The mystic’s discovery of the higher Self is only a step on a greater journey

The Complete Guide to
World Mysticism

"The mystic's discovery of the higher Self is only a step on a greater journey. The soul is only real in so far as it is a connection between the separate personality and God. In the Upanishads it says: 'There is a bridge between time and eternity, this bridge is Atman – the Higher |Self.' When this bridge is crossed and the mystic experiences the vision of unity, the bridge itself is seen as an illusion. Just like a person who discovers that the moon does not shine by its own light, but only by reflecting the sun, the mystic discovers that the soul is only a reflection of the light of God. Ultimately he has no identity except as divinity. That is why Jesus claimed, `I and my Father are One', and al-Hallaj declared, 'I am God.' "

'I went in search of myself' declared the Greek philosopher Heraclitus in the fifth century BC. This is the start of the mystical quest – the simple question `Who am I?' The mystic turns his attention away from his perceptions, and goes in search of the perceiver. He stops looking to the world for answers to the mysteries of life, and begins instead to look within to explore his own identity. What does he find? The mystical experience reveals to himself his true nature – an immortal soul that will not decay and die like his physical body; a permanent spiritual essence, beyond the ever-changing flux of thoughts and emotions that he took to be his 'self'. `Ecstasy' means 'to stand outside'; the mystic experiences the ecstatic state of standing outside of his normal awareness of himself, and discovers that he is more than he had ever imagined.

Unlike the personality, which experiences itself as a separate entity, distinct from others and the rest of life, the soul knows itself to be a part of the whole, intimately connected to everyone and everything. When the mystic realizes his true nature he does not discover something private and personal, but rather something shared by all. He is a spark of the one fire. The path of the mystic is to find and then feed this spark, until it burns his separate ego.

The mystic's discovery of the higher Self is only a step on a greater journey. The soul is only real in so far as it is a connection between the separate personality and God. In the Upanishads it says: 'There is a bridge between time and eternity, this bridge is Atman – the Higher |Self.' When this bridge is crossed and the mystic experiences the vision of unity, the bridge itself is seen as an illusion. Just like a person who discovers that the moon does not shine by its own light, but only by reflecting the sun, the mystic discovers that the soul is only a reflection of the light of God. Ultimately he has no identity except as divinity. That is why Jesus claimed, `I and my Father are One', and al-Hallaj declared, 'I am God.'

In the established Jewish, Christian and Islamic religion, to claim to be one with God is seen as blasphemous. Both Jesus and al-Hallaj were crucified by the religious authorities of their day for uttering such a heresy. But this has not stopped mystics from within these faiths discovering this truth for themselves…

Plotinus paradoxically describes this spiritual journey as a 'flight from the solitary to the solitary.' It is a voyage from 'alone' to 'all-one'. With this realization, there is no longer any sense of the 'other': everything is the manifestation of the one consciousness. The lover of God merges with his 'beloved' and becomes love itself. The knower of truth merges with the known and becomes knowledge. There is no longer a subject (the searching mystic) and an object (the searched for God) – there is only a simple state of indescribable completeness. Meister Eckhart says: 'The knower and the known are one. Simple people imagine that they should see God as if He stood there and they here. This is not so. God and I, we are one in knowledge.'

When the mystic reaches the end of his search for himself, he finds he has no self. He is nothing, yet paradoxically he is everything… when the mystic finds the temple of his soul he discovers it is the splendour of emptiness. The Buddhists call this experience 'enlightenment'. Like a drop of water dissolving back into the mighty sea, the individual soul returns to the primal source.

This metaphor has filled some students of mysticism with horror. It can sound like total annihilation – not a very appealing prospect – but this is a misunderstanding. The personal self cannot cease to be, because in truth it never existed – it was merely a transitory illusion. An enlightened soul is not lost in the overwhelming vastness of the ocean of being – it knows that there has only ever been the ocean. When the Buddha was asked if a person who attains enlightenment could still be said to exist, he replied, 'It would be wrong to say he does, and it would be wrong to say he does not.' The separate self is like a wave upon the sea which, although distinct, is no more than a disturbance on the surface of the waters.

