Greetings and Namaskar We now move deeper into cosmic philosophy. It is said that the true nature of the Cosmic Entity and the reason for the existence of the universe are beyond our power of understanding. These things we can only realize in deep meditation. However a theoretical analysis, although not essential, can be a valuable part of the self-realization process. So now we begin to take a brief look at the philosophy of life, the universe and existence, from a yogic point of view. When you read many yogic / spiritual texts there are important Sanskrit words that may, at first, be hard to decipher. The reason why Sanskrit is used, is that it is a subtle language and there is often no equivalent expression in English. Prepare to expand your mind into the universe and beyond! Remember to continue with all your daily practices and if you haven't already done so, this is a good time to learn your personal meditation technique. Everyone has a personal vibration, so the optimal mantra for each person will also be personal. This will give more meditative power and accelerate one's progress into the deeper realms. Dharma --- So what's it all about ... CREATION & EVOLUTION The question of God and creation is one that has baffled humanity throughout the ages. In Tantra this question has been answered in a clear and scientific way, and is called the concept of Brahmacakra. (brahma means 'cosmic', cakra means 'circle', thus it is the cycle of creation). To understand the concept of Brahmacakra it is necessary first to understand the meaning of Brahma for it is on this base the whole spiritual philosophy is founded. Brahma is the composite of Consciousness and the Operative Principle (Shiva and Shakti). Although philosophically the two are separated, in reality they are one entity, just like the two sides of a piece of paper. Cosmic Consciousness and the Cosmic Operative Principle are dual in theory but singular in reality, like milk and its whiteness, like fire and its heat. Brahma is the totality of the manifested and unmanifested cosmos. It is an infinite entity. Purusa, or Infinite Consciousness is the Cognitive Principle of Brahma; it is the witnessing Consciousness of creation; it is the fundamental substance from which all of creation is manifested; it is the original cause of creation. Prakrti, or Cosmic Energy, is the operative principle. It is the force through which Purusa (Consciousness) directs and creates the universe. Prakrti's (Operative Principle) creating capacity is expressed through three binding principles or gunas; the sentient (Sattvik), the mutative (Rajasik), and the static (Tamasik). THE SENTIENT PRINCIPLE: 1. Creates a feeling of existence in Cosmic Consciousness, a feeling of "I am". 2. Creates a feeling of great relief or happiness, like that found when released from bondage or humiliation as well as creating a desire to achieve spiritual liberation. 3. Is the force of spiritual knowledge, light and life. THE MUTATIVE PRINCIPLE: 1. Creates a sense of doership or "I do" feeling, that is, ego. 2. Creates the capacity and desire to engage in work and activity. THE STATIC PRINCIPLE: 1. Creates a feeling of objectivity, the "I have done" feeling. It creates the mental plate of consciousness on which all activity may be manifested. 2. Is the force of crudification, stagnation, darkness and ignorance. One of these principles is always dominant in the different types of creation, with the others present in lesser degrees. For example, a spiritually minded person is dominated by the sentient principle, while an active, energetic or egotistical person is dominated by mutative principle. HOW IT ALL BEGAN Imagine Brahma (the Supreme Entity) as an infinite ocean, with Consciousness as the sea, and Cosmic Energy (the Operative Principle) as the water's temperature. When the temperature of the sea drops towards freezing point or lower, that part of the ocean slowly becomes solidified into ice. Similarly, when Consciousness (Purusa) allows one of the gunas of Cosmic Energy (Prakrti) to dominate it, then that area of Consciousness is condensed and becomes manifest. Creation occurs. The first phase of creation begins when the sentient principle qualifies, or binds, Consciousness and thus gives it the feeling of existence or "I AM". This part of Brahma is called Mahatattva, or Cosmic Intuition. The next phase involves a part of cosmic intuition (Mahatattva) being influenced by the mutative principle, which gives a feeling of doership (ego) or "I DO" feeling. It is the Cosmic Ego (Ahamtattva). Finally when the static principle influences a portion of Cosmic Ego (Ahamtattva) it gives the feeling of "I HAVE DONE", and is called Cosmic Citta (Cosmic Mental Plate). It is on the Cosmic Ectoplasm or Cosmic Citta that the universe manifests. The combination of cosmic Mahatattva, Ahamtattva, and Citta constitute Cosmic Mind, or Saguna Brahma - Attributional Consciousness. The term GOD (Generator, Operator & Destroyer) can also be applied here. Where Brahma has not been influenced by Prakrti's binding principles, then it is known as Nirguna Brahma - Non-attributional Consciousness. THE FIVE ELEMENTS OF THE UNIVERSE The Cosmic Mind cannot be perceived so it is represented as a straight line because there is no apparent vibration, it is too subtle. Ethereal Factor - With the increased activity of the static force, there appears the form of the ethereal factor, the first factor in which the most subtle vibration of sound exists. Ether is the state just before the creation of atoms. It has no mass, we can think of it as purely space, the space in which the universe exists. Ether, or space, is not "nothing", as has been shown by the theories, such as proof of Einstein's theory, that space is curved. Aerial Factor - Further activity of the crudifying static force creates the aerial factor or atoms. While space carries the quality of sound in it, the aerial factor has both sound and touch. This factor is the first manifestation that we can "touch", so there are atoms. Luminous Factor - With the increased activity more and more atoms (of hydrogen) form to make up hydrogen clouds and the like. As these clouds of great mass