A Universal Truth

Holy Spirit opens Kingdom of God (Sahasrara Chakra) from within "The Old Testament symbol becomes significant in Christianity when Christ suggests Kundalini awakening, not just for the tribe of Israel but as the true destiny of all Christians: "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even as the son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life" He says unequivocally in the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas and elsewhere, that The Holy Spirit is My Mother. The Kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21)." "Indeed, Jesus taught that his messiahship and the corresponding outpouring of the Spirit were firmly rooted in OT understanding (Luke 4:18ff., citing Isa. 61:1-2), and, similar to intertestamental Judaism, understood the messianic Spirit of the Lord to be the Holy Spirit (Matt. 12:32), the spirit which had foretold through the prophets

that the coming Messiah would inaugurate the age of salvation with the pouring out of the Spirit on all flesh." " Adi Sankaracharya He lived in the 7th-8th century AD. and wrote: "Having filled the pathway of the Nadis with the streaming shower of nectar flowing from the Lotus feet, having resumed thine own position from out of the resplendent Lunar regions and Thyself assuming the form of a serpent of three and a half coils, sleepest thou, in the hollow of Kula Kunda (Kula Kunda means the hollow of Mooladhara Sacrum bone)." "Saundarya Lahari: Thou art residing in secrecy with Thy Lord (The spirit) in the thousand petalled Lotus, having pierced through the Earth situated in Mooladhara, the Water in Manipura, the Fire abiding in the Svadhisthana, the Air in the Heart (Anahata), the Ether above (Visshuddhi) and Manas between the eyebrows (Agnya) and thus broken through the entire Kula Path." The word Kundalini is derived from a Sanskrit word Kundal meaning coiled up. It is the primordial dormant energy present in three-and-a-half, coils at the base of the spine in a triangular bone called the Sacrum. The Latin name Os Sacrum suggests that it is a holy or sacred part of the body. The ancient Greeks were aware of this and therefore they called it the Hieron Osteon, noting that it was the last bone to be destroyed when the body is burnt, and also attributed supernatural powers to it. Egyptians also held this bone to be very valuable and considered it the seat of special power. In the West, Sacrum is symbolised by the sign of Aquarius and by the Holy Grail, container of the water of life. The Kundalini, which is to nourish the tree of life within us, is coiled up like a serpent and therefore it has been called, The

Serpent Power. It has been described in great detail in the Upanishads. Kundalini Yoga is supposed to be supreme in all the Yogas. Guru Vashistha asserted that Kundalini is the seat of absolute knowledge. The awareness of the presence of this primordial energy Kundalini within the human body was considered by the sages and saints to be the highest knowledge. The Kundalini and Chakras have been vividly described in Vedic and Tantric texts. Gyaneshwara Gyaneshwara, another famous saint of Maharashtra born around 1275 AD, described Kundalini in the 6th chapter of his famous book Gyaneshwari. He wrote: Kundalini is one of the greatest energies. The whole body of the seeker starts glowing because of the rising of the Kundalini. Because of that, unwanted impurities in the body disappear. The body of the seeker suddenly looks very proportionate and the eyes look bright and attractive and the eyeballs glow. (Gyaneshwari, Chapter VI). Guru Nanak Dev Guru Nanak Dev (born in 1496 AD) has made references to Kundalini awakening as mentioned below: "A pure heart is the golden vessel to fill the Divine Nectar which is to be sucked from the Dasham Dwar through the two channels Ida and Pingala." Dasham Dwar means Brahmarandhra. (Sahasrara Chakra). "God has made this human body a house with six Chakras and has established the light of spirit in it. Cross the ocean of Maya and meet the eternal God who does not come, who does not go, who neither takes birth nor dies. When your six Chakras meet in line, Surati (Kundalini) takes you beyond distortions. (Sri Guru Granth). Note that the seventh Chakra was not open at this time."

In the Holy Koran Prophet Mohammed Sahib talked of the day of resurrection when he says that the hands will speak. That day, we set a seal on their mouths, but their hands will speak to us, and their hands bear witness to all that they did. When Kundalini awakening occurs, a flow of energy in the form of cool vibrations from the hands is experienced, and the various Chakras can be felt on parts of the hand and fingers. In the West Christians called it a reflection of the Holy Ghost, and worshipped its manifestations as tongues of flames over the heads of apostles during the Pentecost reunion. Moses Moses saw it in the form of the burning bush. During the exodus the Israelites lost faith and were smitten by fiery serpents so God told Moses "make thee a serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that everyone that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it on a pole, and it came to pass, that if a fiery serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived" An apt description of the healing qualities of the awakened Kundalini. Some of the Israelites even began to worship this symbol, and the practice of worshipping the brazen serpent on the pole as a god was either passed on, or was revived later. Bronze and stone serpent artifacts have been found in excavations in Canaan, Gezer and other parts of Israel! Jesus The Old Testament symbol becomes significant in Christianity when Christ suggests Kundalini awakening, not just for the tribe of Israel but as the true destiny of all Christians: "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even as the son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life" He says unequivocally in the Gnostic Gospel of

Thomas and elsewhere, that The Holy Spirit is My Mother. The Kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21). Tao In the Tao Te Ching the primordial power is described as that of a mother. Lao Tze described Kundalini as the "spirit of the valley" (in which flows the Nadi of Sushumna). The spirit of the valley never dies. The spiritual instrument within us can be described as a microcosm (miniature form of creation) which links us with the Divine. The ancient esoteric text "Scripture of the Golden Flower" also spoke of the effects of the awakened kundalini energy. Buddhism The Lord Buddha spoke of the "middle path" to achieve nirvana. He was actually describing the central channel (sushumna) through which the Kundalini ascends. Later Buddhist masters considered that the existence of the path of liberation within a human being was the greatest secret. They transmitted it to only a few deserving disciples. Other Cultures One also finds symbols of Kundalini in many different cultural legacies, such as Mercurys serpent which is an alchemical symbol for the process of psychic metamorphosis. The Gnostics understood the serpent to represent the spinal cord. In ancient Greek and later, Roman mythology, we find Asclepius, the god of healing. He is seen holding a staff which is entwined with a serpent (or sometimes two). Why did the Greeks relate this symbol to healing? The staff represents the central support of the human body or spinal cord (physical location of the sushumna. In Rome Aescaluius came to be represent mercury who usually held a healing staff called the Caduceus. The one or two coiled snakes or serpents entwined around the staff, represent the kundalini which rises along the central subtle channel in a spiral double helical movement. Summary The Kundalini is there to nourish, to heal and look after and to

give an individual a higher and deeper personality. The power of Kundalini is absolute purity, auspiciousness, chastity, self respect, pure love, detachment, concern for others and enlightened attention, to give infinite joy and peace to an individual. Knowledge of Reality Historical Sources and Knowledge of Kundalini (Issue 14) "A KABBALISTIC VIEW ON THE CHAKRAS by Rebekah Kenton This article places the chakras onto the diagram of the Tree of Life. The chakras are connections between the physical and psychological bodies. They are situated in the spinal column but their reflections can also be perceived as whirling discs in front of the body. As for the exact physical location points in the body, there is much literature available that deals with this in detail. My reference is Kundalini Tantra by Swami Satyananda Saraswati and all quotations are from this book. The physical aspects of the chakras have many implications for health and healing. However, from the Kabbalistic point of view it is more interesting to concentrate on the psychological aspect and evolving consciousness, and as such the chakras should be seen on the Jacob's Ladder on the psychological or Yeziratic Tree of Life. There are seven major chakras, but there are also numerous smaller chakras connected to and governed by them. Maybe that is why there are so many different views on the subject. I hope that relating the major chakras to the Kabbalistic scheme will help to clarify the underlying principles. According to the tradition, there are lower chakras that are responsible for the evolution of instinct in the animal kingdom