Some 1400 years ago in China, Empress Wu became fascinated with the relationship between the essential Oneness and the separate multiplicity of life. She asked the sage Fu Tsang if he could give a simple practical demonstration to help her understand. Fa Tsang arranged one of the palace rooms so that eight large mirrors stood at the eight points of the compass. He then placed a further mirror on the floor, and another on the ceiling. A candle was suspended in the centre of the room, and the Empress was invited in. Fa Tsang then lit the candle and the room was filled with the splendour of reflected light. The Empress Wu was awed and overcome by the beauty of this vision. `You see, your majesty,` said Fa Tsang, `This is the one and the many. The candle is the One Consciousness of God, and the reflections are the many individual consciousness of his creation. The soul is a reflection of One Consciousness. In a sense it is individual, yet it could not be said to exist independently. Indeed, the source and the reflection are the same light.

The Complete Guide to World Mysticism (Paperback)
by Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy, page 133-35
Publisher: Piatkus Books; New Ed edition (October 1998)
ISBN-10: 0749917768
ISBN-13: 978-0749917760

"When you are resurrected, and you become realised souls, one has to understand that now your movement is inward. You are moving towards your roots, and not outside. So, whatever was the endeavour before realisation has to be changed. The direction has to be changed and that point, mostly, we miss."

Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
V4 No 23 Sept 84 p5

Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi

"The Self is the Spirit. This Spirit resides in the heart of every human being and is in a witness-like state. The Spirit is the projection of God Almighty, while the Kundalini is the projection of the power of God, of His desire which is the Primordial Mother, or you can call it Adi Shakti, Holy Ghost or Athena. So the Kundalini is the projection of the Holy Ghost, while the Spirit is the projection of God Almighty. The All-pervading Power of love is the power of the Primordial Mother, which creates and evolves, and does all the living work." - Shri Mataji Nirmal Devi

Question: How does one discard all the organization and useless activities (of Sahaja Yoga) and seek her (Holy Spirit/Adi Shakti) only in the Sahastrara (Kingdom of God)?

Answer: Silence on Self

Question: I am still unable to rid myself of catches and other chakra problems despite years of daily (Sahaja Yoga) footsoaking and treatments. What do I do now?

Answer: Silence on Self

Question: I am far from a Sahaja Yoga collective. How do I continue practicing Sahaja Yoga?

Answer: Silence on Self

Question: My collective leader has told me to leave Sahaja Yoga due to some personal problems. What do I do now?

Answer: Silence on Self

Question: Despite being years in Sahaja Yoga I do not agree with what our leaders are doing. I am thinking of leaving my collective. Can you suggest something that will help me continue on my own?

Answer: Silence on Self

Question: I am a Muslim who absolutely am against worshipping of any idol or image. How then is Sahaja Yoga and Shri Mataji compatible with Islam?

Answer: Silence on Self

Question: We are devout Christians who are very uncomfortable with Hindu rituals, and see the same in Sahaja Yoga. Is there any way we can do without such rituals?

Answer: Silence on Self

Question: You loudly claim on your website that all religions and holy scriptures preach the same message. I don't see such evidence. What have you got to say?

Answer: Silence on Self

Question: I do not want to meditate on anything non-Christian but agree that the Holy Spirit is feminine. How do I only worship the Holy Spirit but not the Adi Shakti?

Answer: Silence on Self

Question: My parents and husband are against worshipping Shri Mataji. How can I solve this serious family problem but still continue to practice Sahaja Yoga without their knowledge?

Answer: Silence on Self

Question: I completely agree with your belief that if you have to take a single step in any direction to seek the Divine you are going the wrong way. How and why did you reach this incredible conclusion only now despite spending so many years meditating, checking the scriptures and listening to Shri Mataji's speeches?

