Everything maps onto everything else. To look out over the night sky is to look out to the entire universe. Yet it revolves around a single point—the pole star (north star). Taking a closer look, the handle of the seven-starred big dipper points to the pole star. As the seasons change, the dipper rotates 360 degrees around the pole star. The dipper’s new position in each of the four seasons creates the swastika shape (and the cross of Christianity) with the center, the pole star, being the heart and soul of the universe. This maps onto (correlates with) the central core of each and every individual.
The Rishi value (the central core, the Knower, you) is the finest fabric of the soul, your essence. The Rishis can be sensed above the head. However, if the relationship with that is not healthy, it can be a terrible distraction. More importantly the Rishi quality can be experienced deep within your being, the soul, the Jiva. The Rishis then, are the laws of nature (Dharma) that are the most refined quality of nature that comprises the Jiva (individual soul). So it is through the Rishis within that the depth of the Self–and through that, God–are known.
Our lives revolve around that one point, the essence of our being, the depth of our soul, the Jiva. Like a two-sided coin, the Jiva is the deepest aspect of our being still in relative existence. The other side of that coin is called the Atman, the (Bindu) point gateway to the Absolute Transcendental Source of all that is, i.e. God. To access the Divine is to know God through the Jiva. That is the meaning of “the kingdom of heaven dwells within.” The totality of existence dwells within you. As said in the Bhagavad Gita, all the Gods dwell within you.
Yet it is the syndrome of humanity that people look outside of themselves to find God. The mapping is that God dwells outside of us, over our heads and above. Though that mapping has validity, it leads so many astray. Such echoes of Truth, perceived as Truth, hold Truth at bay. It becomes an enticing astral level of spirituality. Worship of God then, so easily goes out of balance and becomes a life-consuming, intoxicating distraction. Indeed, the longing for God often reaches outside ourselves. Yet as the Gita and the Bible both say, the kingdom of heaven dwells within.
To find God is to refine and strengthen our experience of the Jiva, the Rishi value, the Self. It is an inward process, not an outward one. It is, of course, fine and feels nurturing, healing, and fantastic to sing the praise of God as outside and above us, but the evolutionary process is in the opposite direction, namely within. Over-emphasis of the outward direction then pulls us away from the God we feel we are reaching toward. To outwardly sing the praises of God on a Sunday afternoon in your church or temple is wonderful and is one thing. To turn it into your daily practice is quite another. God is actually revealed by the Self, to the Self, and through the Self, i.e. the Jiva.
This is why it is taught that we repeat Mantras silently. This directs the awareness to and through the Jiva, the Rishi value. Within the depth of our being, we already are One with God. We already know the Rishis. We can all sense that to some degree, though may say it in different ways. So when a Mantra is repeated silently, even if the pronunciation, rhythm, etc. are not exact, the deep physiology with the Jiva corrects it.
It is said in the Shastras that ten rules of proper pronunciation must be followed to prevent any distortion to be driven into the physiology. In fact, the Vedangas are said to be dedicated to that topic. To sing the praises of God on occasion is beautiful and fine but the actual regular daily practice is to be done silently. Also, it is best to leave the outward recitation to trained Pandits and those raised with proper enunciation. In fact, to hear Westerners try to speak out Sanskrit words can have a coarse feel to it. That is why in the temple, it is best to listen to those whose physiologies and dictions have been cultured from childhood to pronounce Vedic recitations properly. Yet at the same time, reaching outward for God can fill the heart and feel so nurturing and alluring… echoes of Truth holding Truth at bay. The path to God is indeed elusive and subtle, like traversing the razor’s edge, or passing through the eye of the needle.
We see in most every religion the reaching outside of ourselves for the Divine. Some call it being born again. Some call it attaining enlightenment, Bhakti, or Nirvana. Some say through that, God walks with them and talks with them and heals their body, mind, and life. They say they are saved. Unchecked, it hooks, intoxicates, and becomes the source of fanaticism foundational to so many religious practices.
With meditation and the Advanced Techniques, the experience of the Jiva (the Rishi value) is refined and strengthened. It does not promise instant enlightenment. Human evolution is a cultivation, not an detonation. Steady hand on the rudder. Staying on the path with distraction-free rationality is the key. The brain has two aspects… loving heart (Bhakti) and rational mind (Gyana). As illustrated in the Gita, true Bhakti comes once Gyana is solid. Know your Jiva through the Rishi value. Know God through your Jiva. JivoDevaha means the two sides of the one coin: Jiva (the Self, i.e. the Rishi value) and the Atman (Deva, God).
Another great pic by Joy Anna… ‘The Gates of Eden’!?
Rishi value / Atma God Value , so Gyana is Rishi and Bhakti is Atma? I feel it’s integration of both know the self through the self Jiva….please guide tmr with your insights !
Dear Michael,
To my ear, this is one of your most all encompassing and brilliantly clear postings. Thank you for being you and sharing your heart. With deep appreciation and love, Gloria
Hi Shaila,
We of course can love God at every stage But as Lord Krishna told Arjuna, first step to True Bhakti (love of God) is to get established in the Self… Knowledge of self via meditation. It is further refinement of that deepest level of our being that cultures the heart so Deepest level of love of God is experienced. If one is not established in the transcendental self, then Bhakti is more superficial… for example emotionalism, indulgence, escapism, or as Carl Marx said, an opiate of the masses. So in that sense, devotion to God, when the relationship with that is not established in the Jiva can actually be a distraction.
Shaila,
The deepest level of the Self is called the Atman. But the Atman lies beyond relativity and can therefore not be experienced. The deepest level of the Self that is in relativity and therefore can be experienced is called the Jiva. As people evolve spiritually, they experience the self on deeper and deeper levels with increasing clarity until the Jiva is experienced fully. Then love of God (Bhakti) becomes something very different… more profound and refined. Focusing on God as outside the self commonly distracts a person from the path. They think they are evolving spiritually, but are clinging to echoes. Very tempting and enticing, but unwise.
When they say that the path to enlightenment is like traversing a razor’s edge, it isn’t that it is scary or foreboding to either side. On the contrary, it is seductive and alluring. We are drawn off that ever-so-narrow path because we are enticed off of it.
Michaelji’s blog explains just how we can become entranced by the power of heart-opening, energy-inducing emotions along the way.
Thank you… steady hand on the rudder is indeed the answer.
🙏
This is a lot to absorb. I will enjoy feeling into this several times.Thank you.
This is an amazingly great blog. I enjoyed reading it multiple times because it reminded me of what we are doing and why we are doing it this way. It reminded me that the pursuit of God is an internal, subtle, and intimate pursuit. In my experience, the reward is almost too subtle to perceive. But there are times it’s obvious. For example, when I am with Michael, if someone would say that there is no God I would simply laugh because the experience is unmistakable.
It reminds me of the story in Consciousness Unfolding where God wants humans to experience all of his creation so he hides the key to coming back to him deep in their hearts–the last place they would look.
A very profound and precious knowledge. I hope people can hear what is being said. Worth reading over and over again.
Interesting picture, beautiful, and choice Joy Anna, for this blog. In the wrought iron (Saturn) gate, the sections at the bottom in quilt lore represent the Divine, star symbols. I wonder what the iron craftsman felt and how he may have been inspired as he created it. There is much to feel in this blog post, thank you.
I have throughly enjoyed reading this blog. I read the blog and came back to read it again, and found that the conversation running through the comments enriched the original blog. I really enjoyed learning about the mechanics and found the message really beautiful.
This is very beautiful. Thank you.