE SEA OF CONSCIOUSNESS,
WE WILL NO LONGER BE TAKEN IN BY THE WAY THINGS APPEAR,
WITH THE RESULT THAT WE SHALL INDEED SEE THE ROPE, YET WE
WILL STILL SEE HOW IT COULD AND INDEED DID
AND WHAT IS MORE STILL DOES LOOK
LIKE A SNAKE.
WE CAN NOW SEE BOTH THE ROPE AND THE SNAKE
IN THE SAME TAKE;
WE WITHDRAW CONSCIOUSNESS FROM PHYSICAL REALITY
ONTO TO REINTEGRATE IT LATER.
EVEN ATOMS AND ELECTRONS AND CELLS BEHAVE AS THOUGH
ENDOWED WITH SOME ELEMENTARY CONSCIOUSNESS. WHEN
THE CELLS OF THE BODY ARE ORGANIZED INTO AN INTERRELATED
ORGANISM BY THE CENTRALIZING ACTION OF THAT COMPLEX
NETWORK OF COMMUNICATIONS, THE NERVOUS SYSTEM, CONS-
SCIOUSNESS FUNCTIONS AS BODY CONSCIOUSNESS; WHEN THE FOR-
WARD PROCESSION OF CONSCIOUSNESS BREAKS THROUGH TO THE
MENTAL LEVEL, THERE IS MIND CONSCIOUSNESS; AND THE SAME
FORWARD MARCH PROCEEDS FURTHER FROM LEVEL TO LEVEL.
WHAT WE ASSUME TO BE OUR CONSCIOUSNESS IS A COORDINATION
OF ALL LEVELS WITH EMPHASIS OF FOCUS ON ONE IN PARTICULAR
TOGETHER WITH A CERTAIN OVERLAP.
THUS, EVEN AS CELL CONSCIOUSNESS IS OVERRIDDEN BY BODY
CONSCIOUSNESS, BODY CONSCIOUSNESS IS THROWN OUT OF FOCUS
WHEN ONE CONCENTRATES INTENSELY ON MENTAL ACTIVITY.
SIMILARLY, MENTAL CONSCIOUSNESS PETERS OUT WHEN ONE
FOCUSES ONE'S ATTENTION UPON INFINITY OR PERFECTION,
TRANSCENDENTAL VALUES. A CONTINUITY CAN BE MAINTAINED
ALTHOUGH GRADUALLY, EACH LEVEL OF CONSCIOUSNESS
PASSES OUT OF FOCUS TO GIVE WAY TO THE NEXT,
EACH IS LINKED TO EVERY OTHER BY
THE ARIADNEAN THREAD OF MEMORY
IN MEDITATION YOU REMEMBER HAVING THOUGHT OF YOURSELF
AS THE PERSONALITY
YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE
NOW TO DISCOVER
THE FRONTIERS OF YOUR BEING SEEM TO MERGE
MORE AND MORE
INTO THE TOTALITY
MEDITATION CONSISTS IN CONDUCTING CONSCIOUSNESS BEYOND
THE POINT WHERE IT IS THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF A FINITE BODY OR
A FINITE MIND, TRANSFERRING THE FOCUS FROM LEVEL TO LEVEL
WITHOUT LOSING ITS CONTINUITY OR FORM.
SINCE IT IS THAT WHICH IS EXPERIENCED THAT HOLDS OVERALL
CONSCIOUSNESS TO A FOCAL CENTER, AS A SOUND DRAWS CON-
SCIOUSNESS TO THE EAR DRUMS, SHOULD ONE DEPRIVE
CONSCIOUSNESS OF ITS OBJECT OF EXPERIENCE
BY WITHDRAWING IT,
THE EGO CENTER WOULD DISSOLVE.
CONSEQUENTLY, WHATEVER IS EXPERIENCED BY CONSCIOUSNESS
LIFTED TO LOFTY LEVELS COULD NOT BE RECOLLECTED BY EGO
CONSCIOUSNESS -- IN THE EVENT THAT THE LATTER SHOULD BE
RECALLED INTO FOCUS BY THE IMPINGING OF A FRESH OBJECTIVE
EXPERIENCE -- UNLESS ONE MAINTAINED THE LINES OF
COMMUNICATION OPEN BY AVOIDING LOSING SIGHT
OF THE EGO CENTER ALTOGETHER.
ONE HAS TO SUBSTITUTE SUCCESSIVELY EVER SUBTLER OBJECTS TO
THE PREVIOUS ONES
WHILE CONSCIOUSNESS ASSUMES EVER MORE
COSMIC DIMENSIONS
THUS MAINTAINING A CONTINUITY OF CONSCIOUSNESS PASSING
FROM LEVEL TO LEVEL INTO THE ABSOLUTE.
CONSEQUENTLY, THE METHODS USED IN MEDITATION WILL CON-
SIST IN REPLACING CONCENTRATION ON A PHYSICAL OBJECT BY
CONCENTRATION ON AN IMAGE PROJECTED CREATIVELY
THROUGH ONE, AS IT WERE, FROM THE INTUITION OF COSMIC
ARCHETYPES, THEN REPLACING THE CONTEMPLATION OF AN AT-
TRIBUTE OR QUALITY BY THAT OF ITS ARCHETYPE, THEN REPLACING
ONE'S MEDITATION ON EXISTENCE BY THAT OF BEING, AND SO ON.
THE CONSEQUENCE WILL BE THAT AT EACH STAGE A HIGHER
STRATUM OF CONSCIOUSNESS TAKES OVER.
AT THIS STAGE IT IS OPPORTUNE TO CONSOLIDATE THE INTERNAL
SHIFT BY LOCKING THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM INTO ITS
ANABOLIC SETTING, IN CONTRAST TO THE CATABOLIC SETTING
THAT PROMOTES ACTION AND CONCRETE THOUGHT GOVERNED BY
THE OPTICS OF THE SUBJECT-OBJECT DICHOTOMY.
BUDDHA LIKENS CONSCIOUSNESS TO A FLAME
PASSING FROM ONE LOG TO ANOTHER
Statistics: Posted by admin — Sat Sep 26, 2015 6:48 am
]]>
PREPARATION
IT IS IMPORTANT TO SET ASIDE DEFINITE TIMES FOR MEDITATION
EVERY DAY, SAY ONE SESSION IN THE MORNING AND ONE IN THE
EVENING, WITH A SHORT BREAK MIDDAY, AND KEEP TO THOSE
TIMES, ADJUSTING ONE'S LIFE ACCORDINGLY. ONE SHOULD ALSO
LAY DOWN A DEFINITE SCHEDULE OF PRACTICES FOR EACH SES-
SION, NOTE IT DOWN CAREFULLY, AND ABIDE BY IT. IF, HOWEVER,
YOU ARE LED INTO A STATE OF ECSTASY, THEN FOLLOW YOUR
INNER GUIDANCE WHICH MANIFESTS IN THE FORM OF INTUITION,
AND LET YOURSELF BE CARRIED WHEREVER IT LEADS YOU UNTIL
THE ENERGY IS EXHAUSTED, THEN REVERT BACK TO YOUR
SCHEDULE, TIME PERMITTING. GIVE YOURSELF AN AUTOSUGGES-
TION AS TO THE TIME YOU ARE SCHEDULED TO TERMINATE YOUR
MEDITATION; IT WILL WORK LIKE CLOCKWORK, ONCE YOU HAVE
TRAINED YOURSELF TO DO IT. ALWAYS PRECEDE A SESSION WITH
PHYSICAL RELAXATION EXERCISES OR YOGA ASANAS AND BANDAS.
IF YOU FIND IT DIFFICULT TO SIT CROSS-LEGGED, YOU MAY HELP
YOURSELF BY RESTING YOUR SEAT ON A PILLOW OR A MEDITATION
CUSHION WHICH WILL RAISE YOUR SEAT FROM TWO TO THREE
INCHES OFF THE FLOOR. ONCE A BALANCED POSITION HAS BEEN
FOUND, AVOID ALL MOVEMENT OF THE BODY, AS IT WILL DRAW
CONSCIOUSNESS BACK INTO BODY CONSCIOUSNESS.
THE IMMOBILITY OF THE BODY, CONTRASTING WITH THE MOTION
OUTSIDE, WILL IMPRINT IMMOBILITY ON THE MIND,
PROMOTING CONCENTRATION.
THE INITIAL STEP IN MEDITATION CONSISTS IN WITHDRAWING
ONE'S ATTENTION FROM THE AMBIENT WORLD, IN ORDER TO FREE
CONSCIOUSNESS FROM OUTSIDE IMPRESSIONS. SO FIRST OF ALL YOU
WITHDRAW YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS FROM THE IMPRESSIONS OF YOUR
SENSES BY AN ATTITUDE OF DETACHMENT AND INDIFFERENCE.