Answer: Silence on Self

Question: How can we spread Shri Mataji's message successfully? So many have failed all these years and Sahaja Yoga is very slow. Most of the seekers have never heard of Shri Mataji. Other than Her Divine Message what can we teach new seekers that will attract them?

Answer: Silence on Self

Question: I do not want to follow any religious organization or yoga teacher but still am interested in spirituality. You think that is possible?
Answer: Silence on Self

Question: My mother-in-law is totally against Shri Mataji and regards Her as just another false guru. But I know Shri Mataji is the Adi Shakti and want to continue. However, i do not want to antagonize my mother-in-law. Any suggestions?

Answer: Silence on Self

Question: I am a Sikh. I am completely against any Hindu ritual or worshipping of their idols and gods. Sikhism is completely against such practices. But Sahaja Yoga is also so full of such rituals and gods. What have you got to say, being a Sikh yourself?

Answer: Silence on Self

Question: I am getting somewhat ridiculed for my own spiritual experiences regarding the crown chakra and the divine feminine. People think I'm weird by emphasizing that the Devi is the true nature of brahman and it is creating doubt about my path (despite my own experiences). Should I continue with my meditations and ignore them or try to explain to them? What do you suggest?

Answer: Silence on Self

Question: There is so much information about yoga and meditation. I am so confused and do not know which path to take. What then is the truth? How do I attain it?

Answer: Silence on Self

Question: I have been in Sahaja Yoga for years but still do not know what is Self-realization. Can you tell me in detail what you understand by it?

Answer: Silence on Self

Question: I have been a SY for many years and some of us find shoe- beating and some rituals quite absurd. You also are against them. How then can we solve our subtle system problems without such treatments?

Answer: Silence on Self

Question: I am a Muslim living in Pakistan who want to practice Sahaja Yoga. But there are no centers here. How can I continue?

Answer: Silence on Self

Question: What will happen after Shri Mataji passes away? Will She still be in the photograph? Where will the vibrations come from then?

Answer: Silence on Self

Question: I have just started meditating on Shri Mataji in the Sahasrara but find it very difficult. Is there a better way?

Answer: Silence on Self

Question: I do not want to join Sahaja Yoga but believe in a number of Shri Mataji's teachings. Can you help me?

Answer: Silence on Self

Question: I am an established SYogini who am concerned at the way the organization is heading. However, I still want to spread Shri Mataji's teachings. What do you suggest I tell others?

Answer: Silence on Self

Question: I want to practice meditation but find it impossible to stop the thoughts. I value you opinion. If you don't mind my asking, but how do you do it?

Answer: Silence on Self

Question: What is the shortest and surest route to realize God?

Answer: Silence on Self

Question: Some religions claim that humans are divine in nature and that liberation is from within. Can you tell me how all this is realized in such a hectic and materialistic world?

Answer: Silence on Self

Question: As a SY I am concerned that after Shri Mataji takes Mahasamadhi there will great grief and sense of loss. How can I cope with this eventuality and continue my faith and devotion? Do I continue to meditate on Her photo even though She is not physically present anymore?

Answer: Silence on Self

Question: Jagbir, you are already telling us to discard Shri Mataji's photo and meditate on Her is the Sahasrara. A number of SYs have been offended by this and have left the forum. What makes you so sure you are right?

Answer: Silence on Self

Question: What is the most profound and deepest enlightenment you have discovered after all these years, based on the teachings of Shri Mataji? She also claims that all religions teach the same truth about the spirit. How is that so given all the religious differences and centuries-old rivalry?

Answer: Silence on Self

Question: Hi, man-made religions, sects and denominations are wide spread. So much misdeeds and divisions are committed and blood is shed in the name of God and religion. Is there a way to make humans realize that they are all worshipping the One and same Creator, no matter how different religious organizations have made God to be?

Answer: Silence on Self

Question: It seems that religions are all preaching about a God that is to be found only in their organizations. Why then is it that the Divine can only be realized through one's own experience? What and where is God then?

Answer: Silence on Self

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