Chapter X
The Yogis
Three stages of philosophic discovery
There are three steps in
the progression of philosophic enquiry (or Vedantic thought) in India: dualism,
qualified non-dualism, and non-dualism (dwaitha,
visishta-adwaitha, and adwaitha). It is not possible to advance
beyond these three steps by human endeavor. Non-dualistic thought is beyond the
reach of the common person; it is not so easily comprehensible.
To conceive it with the
intellect is itself hard. To experience it, a powerful faculty of penetration
is needed. Therefore, it is best to start with the dualist step and experience
it as the reality behind things; then, the second stage of qualified non-dualism
is rendered easier to reach.
The individual must progress as fast or as steadily as the community. We pass through boyhood, childhood, adolescence, youth, middle age, and old age; it is an imperceptible but inevitable progress. We experience each only when we are passing through it.
So, too, with these
three stages of philosophic discovery. Each view is latent in the rest, and
each proceeds out of the experience of the previous stage. It is not possible
to be aware of all three at the same time. Based on our spiritual discipline (sadhana) and the experiences gained
therefrom, each view- point comes into the consciousness and forms the spring of
action and thought.
Those who assert that the universe is real but declare at the same time that the existence of God is but a dream are only proving themselves foolish. For when the effect, namely the cosmos is real, it must have a cause — how can there be an effect with no cause?
God can be denied only
when the universe is denied. God can disappear only when the cosmos disappears.
What now appears as the cosmos is really God; this is the vision that true
spiritual aspirants will get when they succeed in their endeavor.
As a matter of fact, the
universe we experience is the dream. When we awake from the dream, the truth of
its being God will shine in the consciousness. From the be- ginning of time,
the God whom we posit outside ourselves has been the reality inside us also.
This truth will also become steady in the faith of people.
Meeting dogmatism and
fanaticism
Of course, no existing
philosophy can be satisfying to all types and levels of mental equipment. Each
has a distinct value. The stages of intellectual development or the powers of
reasoning are different from each other.
So, the three schools of
philosophical interpretation mentioned above (dualism, qualified dualism, non-dualism)
attain acceptance among different temperaments and different groups of people.
No one school has the right to claim superiority and impute inferiority. Only
those who are unwise will resort to such tactics.
When people approach us with fanatic views, we must meet them with a smile, eager and yearning, filled with devotion to God. One can get intoxicated, of course, but only because of quaffing the wine of love (prema).
When people frantic for work approach us, we must share our skill and strength and join with them in work. By this means, it is possible to bring harmony among followers of various faiths and philosophic thoughts. It will bring together schools of thought and belief.
If only this principle of harmony and harmonious cooperation would become a permanent asset of each person, how excellent it would be! How happy the world would have been if everyone had this knowledge that their viewpoint can at best be only partial and that it requires the harmonious commingling of many other facets to posit truth!
Essence
Readers can relate
today’s part of SSV easily with the previous post. Therefore, there is no need
to elaborate on today’s post.
Once after reading
today’s post, readers can refer back to the previous 2 posts and can then feel
the bliss within.
Love.
