Scriptures tell us that in the beginning, One alone was; and then that One said, "Let there be many." But even then, One alone was; and even now, One alone is. What is the nature of that One alone? Scriptures tell us that it is unknowable, unthinkable, but to try to help us, they say, "It is That which was the same in the beginning, is the same now and will ever be the same." And they say that it is of the nature of existence, consciousness, bliss; or if you want a simple description, it is "I".
That "I" is everywhere, manifesting Itself as everything. But in the human being there is a peculiarity. That "I" manifests as self-awareness. Unfortunately that self-awareness is not an awareness of the grandeur, the unknowableness of the "I", but rather, that self-awareness identifies with a body and mind. This we call ego. It means we feel separate.
The whole purpose of the spiritual life is to convert this self-awareness in the human being from a mistaken awareness that "I am the body" to a true awareness that "I am That." How is this done? It is not just enough to discover this truth intellectually, nor even to feel this truth, we must actually become this truth. That means we can no longer assert the separate "I". The separate "I" has to surrender to the true "I"; it has to take refuge in the true "I"; it has to follow the true "I". There is nothing else to the spiritual life, in the final analysis, except this.
Following the ego keeps us in hell and compounds the hell. When we repent, which means to turn around and go in the other direction, we surrender our individuality, our separateness, and exchange it for harmony with the Whole. This is spiritual life. And if our spiritual life doesn’t contain this element of surrender, if it doesn’t contain this movement from separation to harmony, it perhaps explains why we don’t feel that we’re making the progress we had hoped for.
Therefore, the essence of the spiritual life is moving from being separate to being in harmony. The ego doesn’t usually want to do it until it has suffered so much that it sees that there is no other way. Thus, often suffering can be a great blessing. But we needn’t suffer if we have the humility to see that the essence of the spiritual life is in surrendering our individuality and taking refuge in God, that it is in surrendering our sense of separation, so that we are in harmony.
(Swami Atmaswarupananda, disciple of Swami Sivananda)
Yet another Master expounds on the giving up on transient truth and giving in to the transcendental truth - THAT IS.
ReplyDeleteIt is our own individuality (termed as Ego) which stands as the main hurdle to switch our focus. While it is relatively easy to give in to the eternal truth with the guidance of a realized Master, it is very difficult to train our selves to give up the ego that has been nurtured all along through our journey so far.
It is giving up on a habit which you have been attached to for several years for the sake of your own betterment.
The beauty is that only a Guru can help one to severe ties with the transient truth to which one is clinged on and not able to release himself. A jiva needs a more powerful resolve which a Guru can provide, only if the jiva surrenders with utmost conviction. Further, to be able to give in to the eternal truth also, a realized Guru and His grace is required to be able to sail through the new path without any hurdles.
Hari Aum Tat Sat.