Summoning Consciousness into Itself
Divine Life
Society Publication: Chapter 3 The
Universality of Being by Swami Krishnananda
We belong to two worlds
together: the empirical world of space and time, and the eternal world of the
transcendent Absolute. So we are pulled simultaneously from two different
directions. The world of empirical perception, motivated by the power of the
sense organs, drags us out of ourselves, and we always want to see that which
is outside us. But, at the same time, the perishable nature of this perception
reminds us that this is not going to be a worthwhile exercise because even if
we obtain the whole world of contact it will perish, and nothing will remain.
Nobody wants to perish. The imperishable aspiration collides with the
perishable nature of things, so we are partially lovers of an eternal life and
partially involved in sense activity and conflict of every kind.
This conflict has to be
eradicated by introducing an element of infinity into every thought that arises
in our mind, every work that we do, and every word that we speak. This is what
is called karma yoga. Action charged with the character of infinity becomes
karma yoga, whereas action which is purely material and finite, arising from
the motivations of the sense organs, is finite. The whole of the Bhagavadgita
is simply this much. All action is wonderful; it is a cosmic action, provided
that which looks like a movement in the form of activity is the activity of
consciousness itself. In all activity, consciousness acts within itself; it is
not somebody doing something else. If karma, or action, is considered to be the
process of somebody doing something, it will react in the form of the bondage
of karma. But if it is the all-knowing cosmic mind working in the form of the
so-called individualities of activity, there will be no reaction because there
is no object before this action.
Cosmic action has no object
outside itself. Therefore, one who works like a cosmic person in the form of
the true karma yoga of the Gita will never suffer reaction and rebirth, whereas
if it is you that are doing something outside you, totally unconnected with
your mode of action, it will react. Actually, what is called the reaction of
karma is nothing but the Infinite kicking you back for the wrong attitude that
you developed towards it. Here is a philosophy, a psychology, and a mode of
practice, all which is yoga. Yoga is a practice, a psychology, a metaphysics,
and the highest philosophy.
All yoga is eternity operating
through every one of us. It is going to be perfectly successful, and you need
not have even the least doubt that you will be benefitted by it because the
whole of eternity—that is what is called God or the Absolute—is behind you,
propelling you. An immediate action takes place. Because the Absolute is
timeless and spaceless, it is just now and here.
As the sensory organs prevent
you from thinking like this, first of all you must find a place to sit
comfortably where the tantrums of sensory objects will not irritate your mind.
You cannot find a cosy place anywhere in this world; everywhere there is noise,
irritation, and distraction of mind. Considering the facts as they are in
today’s world, you have to do your practice in your own room. You cannot find a
beautiful place somewhere outside; there is no such thing as a beautiful place
anywhere in the world. Everywhere there are people. Therefore, confine yourself
to your room.
Close your eyes. Take a deep
breath. Chant Om. Go on chanting like this for fifteen minutes, until the mind
feels deeply engrossed in this beautiful music of your recitation. It is not
merely music in the ordinary audible sense; it is a vibration that you are
creating.
The whole world is nothing but
vibration. The so-called solidity of things is a condensation of impersonal
vibrations in space and time. Nothing is outside you, and this vibratory chant
of Om enables you to reduce your so-called solidity of personal existence into
a point of vibratory center which, when liquefied, as it were, comes in contact
with all other things, which are also of the same nature. You enter into a sea
of power, an ocean of force, a cosmic vibration which, perhaps, is the
beginning of the universe.
The whole universe is a concretized
form of spatiotemporal objects. It has to be melted down, back to its own source.
There is no distance between the universal center and your existence here.
There is no such thing as distance at all. It does not exist. Everything
touches everything else. This possibility should be introduced into your mind
by a deep chanting of Om in the manner I mentioned.
This recitation, this
concentration, this satisfaction will act like a philosopher’s stone that
converts all iron into gold, so that you live in joy, perceive joy, contact
joy, and you are in a deep bliss of self-complete perfection.
Excerpts from:
Summoning Consciousness into Itself - Chapter 3 The
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