Study Notes
PARAGRAPH 22
This throws light incidentally on the opposition made by our minds between pure consciousness, pure existence, pure bliss and the abundant activity, the manifold application, the endless vicissitudes of being, consciousness and delight of being that take place in the universe. In the state of pure consciousness and pure being we are aware of that only, simple, immutable, self-existent, without form or object, and we feel that to be alone true and real.
EXPLANATION
Our minds make the opposition between the pure status and the active status of the Divine Reality. On one side we see the pure status of Brahman: pure existence, pure consciousness and pure bliss (pure status of Sat-chit-ananda). On the other side we see the abundant activity, the manifold application and the ups and downs of being such as we see in this universe.
In the pure status we are aware of that only. We are aware of simple, immutable, self-existent, without form or object and we feel that to be only true and real. This is the status which the ascetic yogin chooses as his permanent station. In this state all the worldly actions are rejected.
In the other or dynamic state we feel its dynamism to be perfectly true and natural and are even capable of thinking that no such experience as that of pure consciousness is possible. Yet it is now evident that to the Infinite Consciousness both the static and the dynamic are possible; these are two of its statuses and both can be present simultaneously in the universal awareness, the one witnessing the other and supporting it or not looking at it and yet automatically supporting it; or the silence and status may be there penetrating the activity or throwing it up like an ocean immobile below throwing up a mobility of waves on its surface.
EXPLANATION
On the other hand, in a dynamic state we feel its dynamism to be perfectly true and natural; we go as far as to think that no such experience as that of pure consciousness is possible.
Yet it is evident that both the static and the dynamic states are possible to the Infinite Consciousness. These two states can be present simultaneously in the universal awareness; the one witnessing the other and supporting it or not looking at it and yet automatically supporting it; or the silence and status will be there penetrating the activity; or it is like an immobile ocean below throwing up a mobility of waves on the surface.
This is also the reason why it is possible for us in certain conditions of our being to be aware of several different states of consciousness at the same time. There is a state of being experienced in Yoga in which we become a double consciousness, one on the surface, small, active, ignorant, swayed by thoughts and feelings, grief and joy and all kinds of reactions, the other within calm, vast, equal, observing the surface being with an immovable detachment or indulgence or, it may be, acting upon its agitation to quiet, enlarge, transform it.
EXPLANATION
Both the static and dynamic states of consciousness can be experienced by us simultaneously. We can have a state of yogic experience in which we become a double consciousness. One is on the surface, small, active, ignorant, swayed by thoughts and feelings, grief and joy and all kinds of reactions. The other is within calm, vast, equal; it may be observing the surface being with an immovable detachment or indulgence; or it may be acting upon the surface agitation to quiet, enlarge and transform it.
So too we can rise to a consciousness above and observe the various parts of our being, inner and outer, mental, vital and physical and the subconscient below all, and act upon one or other or the whole from that higher status. It is possible also to go down from that height or from any height into any of these lower states and take its limited light or its obscurity as our place of working while the rest that we are is either temporarily put away or put behind or else kept as a field of reference from which we can get support, sanction or light and influence or as a status into which we can ascend or recede and from it observe the inferior movements.
EXPLANATION
As we can stand back from our surface consciousness so too we can rise to a consciousness above. From above we can observe the various parts of our being, inner and outer, mental, vital and physical and the subconscient below all. We can act upon one or other parts or the whole from that higher status.
It is also possible to go down from that height into any of these lower states. We can take this lower state with its limited light or its obscurity as our place of working. While doing so, the rest of our being is either temporarily put away or put behind or else kept as a field of reference. From this field of reference we can get support, sanction or light and influence; or we can hold it as a status into which we can ascend or recede and from it observe the inferior movements.
Or we can plunge into trance, get within ourselves and be conscious there while all outward things are excluded; or we can go beyond even this inner awareness and lose ourselves in some deeper other consciousness or some high superconscience. There is also a pervading equal consciousness into which we can enter and see all ourselves with one enveloping glance or omnipresent awareness one and indivisible.
EXPLANATION
Or we can plunge into a state of trance. In this state we go within ourselves and be conscious there while all outward things are excluded. Or we can go beyond even this inner awareness; we lose ourselves in some deeper other consciousness or some high superconscience.
There is also a pervading equal consciousness (cosmic consciousness) into which we can enter and see ourselves with one enveloping glance or omnipresent awareness which is one and indivisible.
All this which looks strange and abnormal or may seem fantastic to the surface reason acquainted only with our normal status of limited ignorance and its movements divided from our inner higher and total reality, becomes easily intelligible and admissible in the light of the larger reason and logic of the Infinite or by the admission of the greater illimitable powers of the Self, the Spirit in us which is of one essence with the Infinite.
EXPLANATION
We have seen different states of consciousness one can take: from behind the surface deep within, from above, from down below, into a trance or from some high superconscience. All these states may look strange and abnormal or seem fantastic to our surface reason.
Because the surface reason is acquainted only with our normal status of limited ignorance. The movements of our surface reason are divided from our inner higher and total reality.
Yet all these different states which our consciousness can take become easily intelligible and admissible in the light of the larger reason and logic of the Infinite. Or by the admission of the greater illimitable powers of the Spirit in us all these experiences would become natural to us. Because the Spirit in us, is in essence, one with the Infinite.