SATSANG – Seeking Together – Helping to Create – A Planetary Vision – And Universal Compassion

ROOTED IN MYSTERY
Further Reflections on the Spiritual Journey

‘Our duty as men and women is to proceed as if the limits to our ability did not
exist. We are collaborators in Creation’
Teilhard de Chardin (Mystic & Scientist 1881 -1955)

PART TWO: -
An Evolution into Mystical Consciousness

This is the second of two parts containing reflections on a series of Pravachans

( Spiritual Conferences) given by Sister Ishpriya to the Board of Trustees meeting in
Die Quelle, the ISA Sadhana Ashram in October 2010. These reflections are also
based on my own experiences and responses to Ishpriya’s Teaching.

Part one outlined a profound crisis facing humanity three indicators of this evolutionary
crisis given by Ishpriya were:

• The Crisis of our Environment

• The Crisis of Violence and Destruction.

• The Crisis of our lack of Compassion

I
My ‘felt sense’ about the third crisis is this. It is an indication of our growing
disconnection from each other. We seem to have lost any sense of
interconnectedness and unity. I am reminded of one of my favourite quotations from
the Vedas; this is the following famous lines from the Katha Upanishad. This has an
important bearing on the alternative path that will shortly be outlined.

There are not many but only one.

Who seeks variety and not the unity,
Wanders on from death to death.

In summary Part One proposed that humanity is facing a crisis. This is a crisis rooted
in its current headlong rush to seeming destruction. It is a path that, where many
declined to accept personal responsibility and often seemed quicker to apportion
blame.

SATSANG – Seeking Together – Helping to Create – A Planetary Vision – And Universal Compassion
SATSANG – Seeking Together – Helping to Create – A Planetary Vision – And Universal Compassion

However, Part One ended with an understanding that there is an alternative

evolutionary path. It indicated that this is a path of faith and mystery and one
signposted by the mystics and sages of all the Traditions, throughout all the ages. It is
a path that required faith and a path of challenges and choices. It is ultimately a path
of personal responsibility, which in turn leads to shared responsibility.

So to prepare to begin to look at and reflect on this alternative evolutionary path I am

reminded of the need for courage and of the following quotation from Marcus Aurelius.

‘Whatever you believe you can do

or dream you can do,
Begin it now.

Boldness has power,

Boldness has energy,
Boldness has imagination.

Begin it now ! ‘

Marcus Aurelius (Stoic and Roman Emperor}

In response to the crisis of possible impending destruction, we do have some

alternatives. We always have a choice. In fact , failure to remember the value of
choice and to refuse to see any alternative is aptly summed up by this quote from
Oscar Wilde ‘ If you only have one choice, then its bound to be the wrong one ‘
So what are our alternatives? Ishpriya outlined three possibilities, Technology,
Science and the Mystical Traditions.

There is no doubt that both technology and the sciences, part of the creative forces of
humanity, can help us. Modern advances in Technology and our growing
understanding in all the Sciences, undoubtedly bring great advances and benefits.
They have much to contribute to humanity’s search for a better and more equitable
way to use and share the resources and talents of our planet. However, the danger in
relying only on one or both of these is that it is too simplistic an answer. It fails to
address the real roots of the issue. Technology and Science could provide a partial
answer and could also give us a ‘breathing space’ in which to reflect. Slavishly
followed, they too could lead us down a more confusing path that could end in another
critical dead- end or evolutionary cul-de-sac. So how could we harness Technology
and Science in a deeper and more inclusive evolutionary path? And could humanity
find a purer, more authentic and more life – giving path?

The mystics and sages, of all Traditions, have advised us to seek the answers to
these questions at a deeper level. For them, there is a deeper Mystery at the heart, or
root, of all creation. They advise and suggest that if humanity were to focus and
search for the Mystery at the heart of creation, then we will find a more authentic, safe
and surer evolutionary path. This path can provide us with a way out of the current
crisis that threatens humanity. For them, this is a path of Mystery. It is a path that
people of all faiths and none can safely follow. However, it is a path that requires both
courage and encouragement.

SATSANG – Seeking Together – Helping to Create – A Planetary Vision – And Universal Compassion
SATSANG – Seeking Together – Helping to Create – A Planetary Vision – And Universal Compassion

This path, or way of mystery is seen by many to be a journey into the depths of
ourselves, into the depths of our consciousness Thus it is a journey within, a journey
into what is often termed ‘Mystical Consciousness’ This is not a new idea , it is well
known. Just after Ishpriya’s talk about Mystical Consciousness I recalled these words
from the Vedas, which were used by Ishpriya in her introduction to Meditation. On her
CD ‘Return to the Source’

Note: - This is CD, along with others is available for download from the Media Section of the ISA
Website www.international-satsang.org.uk

RETURN TO THE SOURCE

‘Return within to the place where there is nothing

And make sure that nothing comes in with you.