IF SOMEBODY IS HAMMERING, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU DON'T ALLOW
YOURSELF TO BE DRAWN INTO IT; YOU WITHDRAW FROM IT, AND
THE SOUND SEEMS TO COME FROM FURTHER AND FURTHER AWAY,
UNTIL IT SEEMS UNREAL, THE PHYSICAL WORLD AROUND YOU SEEMS
TO BE UNREAL ... AND THAT IS WHEN YOU DISCOVER
THAT IT IS MAYA, IT IS AN ILLUSION.
THIS IS NOT PHILOSOPHY, IT [IS] SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS,
THAT YOU EXPERIENCE.
THE WAY OF DETACHING YOURSELF FROM PHYSICAL REALITY IS BY
TONING DOWN YOUR EMOTIONS.
THE LINK THAT HOLDS ONE IN SUBJECTION TO THE IMPRESSIONS
OF THE PHYSICAL WORLD
IS OUR EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT TO EXPERIENCE:
WE WANT EXCITEMENT
STIMULATION
A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING AND GOING ON AND SO FORTH.
SO LONG AS WE ARE CRAVING OR EXPERIENCING THESE THINGS WE
CANNOT EXPERIENCE ANY HIGHER REALITY.
EXPERIENCE THE WAY THAT WHATEVER YOU HEAR AND
WHATEVER YOU SEE DRAWS YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS DOWN INTO THE
PHYSICAL BODY, DRAWS CONSCIOUSNESS INTO THE CENTER,
WHICH GIVES THE SENSE OF EGO IDENTITY. LISTEN FOR SOUND
AND WATCH THE WAY YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS IS BROUGHT DOWN
INTO YOUR EARS AND RIGHT OVER INTO THE SOURCE OF THE
SOUND, THE WAY CONSCIOUSNESS IS PULLED DOWN BY
PERCEPTION.
NOW SENSE THE EFFECT OF BUOYANCY UPON YOUR CONSCIOUS-
NESS AS IT REFUSES TO GIVE IN TO THE GRAVITY PULL OF PERCEP-
TION, DECENTERING ITSELF FROM ITS FOCAL CENTER, WHEREIN
LIES THE SENSE OF PHYSICAL I-NESS.
THE KEY ENABLING ONE TO WITHDRAW FROM PHYSICAL PERCEP-
TION AND THE MENTAL REGURGITATION OF PERCEPTION LIES IN
THE REALM OF EMOTIONS: THE HOLD OF PHYSICAL IMPRESSIONS
ON CONSCIOUSNESS IS DUE TO OUR EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT TO
OR INVOLVEMENT WITH PHYSICAL EXPERIENCE, WITH A RESULT
THAT WE ARE DELIVERED UNTO THE CONDITIONING
OF THE AMBIENT WORLD.
WITHDRAW YOURSELF WITH THIS THOUGHT:
I DON'T WANT TO BE CALLED UPON
HERE AND THERE
BY ALL THESE IMPRESSIONS
I WANT TO BE FREE
I WANT TO BE FREE
REFUSE TO BE CONDITIONED: OUR DESIRE TO FREE OURSELVES
FROM ALL CONDITIONING WILL HAVE THE IMMEDIATE EFFECT OF
COOLING DOWN OUR EMOTIONAL CONDITIONING, PASSING FROM
JOY TO PEACE.
BUDDHIST MONKS SPEAK OF
ENSHROUDING ONESELF WITH A ZONE OF SILENCE
AND PLACING A SENTINEL AT THE DOORS OF PERCEPTION.
DETACHMENT
YOU REACH A STATE OF TIMELESSNESS.
THE SOUND OF THE PHYSICAL WORLD SEEMS TO
BELONG TO THE REALM OF TIME
-- SOMETHING THAT IS GOING ON --
YOU ARE CONSCIOUS OF YOUR STILLNESS, WHICH IS TIMELESS,
SO THAT THAT WHICH IS GOING ON DOESN'T SEEM IMPORTANT,
BECAUSE YOU ARE LIVING IN YOUR TIMELESSNESS. THE PHYSICAL
WORLD SEEMS TO BE MOVING FURTHER AND FURTHER AWAY, SO
THAT YOU DON'T FEEL ANY MORE THAT YOU ARE THERE, THAT IS,
YOU OVERCOME THE IDEA OF BEING IN A PARTICULAR PLACE
IN SPACE.
WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE PHYSICAL PLANE
IS IN A DIFFERENT PLACE THAN THE SPACE WHERE YOU ARE
IN CLOSING THE DOOR OF ONE'S ROOM, ONE BIDS FAREWELL TO
BODY CONSCIOUSNESS AND MENTAL CONSCIOUSNESS, THAT IS, NOT
ONLY DOES ONE ABANDON THE BODY TO THE CARE OF THE
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM THAT TAKES CARE OF ITS
PHYSIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS, BUT ONE ABANDONS THE MIND, THAT
WONDERFUL COMPUTER, TO ITS INFALLIBLE AUTOMATION.
YOU CAN SEE THAT ALL THOSE THINGS THAT WERE TAKING PLACE
ON THE PHYSICAL PLANE HAVE LEFT THEIR MARK ON THE MIND
AND YOU RE-EXPERIENCE IT ALL AGAIN IN THE MIND, AND SO HERE
AGAIN YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS IS DRAWN INTO THE MIASMA OF
IMAGES, AND YOU WANT TO BE FREE OF THOSE IMAGES.
AND THEREFORE YOU ADOPT THE SAME ATTITUDE OF
DETACHMENT TOWARDS THE MIND THAT YOU DID
TOWARDS THE PHYSICAL WORLD.
BE AWARE OF THE GRAVITY PULL OF THOUGHTS UPON YOUR
CONSCIOUSNESS AND THE EMOTIONS THAT BIND YOUR CON-
SCIOUSNESS TO THESE IMPRESSIONS. YOU HAVE TO BECOME
EMOTIONALLY DETACHED BY ENJOYING THAT WONDERFUL
FEELING OF FREEDOM, DETACHMENT, INDIFFERENCE BEYOND THE
BEYOND, BEYOND ALL CREATED THINGS.
DO NOT TRY TO ARREST THE FLOW OF THOUGHT
WHICH IS A FORCE OF LIFE ENDOWED WITH ITS OWN PURPOSE AND
FULFILLMENT
BUT LET THE UNCONSCIOUS TAKE CARE OF THE THOUGHTS
GLEANED BY EGO CONSCIOUSNESS,
OUT OF FOCUS OF YOUR PRESENT FIELD OF AWARENESS.
YOU ARE VAGUELY AWARE
OF THE CONTINUOUS IMPINGING OF THOUGHTS AND IMAGES
FROM THE UNKNOWN DEPTHS
INTO THE TWILIGHT AREA OF YOUR PRESENT FOCUS.
EVEN AS YOU ARE REMOTELY AWARE OF
THE QUAKINGS OF THE PHYSICAL SCENE,
TO SHIFT YOUR FOCUS
WHICH MUST BE FIXED
BY THE FULL THRUST
OF YOUR ASPIRATION,
ENTHUSIASM
AND
NOSTALGIA.
ALLOW YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS TO BE DRAWN HIGHER
AND HIGHER
FEEL THE BUOYANCY OF THE HIGHER SPHERES
LIFTING
YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS AWAY FROM THE GRAVITY OF THE EARTH
THAT HOLDS DOWN THE BODY
THE GRAVITY OF EGO IDENTITY THAT COERCES THOUGHTS
AND EMOTIONS
SURRENDER TO THE LONGING OF YOUR SOUL
THE YEARNING FOR THE PERFECTION IN ECSTASY
IN RAPTURE
FEEL YOURSELF FLOATING AWAY ON YOUR BREATH
YOU MAY FEEL AS THOUGH YOU WERE A KITE
AND YOUR BREATH IS THE WIND THAT IS BLOWING AGAINST THE
SAILS
BEARING UP YOUR WINGS
YOU BECOME VERY LIGHT AND FREE AND BREAK AWAY FROM THE
MOORINGS
The being of Man having now made some development, a certain solidity or INNER FOUNDATION is established during the next stage. Emblem 9 (I am freed) shows the heart being freed by the hand of the spirit from entanglement in the earthly realm.
-- The Rosicrucian Emblems of Daniel Cramer
EXPERIENCE YOURSELF IN YOUR REALITY
EXPERIENCE YOURSELF BEING CREATED
EXPERIENCE YOURSELF BEING FORMED
EXPERIENCE REALITY BECOMING YOURSELF
AND THEN LOSE YOURSELF BECOMING REALITY
BECOME CRYSTAL CLEAR
A MOUNTAIN STREAM OF CRYSTAL CLEAR WATER
FLOWING OUT OF ITS SOURCE
GLISTENING IN THE SUN
DOWNRUSH OF DIVINE POTENTIALITY
FLOWING THROUGH YOU
IN YOU
INTO YOU
OUT OF YOU
THOUGHTS EMOTIONS WORDS DEEDS
LOOK AT ALL BEINGS FROM THAT VANTAGE POINT.
