The Joy of Self-Analysis
Oh! The wonderful Joy of self-analysis!
Just trying to peel the onion,
and see that there is only one truth
and that is the Silence of the Heart,
where all eloquence and creativity
are dancing all the time… Baba
The Vendanta (ancient Spiritual Text from India) uses the Sanskrit words, Neti Neti, meaning “neither this nor that.” The message here is that what we are searching for is neither this nor that. So what is it? This phrase is asking us to stop for a while, relax, and close our eyes to the external world and go within to find reality, which is Pure Bliss. The reality is not outside of us, where we go from this to that, and are always disappointed. The reality dwells within our pure mind and loving heart!
We are like onions with their layers of skin. When we dive deep within our physical body, in a deep state of relaxation, the gateway to the infinite world of wisdom opens up giving us glimpses of the higher reality that we are just like an onion with many layers. We consist of the physical sheath (body), annamaya kosha; mental sheath (mind), monomaya kosha; vital sheath (breath), pranamaya kosha; intellect sheath (intelligence), vijnanamaya kosha; and finally blissful sheath (bliss or ananda), anandamaya kosha. Kosha in Sanskrit means sheath. As you meditate deeper you feel you are penetrating through the layers or sheaths. When you finally reach the point where you are in the space of deepest silence, the bliss is unspeakable.
We, too, have layers and layers of our consciousness from solid matter to the subtlest atoms. We never experience our silent, blissful mind until we first come to hear about this higher truth, and ponder it, matching the physical sciences with metaphysical experiences.
Physicists do the same thing, layer after layer they go deeper to see the dance of cosmic forces in play. They are searching for the reality of the “stuff” so they can prove it can be seen, and therefore exists. It is a vain attempt. For the reality of the Vedanta comes to light with the findings of the Sages; that it is the seeker who is sought!! The observer-scientist will have to give up the identity of being a scientist and “become” the science. The observer is the observed!!
Scientists tell us String Theory is approaching the conclusion that matter is, as such, nothing but light. Mystics and mad lovers of God see no matter but God, the light in everything. Meditation peels the layers and then takes you to the core where the empty space is pure silence and the source of all existence. The Existence is Pure Bliss.
Those who are mad for God, cry for God! Do you think that it is a God-incidence that every time you try to peel a physical onion you have tears? This is very similar to our life experience, for as we peel back our layers of consciousness we find that we are peeling and crying. But then that is also the way to freedom!
Do you think you only cry for God? You only long to see the Divine? No, that is not the truth. As such the experience of all mystics is just the reverse, God cries for us, longs for us, with far more intensity than we do. Did you not hear that if we take one step, God takes a million steps toward us?
To take that one first step, do not try to purposefully peel the layers of consciousness within. Just try to relax every layer; go within your body, and relax it, watch your breath and relax it, watch your mind and relax it, and see what happens. Through this relaxation, letting go and focusing, you will be creating the energy vibration that will rob the gross of its grossness and lift you into the subtle vibratory field of love and JOY!
We are here to watch the layers of consciousness as they peel away, but we are distracted in the search for making money to survive, and therefore this introspection is delayed. But if you can find time to do this relaxation daily, just visiting your own body from inside, watching your own breath with love and attention, your overall well-being will increase exponentially. Well-being presupposes that you want your body to be well. For that you need to dwell or meditate on your Being. You need to feel that beyond the layers of the onion of your physical existence, of your physical body, there are other layers. Finally there is the “I.”
These few seconds of bliss with your Self will intoxicate you and you will dance for hours in your heart!! Just focus on small things of daily life and try to see the unseen hands of the Divine, and rejoice.
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About the Author
Shuddhaanandaa Brahmachari (India): Globally acclaimed spiritual and inspirational speaker, author, and visionary social advocate; founded Lokenath Divine Life Mission, 1985, which serves thousands of poverty-stricken individuals in India. Received Lifetime Achievement Award, House of Lords, UK, 2015.
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