Penetrate to the depths of your self.

To the place where thoughts no longer exist
And make sure that no thought raises its head

For there where there is nothing is fullness

There where nothing is seen is the vision of being

There where nothing appears any longer

Is the sudden appearing of the self (the spirit?)

Dyan (meditation) it is this’

From the Hindu Vedas

This quotation, which primarily describes the whole purpose and ethos of the practice
of silent meditation, is also an extremely good description of the path into Mystical
Consciousness. It describes an inner journey to ‘a place where no wind blows’. This
is a place which Hinduism also refers to as ‘‘The Cave of the Heart.’ It is in this place
of mystery that we find both our uniqueness and, paradoxically, our underlying unity
with all and everything in creation. This sense of ‘unity’ is not a ‘Pollyanna type unity. It
is a true sense of our inter-connectedness with our deeper self, with others, with
creation and the Ultimate Source or Energy, God by whatever name we each give it.
This is the Mystery that our Hindu brothers and sisters refer to as ‘The God with 1000
names’

Ishpriya reminded us that this is a way of Contemplative Spirituality, where all our
‘practices’ at the levels of body, psyche and spirit, need to assist and encourage us to
move into the area of mystical consciousness. It is here where we can more truly ‘see,
hear, learn and understand at a deeper level’ She also stressed that this was a
journey into faith, which transcends religion. In fact, this way is totally inclusive
because it transcends and encompasses everything – the Environment, Science,
Technology, Relationships and Creation. This is an inclusive journey into the depths of
the self and into those deeper realms of consciousness. It is here at these depths, that
the Mystics, who have gone before us, suggest we meet Unity Consciousness.

SATSANG – Seeking Together – Helping to Create – A Planetary Vision – And Universal Compassion
SATSANG – Seeking Together – Helping to Create – A Planetary Vision – And Universal Compassion

Now many argue that this is the next stage on our evolutionary journey. It is a path
that has been trodden on by others who have gone before us and they have left a faint
trail and some signposts. However, it is ultimately a path of personal experience. For
each individual this is a path of faith which is built upon the sound foundations of
personal experience of the Mystery. I was once again reminded of Jesus and his
advice not to build a house on sand. This path of faith and challenge is not one that
can be built on the sands of 2nd hand information; it requires personal involvement and
a large amount of 1st hand experience.

As I face this path I know that it requires courage and determination. I can often feel
daunted, because I am merely an apprentice or novice on this path and I need help
and encouragement .So what helps me and what encourages me? Well, the quotation
from Marcus Aurelius helps. It suggests that there is no time like the present to begin.
It also asserts that boldness has power, energy and imagination and that all three of
these are required. However, it is particularly the last of these that could provide a
useful key that could open the door to this new path.

If this is a journey into deeper levels of consciousness and awareness, what evidence
for these deeper levels exists? We do know that this is not a new idea. Both ancient
wisdom and modern psychology point to some evidence for at least FOUR levels of
consciousness. Ishpriya briefly touched on these and I have used her input and some
of my own knowledge to briefly outline each of these levels. These four levels are
referred to by their Hindu terms and are:

* Consciousness Consciousness is our ordinary day-to-day wakeful

awareness. We exist in this state when awake with our inherent tendency to
‘drift’ into a past that is no longer here or into a future that may, or may not,
ever come. At times we do remain present to the ‘Presence’ of the Present
moment. This is a practice or state often referred to as Mindfulness, awareness
or the Practice of the Present Moment.

*` Dream Sleep This is a deeper, more intuitive, imaginative and

creative area or part of our awareness. In many traditions, this is seen as a very
creative state. Modern psychology is increasingly drawn to the power, energy
and insightfulness of our imaginative and intuitive consciousness.

* Deep Sleep This is a level where there is seemingly no awareness. It is

place of stillness and silence. It is obviously a place that is quite opposite to our
normal everyday consciousness. We can all have moments when we touch the
‘Stillness’ of this deep sleep, when somehow we transcend our ordinary
consciousness. For me, these moments often occur during my early morning
walks with our dog. As dawn breaks, I often stand and watch the growing light
and lose any sense of awareness.

* The Beyond Hinduism refers to this 4th State of Consciousness as ‘The Other’.
It is a place beyond all others and is seen as the realm of deepest
consciousness.

I would now like to add a few reflections on these stages of consciousness.