THEY ALL SEEM LIKE STREAMS
FLOWING FROM THE SOURCE OF THE WATER OF LIFE,
THE LUMINOUS REALITY OF WHICH THE PHYSICAL WORLD IS BUT A DIM REFLECTION.
THE SECRET OF MAINTAINING YOURSELF IN EQUIPOISE, IN SUSPEN-
SION ABOVE BECOMING, IS AN EMOTION THAT HAS BECOME AB-
SOLUTELY SUBLIME, IMPERSONAL, COSMIC. IMAGINE THE EMO-
TION THAT SETS THE STARS IN MOTION, THAT MOLDS THE MATTER
OF THE CHAINS OF LIGHT INTO TEMPLES OF LIGHT, THAT GATHERS
THE CLOUDS INTO PATTERNS OF SHEER SPLENDOR AT SUNRISE ...
A COSMIC EMOTION YOU PICK UP FROM OUTER SPACE,
YOU VIBRATE IN RESONANCE WITH IT.
CONSCIOUSNESS BECOMES VASTER AND VASTER
ENCOMPASSING WIDER AND WIDER FIELDS.
YOU ARE PART OF THE BLUE SKY AND THE SAP RISING IN THE TREES
AND THE MOTION OF THE PLANETS AROUND THE SUN, THE ELEC-
TRONS AROUND THE NUCLEI OF THE ATOMS OF THE MOLECULES.
THE TIDAL WAVES OF THE EMOTION OF THE PLEORAMA PLAY UPON
THE AEOLIAN HARP OF YOUR BEING ... ALL BEING ...
YOU ARE THE COSMOS
Statistics: Posted by admin — Sat Sep 26, 2015 6:39 am
]]>
BUDDHA
The earthly body must be mortified so that the spiritual body can rise up. Here a note needs to be added. This mortification has been much misunderstood. It was believed that the body had to be killed by means of asceticism and withdrawal from the world. This is naturally only one possible path if the pilgrim has also completed a whole change in consciousness. Without this a false mortification ensues. Asceticism and withdrawal from the world leads, in most cases, to a dissolution in which the pilgrim becomes easy prey for every type of evil influence. More than a few black magicians have in this way become the victims of the Prince of the Shadow.
True mortification lies in sublimation, in unification, in the unio mystica, in becoming one with God. The unification begins with the change in consciousness wherein the mortification of the small ego is completed and the resurrection of the divine ego takes place. That is, however, the goal we wish to achieve -- which we must and can achieve.
Once we have arrived at the end of our exercise we will feel that our earthly bodies are becoming more and more strange, we are growing beyond it, we clearly feel it has become dust and ashes.
-- The Practice of the Ancient Turkish Freemasons: The Key to the Understanding of Alchemy, by Baron Rudolf von Sebottendorf
AT THIS STAGE WE MIGHT BE CONFUSED
BY THE DICHOTOMY OF THE WAYS
EXPLORED AND ADVOCATED BY OUR GREAT
PATHFINDERS.
BUDDHA
IN THE WAKE OF HIS MIGHTY PREDECESSORS,
THE RISHIS,
POINTS THE WAY TO
DISINCARNATION
BY SYSTEMATICALLY UNRAVELLING THE KNOTS
THAT, BY INDIVIDUATING CONSCIOUSNESS, HAVE INVOLVED US
INTO THE LIMITING CIRCUMSTANCES
THAT SPELL SUFFERING.
CHRIST
SETS THE PERFECT EXAMPLE FOR
INCARNATION
STRESSING THE WORKS OF THE FATHER
IN VOUCHSAFING THE KINGDOM OF THE HEAVENS
UPON THE EARTH.
THE PATH ENJOINED UPON US BY THE INDIAN SAGES
SEEMS TO LEAD CONSCIOUSNESS BACK TO THE CONDITION BEYOND
BECOMING
IN THE CLEAR LIGHT OF ILLUMINATION
CUTTING TO THE VERY ROOTS OF REINCARNATION
DISMANTLING THE MECHANISM WHICH CONJOINS DESIRE TO THE
WHEREWITHAL OF ITS FULFILLMENT:
THE PHYSICAL.
AMONG THE SUFIS, JUNAID ADVOCATES
"RETURNING TO THE CONDITION IN WHICH ONE WAS BEFORE ONE
BECAME
WHEN ONE WAS A THOUGHT IN THE MIND OF GOD."
THIS IS THE EXPERIENCE WE ENCOUNTER OF THE CAUSAL ARCHE-
TYPE OF OUR HUMAN EXISTENCE.
CONVERSELY, RESURRECTION, ANNOUNCED BY CHRIST
POINTS TO THE END-PRODUCT OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE IN ITS UP-
WARD SWEEP:
TRANSFIGURATION.
INDEED ZOROASTRIANISM, PROBABLY MAZDAISM, OR EVEN
ZURVANISM HAD
ANTICIPATED THIS ESCHATOLOGY IN 'FRASHKART':
THE RESTORATION OF ALL THINGS IN THEIR PRISTINE GLORY.
AN AVESTAN PRAYER SAYS:
"MAY I CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE
WORLD."
THE SUFIS OF THE SHEIKHI SCHOOL OF KIRMAN TAKE INTO
ACCOUNT
THE TRANSFER OF CONSCIOUSNESS
FROM THE PHYSICAL BODY TO THE ETHERIC OR ASTRAL
THEN UPWARDS THROUGH THE CELESTIAL BODY TO THE SUPRA-
CELESTIAL OR SOUL.
THE ETHERIC MAY FOR SOME TIME BE ALIENATED FROM THE SOUL
AFTER DEATH
UNDERGOING THE CONDITIONS OF HADES AND PARADISE
FINALLY TO INTERFUSE WITH THE SOUL AFTER COMPLETION OF
THIS CATHARSIS
AT A CRITICAL POINT IN TIME:
THE MOMENT OF RESURRECTION.
WE LEARN IN OUR MEDITATION TO DISCERN THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN EXPERIENCING OUR CAUSAL NATURE
WHOSE ETERNITY STRETCHES OUT INTO THE PAST INDEFINITELY
AND EXPERIENCING THE ETERNALIZATION IN THE FUTURE
THROUGH TRANSMUTATION OF THAT WHICH ONE HAS ACQUIRED BY
INCARNATION;
THAT IS,
BY THE INTERFUSION OF ALL THE OUTCOME OF ONE'S PERSONAL
CAUSALITY
WITH THE OUTCOME OF THE CAUSALITY OF ALL THE BEINGS
OF WHOM ONE IS THE PRODUCT
IN THE COURSE OF THE UNFOLDMENT OF THE UNIVERSE.
WE ARE PULLED IN TWO OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS
WHICH COMPLETE ONE ANOTHER.
THE ONE WHO GRASPS THE LAW OF THE CONDITIONING OF EXISTENCE
KNOWS THAT ONE MAY FREE ONESELF
FROM THE NECESSITY OF PERPETUALLY RETURNING
INTO THE CYCLE OF REBIRTH ON EARTH
BY AVOIDING PERFORMING THOSE ACTIONS AND NURTURING THOSE
DESIRES
THAT BIND ONE
EITHER BY THE INCUMBENCE OF PAYING A DEBT
OR BY EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT.
SUCH A ONE WIELDS IN HIS HAND THE SWORD OF MOKSHA:
THE COVETED AIM OF THE RISHIS:
LIBERATION FROM EXISTENCE.
ADMITTEDLY, WHEN ONE HAS EXPERIENCED THE BLISS AND THE
FREEDOM
THE GLORY AND THE SUPREME UNDERSTANDING
OF THE LEVEL BEYOND EXISTENCE WHEREIN THE SELF IS ROOTED
ONE DOES NOT WISH TO BE COERCED INTO RETURNING
INTO THE LIMITING CIRCUMSTANCES OF INCARNATE EXISTENCE
BY A WHOLE CHAIN OF CAUSALITY
WHOSE VERY FORCES ONE HAS UNWITTINGLY SET INTO MOTION
BY SHEER IGNORANCE OF THE MECHANICS OF LIFE.
ON THE OTHER HAND
IT IS OBVIOUS THAT SOMETHING MUST BE ACHIEVED
BY INCARNATION
IN THE UNIVERSE AS IN OURSELVES.
LIFE LEADS SO SURELY TOWARDS EVER GREATER UNFOLDMENT
THAT WE CAN HARDLY DOUBT
THAT THERE MUST BE SOME PROVISION WHEREBY THE VALUES
ACQUIRED
BY WHAT REV. PIERRE TEILHARD DE CHARDIN CALLED
"THE OMONIZATION OF THE TRANSCENDENT"
MIGHT BE RESORBED IN THE COSMOS AT EVERY LEVEL
STEP BY STEP.
