Namaskar We have now covered the layers of the mind and their associated plexii or cakras (ie the psychic-physical interface of the human structure). The layers of the mind are as follows: - Conscious Mind or Crude* Mind - Subconscious Mind or Subtle Mind - Unconscious/Superconscious Mind or Causal Mind: Supramental Mind (sublayer) - Unconscious/Superconscious Mind or Causal Mind: Subliminal Mind (sublayer) - Unconscious/Superconscious Mind or Causal Mind: Subtle Mind (sublayer) * Note here the word 'crude' is used in a scientific sense of the most 'condensed' in terms of waves/particles. Each human being is composed of three basic aspects: physical, mental, and spiritual. The physical realm is the realm of the human body. It includes the workings of the body as a whole, as well as the workings of the various parts of the body, such as the brain and the motor and sensory organs. The mental or psychic realm is the realm of thoughts and feelings, the realm of human psychology. It includes the characteristics and faculties of the human mind, the layers or levels of mind, and the various mental propensities (including emotional propensities). We have looked at all those levels of mind now. The spiritual realm is the realm beyond the mind; it is the realm of the soul and Infinite Consciousness. The “soul” may be defined as “the clear reflection of Infinite Consciousness", and it reflects on the mind. In human beings, the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects are highly developed, making us unique. We, as human beings, have the capacity to understand ourselves and to realize our inner, spiritual nature. The set of the mind is at the sixth plexus or sixth cakra (a'jina' cakra in Sanskrit), ie the mid-point between the eyebrows. --- The Sixth Cakra The Lunar Plexus at the level of the eyes (represented as between the eyebrows) is directly associated with the pituitary gland in the middle of the brain. This gland controls all lower glands through its various hormones and nerve connections. Lower glands will only secrete their hormones once they get the message from the pituitary. This cakra is the seat of the mind. It is responsible for extroversion of mind during the daytime, and balances the spiritual and mundane tendencies. If the spiritual tendency is developed enough, one can even gain knowledge of all things; past, present and future! --- Anandamurti explains (excerpted from various discourses) the a'jina' cakra as follows. Of course, the mind is a powerful controlling entity - being the controller of the five fundamental factors of the human body it is the controller of the five lowest cakras - yet it is only located in a'jina' cakra. The creation is triple-attributional. The game of the three attributes goes on in everything and everywhere in the universe, and they have not spared the human body. The region below the navel is dominated by tamogun'a (static principle), the region from navel to throat, by rajogun'a (mutative influence) and the region from throat to trikuti (the junction of the two eye-brows, where the seat of the mind is located,) by sattvagun'a (sentient influence). Normally, a particular region in the body becomes more active in accordance with the vrtti (propensity) or epithymetic influence or the inter- and intra- ectoplasmic (mindstuff) occupation of an individual. When a sa'dhaka (spiritual aspirant) is established in his/her mental seat by virtue of his/her hearing, thinking and profound meditation, he or she being then established in sattvagun'a (sentient quality), realizes the Divine's super-white glory, as white is the want of sentient quality (in the expressive stance of the Supreme Consciousness). However, the Supreme Entity is not classifiable under any colour, but the thoughts of the Supreme Consciousness are of course coloured. Colour co-exists with the sound that necessarily exists in the thought. These colours and sounds are indicative of different gun'as or qualities. Varn'a Quality Colour Bra'hman'a Sattva (Sentient) White Ks'attriya Sattva plus Rajah Red (Sentient plus Mutative) Vaeshya Rajah plus Tamah Yellow (Mutative plus Static) Shu'dra Tamah (Static) Black The Supreme or Absolute is beyond all colours. So is above the four varn'as (mental colours). The end of varn'as (colours) and the beginning of avarn'a (absence of colour) takes place in the trikuti (the seat of the mind) and so in the sa'dhana' (meditation) of the avarn'a (or colourless) we have got to recognize and accept the trikuti directly or indirectly. The a'jina' cakra or pituitary gland controls the mind - the conscious and sub-conscious mind directly and the unconscious mind indirectly; it is the seat of the mind, the place where the mind dwells. But above that factor there is a causal factor. From where has the mind emerged? It emerged from a'tma