SATSANG – Seeking Together – Helping to Create – A Planetary Vision – And Universal Compassion
SATSANG – Seeking Together – Helping to Create – A Planetary Vision – And Universal Compassion

The concept of four stages of consciousness, expressed in their Hindu form, may
seem to man, in this modern ‘logical’ era, as illogical and a strange Eastern idea.
However, this is not only merely an intellectual response but also an error as it denies
the recent growing evidence in Neuro-psychology. In addition, it can block us from
accessing those areas of the self that are not just ‘cognitive’ but have emotion,
intuition, imagination and elements of the spirit. These are vital areas to explore and
could lead us into new territory where we could our real self in our deeper levels of
consciousness.

Modern psychology has become more aware of these deeper levels of consciousness.
It is also useful to recall that the early pioneers of psychology (Freud, James, Jung
etc), aware of the root meaning of ‘psyche’ (from the Greek meaning Soul, were
trying to explore these more holistic levels and parts of what it means to be human.
Many in modern psychology consider that mainstream psychology has, in the past 50
or so years, drifted too far away from its roots. But I would like to return to psychology
and briefly outline two proponents of this understanding of levels of consciousness.
They are both Western born practitioners of psychological healing.

Eugene Gendlin and Focussing Eugene Gendlin, the founder of Experiential

Therapy and of Focussing, has shown, supported by a large body of Research, that
people can readily access deeper levels of consciousness. He has demonstrated that,
if we ‘listen’ to the deeper levels of memory locked in our body, we can reach a level
of consciousness that he refers to as the ‘felt sense’. This is beyond our normal
awareness and deeper that our normal feelings, emotions and thoughts. It is a level
that is also referred to as just below our ‘edge of awareness’. This is a level where
we can sense something but very often struggle to put a label on it. My experience of
accessing this level of felt sense, both with myself and clients, reveals that it is
extremely insightful, helpful and capable of revealing fresh and useful therapeutic
insights.

Ken Wilbur – Integral and Transpersonal Psychology Ken Wilbur is a leading

exponent of the Transpersonal Approach. This is a holistic form of psychology that can
readily cross cultural and other boundaries of diversity. In one of his many works NO
BOUNDARIES, Wilbur recognises and explores Four Levels of Consciousness. These
are not too dissimilar to those recognised by Hinduism. He terms the final and deepest
level as ‘Unity Consciousness’. This reminds me of the eminent pioneer of modern
psychology, Carl Jung. Jung, who had a considerable knowledge and understanding
of Zen Buddhism, was one of the leading exponents of the concepts of Archetypes of
our Consciousness and these also lead to a concept of ‘Collective Consciousness.
The quote from William James ‘We are all like islands, only connected at the deep’
expresses a similar idea of our interconnectedness that the earlier quote from the
Katha Upanishad outlined.

Therefore, it seems to me, that the idea of deeper and deeper levels of awareness
and consciousness both by the Mystics of East and West and by some branches of
modern psychology. In addition, in the past 25 years Neuro-Science and Psychology
has learned more about the brain and human consciousness than in all previously
recorded history. Thus modern Neuro-psychology contend that many of our ideas
about the brain and consciousness, developed in the previous 100 years, are now
outdated.

SATSANG – Seeking Together – Helping to Create – A Planetary Vision – And Universal Compassion
SATSANG – Seeking Together – Helping to Create – A Planetary Vision – And Universal Compassion

Consequently we could benefit by being more open to the power of our intuition,
imagination, gut feelings and our deepest levels of consciousness. It is not only the
Mystics who suggest, that the next evolutionary stage for humanity is one that involves
a change and growth in consciousness. This is similar to what the mystics have
always indicated – humanity is destined for a growth in evolutionary and mystical
consciousness.

So, how could all the preceding points, both in Part One and all of Part Two up to
now, relate to my journey? How could it help me and, perhaps, Members of the
Satsang and others? How could it all relate to the Ethos and Values of the
International Satsang Association and the Triple Commitment which I and other
Members commit to?

In one of her early Pravachans ( Conference

Talks) , during my week at Die Quelle, Ishpriya
used the example of a plant, and particularly a
plant with both deep ‘tap roots’ and smaller
‘fibrous roots’ that spread our all around. She
explained how, in order to survive and grow, a
plant required these two types of roots.

The first was its ‘tap roots’. These grow deep

down into the earth, where they can seek for
water, hence their name. Deep taproots mean that
in times of droughts the plant can find water and
thus survive. The second type of root is those
that, although they do not go deep down into the
earth, stretch out in all directions into the
surrounding earth. These provide additional
stability and connect the plant to its surrounding
environment and make contact with the roots of
other plants.

For me, this analogy of the plant and its two types of roots, help me to better
understand my search for the Mystery and its connection with the Triple Commitment.
I will now ‘tease this out as I reflect first on the 1st Commitment and then on the 2nd
and 3rd Commitments together. These three commitments are shown below.