ONE DOES NOT WISH TO BE COERCED
BY A WHOLE CHAIN OF CAUSALITY
WHOSE VERY FORCES ONE HAS UNWITTINGLY SET INTO MOTION
BY SHEER IGNORANCE OF THE MECHANICS OF LIFE
INTO RETURNING
TO THE LIMITING CIRCUMSTANCES OF INCARNATE EXISTENCE.
DO WE HAVE TO OPT BETWEEN
FREEING OURSELVES FROM THE CONDITIONS OF EXISTENCE
AND TRANSMUTING ALL THAT HAS BEEN ELABORATED IN THE
CAULDRON OF LIFE?
WE CAN BEST GIVE EXPRESSION
TO THE DIVINE PERFECTION
WE ARE PLEDGED TO
MANIFEST
IF WE FREELY INCARNATE
IF EVERY INVOLVEMENT IN LIFE IS A
FREE DETERMINATION
RATHER THAN THE RESULT OF FORCES
ALREADY SET INTO MOTION
TO WHICH WE ARE IMPLACABLY
SUBJECTED
RESURRECTION IS THE MEASURE
OF OUR FREEDOM
THE ETERNALIZATION OF WHAT HAS BEEN
ACHIEVED THROUGH INCARNATION
IT ALONE TRANSMUTES THE INCARNATE INTO THE
TRANSCENDENTAL
BY RIDING THE WAVE OF ALL THAT IS SUBJECT TO DISSOLUTION
ALL THE DESIRES AND MANIAS AND EMOTIONS
THAT LURE THE SOUL INTO EXISTENCE.
IF THE PLANNING OF THE UNIVERSE
HAS TO RECKON WITH THE INTERVENTIONS OF THE (RELATIVELY)
FREE WILLS
CONFERRED BY THE ONE AND ONLY KNOWER
UPON EACH PARTICLE OF HIMSELF
THAT THEY MAY PROGRESS TOWARD THAT OMNISCIENCE AND
PERFECTION,
HAPPENINGS WITHIN CERTAIN GIVEN LIMITS
CANNOT ALWAYS CONFORM TO GOD'S OWN WILL IN SINGULAR
ONENESS.
BUT IN RESURRECTING
WE FREE GOD FROM THE CRUCIFIXION OF COSMIC SUFFERING:
THE PRICE OF YOUR FREE WILL.
THEREFORE WE FIRST HAVE TO FIND
THE WAY OF
FREEDOM FROM INVOLVEMENT
BEFORE WE CAN INTRODUCE
FREEDOM IN INVOLVEMENT.
SUDDENLY THERE IS A BREAKTHROUGH OF JOY:
ONE IS FREE!
ONE IS LIFTED HIGHER AND HIGHER
BY A MIGHTY OUTBREAK
OF ALL THE FORCES OF GLORIFICATION OF THE COSMOS
THE ETERNAL HIGH MASS
CELEBRATED ON THE ALTAR OF THE STARS
PLAYING ONE'S PART IN THE SYMPHONY OF THE SPHERES
INTONING IN ONE'S SOUL ONE'S PARTICULAR NOTE IN ONE
COSMIC HALLELUJAH:
THE CRY OF GLORY OF ALL CREATED BEINGS
ON EARTH AS IN HEAVEN.
THE QUEST FOR THE SELF AND THE SEARCH FOR GOD
HOW CAN WE RECONCILE OUR EXPERIENCE OF IDENTIFICATION
WITH THE GROUND OF OUR BEING
MERGING INTO THAT OF ALL BEINGS
WITH THE SHATTERING EXPERIENCE OF THE ENCOUNTER WITH
THE INEFFABLE PRESENCE?
WHEN THE INDIVIDUATED CENTER OF CONSCIOUSNESS IS
EXPLODED
WE DISCOVER OURSELVES AS "THAT",
BUT WHEN WE SE4EK THE MYSTERY OF "THAT" THROUGH THE
INDIVIDUATED LENS OF THE I,
IT APPEARS AS THE ONE.
INTUITION WARNS US TO REPUDIATE THE SENSE OF OTHERNESS
OF A TOO FACILE ANTHROPOMORPHIC PROJECTION OF OUR
CONCEPT OF PERCEPTION
AS A BEING
YET WE ARE ABASHED AND OVERWHELMED
WHEN FACED WITH THE GLORY OF THE DIVINE VISITOR.
FOR THAT WHICH THE FAITHFUL OF ALL FAITHS REVERENTLY
INVOKE
IS NOT JUST THE WHOLE OF WHICH WE ARE A PART
NOR THE ARCHETYPE WHOSE IMAGE WE DISCOVER OURSELVES TO
BE
NOR THE INTELLIGENCE THAT GAZES THROUGH OUR EYES
-- THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF OUR CONSCIOUSNESS --
BUT THE PRESENCE BORN IN OUR MIDST MORE REAL THAN
OURSELVES
AS THE SOLIDARITY BEHIND OUR DIVERSITY
CONSOLIDATED BY THE CONVERGENCE OF ALL OUR VANTAGE
POINTS
AND ANIMATED BY THE BREATH OF OUR LOVE.
FOR THAT ONE
IS THE ONE WHO IS LOVED IN EVERY LOVED ONE.
ONCE HAVING DISCOVERED ONESELF
ALWAYS TO HAVE BEEN
THE LOVED ONE
BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD
AS THE SON WAS LOVED BY THE FATHER
IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
THE PURUSHA
THE SELF OF ALL SELVES.
AS REVEALED IN THE HADITH
"HE CREATED YOU AS A MEANS OF KNOWING THE LATENCIES
WITHIN HIMSELF:
THE SUFI DARVISH ABD EL JABBAR NIFFARI RESPONDED
"IT WAS OUT OF HIS LOVE FOR YOU THAT HE DEPARTED
FROM THE SOLITUDE OF HIS UNITY."
TO REACH OUT BEYOND ALL, REACH INTO TRANSCENDENCE
WE HAVE TO SURRENDER THE INDIVIDUATED FOCUS OF
CONSCIOUSNESS
FOR WHO CAN THING "THAT" IF NOT "THAT"?
THIS IS A UNIQUE FORM OF KNOWLEDGE CALLED PRAJNA
REFERRED TO IN THE BRIHADARANKAYA UPANISHAD:
"WHERE ALL HAS BECOME ONE, WHO CAN KNOW THE KNOWER?"
EXCEPT BY LOSING HIMSELF
AS WE TURN ABOUT IN MEDITATION,
AS OUR GLANCE IS AGAIN DIRECTED TOWARDS CREATED THINGS,
IF WE AVOID LIMITING OUR CONSCIOUSNESS TO THE INDIVIDUATED
FOCUS
THE 'THAT' WILL BECOME MORE PRESENT
AS "THE UNSEEN SEER AND THE UNHEARD HEARER."
MEISTER ECKHART SAW THIS WHEN HE SAID
"THESE EYES THROUGH WHICH I HOPED TO SEE GOD
ARE THE EYES
THROUGH WHICH GOD SEES ME."
YET THIS PRESENCE IS EXPERIENCED STILL MORE INTIMATELY
WHEN ONE REALIZES THAT IT IS NOT ONLY THAT WHICH SEES
BUT ALSO THAT WHICH IS SEEN.
THAT IS WHY IBN L'ARABI SAYS
"THESE ARE THE EYES THROUGH WHICH GOD SEEMS HIMSELF."
FOR IT IS HIS PRESENCE THAT BECOMES IN US
"THE CREATED CREATOR AND THE CREATING CREATURE."
THERE IS A STORY OF THIS SANYASIN OR FAQIR. YOU KNOW THAT IN
THE EAST A LOT OF THESE SANYASINS, MEN WHO HAVE LEFT THE
WORLD, WILL JUST SIT BY THE ROADSIDE MEDITATING AND
EVERYTHING, AND THEIR POLICY IS: IT DOESN'T MATTER. SO IT
DOESN'T MATTER IF PEOPLE WALK ON THEM OR THROW MUD AT
THEM, IT DOESN'T MATTER, IF THEY'RE TOO HOT IN THE SUN OR
TOO COLD, IT DOESN'T MATTER, THERE THEY SIT. SO HE WAS SIT-
TING THERE AND THEY SAID THAT THE KING WAS COMING BY, AND
FIRST OF ALL THE POLICE CAME AND SAID, GET OUT FROM HERE,
HIS MAJESTY IS PASSING. AND THE SANYASIN SAID, THAT IS WHY,
AND KEPT ON SITTING THERE WITH HIS LEGS OUTSTRETCHED, YOU
SEE, AND THEN AN OFFICER CAME AND SAID, WE HAVE A RULE
THAT WHEN HIS MAJESTY THE KING PASSES, ONE IS SUPPOSED TO
STAND UP AS A SIGN OF RESPECT, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO SIT
LIKE THIS WITH YOUR LEGS OUTSTRETCHED. AND SO HE SAID, THAT
IS WHY. AND THEN CAME THE PROCESSION AND THE EMPEROR ON
HIS ELEPHANT, AND THE MINISTER CAME FIRST ON HIS ELEPHANT
AND HE THOUGHT, HMMM, WHO'S THAT SITTING THERE?, SO HE
WENT DOWN TO HIM AND SAID, OUT OF COURTESY FOR THE KING
MAYBE IT WOULD BE BETTER IF YOU JUST PUT YOUR LEGS BACK.