tattva (the soul factor). That is related to the seventh cakra. --- Healthy Hints: At the a'jina' cakra level (sixth plexus) that means keeping the mind healthy and happy. Think positively; smile; see the bright side of everything! Sing Baba Nam Kevalam while thinking of its meaning – “Infinite love and happiness is everywhere.” Keep in good company and a good environment. Moderate your habits and help others as much as you can. All these things will help you to keep positive and optimistic at all times. “Live in the present.” This was the advice given by a great yogi called Shiva about 7000 years ago. The past is easy to think about – it's full of vivid memories. It's also easy to dream about the future. But thoughts of both the past and future are fraught with doubt and anxiety. It's the present – the “here and now” – that's free from all worldly considerations: pros and cons; gains and losses; triumphs and regrets. You're just “here and now” doing what you're doing. And if you are really concentrating on what you're doing, you won't be worrying about anything else – and you'll automatically be successful because you're mind is on the job. You will be acting with joyful abandon. You're actions and reactions will be like a child's – natural and innocent. There's a special lesson of meditation that helps you to live in the present. It is part of the higher lessons of meditation and through practice after the first lesson (received on initiation) one can then proceed towards the other lessons. --- Below a random selection of extracts from the multitudinous works of Shrii Shrii Anandamurti which reflect the spirit of meditation and the philosophy behind it. Spirituality knows no occupational barriers. It is universal. It is transcendental. It is not reserved for black people or white people or rich or poor. It is the divine gift of Universal Consciousness to all of the children of the universe. Spirituality (dharma) is all-embracing. It is the birth-right of all people. There is a common desire in each and every human mind, and that desire differentiates a human from an animal, a human from a plant. What is that difference? It wants to expand. Secondly, it wants to become one with the Cosmic Entity. Thirdly, it wants to do something noble; and fourthly, it wants peace, supreme peace, undisturbed peace. These are the four special qualifications of human beings. So Yoga is the path of progress, the path of development for each and every human being. In individual life we should practice yoga, and in collective life we should encourage others to practice yoga. It is the panacea of all human ailments, in the physical realm, in the psychic realm and also in the spiritual realm. There is one moon, but its reflections, falling in countless puddles of water, appear as countless moons. No new moon is born. The same moon is being reflected in many receptacles. Similarly, the one and the same Supreme Consciousness is being manifested as limitless individual entities, in countless mental receptacles, in countless minds. When a person is established in devotion one becomes able to understand the greatness and magnificence of the Supreme Consciousness The understanding at this moment is born of real experience through taste. Sweet things, mango and sugar, can be distinguished only by taste. One cannot enjoy the flavour of mango by seeing its reflection in water. One will have to climb the tree, pluck the mango and taste it. Similarly, experience in the spiritual realm also can be had only after climbing a step on the tree of devotion. Only then can one understand the brilliance and greatness of the transcendental Cosmic Entity. Any energy is invisible. We see the operation and action of electrical energy through lights, fans, etc. Similarly, no one has ever seen the sun close up - only its action. It looks round, but from a short distance it is simply something burning. So electricity and the sun are to be felt only. The same is the case with the mind. No one can show his or her mind, nor can one see one's own mind. One can only feel. Similarly, the Supreme Consciousness is only to be felt and realized. When the whole mind is filled with the feeling of the Supreme Consciousness you can hardly bear it - nor can you express the bliss. You feel it - you can only enjoy it! The Supreme Consciousness is there in you as the oil is in the oilseed. Crush the seed through spiritual practice (sa'dhana') and you attain the Supreme Self; separate the mind from Consciousness by merging in it and you will see that the resplendence of the Supreme Consciousness illuminates your whole inner being. The Supreme Entity is there like butter in curd; churn it and the Divine will appear from within. Churn your mind through spiritual practice and God will appear like butter from curd. The Supreme is