and no longer active or conscious in humans. In the animal body, these inferior chakras are situated in the legs. On the Tree they can be seen as Malkhut. There are also said to be higher chakras above the Crown, and these can be seen as different levels of the Beriatic Tree. Little can be said about them as they belong to the realm of no form. Paradoxically, the awakening of the chakras should start as high as Ajna or the Third Eye. One needs a degree of Wisdom and Understanding, a certain philosophical outlook and detachment, to be able to cope with the psychic phenomena that follow the awakening of the lower chakras. Mooladhara Chakra (Base); Yesod "The Sanskrit word moola means 'root or foundation' and that is precisely what this chakra is. Mooladhara is at the root of the chakra system and its influences are at the root of our whole existence. In tantra, Mooladhara is the seat of kundalini, the basis from which the possibility of higher Realization arises." The ordinary ego-mind of Yesod works and runs our lives more or less automatically. It is not until one takes steps towards spiritual development that this chakra awakens and its functions become conscious, which can be a painful experience. "All the passions are stored in Mooladhara, all the guilt, every complex and every agony has its root in Mooladhara chakra. It is so important for everybody to awaken this chakra and get out of it. Our lower karmas are embedded there, as in lower incarnations, one's whole being is founded on the sexual personality." The awakening of any chakra is rarely a sudden event. It may take several years or lifetimes. In order to move on from Mooladhara, one has to clear the barrier of ignorance, egocentricity, attachment to physical pleasures and material objects.

Swadhisthana Chakra (Sacral); Hod-Nezah Reaching Swadhisthana means that one is starting to penetrate the Hod-Nezah threshold of the unconscious. Usually one has to face the lowest manifestations first; there may be excessive fear (Hod) or sexual fantasies (Nezah). "This stage of evolution is known as Purgatory, and if you read the lives of many of the great saints, you will find that most of them encountered great turmoil and temptations when they were passing through this stage." It is interesting to note, that in traditional symbolism the animal related to Swadhisthana is a crocodile. It is here that we encounter the dragon as described in mythology and fairy-stories, in other words the unconscious aspects of our psyche that are preventing us from evolving. The way forward is keeping to the Path of Honesty. "One must have detachment, which is the outcome of a thorough analysis of the situations of life. To get beyond Swadhisthana you must improve the general background of your psycho-emotional life." Manipura Chakra (Navel or Solar Plexus); Tiferet "In the same way that the sun continually radiates energy to the planets, Manipura chakra radiates and distributes pranic energy throughout the entire human framework, regulating and energizing the activity of the various organs, systems and processes of life." Poorly functioning Manipura means lack of vitality, depression and ill health. If this is true regarding the physical body, the more important it is psychologically. Manipura or Tiferet is the Self, the midpoint of the psyche. "It is the centre of dynamism, energy, will and achievement and is often compared to the dazzling heat and power of the sun."

"When the consciousness evolves to Manipura, one acquires a spiritual perspective." This refers to the position of Tiferet as the Kingdom of Heaven. In Mooladhara and Swadhisthana the consciousness is still preoccupied with personal matters and resolving old karmas, but in Manipura one starts to realize the possibilities in becoming truly human. However at this level one may fall for money, sex and power instead of striving for truth, goodness and beauty. The temptations are becoming more subtle as one starts developing siddhis or psychic powers. Attachment to these powers often makes one believe one has "arrived", thus blocking further development. Anahata Chakra (Heart); Gevurah-Hesed Anahata operates at the level of the soul and symbolically relates to the awakening of the heart. It is important to remember the warning about the barrier: "The second psychic knot is located at this heart centre. It represents the bondage of emotional attachment, the tendency to live one's life making decisions on the strength of the emotions rather than in the light of the spiritual quest." Awakening this chakra is the key to fate and freewill. "Anahata chakra is almost completely beyond empirical dimensions. One depends solely upon the power of one's own consciousness rather than on anything that is external or concerning faith. In Anahata chakra, the freedom to escape from a preordained fate and to determine one's own destiny becomes reality." As such, it is said that there is a wish fulfilling tree in this chakra. It seems that awakening of a chakra follows the pattern of the Lightning Flash on the Tree. In Anahata the negative tendencies of Gevurah usually surface first, like fear and pessimistic attitudes towards life. One has to remember the power of wish fulfilling at this level in order not to manifest negative wishes. "It is

important to have a firm and alert control over the mental tendencies and fantasies of the mind." In order to move on, one needs to cultivate the qualities of Hesed. A positive way of thinking is vital. Also enjoying the arts at their best can be helpful. "Anahata chakra awakens refined emotion in the brain and its awakening is characterized by a feeling of universal, unlimited love for all beings." Vishuddhi Chakra (Throat); Da'at Besides Vishuddhi being described as the void in the tantra, there is also the knowledge aspect as in Kabbalah. "The more abstract aspect of Vishuddhi is the faculty of higher discrimination. Hence any communication received telepathically can be tested here for its correctness and accuracy. Similarly, Vishuddhi allows us to differentiate between Realization coming into our consciousness from the higher levels of knowledge, and the mere babblings of our unconscious mind and wishful thinking." Vishuddhi is also known as the 'nectar and poison centre'. This would mean 'death and transformation' in more familiar terms. The nectar is transcendental fluid, 'the Dew of Heaven'. "As long as Vishuddhi chakra remains inactive, this fluid runs downward unimpeded, to be consumed in the fire of Manipura, resulting in the processes of decay, degeneration and finally death in the body's tissues. When Vishuddhi is awakened the divine fluid is retained and utilized, becoming the nectar of immortality. The secret of youth and regeneration of the body lies in the awakening of Vishuddhi chakra." Vishuddhi is also the key to psychological regeneration. "At the level of Vishuddhi and above, even the poisonous and negative aspects of existence become integrated into the total scheme of being. They are rendered powerless as concepts of good and bad fall away. At this state of awareness the poisonous aspects and experiences of life are absorbed and transformed into a state of bliss."

Interconnected with Vishuddhi chakra is Bindu Visarga. Very little is known and written about it as it is beyond the realm of all conventional experience. On the Jacob's Ladder it would relate to the Yesod of Beriah, which underlies the Daat of Yezirah. "Bindu is a trap-door opening in both directions." It is said to be the origin of manifest individuality. "From this point or seed an object, an animal, a human being or whatever, can arise and manifest. Each and every object has a Bindu as its base. That which was previously formless assumes shape through the Bindu, and its nature is fixed by the Bindu as well." Ajna Chakra (The Third Eye); Binah-Hokhmah Ajna is the chakra of higher intellect. "Ajna is the witnessing centre where one becomes the detached observer of all events, including those within the body and mind. Here the level of awareness is developed whereby one begins to 'see' the hidden essence underlying all visible appearances. When Ajna is awakened, the meaning and significance of symbols flashes into one's conscious perception and intuitive knowledge arises effortlessly." "Up until Ajna chakra awakens, we are under delusions. It is only after awakening of Ajna chakra that the laws of cause and effect can be known. Thereafter your whole philosophical attitude and approach to life changes." As said, it is very important to develop the qualities of Binah and Hokhmah already at the very beginning of one's spiritual journey. "Only those who have reason and understanding are able to cope." It would seem that the awakening of the Ajna chakra follows the sequence of the Lightning Flash, activating first the Binah and then the Hokhmah aspect of this level. It is said that from Ajna there is only a short way to Sahasrara or enlightenment; from Hokhmah we would see how to get there. Sahasrara Chakra (Crown); Keter