come closer together there is tremendous centripetal gravitational force causing fusion, which releases a great amount of energy and a new factor: light. This is the first manifestation of light, which adds the quality of sight to those of sound and touch. Liquid Factor - With increasing activity of the crudifying forces, while more and more atoms are created, clouds exist which are big enough so that atoms start moving closer together. There is a decrease in the intra-molecular space and an increase in the chemical affinity until they begin to flow together, causing the liquid factor. This factor has the quality of taste as well as the previous three qualities of sound, touch and sight. Solid Factor - With the maximum amount of activity from the static principle the liquid is crudified into the solid factor. This factor has the added quality of smell as well as the others of sound, touch, sight and taste. This, in brief, is the Tantric theory of creation of the five fundamental factors of the material world. Solid factor is the crudest manifestation of the static force of the Cosmic Citta or Cosmic Ectoplasm. This process of crudification from the subtle (Nirguna Brahma or Pure Consciousness) to the crude (solid), is called Saincara. At the point of creation where solid matter is formed Prakrti's (Operative Principle) static force continues to try and crudify even more. One of two things can happen: If the environment is not conducive to life, the solid factor will lose its structural solidarity (due to Prakrti's pressure) and either gradually, or instantaneously, break up into the five separate fundamental factors. Instantaneous separation is seen in exploding stars. Any breakdown in the balance of the five fundamental factors on the solid, either gradual or instantaneous, is known as Jadasphota (in Sanskrit), and occurs only in dead or dying celestial bodies. Creation of mind - If the solid has a good balance among the five physical factors and the environment (Prana) is conducive, then unit mind is formed. Because the static principle continues to exert an influence on the solid factor, tremendous internal clash and cohesion is experienced, resulting in a portion of the solid factor being powdered down to form DNA which with further clash and cohesion is converted into ectoplasm of a unit entity. This ectoplasm is subtler than ether and forms the base of the unit citta or unit ectoplasm, or crude mind stuff. The creation of unit mind (Jiiva) from matter is the start of the movement from crude to subtle consciousness, and is known as Pratisaincara. It is the beginning of life, when there is a balance and centre for vital energy to give rise to animate existence. Unit mind is now guided by Cosmic Mind up the evolutionary scale from unicellular life to multicellular life, to plants, animals, and finally, human beings. Through the continuing process of clash and cohesion, citta (ectoplasm) of the unit mind develops and a portion of it is eventually transformed into the subtler ahamtattva (ego) of the unit mind. Likewise a portion of ahamtattva (ego) is transformed into mahattattva (pure I-feeling) of the unit mind. Where all three aspects of the mind are developed human life is expressed. Mind is now sufficiently evolved to decide its own direction, either to continue with the cosmic flow to Purusa (Consciousness), or to regress. The way by which the human being moves to his/her origin is called Sadhana (spiritual effort) which literally means 'to complete'. It is completion of one's evolution back to Supreme Consciousness. CONCLUSION Pure unqualified consciousness (Nirguna Brahma) and manifested consciousness (Saguna Brahma) are collectively called Brahma. Saguna Brahma being the generator, operator and destroyer of the universe, can be called G.O.D. Brahma can be divided into three aspects called: 1. Cosmic Consciousness 2. Cosmic Mind 3. Universe or objective world or physicalities, ie five physical factors - the physical universe. Philosophically speaking, the consciousness concerned with creation, or the witnessing consciousness or nucleus, is called Purusottama (ottama means greatest or highest), and when related to individuals is called Paramatma (Supreme Soul). Param means supreme, atman means soul. In Genesis it is said that God made human beings in His image, and so we see human beings are composed of these three aspects, ie soul, (consciousness), mind and the physical body. This entire universe is manifested in Cosmic Mind, and is nothing but the thought projection of the Supreme Consciousness, even though it seems so "real" to us. However, it is merely vibrations from crude to subtle. Everything has a frequency and the most condensed frequencies take the form of solid. As one progresses in meditation, Consciousness becomes more and more conspicuous. The meditator expands his/her unit mind until oneness with the Supreme Consciousness is attained. --- Unity in diversity - solving problems together ... the way ahead. Part of meditation is to see humanity in a broad light. This poem also does that. There is only one race in the world, And that is the human race, Nourished with the milk of the same Mother Earth, Dwelling within the same compass of the sun and the moon. The same heat and cold, the hunger and thirst, We all equally feel, Together we raise the tender green plants and make them strong We all struggle to preserve our lives, We seek friends and comrades, and build happy homes, We all bathe in water, we all thrive on land. Black and white are merely external hues -- Internally the blood of all is red, By penetrating below the surface, The true inner nature is instantly revealed. The knower and the outcaste, the great and the small, Are all artificial distinctions that ultimately crumble to dust. When love awakens in sleeping souls, Then true human beings will emerge. There is no difference between one colour, one race and another -- For the entire universe is pervaded by One Infinite Consciousness. - Satyendranath --- Websites Neo-Humanist Education has a web site at: www.gurukul.edu/nhe Worth a look at. Also worth looking at if you are into spiritual music: http://www.prabhatasamgiita.net/ ---