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SEEING
BEYOND
THE
CONTRADICTIONS |
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by
Roy Posner
The Contradictions of Life
Life seems to be a collision of forces, positive and
negative, good and evil, right and wrong,
pleasureand pain,
and other apparent dualities of existence. This is what our thoughts and
feelings tell us, and it how we've been raised and taught to see the world.
Perceiving existence as pairs or groups of opposites
and contradictory elements is what we have come to expect as an essential modus
operandi of existence
However, from a deeper consciousness, the divisions and
dualities, the contradictions of life, the
conflicting pairsand elements appear quite
differently than when we live at the superficial surface. From a deeper poise,
we perceive that things that are in opposition
on the surface actually form complementary relationships and purposesat the depths. There we perceive that the two sides of any pair –
night and day, good and bad, pleasureand pain, etc. -- are not in
opposition with one another, but actually form an inextricable unity of purpose.
From this deeper consciousness, we also perceive that the
progress of each side is dependent on the relationship it has with the other
side. That is, it is only through that unique relationship that each side
can exist, and progress. For example, if I am in conflict with another
person, from a deeper perspective I perceive that it is only through that
conflict that I can grow. My partner in the contradiction serves Nature’s
purpose for my growth, just as I serve Nature’s purpose for his growth. You
could view virtually any problem in the world involving contradictory parties,
and see the same pattern at work
We call this true complementary relationship of contentious
opposites as the phenomenon of “contradictions as complements.” It is Nature’s
unique way of enabling progress in the world.
Perceiving the complementary nature of the relationship of
opposites is obviously not our normal view of things. Yet, as we move to our
deeper consciousness, the dualities and divisions of the world do start
appearing less as contradictions of opposites, and more as complements of
variation. At the deepest depths, there are no opposites; but rather
there are simply variations of elements serving a common purpose, i.e. Nature’s
purpose, which is the further unfolding and progress of life
This view is particularly significant when we consider our
views of what we believe are “positive” and “negative”
in our lives. From a deeper consciousness we begin to perceive that those things
we might have viewed as negative in our normal consciousness, are not so;
that they are simply additional elements that we have not distinctly identified
as positive. What we perceive as negative are actually neutrals, not positive,
nor negative. Or, if we wish, we can even perhaps call them “positives in
disguise!”
Perhaps you have heard people remark that it was often a
great negative or difficulty in a person’s life that drove him or her to great
success and achievement. An example of this is the child, who in his utter
misery and poverty, is forced to flee his village for the greener pastures of
the city. There, he has the opportunity to achieve a new level of personal
success. This not only brings great benefit for himself, but also enables his
family back home to rise out of decades of poverty and suffering. From this
perspective, can we say that what drove him to his success was a negative? Or,
was it rather a decided challenge, the great spur that enabled him
to succeed, ending years of suffering for himself and his family?
This demonstrates that our divided views of things,
as in our sharp, divided view of existence, including positive and negative,
is a superficial, limited, and false view. It misses the inextricable
relationship of the good and the bad, or in this case, the inextricable
relationship between the positive and the negative in the outcomes of life. We
enjoy the fact that the young child escaped poverty and made a success of
himself -- which we consider positive -- but we are disheartened by the negative
suffering he went through that caused him to make his difficult, yet bold flight
from poverty. Yet, both serve Nature’s larger purpose of progress
As we rise in consciousness, the separations we make
between pairs of opposites -- good and bad, pleasure and pain, and positive and
negative -- begin to break down. Both sides of the duality or conflict or
contradiction are then perceived as necessary for the more positive developments
and outcomes of life. Both sides, or rather, all sides and all varying,
even contradictory elements or parties are actually complementary to one another
in their relationship to the whole. Moreover, the relationship of the various
elements, divided amongst the allegedly good and bad, positive and negative, et
al. are all necessary, not only for the very existence of this reality,
i.e. for this whole, but for the further emergence and progress of this reality,
this whole. In fact, we can say that this higher harmony can only emerge
through these varying and contradictory elements. In that sense, there is no
real positive and negative. All is necessary in the unfolding of life for its
current formation, as well as for future formations embodying ever-higher levels
of progress.
The key to this notion however lays not so much in the
reality of this subtle relationship amongst the elements, but in our own
perspective in viewing this reality. When we spend our days in a deeper
consciousness within, away from the surface of life, conflicting elements
perceived at the surface are experienced as necessary, complementary
relationships in the depths. At the deepest consciousness, one perceives the
oneness of purpose of all of the elements -- positive or negative -- for
both the current status and the emerging status of the whole
At the very deepest depths, approaching and including the
experience of our True Self and Spirit within, one even sees the inextricable
unity of each element with every other element, as well as the unity of each
element with the whole of the situation, the circumstance, the current reality.