Sahasrara is actually not considered to be a chakra; it is the source of the chakras. "It is the crown of expanded awareness. The power of the chakras does not reside in the chakras themselves, but in Sahasrara. The chakras are only switches. All the potential lies in Sahasrara." Patanjali classifies samadhi or enlightenment in three different stages. This would correspond to the position of the Keter of Yezirah on Jacob's Ladder overlapping the Tiferet of Beriah and the Malkhut of Azilut. "Sahasrara is both formless and with form, yet it is also beyond, and therefore untouched by form." There are many descriptions about enlightenment, but ultimately it is not possible to define such an experience. "Super-mental awareness is not a point; it is a process, a range of experience. Just as the term 'childhood' refers to a wide span of time, in the same way, samadhi is not a particular point of experience but a sequence of experiences which graduate from one stage to another." In the course of one's development, the chakras may be only partially or temporarily awakened. They can also awaken independently from each other and do not necessarily follow the traditional sequence. In Kabbalah, an individual whose all chakras have fully and permanently awakened would be called the Messiah." Rebekah Kenton (Rebekah Kenton, www.kabbalahsociety/chakras) KUNDILINI "Inner cleansing techniques, channeling the energy to raise the Kundalini to the Tenth Gate, inhaling, exhaling and holding the breath by the force of the mind; by empty hypocritical practices, love for the Lord is not produced. Only through the Shabad is the sublime supreme essence obtained (sggs 1043). The Kundilini rises in the Sat Sangat, the

company of true and wise; through the Gur-Shabad, they enjoy the Lord of Supreme Bliss. The Supreme Guru is the Lord over all; so serve the True Guru, in thought, word and deed (sggs 1402). The Primordial Energy resides in all bodies as Kundilini. Although the name Kundilini is mentioned in the Gurbani (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS), however, in order to understand it, one needs to reflect on the related six Chakras (rings), the five Kosa or sheaths, the "three bodies", the three states of consciousness, and the five elements, as well as their interrelationship. THE FIVE KOSA An individual's personality consists of Panch Kosa or five sheaths. These five sheaths are: Annamaya Kosa or food sheath Pranamaya Kosa or vital-air sheath Manomaya Kosa or mental sheath Viganamaya Kosa or intellectual sheath Anandamaya Kosa or bliss sheath These five sheaths are briefly described as follows. The physical body is called the food sheath. As the name implies, the physical structure arises out of food, exists in food, after death goes back to become food for other living organisms. This sheath consists of the five organs of perception and five organs of action. The vital-air sheath represents the internal physiological functions of the body. This sheath consists of five faculties: (1) Prana or perception, (2) Apana or excretion, (3) Samana or digestion, (4) Vyana or circulation, and (5) Udana or thinking. This sheat controls and regulates the food sheath. With age, all five faculties become weaker. The next is the mental sheath which controls and regulates the food sheath and the vital-air sheath. The mind is always in the

state of flux. It is the source of emotions and feelings. The mental sheath is controlled by the next sheath called intellectual sheath, which is the seat of judgment, decision, and directed thinking. The next is called the bliss sheath. This is the innermost or subtlest of the five sheaths, which regulates the intellectual sheath. It consists of Vasanas (innate tendencies or undogested desires) before they become manifest into thoughts and actions. THREE BODIES For true understanding of the totality of the subjective life of man, the ancient sages revealed that the five sheaths mentioned above constitute the human personality, which also consists of "three bodies". These three bodies are used for experiencing the outside world of objects in various states of consciousness. These three bodies are: Sthula Sarira or Gross Body ( or Asthool) Suksma Sarira or Subtle Body (or Sookham) Karana Sarira or Causal Body. The gross or physical body is made up of five elements, ten senses, the five vital airs (Paraanas), and four subtle inner faculties namely mind, intellect, consciousness, and egoity. The subtle body is made up of the mind, intellect, consciousness, egoity, and five elements. As the name implies, the causal body is the cause of other two bodies. The gross body consists of the food sheath and the vital-air sheath. It is made of five elements: space, air, fire, water, earth. Through this gross body we contact the outer world to gather stimuli for our experiences. The mental and intellectual sheaths together constitute the subtle body. The subtle body is made up of thoughts. In other words, the mind and the intellect is the subtle body.

The bliss sheath constitutes the causal body. It consists of vasnas in unmanifest form. The causal body is the Maya attached to the Jiva . Due to ignorance, the Jiva remains attached to it, whereby, becomes separated from its true Self. To put it otherwise, our actions constitute the causal body. Sookham asthool sagal Bhgawaan - The auspicious Master is contained everywhere including Sukshma and Sthula (sggs 299). THREE STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS Through spiritual inquiries, the sages recognized that the three bodies are active in experiencing the outside world through the three facets of life, the state of waking (Jaagrat), the state of dream (Swapna), and the state of deep sleep (Sushupti). Even though the Aatmaa (ego, consciousness or Self) is the same in all states; but, due to material conditioning, we act differently in these states as though we in ourselves are three different entities. In other words, the Infinite consciousness is one and the same, the Reality is one and the same, though it functions differently in the three planes of existence and, in these three states, it seems to gain three different sets of experiences. Accordingly, the waker in us seems to act different than the dreamer in us, and the ego manifesting through the sleeper in us seems to act different from both the waking and dream-state in us. Chaare Beda kathahi vakhiaan. Teen avasthaa kahahi vakhiaan. Turiya Avasthaa satigur te jaan: The four Vedas describe the world of objects. They explain and expound three states of consciousness. The Turiya Avasthaa, the Fourth state of consciousness, is known through the True Guru (sggs 154). The first state called waking-state-ego, results from the ego enjoying the expression of consciousness through the gross body. In the waking-state-ego, we are aware of our body, mind, and experiences gained in the external world of the sense-objects. To

put it otherwise, in the waking-state the consciousness becomes dissipated through the mind and the sense organs in the external world of sense-objects and registers knowledge of them. That is all. To put it otherwise, while awake, the only enjoy known to man is these five fields of the objects of the five cognitive senses; forms, taste, sounds, smells, and touches. Hence, conditioned consciousness (false ego) confounded itself with the frame of the body, seeing through the ignorance of its own True Nature, perceives a world of sense-objects, and thus deluded by its own false perceptions, experiences the waking-state. Our knowledge of the world-of-objects in this state is the sum total of our perceptions gathered through our senses. The second field of consciousness, the dream-state-ego, results from the play of consciousness in the subtle body. When the same awareness playing in the outer world-objects withdraws and identifies itself with the subtle body, it creates a distinct personality called the dreamer, who has for its sphere of activity the world of dreams. In other words, the state of dreamer is created when the consciousness is withdrawn from the gross body and it fuctionts through the subtle body. As the dreamer is unaware of the gross body, he functions in the world of dreams, because he is conscious only of the inner world of objects. The dream world is nothing but a mental creation of the dreamer himself. During the waking-state, the mind experiences the world of sense-objects and gathers impressions. During the dreamstate, one part of the dreamer's mind observes these impressions in another portion of his own mind! In the third state, the deep-sleep-state-ego, the sleeper does not desire any sense-objects, nor does he see any dreams. It is the withdrawing of consciousness from the gross (waking) and subtle (dream) bodies and functioning through the causal body that creates the state of deep-sleep. In other words, this state takes place when we are conscious of neither body nor the mind, therefore it is a state of living in which usual instruments of cognition are closed down! Here the Self identifies Itself with the causal body which is made up of nescience. The only thing we