like a subterranean river in you. Remove the sands of mind and you will find the clear, cool waters within. Train yourself in the ideal of the lily, which blossoms in the mud and has to keep itself engaged in the struggle for existence day in and day out, parrying, bracing and fighting the shocks of muddy water and storms and squalls and sundry other vicissitudes of fortune, and yet it does not forget the moon above. It keeps its love for the moon constantly alive. It seems, however, but a most ordinary flower. There is nothing extra-ordinary about it. Still, this most ordinary flower has a romantic tie with the great moon. Similarly, you may be an ordinary creature - you may have to pass your days in the ups and downs of your worldly existence - still do not forget that Supreme One. Keep all your desires inclined towards the Supreme. Always keep yourselves merged in thought of the Divine. Go deep into the mood of that Infinite Love. This human society is one - it is a singular entity. It cannot be divided, it must not be divided. And we won't allow any such persons to create any divisive tendencies in this human society. Whatever people do in their spiritual life, they have to do - why? Because they are in love with the Supreme Entity. Love is the first word - Love is the starting point, and Love is the last point. You are never alone or helpless. The force that guides the stars, guides you too. The feeling and sentiments of the entire humanity are the same, and the preparation for a nobler life is the same for all. The requirements and necessities of all human beings are the same, so humanity is a singular entity; humanity is one and indivisible. For this purpose you should always maintain an equilibrium among different human beings for the development of all, irrespective of caste, creed, nationality and religion. There must not be any shortage of food or water in this world. Still there are so many places where there can be more production, and where there is plenty of pure water; so all the wealth, all the requirements, all the potentials, all the food and water should be distributed throughout the world. Nowhere in the world should people die of starvation. We are for all -- everything is for all. --- The famous American poet Karl Sandburg also proclaimed: "There is only one man in the world, And his name is All Men, There is only one woman in the world, And her name is All Women, There is only one child in the world, And the child's name is All Children." --- This is some inspiration from Joanna Macy, deep ecologist, Buddhist and systems theorist, woman, heroine extraordinaire. Come from Gratitude To be alive in this beautiful, self-organizing universe--to participate in the dance of life with senses to perceive it, lungs that breathe it, organs that draw nourishment from it--is a wonder beyond words. Gratitude for the gift of life is the primary wellspring of all spirituality, the hallmark of the mystic, the source of all true art. Furthermore, it is a privilege to be alive in this time when we can choose to take part in the self-healing of our world. Don't be Afraid of the Dark This is a dark time, filled with suffering and uncertainty. Like living cells in a larger body, it is natural that we feel the trauma of our world. So don't be afraid of the anguish you feel, or the anger or fear, for these responses arise from the depth of your caring and the truth of your interconnectedness with all beings. To 'suffer with' is the literal meaning of compassion. Dare to Vision Out of this darkness a new world can arise, not to be constructed by our minds so much as to emerge from our dreams. Even though we cannot see clearly how it's going to turn out, we are still called to let the future into our imagination. We will never be able to build what we have not first cherished in our hearts.. Roll up your Sleeves Many people don't get involved in the Great Turning because there are so many different issues, which seem to compete with each other. Shall I save the whales or help battered children? The truth is that all aspects of the current crisis reflect the same mistake, setting ourselves apart and using others for our gain. So to heal one aspect helps the others to heal as well. Just find what you love to work on and take joy in that. Never try to do it alone. Link up with others; you'll spark each others' ideas and sustain each others' energy.. Act your Age Since every particle in your body goes back to the first flaring forth of space and time, you're really as old as the universe. So when you are lobbying at your congressperson's office, or visiting your local utility, or testifying at a hearing on nuclear waste, or standing up to protect an old grove of redwoods, you are doing that not out of some personal whim, but in the full authority of your 15 billions years.