The Triple Commitment involves Members in a serious endeavour to:

1. Their personal growth in spiritual awareness and practice.

2. Helping remove the barriers of prejudice and ignorance, which divide persons
from each other.

3. Building up relationships of compassion and appreciation across

frontiers of race, language, culture, gender, economic status and religion.

And is so doing each seeks to play their part in

Creating a Planetary Vision and Universal Compassion.

SATSANG – Seeking Together – Helping to Create – A Planetary Vision – And Universal Compassion
SATSANG – Seeking Together – Helping to Create – A Planetary Vision – And Universal Compassion

1St Commitment My first commitment is to myself and thus to my spiritual journey

and the practices that aid and develop my growth in spiritual awareness. So the
variety of spiritual practices that build and sustain me .These practices are my tap
roots. In times of drought and dryness, when the waters of life seem hard to find, this
Commitment to my own spiritual practice somehow reaches deep down and provides
me with water. Faithfulness to spiritual practice, in whatever forms it takes, helps to
ground me deeper and deeper within. This will eventually lead to what the German
Mystic Meister Eckhart refers to as the way of paradox, the way to ‘the eye of the
heart’

Another helpful analogy that stresses the primacy of this 1st Commitment is the
message we get when we fly. The Cabin Crew go through their safety checks, and
many of us ignore them. When they come to the part that deals with a ‘loss of cabin
pressure’, they remind us that our first duty is to ensure we place the mask around our
mouth and thus have oxygen, before we try to help anyone else.

Although I am still an ‘apprentice traveller’, and I seriously question whether I will ever
finish my apprenticeship, every experience helps deepen both my faith and my
awareness of the deeper levels of consciousness within. This I am certain about
because experience has shown that in those brief ‘still moments’ , which intermittently
occur and break into my present awareness, I can sense and almost touch those
deeper levels. In my conversations with others I know that they too have similar
moments.

2nd and 3rd Commitments Once I have ensured my own growth and that my
roots grow ever deeper, and then I am better prepared to reach out to others. The 2nd
and 3rd Commitments are two sides of the same coin. We are called to be human; we
are created for compassionate, loving and life giving relationships. The 2nd and 3rd
Commitments are all about how I respectfully, empathically and compassionately
relate to others. They demand that I take responsibility to stand up for the oppressed,
to oppose and break down barriers that divide peoples and to play my part in building
up relationships of compassion. These are fine words but they require commitment,
courage and patience on my part.

These two commitments are like the fibrous side roots mentioned previously. They are
part of my roots. Like them, as I try to reach out in all directions to others in a spirit of
respect, acceptance and compassion, I am more and more convinced of the
underlying Unity at the heart of all. I am once again reminded of William James’ quote
‘ We are all like islands connected at the deep’ This is a very good analogy,
because I believe that, in the vast ocean of human consciousness, each individual
may seem to stand alone. However, at our deeper levels of consciousness and our
humanity, we are all connected. Therefore, intuitively I sense that the next stage or
path on the evolutionary journey is as Ishpriya suggests an evolution into deeper
consciousness and awareness. This is an evolution that can take humanity on a
journey along the path of Mystery.

So, as I reflect on Ishpriya’s Teachings I begin to see ever more clearly how the
Satsang Triple Commitment can help me to relate with myself, to others, the planet
and the Cosmos at ever deepening levels. This is a Journey deep into the heart of the
self , it is a path into Mystery and seemingly into Mystical Consciousness. This
requires faith , courage and an openness of spirit.

SATSANG – Seeking Together – Helping to Create – A Planetary Vision – And Universal Compassion
SATSANG – Seeking Together – Helping to Create – A Planetary Vision – And Universal Compassion

This openness to, and search for, the Mystery at all times on our life’s journey, is
eloquently expressed in the words of Rabindranath Tagore, a Bengali Poet and
Mystic. These words have for many years had a special place in my heart . For me
they express the essence of this journey, a journey we all are challenged to take
alone. So I wish to end these reflections with Tagore’s poem – Day after Day.

Peter Creagh ( Nov 2010)

Day After Day

Day After Day, O Lord of my life,

I stand before You face to face.

With folded hands, O Lord of all worlds

Will I stand before You face to face ?

And under Your great sky, in solitude and in silence,

With humble heart
I stand before you face to face.

In this arduous world of Yours

Turbulent with toil and struggle.
Among hurrying crowds
I stand before You face to face.

And when my work shall be done in this world

O Lord of all worlds.
Alone and without the need of words
I will stand before You face to face.
Rabindranth Tagore

SATSANG – Seeking Together – Helping to Create – A Planetary Vision – And Universal Compassion