experience in deep-sleep-state is utter ignorance or negativity; for there is neither form, nor sound, nor smell, nor taste, nor touch. It illumines nothing in particular, except the one single idea: "nothingness". Here in the deep-sleep-state-ego, thus, the entire consciousness available in the human form is consolidated and conserved. As a result, there is no agitation in the mind, because none of the forces that create mental agitation and sorrows in the waking and dream states are present here. Therefore, in this state of homogeneous solid mass of pure consciousness, the Jeeva experiences complete joy and bliss, by means of the subtle nescience. It is the gateway (cause) for the projection of consciousness into other two states of consciousness, the dream and the waking. For example, when the consciousness from the sleep-state is projected upwards, it illuminates the dream-state, and again, when the projection increases and come to the outer world, the same consciousness makes it possible for us to know the external world of senseobjects outside, in the waking-state-ego. The waking-state-ego and the dream-state-ego are conditioned by both cause and effect. Ignorance or non-apprehension of the Reality is the cause, and the resulting phenomenal world of names and forms is the effect. In the dream-state-ego, although we are unaware of the world of outer gross objects, but we are aware of the world of plurality or inner objects. The deep-stateego is different than the waking and dream states in that it is conditioned by only the cause. Again, ignorance of the Self is the cause which gives rise to plurality, finitude, doubts, limitedness, and misunderstanding. There are no effects in the deep-sleep state as we are unaware of the multiple world of phenomenon. Teeni biaapahi jagat kayu turiya paavai koyi: The world is in the grip of the three; only a few attain the Fourth state of consciousness, Turiya Avasthaa (sggs 297). The Self, which is absolute bliss, is the witness of the three states of consciousness (i.e., the Self is common factor present in all three states). The true nature of the Self is pure, absolute bliss.

Then, what inhibits us from realizing this Self, our true nature? As gurbani says, our pure Self is covered by the layers of material contamination or undigested vasnas. These layers are created by our delusion caused by our false association with the mundane world. As a result, we constantly try to find bliss in the outer world. These efforts provide us temporary joy, followed by long spells of miseries and sorrows. Realization of this Pure Self (i.e., the "witness") is called the Traya, Chauthaa Pada or the Fourth state. CHAKRAS OR SUBTLE CENTERS It is said that the soul enters into matter as a spark of omnipotent life and consciousness. Its instruments are subtle and causal in nature. The soul enters the primal cell of life wearing two forms: a causal body, which in turn is encased in a subtle body. As the name implies, the causal body is the cause of subtle and gross bodies. Thus, the soul is encased in these three bodies. The powers in the various elements of the subtle body help build, maintain, and enliven the gross physical form. The yogis mention that the centers of life and consciousness from which these powers function are the subtle brain ("lotus" of rays of light or vibration), and the subtle cerebrospinal axis (or sushumna) containing six Chakras (rings) or subtle centers. Khat nem kar kothree baandhee bastu anoop beech paayee The Creator has fashioned this body chamber with six rings (chakras), and placed within it the incomparable thing - that is soul (sggs 339, ln 12). Ultat pawan chakra khat bhede surti sun anuraagee I turned my breath inwards, and pierced through the six chakras of the body, and my awareness was centered on the Primal Void of the Absolute Lord ( sggs 333, ln 3). Also known as the six psychic centers, the five Chakras are located in the spine, and the sixth Chakra is located in the medulla. These are the subtle centers of the superconsciousness. The six subtle centers mentioned by the yogis and the seven planes of consciousness described in the Vedas are essentially the

same. More specific location of these six subtle centers, and their associated functions, elements, and cosmic sounds (for Chakras located in the spine) are briefly summarized as follows: The top most Chakra or subtle center is located in the Medulla. It is located in the brain between eyebrows (seat of the single or spiritual eye), and the top of the cerebrum ("lotus" of rays of light). This is the powerhouse of life force and consciousness. It supplies power to the subtle centers. Cervicial or Vishudha center is located in the spine opposite to the throat. Its associated element is ether. This center produces the sense of hearing. It maintains the etheric background of the body, and its work produces the musical cosmic sound (Dhuni) of ocean rumbling. Dorsal or Anahata center is located in the spine opposite to the heart. Associated element is air, its work produces the bell-like or gong sound. It enables the oxygen and the prana or life energy in the body to combine with the physical cells, and is also responsible for the sense of touch. Lumber or Manipur center is located in the spine opposite to the naval. Associated element is fire, its work produces the harplike sound. Its function is to produce the sense of sight, and to maintain the heat of the body. Sacral or Savdhirthan center is located in the spine opposite to the generative organs. The associated element is water, it sustains all the watery substances in the body, and is responsible for the sense of taste. Its work makes the sound of a flute. Coccygeal or Mooldhar center is located at the base of the spine. The associated element is earth, and it makes a sound of a buzzing bee. It is responsible for the solidifying of the primal life force into atoms of flesh, and for producing the sense of smell. The scriptures reveal that the human body is made by five

elements (i.e., ether, air, water, earth, and fire). As indicated above, the five subtle centers located in the spine are associated with five different vibratory elements, functions, and musical cosmic sounds (Dhuni). The sixth medulla center, located above the five spinal centers, continuously recharges with life and consciousness all the sub-powerhouses of vibratory elements. The soul, the pure image of God (Jot Saroop), reigns in the center of the astral region of medulla, frontal part of brain between the eyebrows (single or spiritual eye), and at the top of the cerebrum ("lotus" of rays of light or vibration). In deep meditation, the devotee goes beyond the physical sounds, and begins to hear five sounds of subtle forces. The Gurbani narrates all this so beautifully as follows: Mastak padam dualai mani. Mahi niranjan tribhavan dhani. Panch sabad nirmaail baje on the forehead is the Lotus and around it are the jewels (or rays of light). In the center is Pure Lord, the Master of the three worlds; the melody of the five pure sounds resounds there (sggs 974). One cannot see these Chakras with the physical eyes. Also, one cannot take them out by cutting the body. How mystic the human body really is! KUNDILINI With the help of the above background, we can now try to understand Kundilini. The lowest of the six subtle centers is the coccygeal center, which is located at the bottom of the spine. As mentioned by the yogis, all the subtle powers of consciousness and life force flowing downward from the higher centers into the coccygeal center come into physical manifestation through the channel of this lower center. As the life force flows outward from the coccygeal center, it creates and sustains the region of flesh, bones, blood, marrow, organs, nerves, veins, arteries, glands, muscles, skin, and so forth. Kundilini is this coiled creative life force at the base of astral spine