AND THEN HE SAID, THAT IS WHY.
THEN CAME THE KING, HE LOOKED AT HIM AND CAME DOWN FROM
HIS ELEPHANT AND SAID, SINCE WHEN HAVE YOU BEEN
STRETCHING YOUR LEGS LIKE THAT? AND HE SAID, SINCE I HAVE
FOLDED MY ARMS, WHICH MEANS, SINCE I DO NOT REQUEST
ANYTHING FROM LIFE I DO NOT HAVE TO SHOW RESPECT FOR
OUTER AUTHORITY, LIKE DIOGENES, YOU KNOW.
AND THEN HE SAID: THAT IS WHY.
IT'S BECAUSE THE POLICEMAN THOUGHT THE WAY HE DID THAT
HE WAS A POLICEMAN; IT'S BECAUSE THE OFFICER THOUGHT THE
WAY HE DID THAT HE THOUGHT OF LAWS, IT WAS A RULE, YOU
SEE, THAT'S WHY HE WAS AN OFFICER; IT'S BECAUSE THE MINIS-
TER THOUGHT THE WAY HE DID THAT HE THOUGHT OF COURTESY,
SOMETHING MORE THAN RULES, THAT HE SAID WHAT HE DID, AND
IT'S BECAUSE THE KING THOUGHT THE WAY HE DID, TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND THE WAY OF THINKING OF THAT MAN, THAT HE WAS
A KING. THAT'S WHY HE SAID, THAT IS WHY.
Statistics: Posted by admin — Sat Sep 26, 2015 6:15 am
]]>
INTUITION OF THE SELF
NOW LET CONSCIOUSNESS BE WHISKED BEYOND
THE POINT
WHERE THE SEEDS OF ALL LIVING THINGS LURK
ON THE HORIZON OF OUR KNOWING
IMAGINE THAT YOU HAVE EXTRACTED CONSCIOUSNESS
FROM ALL CREATED THINGS
UPROOTING THEIR CAUSES
TO THE POINT THAT YOU MERELY REMEMBER
HAVING BEEN A CREATURE
YOU HAVE NOW AWAKENED INTO YOUR REAL BEING
BEYOND THE EGO
YOU HAVE BEEN WITNESSING THE DISAPPEARANCE OF YOUR EGO
A LIBERATION FROM 'I'-NESS
YOU ARE CATAPULTED BEYOND EXISTENCE
INTO THE MYSTERY OF BEING -- CALLED THE SELF
The words of recognition are: key, water, fire, level, black, white, red, rose, stone. As will be understood later, these words describe the entire work. Among the Oriental Masons the work is called the Science of the Key: llm el miftach and the Masons themselves often refer to themselves as Beni el Mim -- Sons of the Key.
The sheikh opens the session with the Fire-sign and the word alam, which the Beni el Mim actually use to mean: "Let's begin..." After the questions to the warden, the steward and the runner, as to whether everything is in order, the sheikh says: "My brothers, we are secure, we are provided for, and we are served. The Sun is shining, let us open heaven. Brother runner, hast thou the key?"
-- The Practice of the Ancient Turkish Freemasons: The Key to the Understanding of Alchemy, by Baron Rudolf von Sebottendorf
THE KEY TO ACHIEVE THIS:
LIBERATE THE MIND FROM THE SEEMING NECESSITY
OF OBJECTIVIZING EXPERIENCE
TRADEMARK: SECURITY
IT WILL BE REMEMBERED:
WHEN WE PASSED THE PREVIOUS THRESHOLD
WE TRANSCENDED TIME
WE ARE NOW SUSPENDED
IN A STATE OF "EGO LOSS"
BEYOND THE CAUSAL PLANE
BEYOND THE SEEDS OF MULTIPLICITY
YOU NOW REALIZE THAT YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS
WAS FEEDING UPON APPEARANCE LIKE A FLAME UPON FUEL.
WITH THE CESSATION OF THE PROCESS OF COMBUSTION,
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CONSCIOUSNESS CEASE TO FUNCTION,
WITH THE RESULT THAT THE BASIC CONSCIOUSNESS OF BEING
EMERGES WITH GREATER CLEARNESS.
OUR MIND LURCHES WHEN ITS VERY FUNCTION, I.E.
CATEGORIZATION, IS PULLED OUT FROM UNDER IT. NO
SOONER IS IT PRESSED TO TRANSCEND ITS OWN LIMITS THAN
ONE AWAKENS WITH ALARMING LUCIDITY TO DISCOVER THE
GROUND OF ONE'S BEING TO BE THE VERY SAME GROUND AS
THAT OF ALL BEINGS. ALTHOUGH ONE MAY WELL IN THIS
CONDITION DISTINGUISH BEINGS FROM ONE ANOTHER AND
FROM ONESELF IN THEIR CREATED NATURES, ONE CLEARLY
ENVISIONS ONE'S SELF AS THE "THAT" WHICH ONE IS WHEN
STRIPPED OF ALL THAT IS NOT ONE ANYWAY.
THE HINDUS USE THE WORD "THAT"
AS IN TAT TWAM ASI: "THAT THOU ART"
THE SAME "THAT" AS THE ONLY "THAT" THERE IS
WHICH WE SOMETIMES CALL HIM OR HER
OR
THE ONE
HOW IS THIS ACHIEVED?
IF HAVING DISMISSED THE SUPPORTS OF CONSCIOUSNESS --
PERCEPTION AND REPRESENTATION -- ONE IS ABLE TO MAIN-
TAIN A CONTINUITY OF FLOW BETWEEN THE LEVELS OF
CONSCIOUSNESS WITHOUT LOSING THE ARIADNIAN THREAD
THAT FOSTERS THE SENSE OF INDIVIDUALITY, YET PROJECT-
ING BEYOND IT WHERE IT FUSES WITH ALL THE ARIADNEAN
THREADS THAT CRISS-CROSS IN WEAVING THE MESHES OF THE
UNIVERSE, ONE REACHES A POINT WHERE CONSCIOUSNESS IS
NO LONGER THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL.
The "Ariadne's thread" which will guide us through the maze of Globes, Worlds, Revolutions and Periods will be found when it is remembered and kept steadily in mind that the virgin spirits which constitute the evolving life wave became entirely unconscious when they commenced their evolutionary pilgrimage through the five Worlds of substance denser than the World of Virgin Spirits. The purpose of evolution is to make them fully conscious and able to master the matter of all the Worlds, therefore the conditions embodied in Globes, Worlds, Revolutions and Periods are ordered with that end in view.
-- The Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception, by Max Heindel
BUDDHA'S 'CELESTIAL EYE' ZEROED IN UPON THE POINT:
IT IS EXPERIENCING
THE LIFE OF ONE'S LIFE
BY DISENGAGING THE CENTRAL PRINCIPLE OF ONE'S BEING
FROM THE CAUSE OF BECOMING, BY FOCUSING AT THE
CAUSAL LEVEL, ONE IS ABLE TO GRASP -- BEYOND THE LIMITS OF
ONE'S PRESENT EXISTENCE -- THE WHOLE CHAIN OF WHICH IT
IS A LINK, AS THE CONTINUATION OF A WHOLE GROUP OF
BEING, YET KNOWING THAT IT IS NEVER THE SAME PERSON
WHO IS REBORN.
AT A SECOND STAGE
ONE'S CONSCIOUSNESS IS NO LONGER TIED TO A PARTICULAR BEING
CONSEQUENTLY ONE
EXTENDS
ONE'S CONSCIOUSNESS
FROM THE CAUSE OF ONE'S BEING
TO THAT OF
ALL BEINGS!