(Mooldhar center). Due to its coiled form of a sleeping serpent, it is symbolized as a snake. When this life force is allowed to flow down due to mental delusion, its stinging venom causes the man to enjoy evil passions. In deep meditation or devotion, when a devotee turns this creative force inward and commands it to flow upward back to its source in the "lotus" of light, it reveals the resplendent inner world of the divine forces and consciousness of the soul and Spirit. The flowing of this power from the coccyx to the Spirit is referred in Yoga or devotion as the awakened Kundilini. In other words, when the spiritual power (born of divine ardor and dispassion) is lifted upward, it opens or awakens the five spinal centers. The purpose of human life is to reverse the flow of consciousness by directing it ascend upward until it unites with the "lotus" of rays of light in the highest center of brain. According to sages, the consciousness of man is identified with the three lower centers of the spine (coccygeal, sacral, and lumbar), which operates under karmic laws. The liberated man (Jivanmukta) rises above the subtle centers and penetrates to the highest center of the brain. Here the devotee beholds his soul as a true reflection of the perfect Spirit, beyond everything. He is transformed into divine bliss. Kundilini can be awakened or released either by yoga system or by the path of Bhagti. Awakening of Kundilini by the yoga system include yogi exercises or Pranayama. The path of the Bhagti includes the practice of loving devotion, joining the Saadh Sangat or the company of the true and the wise ones, and chanting God's Name. In Saadh Sangat, one attains self-control and mental purity necessary for awakening the Kundilini. For the speedy awakening of Kundilini, the path of Bhagti is proclaimed by the spiritual masters to be more practical, simple and effective for this age of Kal Yuga (Dark Age). Kundilini surjhi sat sangat parmanand guru mukh machaa through the association with saintly souls, the Kundilini ia awakened, and the Lord of supreme bliss is enjoyed (sggs

1402). Ih man nirmal je har gun gavai By singing Lord's glories, this mind becomes immaculate (sggs 1067).Amrit ras kirtan har gayeeai ahinis pooran naad The singing of nectar-sweet praises of the Lord day and night, one enjoys the Anhad Naad or celestial music (sggs 1219). Naam lait anhad poore naad (sggs 1144, ln 8). The realized beings urge that God cannot be realized unless the Kundilini is awakened. The state of awakened Kundilini is called by many names in the Gurbani as follows: Opening of Dasam Duar or the Tenth Gate Self-realization Realization of the Spirit Hearing of Panch Shabad or Anhad Naad Attainment of Eternal Bliss Being established in the "True House" Liberation from the three modes of Maya Jivanmukata or liberated while living Complete absorption in devotion or Bhakti Attainent of the Fourth state or Chautha Pad, etc. A skeptic or one with perverted understanding may question all of this, as well as he may also question as to how the sages knew such mysteries of this human body. Baabaa Nanak offers the answer to such skeptics as follows: "Suneeai jog jugat tan bhed" - by hearing God's name the mortal understands the ways of uniting with the Lord and the body's secrets (sggs 2)! Tara Singh, Reflections on Gurbani (T. Singh, Reflections on Gurbani: www.gurbani.org/webart6)

QUOTES OF SHRI MATAJI

Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi The evolutionary step of Self-Realization is referred to in all of the great religions. Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi

"Sahaj has a very special meaning spontaneously. You do not have to exert. You do not have to go into a penance or work it out. In a Sahaj way you can do it. Sahaj also means easy. You can have it in your heart, all these qualities, without any difficulty whatsoever. Its the easiest thing for you to be righteous, than to be otherwise. Its easier for you to be honest than to be otherwise. So this specialty that you have got is the vision of all the saints, of all the prophets, of all the seers, of all the incarnations is you." Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi Shivaratri Puja, Glen Rock Australia, 29 February 1992 ADDITIONAL QUOTES

Sufism the Way of the Heart Sufism is known as the Way of the Heart, the Way of the Pure, the Mystical Path of Islam. By whatever name it is called, it is the path which takes the seeker to the Divine Presence. In essence Sufism is a means and a way by which the seeker will move from the gravity of his or her lower self, to ascend, with the assistance of a mystical guide, and through the methods and practices defined by the Way he or she has chosen, to the state wherein the Vision of God is presented to her or him. The ways to God are as numerous as the breaths of mankind. Each individual person has his or her own, personal and private way to the Divine Presence. Each person is a unique representative of the Divine. The Sufis say, "If human beings knew their own inner secrets, never would they look elsewhere for seeking happiness, peace and inner light." Therefore the essence of the Path is to find oneself. "Know thyself, know thy Lord!" is an imperative of the Sufi Way. As beings endowed with the Divine Light, we are the custodians and maintainers of all that is of benefit for the personality of humankind, the protection of the planet, and for connecting with our inner childlike self. It is this spiritual connection that enables human beings to draw from the universal flow of energy which penetrates every interstice of this universe, and to channel it towards healing and soothing the body and souls of our sisters and brothers on this tiny green planet, floating like a sparkling sapphire in the depths of space. Among human beings, there must always exist those, whom through Divine Grace, have received their Trusts from God in this worldly life. They move about in the world as if they were part of it, yet inside, their hearts and souls are in the Divine Presence. If they ask of God, their request is accepted, and if they look at mankind, it is always with the eye of mercy to those less fortunate than themselves. They are known as the Friends of God, called Awliya in Sufism. It is Sufism which is related to them

and they are product of Sufism. On the Path to the Divine, one must, as a member of the family of humanity, be accompanied by one's brethren of the Path. With them, as with all creatures of God, there is a special manner of conduct and a way with which one keeps their respect and their love. Celebrating the advent of the Beloved of the Divine is a source of joy and celebration for human beings, who are seeking always a perfect, enlightened individual to show them the ways to God. The recollection of the Divine is one of the illuminating ways to ascend towards the station of Unity and Perfection. Through the recollection of the Names and Attributes of the Divine those attributes and characteristics will adorn the seeker, causing his or her essence to attain purity and her or his outward form to be adorned with Divine Radiance. Shaykh Mumammad Hisham Kabbani, Sufism: The Way of the Heart

In Kabbalah study, Judaism comes closest to the systems of the Eastern religions, particularly in its teachings on emanation and the male and female principles. The Kabbalistic Tree of Life containing the 10 sephirot and their many interconnecting paths is formed into three columns, one feminine, one masculine, and one middle column mediating the other two. This is comparable to the ida and pingala surrounding the central sushumna nadi of kundalini yoga, the yin-yang of Taoism, the Shiva and Shakti of Hinduism, and the yab-yum of Tantric Buddhism. Many Kabbalists conceive of God as embodying both male and female energies, which were divided during creation as part of the process of emanation. They speak of shekhinah, which in traditional Judaism means the divine presence on Earth, as the feminine aspect or mystical bride of God.

P. Occhiogrosso, The Joy of Sects (Judaism)

The sephirot, the Kabbalahs tree of life of Old Jewish wisdom. As in the kundalini the key to higher reality comes via ascent through various levels of wisdom to God who, in effect, descends the tree of life to meet you. Originally numbering 22, after Christianity the highest branches of the tree were pruned to connect up to the World Soul. The hierarchical structure of the universe and its divisions into spheres that overlie one another like onionskin was common since the day of Aristotle. Anthony Aveni, Behind the Crystal Ball

By the Fig and the Olive, [6195] and the Mount of Sinai, And this City of Security [6198] we have indeed created man in the best of moulds. surah 95:1-4 Al Tin (The Fig) 6195. For the sacred symbolism of the Olive, see n. 2880 to 23.20, and notes 3000-3002 to 24:35, where the parable of Allahs Light includes a reference to the Olive. . . . 6198. Having discussed the four symbols in detail, let us consider them together. It is clear that they refer to Allahs Light or Revelation, which offers man the highest destiny if he will follow the Way. Makkah stands for Islam, Sinai for Israel, and the Mount of Olives for Christs original and pure Message. It has been suggested that the Fig stands for the Ficus Indica, the Bo-tree, under which Gautama Buddha obtained Nirvana. I hesitate to adopt the suggestion, but if accepted it would cover pristine Buddhism and the ancient Vedic religions from which it was an

offshoot. In this way all the great religions of the world would be indicated." Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Holy Quran

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and last. Blessed are they who do His commandments, that they may have right to the Tree of Life, And may enter in through the Gates of the City. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever love and makes a lie. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto thee these things in the churches. I am the root and offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is athirst come, and whosoever will, let him take the Waters of Life freely. Revelations 22:13-17 Tree of Life: The subtle system consisting of nadis, chakras and Sahasrara. Gates: The very narrow Agnya chakra located at the optic chiasma where resides the Universal Savior Shri Jesus Christ. City: The Sahasrara, Thousand-Petalled Lotus, or Kingdom of God. Without: Drumbeat of Death and Decay Churches: "Once there was a single Christian group, Jesus of Nazareths tiny band of twelve apostles; now there are

thousands. It has been estimated that there are some twenty-two thousand separate and distinct Christian groups around the world." (Charles Templeton, Farewell to God, The Canadian Publishers, 1996 p. 130.) Spirit: God-Almighty, Sadashiva, Allah, Yahweh the Father (masculine). Bride: Holy Spirit, Adi Shakti, Ruh, Shekinah the Mother (feminine). Waters of Life: "Water is a very holy thing. . . This is the time of Aquarius means the Kundalini is made of Divine Water." Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi Gruha Lakshmi, Diwali Puja, U.K. November 1, 1981

The Shekhinah is a Talmudic concept representing God's dwelling and immanence in the created world. It was equated with the "Keneset Yisrael," the personified spirit of the People of Israel. According to a Rabbinic tradition, the Shekhinah shares in the exiles of the Jewish people. Therefore, the redemption of the people of Israel is inextricably linked to the remedying of an alienation within God him/herself, introducing a bold new element into traditional Jewish Messianic eschatology. It is through the Shekhinah that humans can experience the Divine. The passivity of the Shekhinah is often emphasized (equated with its femininity), as the recipient of forces from the higher Sefirot.

www.ucalgary.ca/

The Kabbalah is a vast body of esoteric knowledge that is extremely important in the Gnostic teachings. It originated far before this present humanity, during the time when the universe was brought into existence. Master Samael Aun Weor states that "the Kabbalah is lost in the night of the centuries, within the womb of Maha Kundalini, the Great Mother, where the universe was engendered." The Hebrew Kabbalah is comprised of three works - the Zohar, the Talmud, and the Sephir Yetzirah. These works are extremely profound, yet simply reading and studying them only introduces us to the exoteric, or intellectual, aspects of the Kabbalah. Gnosis stresses that one must become a practical, or esoteric, Kabbalist - one who consciously visits the higher realms that the Kabbalah speaks of, in order to actively participate in the processes of these worlds and to guide cosmic forces which shape events here on Earth. . . . It has been said that the Kabbalah was given to humanity after its fall, in order for humanity to be shown the path back to the Absolute. Master Samael Aun Weor tells us "there are two types of Kabbalists - Intellectual Kabbalists and Intuitive Kabbalists." Gnosis teaches and explains the practical aspects of the Kabbalah, and tells us how to prepare to receive the unwritten, or Intuitive, Kabbalah. It is only by becoming Intuitive Kabbalists, through the practice of these teachings, that we can eventually incarnate the Inner Christ and begin the long road back to the Absolute. www.home.earthlink.net/

The Spirit-- the fire and waters within-- goes on and on, as our exterior covering, our deliberate persona" is returned again and

again to the Earthen, alchemical cauldron from "which it arose. The snake is pure and complete life woven through a tapestry of time, and its molting skin" our brief creations and illusions, our temporal ego. Examples of the snake as the positive embodiment of life can be found in most pre-patriarchal societies. Coiled within the womb of the African Black Goddess images, wrapped around hp;r in her Celtic and Teutonic variations, held aloft jn rainbow colors by the Goddess Una in aboriginal Australia. The Summerian "Great Mother Serpent of Heaven". The Venzuelan Yaruro's Puana the snake, creator of all. The writhing passion of Quetzalcoatl.. the feathered serpent of Maya and Aztec. Snake-hearted Paghat of the Near East. The serpent and the planet-body, the snake and the female Earth, were seen as one inseparable entity. Thus for early Egyptians, the symbol of the cobra was the hieroglyph for the word "Goddess" , and from her comes the egg, Maat-- a word meaning both "matter" and "mother" . In conquering the feminine, the Earth, and the Earth religions, the successive systems made effective use of fear and guilt. The Hebrew patriarchs' destruction of "brazen serpents" was an attack on the self-motivated, self-actualized Earth, and its ability to joyously regenerate independence~ of human or supernatural, theocratic control. Along with the bronze snake of Moses, called Nehushtan, King Hezekiah also broke apart the images of Asherah, the Goddess- Lover of the Canaanites. Whenever nature is sanctified for its autonomy and continuity, the snake is revered as the imaging of this divinity. Likewise, where nature is held to be base, dirty and evil, the serpent is judged impure and idolatrous, deceptive and demonic. The killing of snakes, both symbolic and real, accompanies the disenfranchisement, and the disempowerment of Nature. In the Judeo- Christian tradition, the serpent lies and beguiles, seduces and tricks us with its imagery of sacred holism, of perfection without redemption, of Spirit with no need of salvation. . . .

"Everyone knows the serpent is not really dead, but repressed; the paranoid patriarchal obcession with law and order is the necessary mechanism of this repression." --Barbara Mor By affirming the existence of snakes, we affirm outlaw life. In the Yogic traditions, the energy of .life and transformation is known as Kundalini. It is the serpent energy resting at the base of the spine, the sexual chakra. It spirals in a timeless state, a unifying fire, extending upwards to that atrophied portion of the modern brain, the source of shared instincts and dreamtime.. the reptilian cortex. The spine is the conduit for the life-force, the trunk of the sacred tree again. It is the arousal of the Kundalini serpent power that reunites the false dualities of Yahweh--good vs. evil, spirit vs. matter, body vs. soul. It is our conscious retrieval by the Garden of Oneness. It is the re-membering of ourselves, and our-selves as the planet-body, Gaia. With Kundalini, we have Nature, and human nature, on the rise. With Oroboros, the snake with its tail in its mouth, we have a complete circle, a corporal homecoming. Here is the source of mantism, telepathy, intuition and healing-the powers of the Earth :O know itself, and to cure itself. It is the feathered serpent Quetzalcoatl, breaking free from the hardening concrete. It is soft, not slimy. It is a blessing. It is a teacher. It is Nature, calling on us to look where we walk, to look down at the Earth and those voiceless soothsayers living closest to it. www.penbay.org/

Intuition is a "pure" state, a state in which we are able to experience life directly for ourselves. In this pure state, we do not need mental labels of constructs for anything we are seeing. A similar process has been described through the process of alchemy in medieval Europe. The alchemists sought a state of

spiritual purity known as "gold." The process of alchemical transformation which leads to this state parallels the process of kundalini. In the process of the upward movement of Shakti, spiritual and psychic gifts begin to manifest. These are known to Hindus as "siddhis." Examples of these siddhis are clairvoyance, psychic dreams, telepathy, out of body experiences and telekinesis. Levitation has even been reported in some cases. Many people believe that most great spiritual masters and saints throughout all cultures had active kundalini moving through them. It is my assertion that through judging mental illness as "bad" and "undesirable" we are not open at all to the gifts that these disorders have to offer. Also, it is the intellectual arrogance of our culture that leads us to fear insanity, because we have been told all of our lives that it is essential to rely on our minds. In actuality, by relying on our minds, we are preventing ourselves from discovering our spiritual and psychic possibilities which are present through intuition. This realization will help mankind to usher in the "Age of Intuition." The power of the Goddess has come to reclaim what is hers. She has always been the earth, the garden of Eden, the sacred womb that contains the divine blood, the Holy Grail. She has come to bring her children home. She has come to help humanity evolve. She holds the power of transformation and healing in her womb. The trinity of the father, the son and the holy ghost is actually the father, the son and the Mother. The mother (Shakti) is deep asleep inside of all of us. She has been put to sleep by our education, our religion, everything we have been taught about what the world is. She has been called crazy and weak when actually she is wise and strong. We have learned to fear her, when actually she offers our path to salvation. From within her womb comes life. She holds the DNA, the secrets to what makes us who we are and how our full potential may manifest.