ONE WATCHES THE MOVING SCENE OF LIFE
THE APPEARANCE AND DISAPPEARANCE OF BEINGS
SEEN IN THEIR CAUSAL RELATIONSHIPS TO ONE ANOTHER
WORLDS IN BECOMING
AND WORLDS BEING DISSOLVED
ON A VAST SCALE
AT A THIRD STAGE
HAVING HOISTED ONESELF FROM THE CAUSAL LEVEL
TO THE ONE WE ARE NOW DESCRIBING
ONE GRASPS WITH CRYSTALLINE CLARITY
THE LAWS GOVERNING ALL HAPPENING
SUCH IS THE VIEW OF THE ILLUMINATED MIND
THAT COMPREHENDS ALL THINGS THAT ENCOMPASSES ALL THINGS
IN A JNANA DARSHANA
("VISION OF KNOWLEDGE")
THE ABILITY TO SEE THE CAUSAL LAW
OF CONDITIONED GENESIS
THIS STATE IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN AIMING AT ALL THE TIME
PANNA
TRANSCENDENTAL KNOWLEDGE
UNDOUBTEDLY OUR GRASP OF THE PANORAMIC SWEEP OF
PHENOMENA IN THEIR INTERRELATIONSHIP, SCANNED AT A
BREATHTAKING SCALE, IS GENERALLY SO OVERCAST BY PER-
CEPTION AND REPRESENTATION OF THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY
THAT IT IS CONFINED TO WHAT PSYCHOLOGISTS CALL
TWILIGHT AREAS OF CONSCIOUSNESS WHOSE CONTENT ONLY
RARELY FLASHES THROUGH TO EVERYDAY CONSCIOUSNESS.
YET IF CONSCIOUSNESS IS CONDUCTED BEYOND THE POINT
WHERE IT OPERATES FROM AN INDIVIDUATED CENTER, PER-
CEPTION OF THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY FALLS OUT OF FOCUS
AND ONE DISCOVERS NOT ONLY THE LAWS GOVERNING THE
AUTONOMOUS FUNCTIONS OF ATOMS, CELLS, OR EVEN THE
REFLEX ACTION OF THE WHOLE ORGANISM OF THE CREA-
TURE, BUT THE ENLIGHTENED INTENTION OF AN OVERRIDING
YET COMPASSIONATE WILL, SOME PSYCHOLOGISTS
DISTINGUISH A SUPER-CONSCIOUS
FROM A SUB-CONSCIOUS.
THE SECRET OF DISTINGUISHING THESE TWO STATES IS TO BE
FOUND BY APPLYING INTROSPECTIVELY THE METHOD OF
'DISCRIMINATION' (VIVEKA) TAUGHT IN THE SAMKHYA SCHOOL:
DISCRIMINATE
BETWEEN THAT IN WHICH ONE IS SUBJECT TO
CHANGE
AND DISSOLUTION
WHETHER PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL OR MENTAL:
PRAKRITI
1
AND THAT IN WHICH ONE REMAINS UNCHANGED
BEYOND SUBSTANCE, FORM OR QUALITY:
PURUSHA
YES, A MERGING THERE IS, BUT NOT THE UNDIFFERENTIATED
AND INDISCRIMINATE HODGE-PODGE OF ALL LIVING THINGS
COALESCED INTO INDISTINCTIVENESS, SUCH AS THE
UNIVERSE APPEARS TO A CONSCIOUSNESS THAT HAS SUNK
BELOW THE THRESHOLD OF THE UNCONSCIOUS,
SHOULD ONE IDENTIFY ONE'S SELF WITH ALL CREATED THINGS,
THESE ENHANCED DIMENSIONS OF AWARENESS ONLY TRANSPIRE
THANKS TO A SHIFT
IN THE FOCUS OF CONSCIOUSNESS.
CONSCIOUSNESS RECEDES INTO SUBLIMINAL STATES
-- TRANCE CONDITIONS --
UNLESS ONE KNOWS HOW TO MAINTAIN
THE CONTINUITY OF CONSCIOUSNESS
BY RELATING ONE'S FOCALISED CENTER OF CONSCIOUSNESS TO
THE OCEAN OF COSMIC CONSCIOUSNESS
OF WHICH IT IS A WAVE.
ENABLING ONE TO IDENTIFY WITH THE SELF OF ALL SELVES
WHICH CAN ONLY BE PERCEIVED BY
CONSCIOUSNESS IN ITS UNINDIVIDUATED STATE.
BUT HERE DAWNS BREATHTAKINGLY THE GROUND OF ONE'S BEING
AS THE SUN MIGHT DAWN
UPON AN ATOM
IF ONLY ONE COULD EXPERIENCE IT!
IT IS DIFFICULT TO DISCERN THE INTERTWINING
VECTORS OF OUR BEING WHEN WE ARE OVERWHELMED
BY OUR SPRAWLING
DIMENSIONS
CONTRASTING WITH OUR ABJECT IGNORANCE OF
OURSELVES.
THE BLINDING EVIDENCE OF REALITY
APPEARS AS DARKNESS TO US
THE EVER RECEDING HORIZON OF UNDERSTANDING
AS WE ADVANCE INTO THE UNKNOWN
IN OUR HAZINESS
WE THINK WE HAVE REACHED THE GROUND
OF OUR BEING
OR EVEN OF 'BEING' -- CALLING IT THE 'SELF'
THE FURTHER ONE ADVANCES
BEYOND THE TRODDEN PATHS OF COMMON EXPERIENCE
HEDGED WITH CONCEPTS AND LANDMARKED BY HYPOTHESES
THE THICKER THE CLOUD OF UNKNOWING
FOR WE ARE PROTECTED BY OUR VERY IGNORANCE
AGAINST THE REALIZATION TO WHICH WE HAVE
NOT GROWN
NO SOONER WE THINK WE HAVE REACHED AN OUTPOST
EVEN AS WE WALL IT IN
BY TRYING TO MAKE SENSE
OF THE REALIZATION WE ARE AFRAID OF LOSING
RECASTING OUR ENTIRE 'IMAGO MUNDI',
HE SHATTERS OUR VANITY BY REVEALING
AN ENTIRELY NEW PERSPECTIVE
(HINTS THE BRIHADARANYAKA UPANISHAD)
"BRAHMAN HAS ALREADY DEPARTED
BEFORE THOUGHT REACHES WHERE IT THOUGHT IT WAS"
AS WE ADVANCE FROM BEYOND TO BEYOND IN AN EFFORT TO
ATTAIN THE 'THAT' WHICH WE INTUIT, WHOSE HORIZON RECEDES
DISCONCERTINGLY, MORE AND MORE IMPERSONAL LAYERS OF
AWARENESS SEEM TO TAKE OVER FROM ONE ANOTHER IN PRO-
GRESSIVE SUBSTITUTION. THE SELF THAT COGNIZES DREAM
IMAGES AND IMAGINARY REPRESENTATION SEEMS MORE COSMIC,
LESS INDIVIDUATED, THAN THE SELF THAT PERCEIVES PHYSICAL
PHENOMENA; AND THE SELF THAT GRASPS ARCHETYPES BEHIND
CONTINGENCIES SEEMS TO EXTEND BEYOND THE NOTION OF A PER-
SONAL SELF. IN THE ULTIMATE STATE, 'TURIYA', DESCRIBED IN
SHANKARACHARYA'S COMMENTARY ON THE MANDUKYA UPANISHAD,
THAT WHICH IS EXPERIENCED IS THE SELF, THE ONLY REALITY.
AND IT IS THE UNLIMITED CONSCIOUSNESS IN YOU, ATMAN, THAT
TAKES OVER FROM JIVA, INDIVIDUATED CONSCIOUSNESS
LIMITED BY THE APPEARANCE OF THINGS,
MAYA,
WHICH IS ALL THAT IS EVER ORIGINATED BY CAUSALITY.
YET OBVIOUSLY BUDDHA SAW A DANGER IN THAT THE VERY CON-
CEPTUALIZATION OF AN ULTIMATE REALITY MIGHT ACT AS A LIMIT
TO A VECTOR THAT IS INFINITE, AND THEREFORE SINGLED OUT
FURTHER HORIZONS IN THE NO-MAN'S LAND OF THE SOUL THAT
NEVER ENDS: BEYOND THE NON-MANIFEST, THAT WHICH LIES
BEYOND THE DICHOTOMY 'MANIFEST AND NON-MANIFEST', AND
STILL BEYOND THE UNLIMITED,
WHERE ALL DETERMINATION
OR ORIGINATION CEASES.
THAT WHICH THE CHANDOGYA UPANISHAD HAD COINED THE SELF,
TAKEN UP INEXHAUSTIVELY BY THE SUBSEQUENT UPANISHADS,
BUDDHA CALLED NON-EXISTENCE.
THE ACTUAL ABILITY TO ENVISION ONE'S SELF AS THAT REALITY
IS A STAGGERING DISCOVERY THAT REMAINS WITH ONE,
ONCE THE MIND HAS BEEN OPENED,
IRREVERSIBLY ABOUT-TURNING ONE'S ENTIRE LIFE
DYING CONSCIOUSLY
AND SURVIVING
AS THE PRINCIPLE OF THE EXEMPLAR
ONE THOUGHT ONE WAS
AND ALWAYS REMEMBERING HAVING PASSED
THROUGH
THE PORTALS OF DEATH
WHAT CONTINUITY IS THERE IN LIFE IF ONE FORGETS
WHAT ONE WAS?