The garden of Eden holds the Tree of Life. God said "Do not eat from this tree, or you will die. The tree contains the knowledge of good and evil." What is the knowledge of good and evil? It is judgment. Without this knowledge, there is no judgment because all is good, as it was in the beginning. After we begin to judge, Eden disappears. The great loving, all accepting Mother of Eden vanishes from sight. And to top it all off, the responsibility for this sad banishment has been placed on the Woman. How convenient, since to do so places judgment on the Female herself? It is the only logical way to seal off the soul from accessing the Female again. It is the locked gate to the garden. The Garden is within us and it is all around us. The way back through the gate is to reverse all of our judgments about everything we know. This is the way back home. In releasing our judgments, we are able to reclaim the power of the Feminine into our lives and souls. The Tree of Life is like a Parasite, the program that has been instilled into us from birth, complete with all of its judgments. As we unravel the judgments, Eden reappears and welcomes us home. The Tree of Life is often symbolized by two snakes coiled around a tree, much like a DNA strand, which contains the "program" that makes us who we are. As we unravel the old program, we are free to rebuild ourselves any way we choose, reclaiming our Divine creative force. In order to do this, we must ultimately destroy the old program and create a new one. This completely new DNA program is the Kundalini energy, also symbolized by two snakes coiled around a staff, the "serpents of fire" which have burned away all remnants of the past persona. The Kundalini energy has been referred to as the body's natural healing and regenerative energy. The ancient shamans of most cultures used the symbol of the snake to represent their spiritual healing powers. Shiva and Shakti is the kundalini are also represented as snakes. The Toltec God, Quetzacoatl, or "feathered serpent" is the same symbol as that of the mating of Shiva and Shakti, the newly evolved being which results from the process of kundalini, which is represented

by the wings of freedom at the top of our symbol for medicine. The Nahautl word for shaman, nagual, comes from the word "Nagal" which describes a class of serpent guardian spirits. The word "Naga" is the Sanskrit word for "serpent" and it represents cosmic power. It is fascinating that the root of the Mexican word for shaman, "nagual" is the same as the Hindu Sanskrit word for serpent. The Garden is the Kingdom of God. It is Heaven on Earth and we are creating it today. The power of the Goddess has come to reclaim what is hers. All we must do is to willingly surrender the knowledge of good and evil by releasing judgment. We can begin to do this by releasing our judgments regarding the mentally ill, about what are "good" and "bad" ways to conceptualize and perceive the world. This realization will release the natural healing power of our intuitive process. www.laurapaxton.com/

Imperishable is the Lord of Love. As from a blazing fire thousands of sparks leap forth, So millions of beings arise from the Lord of Love and return to him. The Lord of Love is above name and form. He is present in all and transcends all. Unborn, without body and without mind, From him comes every body and mind, He is the source of space, air, fire, water, and the earth that holds us all. Fire is his head, the sun and moon his eyes, The heavens his ears, the scriptures his voice, The air his breath, the universe his heart, and the earth his footrest. The Lord of Love is the innermost Self of all.

From him comes the fire that burns in the sun; From the sky lit by sun and moon comes rain; From rain comes food, from food the sexual seed; All finally come from the Lord of Love. From him come the scriptures, chants, and prayers, Religious rites and sacrificial gifts; From him come work, time, and givers of gifts, And all things under the sun and moon. From him come the gods of the natural world, Men, beasts, and birds, and food to nourish them; From him come all spiritual disciplines, Meditation, truth, faith, and purity. From him come the seven organs of sense, Seven hot desires and their sevenfold objects. And the seven levels of consciousness In the cavern of the heart. From him come all the seas and the mountains, The rivers and the plants that support life. As the innermost Self of all, he dwells Within the cavern of the heart. The Lord of Love is the one Self of all. He is detached work, spiritual wisdom, And immortality. Realize the Self hidden in the heart, and cut asunder the knot of ignorance here and now. Bright but hidden, the Self dwells in the heart. Everything that moves, breathes, opens and closes lives in the Self. He is the source of love and may be known through love but not through thought. He is the goal of life. Attain this goal!

The shining Self dwells hidden in the heart. Everything in the cosmos, great and small, Lives in the Self. He is the source of life, Truth beyond the transience of this world. He is the goal of life. Attain this goal! Take the great bow of the sacred scriptures, Place it on the arrow of devotion; Then draw the bowstring of meditation And aim at the target, the Lord of Love. The mantram is the bow, the aspirant Is the arrow, and the Lord the target. Now draw the bowstring of meditation, And hitting the target be one with him. In his robe are woven heaven and earth, Mind and body. Realize him as the One Behind the many and stop all vain talk. He is the bridge from death to deathless life. Where all the nerves meet like spokes in a wheel, There he dwells, the One behind the many. Meditate upon him in the mantram. May he guide us from death to deathless life! He knows everyone and sees everything. It is his glory that fills the cosmos. He resides in the city of the heart. It is his power that moves body and mind. May he guide us from death to deathless life! When he is seen within us and without, He sets right all doubts and dispels the pain Of wrong actions committed in the past. In the golden city of the heart dwells The Lord of Love, without parts, without stain.

Know him as the radiant light of lights. There shines not the sun, neither moon nor star. Nor flash of lightning, nor fire lit on earth. The Lord is the light reflected by all. He shining, everything shines after him. The Lord of Love is before and behind. He extends to the right and to the left. He extends above; he extends below. There is no one here but the Lord of Love. He alone is; in truth, he alone is. Like two golden birds perched on the selfsame tree Intimate friends, the ego and the Self Dwell in the same body. The former eats the sweet and sour fruits of the tree of life While the latter looks on in detachment. As long as we think we are the ego, We feel attached and fall into sorrow. But realize that you the Self, the Lord Of life, and you will be freed from sorrow. When you realize that you are the Self, Supreme source of light, supreme source of love, You transcend the duality of life and enter into the unitize state. The Lord of Love shines in the hearts of all. Seeing him in all creatures, the wise Forget themselves in the the service of all. The Lord is their joy, the Lord is their rest; Such as they are the lovers of the Lord. By truth, meditation, and self-control One can enter into this state of joy And see the Self shining in a pure heart. Truth is victorious, never untruth. Truth is the way; truth is the goal of life, Reached by sages who are free from self-will.

The effulgent Self, who is beyond thought, Shines in the greatest, shines in the smallest, Shines in the farthest, shines in the nearest, Shines in the secret chamber of the heart. Beyond the reach of the senses is he, But not beyond the reach of a mind stilled Through the practice of deep meditation. Beyond the reach of words and works is he, But not beyond the reach of a pure heart Freed from the sway of the senses. Sages are granted all the help they need In everything they do to serve the Lord. Let all those who seek their own fulfillment Love and honor the illumined sage. The wise have attained the unitize state, And see only the resplendent Lord of Love. Desiring nothing in the physical world, They have become one with the Lord of Love. Those who dwell on and long for sense-pleasure Are born in a world of separateness. But let them realize they are the Self And all separateness will fall away. Not through discourse, not through the intellect, Not even through study of the scriptures Can the Self be realized. The Self reveals Himself to the one who longs for the Self. Those who long for the Self with all their heart are chosen by the Self as his own. Not by the weak, not by the unearnest, Not by those who practice wrong disciplines Can the Self be realized.

The Self reveals Himself as the Lord of Love to the one who practices right disciplines. What the sages sought they have found at last. No more questions have they to ask of life. With self-will extinguished, they are at peace. Seeing the Lord of Love in all around, Serving the Lord of Love in all around, They are united with him forever. They have attained the summit of wisdom By the steep path of renunciation. They have attained to immortality And are united with the Lord of Love. When they leave the body, the vital force Returns to the cosmic womb, but their work Becomes a beneficial force in life To bring others together in the Self. The The The The flowing river is lost in the sea; illumined sage is lost in the Self. flowing river has become the sea; illumined sage has become the Self.

Those who know the Self become the Self. None in their family forgets the Self. Freed from the fetters of separateness, They attain to immortality. Let this wisdom be taught only to those Who obey the law of life's unity. Let this wisdom be taught only to those Who offer their lives to the Lord of Love. Imperishable is the Lord of Love. As from a blazing fire thousands of sparks leap forth, So millions of beings arise from the Lord of Love and return to him.

The Lord of Love is above name and form. He is present in all and transcends all. Unborn, without body and without mind, From him comes every body and mind, He is the source of space, air, fire, water, and the earth that holds us all. Fire is his head, the sun and moon his eyes, The heavens his ears, the scriptures his voice, The air his breath, the universe his heart, and the earth his footrest. The Lord of Love is the innermost Self of all. From him comes the fire that burns in the sun; From the sky lit by sun and moon comes rain; From rain comes food, from food the sexual seed; All finally come from the Lord of Love. From him come the scriptures, chants, and prayers, Religious rites and sacrificial gifts; From him come work, time, and givers of gifts, And all things under the sun and moon. From him come the gods of the natural world, Men, beasts, and birds, and food to nourish them; From him come all spiritual disciplines, Meditation, truth, faith, and purity. From him come the seven organs of sense, Seven hot desires and their sevenfold objects. And the seven levels of consciousness In the cavern of the heart. From him come all the seas and the mountains, The rivers and the plants that support life. As the innermost Self of all, he dwells Within the cavern of the heart.

The Lord of Love is the one Self of all. He is detached work, spiritual wisdom, And immortality. Realize the Self hidden in the heart, and cut asunder the knot of ignorance here and now. Bright but hidden, the Self dwells in the heart. Everything that moves, breathes, opens and closes lives in the Self. He is the source of love and may be known through love but not through thought. He is the goal of life. Attain this goal! The shining Self dwells hidden in the heart. Everything in the cosmos, great and small, Lives in the Self. He is the source of life, Truth beyond the transience of this world. He is the goal of life. Attain this goal! Take the great bow of the sacred scriptures, Place it on the arrow of devotion; Then draw the bowstring of meditation And aim at the target, the Lord of Love. The mantram is the bow, the aspirant Is the arrow, and the Lord the target. Now draw the bowstring of meditation, And hitting the target be one with him. In his robe are woven heaven and earth, Mind and body. Realize him as the One Behind the many and stop all vain talk. He is the bridge from death to deathless life. Where all the nerves meet like spokes in a wheel, There he dwells, the One behind the many. Meditate upon him in the mantram. May he guide us from death to deathless life!

He knows everyone and sees everything. It is his glory that fills the cosmos. He resides in the city of the heart. It is his power that moves body and mind. May he guide us from death to deathless life! When he is seen within us and without, He sets right all doubts and dispels the pain Of wrong actions committed in the past. In the golden city of the heart dwells The Lord of Love, without parts, without stain. Know him as the radiant light of lights. There shines not the sun, neither moon nor star. Nor flash of lightning, nor fire lit on earth. The Lord is the light reflected by all. He shining, everything shines after him. The Lord of Love is before and behind. He extends to the right and to the left. He extends above; he extends below. There is no one here but the Lord of Love. He alone is; in truth, he alone is. Like two golden birds perched on the selfsame tree Intimate friends, the ego and the Self Dwell in the same body. The former eats the sweet and sour fruits of the tree of life While the latter looks on in detachment. As long as we think we are the ego, We feel attached and fall into sorrow. But realize that you the Self, the Lord Of life, and you will be freed from sorrow. When you realize that you are the Self, Supreme source of light, supreme source of love, You transcend the duality of life and enter into the unitize state.

The Lord of Love shines in the hearts of all. Seeing him in all creatures, the wise Forget themselves in the the service of all. The Lord is their joy, the Lord is their rest; Such as they are the lovers of the Lord. By truth, meditation, and self-control One can enter into this state of joy And see the Self shining in a pure heart. Truth is victorious, never untruth. Truth is the way; truth is the goal of life, Reached by sages who are free from self-will. The effulgent Self, who is beyond thought, Shines in the greatest, shines in the smallest, Shines in the farthest, shines in the nearest, Shines in the secret chamber of the heart. Beyond the reach of the senses is he, But not beyond the reach of a mind stilled Through the practice of deep meditation. Beyond the reach of words and works is he, But not beyond the reach of a pure heart Freed from the sway of the senses. Sages are granted all the help they need In everything they do to serve the Lord. Let all those who seek their own fulfillment Love and honor the illumined sage. The wise have attained the unitize state, And see only the resplendent Lord of Love. Desiring nothing in the physical world, They have become one with the Lord of Love. Those who dwell on and long for sense-pleasure Are born in a world of separateness. But let them realize they are the Self

And all separateness will fall away. Not through discourse, not through the intellect, Not even through study of the scriptures Can the Self be realized. The Self reveals Himself to the one who longs for the Self. Those who long for the Self with all their heart are chosen by the Self as his own. Not by the weak, not by the unearnest, Not by those who practice wrong disciplines Can the Self be realized. The Self reveals Himself as the Lord of Love to the one who practices right disciplines. What the sages sought they have found at last. No more questions have they to ask of life. With self-will extinguished, they are at peace. Seeing the Lord of Love in all around, Serving the Lord of Love in all around, They are united with him forever. They have attained the summit of wisdom By the steep path of renunciation. They have attained to immortality And are united with the Lord of Love. When they leave the body, the vital force Returns to the cosmic womb, but their work Becomes a beneficial force in life To bring others together in the Self. The The The The flowing river is lost in the sea; illumined sage is lost in the Self. flowing river has become the sea; illumined sage has become the Self.

Those who know the Self become the Self. None in their family forgets the Self.

Freed from the fetters of separateness, They attain to immortality. Let this wisdom be taught only to those Who obey the law of life's unity. Let this wisdom be taught only to those Who offer their lives to the Lord of Love. Mundaka Upanishad