IF SURVIVAL CONSISTS IN REMEMBERING PRE-NATAL
AND POST-MORTEM STATES
THE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT ONE IS
AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN AND ALWAYS WILL BE
CONFERS
IMMORTALITY
MAN'S DESPERATE STRUGGLE FOR THE ABSOLUTE
MAY WELL BE HIS DESPERATE SCRAMBLE
FOR IMMORTALITY
IN THE LIGHT OF THE NEW AWARENESS, THE EGO GAME -- BOTH OF THE
EVERYDAY SCENE AND OF THE PHANTASMAGORIA OF BOTH NIGHT-AND-
DAY-DREAMING -- NOW APPEARS, AS SHANKARACHARYA CALLS IT, A FALSE
APPREHENSION OF REALITY, EVEN THE ARCHETYPES OF EARTHLY FORMS,
LOOMING WITHIN THE FOCUS OF THE CAUSAL SETTING OF CONSCIOUSNESS,
AVER THEMSELVES AS NOT BEING REALITY, BUT MERELY ACCOUNT FOR THE
COSMIC HOAX WHEREBY THE ROPE LOOKS LIKE A SNAKE. THE DANCE OF SHIVA
AND THE TRAVESTY OF MAYA -- WITH WHAT GUILE DOES INDRA PROTECT US
FROM THE VISION OF REALITY THAT SHATTERS THE ONE UNPREPARED TO
FACE ITS STARK DEVASTATING ALL-REVEALING GLARE.
WHILE THE DISCOVERY OF THE CAUSAL SUPRA-INDIVIDUAL PRINCIPLE, OF
WHICH ONE'S INDIVIDUALITY IN THIS INCARNATION IS BUT ONE MANIFESTA-
TION, TRANSPORTED ONE INTO PRE-NATAL STATES, THE ATTAINMENT OF THE
AWARENESS OF BEING OPENS UP THE PERSPECTIVE OF A FATHOMLESS
BEYOND, THAT HAS ALWAYS INTRIGUED THE SOUL OF MAN IN QUEST OF
THE ABSOLUTE.
ABSOLUTE
EVEN BEYOND ETERNITY
BEYOND THE BEYOND
PARATPARAM
THE VERTIGO OF THE BOTTOMLESS DEPTHS AND BOUNDLESS
HEIGHTS
NOT OF SPACE NOT OF TIME
NOT EVEN A PERFECTION OR QUALITY IDEALIZED IN THE
ARCHETYPE
BUT SOME OTHER IMPALPABLE DIMENSION
REALITY
THE ULTIMATE OBSESSION OF MAN
NO DOUBT WHAT OUR NON-MIND MEANS WHEN WE SAY
GOD
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Beyond the dream of the fleeting me
I watch
In the silence of all created things
The traces of my self
Voiding themselves in the roots of all existence.
Pure virtuality
Yet looking down from that timeless selfless place --
Outside space --
I watch the immutable archetype of me --
Sprouting into what I think is me --
Finally emerging out of its immersion
In the fabric of the planet
Speeding to the everlastingness in resurrection
Of a me beyond recognition
On all common subjects, this dominion of passion and prejudice is restrained by the evidence of sense and perception; but, when the mind is led to the contemplation of things beyond its comprehension, all such restraints vanish: reason has then nothing to oppose to the phantoms of imagination, which acquire terrors from their obscurity, and dictate uncontrolled, because unknown. Such is the case in all religious subjects, which, being beyond the reach of sense or reason, are always embraced or rejected with violence and heat.
-- A Discourse on the Worship of Priapus: And Its Connection with the Mystic Theology of the Ancients, by Richard Payne Knight
***
The three dots (or three points) were formerly fashionable in Masonic writing instead of the usual periods after initials. The practice was apparently started in France by the non-recognized Grand Orient of France in 1774 and Masons were sometimes called 'Three Point Brothers'. The usage became popular in the US and is seen today in some Scottish Rite documents.
-- MasonicInfo.com
***
The three dots (.·.) were originally intended to represent "Masonic Honor Points". In Masonry, a freemason who has received the first three craft degrees of initiation may put these three dots after his name. Organizations made up of Craft initiated Masons traditionally place these same three dots after the letters of abbreviation of their organization names, e.g. Golden Dawn: G.·.D.·. instead of G.D.
-- Thelema Lodge Calendar, June, 1993
Unto you shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings, this is the sun of righteousness in whose wings healing shall be displayed.
-- Malachi 4:2
***
Cor. III. 17, which says "God is a spirit," should be interpreted: God is a winged entity in an entirely zoological sense. God has wings and flies (Ps. XVI.8; XVII.11; XXXV.8). In Ps. LXIII.6-7 we read: "I remember you under the esmerot, you are my 'ezer, in the shadow (sel) of your wings I rejoice."
-- Theozoology, or the Science of the Sodomite Apelings and the Divine Electron, by Dr. Jorg Lanz von Liebenfels
***
"If ... it is a soul which hath not hearkened unto the counterfeiting spirit in all its works, but hath become good and hath received the mysteries of the Light which are in the second space or even those which are in the third space which is within, when the time [of the coming-forth] of that soul out of the body is completed, then the counterfeiting spirit followeth that soul, it and the destiny; and it followeth it on the way on which it will go above. And before it removeth itself above, it uttereth the mystery of the undoing of the seals and all the bonds of the counterfeiting spirit with which the rulers have bound it to the soul; and when it is uttered, the bonds of the counterfeiting spirit undo themselves, and it ceaseth to come into that soul and releaseth the soul according to the commandments which the rulers of the great Fate have commanded it, saying: 'Release not this soul until it tell thee the mystery of the undoing of all the seals with which we have bound thee to the soul.' And in that moment that soul becometh a great light-stream, it becometh entirely wings of light, and penetrateth all the regions of the rulers and all the orders of the Light, until it reacheth the region of its kingdom up to which it hath received mysteries."
-- Pistis Sophia: A Gnostic Miscellany, translated by G.R.S. Mead
***
In the ancient theology of Greece, preserved in the Orphic Fragments, this Deity, the Ερως πρωτογονος, or first-begotten Love, is said to have been produced, together with Æther, by Time, or Eternity (Κρονος), and Necessity (Αναγχη), operating upon inert matter (Χαος). He is described as eternally begetting (αειγνητης); the Father of Night, called in later times, the lucid or splendid, (φανης), because he first appeared in splendour; of a double nature, (διφυης), as possessing the general power of creation and generation, both active and passive, both male and female. Light is his necessary and primary attribute, co-eternal with himself, and with him brought forth from inert matter by necessity. Hence the purity and sanctity always attributed to light by the Greeks. He is called the Father of Night, because by attracting the light to himself, and becoming the fountain which distributed it to the world, he produced night, which is called eternally-begotten, because it had eternally existed, although mixed and lost in the general mass. He is said to pervade the world with the motion of his wings, bringing pure light; and thence to be called the splendid, the ruling Priapus, and Self-illumined (αντανγης)....Wings are figuratively attributed to him as being the emblems of swiftness and incubation; by the first of which he pervaded matter, and by the second fructified the egg of Chaos.
-- A Discourse on the Worship of Priapus: And Its Connection with the Mystic Theology of the Ancients, by Richard Payne Knight
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FOREWORD
BY JAMSHED TILLINGHAST
LISTENING TO THE SACRED MUSIC OF MARC-ANTOINE CHARPENTIER, ONE EXPERIENCES THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE BASER EMOTIONS, A SENSE OF LIFE TRANSFORMED INTO "THE PERFECTION OF LOVE, HARMONY, AND BEAUTY." THIS IS THE GIFT AND MESSAGE OF PIR VILAYAT INAYAT KHAN. YOU ARE ABOUT TO BEGIN HIS BOOK, AN UNPRECEDENTEDLY SPECIFIC, FULL, AND REVEALING GUIDE TO THE INNER LIFE BY A MASTER OF MEDITATION. THE AMAZING THING, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS BEEN TRYING TO CAPTURE FRAGMENTS OF THIS TEACHING IN NOTEBOOKS AND TAPE-RECORDERS, IS THAT NOW SO MUCH OF IT IS EASILY AVAILABLE IN ONE PLACE.
MANY PEOPLE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT ALL SCHOOLS OF SPIRITUAL ASPIRATION LEAD TO THE ONE GOAL; HERE IS THE UNIQUE TEACHER WHO HAS ACTUALLY STUDIED AND PRACTICED THE METHODS OF THE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS AND CAN ATTEST TO THEIR UNITY. A STORY IS TOLD OF THE YOUNG INAYAT KHAN WHEN HE WAS WITH HIS MURSHID ABU HASHIN MADANI IN HYDERABAD. A FELLOW MUREED COMPLAINED TO THE MURSHID: "INAYAT HAS BEEN SEEN WITH THE YOGIS, THE IDOLATORS. HE IS CONSTANTLY READING THE BHAGAVAD GITA. HE KEEPS A BIBLE BY HIS BED. ONLY YESTERDAY I SAW HIM CONVERSING WITH A RABBI. HE IS WELL
KNOWN AMONG THE PARSIS, THE WORSHIPPERS OF FIRE. WILL YOU NOT MAKE HIM RENOUNCE HIS HERETICAL WAYS?" THE MURSHID REPLIED: "LEAVE HIM ALONE. IT IS NOT FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND THE MISSION HE IS BEING PREPARED FOR." HIS MISSION WAS TO HARMONIZE EAST AND WEST WITH THE MUSIC OF HIS SUFI MESSAGE. TOLERANCE AND MUTUAL ENRICHMENT HAVE OFTEN BEEN PART OF THE SPIRITUAL ATMOSPHERE IN INDIA, WHERE HINDUS, MUSLIMS, BUDDHISTS, PARSIS, JEWS, AND CHRISTIANS HAVE LIVED TOGETHER PEACEFULLY EXCEPT WHEN, AS RECENTLY, THEIR DIFFERENCES HAVE BEEN EXPLOITED FOR POLITICAL REASONS. PERHAPS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL EXPRESSION OF THIS SPIRIT WAS THE SPIRITUAL AND AESTHETIC SYNTHESIS PREVAILING AT THE COURT OF THE MOGHUL EMPEROR AKBAR. THE SPIRIT OF AKBAR'S COURT WAS A PRECURSOR TO THE KIND OF SUFISM GIVEN BY HAZRAT INAYAT KHAN TO EUROPEANS AND AMERICANS IN THE 1901'S AND TWENTIES WITH ITS EMPHASIS ON "THE UNITY OF RELIGIOUS IDEALS."
PIR VILAYAT KHAN HAS GIVEN CONCRETE EXPRESSION TO THE GOALS OUTLINED BY HIS FATHER, ADDING TO THE EASTERN SCHOOLS THE AUSTERE AND SERENE FLAVOR OF MEDIEVAL CHRISTIAN MYSTICISM, AS WELL AS INTEGRATIVE INSIGHTS DERIVED FROM SOURCES AS SEEMINGLY DIVERSE AS MODERN PHYSICS AND THE GREEK MYSTERY CULTS. HE SHOWS HOW THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST IS THE COSMIC COUNTERPOINT TO THE PARINIRVANA OF BUDDHA. HE ALLOWS ONE TO SEE THE WORLD RELIGIONS NOT AS MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE DOGMAS COMPETING WITH ONE ANOTHER FOR THE CLAIM OF ABSOLUTE TRUTH, BUT RATHER AS A DIVINE SYMPHONY OF DIFFERENT TONES -- OR AS THE SAME STORY TOLD IN VARYING WAYS TO FIT VARYING MENTALITIES. THIS SYNTHESIS OF ESOTERIC SCHOOLS MAY SERVE AS A KEY TO THE COMING EVOLUTIONARY JUMP IN CONSCIOUSNESS TOWARDS WHICH HUMANITY SEEMS TO BE MOVING, THE NEW AGE GLIMPSED BY PROPHETS RANGING FROM WILLIAM BLAKE TO ARTHUR C. CLARKE TO TEILHARD DE CHARDIN.
THE DOCTRINE OF EVOLUTION OF CONSCIOUSNESS, PARTICULARLY STRESSED BY RUMI, IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF SUFI THOUGHT. DEVELOPMENT OF INTUITION, TRUST IN THE HEART, THE MOVE TOWARDS GROUP CONSCIOUSNESS, THINKING IN GLOBAL TERMS -- THESE ARE SIGNS POINTING IN THE DIRECTION OF MAN'S CONTINUING EVOLUTION. THESE ARE ALSO CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ESOTERIC BROTHERHOODS WHICH HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN AT THE CENTER OF THE WORLD RELIGIONS. WHAT WERE JEALOUSLY GUARDED SECRETS OF THE FEW ARE NOW BEING MADE KNOWN TO MORE AND MORE PEOPLE, AND THE SEEDS OF THE FEW CONSCIOUSNESS ARE BEING GATHERED FROM THE DECAYING FLOWERS OF THE OLD. THUS IT WOULD PROBABLY BE A MISTAKE TO SEE THE NEW SPIRITUALITY AS A "RELIGIOUS" MOVEMENT. IN GOING TO THE HEART OF THE OLD TRADITIONS ONE IS SEEKING THEIR UNIVERSAL CORE, AND LEAVING BEHIND THE RESIDUE OF DOGMA, MERE BELIEF, AND SOCIAL CONVENTION. IN RETURNING TO THE ORIGIN OF THE ESTABLISHED RELIGIONS -- LIVING EXPERIENCE OF THE SPIRIT -- WE MAY ALSO BE ENTERING A PERIOD WHERE RELIGION AS UNDERSTOOD IN THE PAST WILL BE SUPERCEDED. TOWARD THE ONE AIMS AT CARRYING CONSCIOUSNESS BEYOND ITS ORDINARY LIMITATIONS IMPOSED BY "HUMAN NATURE," CONDITIONING, HABIT, DESPAIR, SO AS TO EXPERIENCE THE LIMITLESS DIMENSIONS OF REALITY. IN THE WORDS OF WILLIAM BLAKE:
IF THE DOORS OF PERCEPTION WERE CLEANSED EVERY THING WOULD APPEAR TO MAN AS IT IS, INFINITE.
FOR MAN HAS CLOSED HIMSELF UP, TILL HE SEES ALL THINGS THRU' NARROW CHINKS OF HIS CAVERN.
(THE MARRIAGE OF HEAVEN AND HELL)
READING THIS BOOK IS TO EXPERIENCE AT TIMES THAT EXTRAORDINARY TRANSFORMING PRESENCE THAT PIR VILAYAT EMANATES IN PERSON. THESE PAGES, THESE SENTENCES THEMSELVES SERVE TO DISORIENT ONE, TO BLOW ONE'S ORDINARY HABITS OF
THOUGHT -- "THE MIND-FORG'D MANACLES" TO QUOTE BLAKE ONCE AGAIN. IF THIS HAPPENS TO YOU AS YOU READ THEN PERHAPS YOU GET GLIMPSES, OR HINTS OF GLIMPSES OF THE BEING BEHIND THE WORDS. FROM A MEDITATION RETREAT IN THE CHIRICAHUA MOUNTAINS OF ARIZONA COMES AN UNCANNILY VIVID PICTURE OF PIR VILAYAT MEDITATING IN A TENT: THE SHARP SMELL OF HEAT-STRUCK CANVAS, SURROUNDED BY THE BRILLIANT GLARE OF DESERT SUNLIGHT, HIS BODY SEEMINGLY TRANSLUCENT -- A CLEAR MOLECULAR FIELD OPEN TO THE LIGHT THAT WAS POURING THROUGH HIM. ANOTHER MEMORY IS OF HIM AT THE CAMP DES AIGLES IN THE FRENCH ALPS, LEADING A GROUP OF PEOPLE IN A FIERCELY SUBLIME RENDITION OF THE HALLELUJAH CHORUS WHILE AN AWE-INSPIRING MOUNTAIN THUNDERSTORM WAS ROARING AWAY OUTSIDE, THE BIG ARMY TENT TUGGING AT THE ROPES AND CAREENING LIKE A CLIPPER SHIP ON THE HIGH SEAS, JUST ON THE VERGE OF FLYING OFF THE MOUNTAIN.
HE SOMEHOW DEFIES THE DESCRIPTION OF "PERSON." HIS ARCHAIC FINENESS AND NOBILITY ARE QUALITIES ASSOCIATED IN MY MIND WITH THE PERSIAN SUFIS AND WITH THE COURT OF THE LATE NIZAM OF HYDERABAD WHERE HAZRAT INAYAT KHAN WAS A RENOWNED SINGER. PARTS OF THIS BOOK HAVE THE ATMOSPHERE OF A CERTAIN NIGHT-BLOOMING FLOWER IN THE PERSIAN GARDENS OF SHIRAZ, HOME OF HAFIZ AND SA'ADI, "CITY OF NIGHTINGALES." YET THIS REFINEMENT IS COMBINED WITH A SORT OF STERNNESS AND ABSOLUTE DEVOTION TO HIS WORK. SUCH A BEING MAY BE SEEN AS A PRODUCT OF ADAMANTLY REFUSING TO ACCEPT CONDITIONING AND OF ADHERING UNCOMPROMISINGLY TO AN IDEAL. THIS IS THE ESSENCE OF HIS TEACHINGS ON EVERYDAY LIFE. YET THE MYSTERY, THE SPECIAL FRAGRANCE OF THE MAN SOMEHOW -- HAPPILY -- ELUDES DESCRIPTION. THE WORDS USED BY ONE OF HAZRAT INAYAT KHAN'S DISCIPLES DESCRIBE EXACTLY ONE'S ENCOUNTER WITH PIR VILAYAT KHAN: "I HAD HEARD ABOUT THE SOUL BEFORE BUT NEVER BEFORE ACTUALLY EXPERIENCED MY SOUL."
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