While perceiving the Oneness of life is an advanced spiritual perspective of
existence, perceiving the Integral Unity within that Oneness is an even
more profound view; the deepest of spiritual views of our existence.
The well-known Chinese
Yin-Yang symbol, as depicted on the flag of South Korea
, captures a number of these notions quite nicely. The parts of the whole, as
depicted by the Yin and the Yang graphic elements, are inextricably related,
dependent, and intertwined with one another, as well as to the whole. From such
a perspective we can see that the elements that make up a situation,
circumstance, event, or other reality are not perceived as isolated
self-contained elements, but are instead perceived as mutually and integrally
intertwined parts that make up the current whole, and the emerging higher
form of the whole.
This view of the necessity of all elements in the
existence and process of emergence of the whole, of an underlying shared Oneness
of all elements, of the variation of the qualities of these elements, of
the inextricable interrelatedness of the elements, resolves itself into the
spiritual maxim expressed by the sage and seer Sri Aurobindo as “Unity in
Diversity.
How can such a profound view and perspective relate to our
practical life? Well, if we look around we can see that this perspective can
apply to a number of aspects of our daily life. E.g. it can apply to two or more
sides of an argument, to two or more debating
politicians, to two or more nations at war, to two lovers who are quarrelling,
and to other aspects of life where the objects or elements of the whole are
perceived as contradictory or conflicting in some fashion. The same fundamental
subtle rules of existence apply in each. Both sides, or as the case may be,
multiple sides, are necessary for the whole, and the further emergence of
the whole. All sides need one another for their further emergence. Behind the
façade of our surface view, all sides are unified in Oneness; and in that
Oneness, all are interdependent and linked in a Unity of interrelatedness.
If we recognize such relationship, we can learn to see the
true relationship of the elements of the whole, which enables us to see beyond
the contradictions of life. If I perceive myself in some form of conflict, I can
move to a deeper consciousness where I will see the oneness and unity of all of
elements; e.g. between myself and my adversary, or between my view and other
views. In that way, I can move beyond my own partial understanding, or beyond
any limited aspect of my own side of the contradiction. As a result, I will have
made the necessary transition, the requisite reversal of consciousness that will
enable the subtle energies, forces, and powers of life to rush towards me.
In that way we are not only better able to interact with
all elements in the whole, but we suddenly find ourselves attracting positive
outcomes from life. These outcomes come not only from those that you are
directly interacting with, are enjoined with in the whole, but also from
unexpected sources outside the whole.
Thus, when you see and move beyond the contradictions of
existence, the infinite ocean of life opens before you. The infinite
possibilities and potentials of life rush in from all sources, and all
directions. This is, in essence, the power of life responding to your change of
consciousness within.
A New Perspective of Events in the World
How can we see the world this way -- as an integral Unity
of diverse elements sharing a common Oneness --when every fiber of our being
sees things quite differently? If one feels a pain, it is obviously hurts, and
strikes us as negative; whereas, a pleasure is experienced as something positive
to us. There is no concern about the utility of variation of the elements, of
Oneness and Unity. If two nations are at war, we perceive that there must
obviously be a positive side and a negative one (i.e. “good guys and bad guys”).
There is little concern that the various sides serve a purpose to the current
status and emerging status of the whole.
And yet, as we
move away from the surface of life, from the surface view of things, to a deeper
consciousness in the depths of our being, the sharp divisions that we make
between or among things begin to soften; and is replaced by a more unified
perception of the workings, and the unfoldings of life. We begin to develop that
perception of a purposeful complementary relationship among all elements that
make up the whole
If one were e.g. to look at World War II, one would be
inclined to say that the Axis were negative, even Evil, with a capital E, and
the Allies were positive, even Good, again with a capital G. But the truth is
that the perceived negative axis nations might not have ever come to power if it
weren’t for the previous ignorant and false actions of the allies.
In the film Judgment and Nuremberg the actor
Maximilian Schell, plays the part of advocate Hans Rolfe, who is defending the
German judges on trial after WWII. At one point in the trial, he pleads that it
is not just the Germans who were guilty of supporting the atrocities of the
Nazis, but the American big business interests too supported the Fuhrer as he
rose to power. So too was the Vatican, who embraced Hitler when he first
ascended to the chancellorship. Life is not so simply Good and Evil, positive
and negative, et al. There is no question that the greater darkness, or
negativity, or evil may lie on one side;
we can call it evil if we wish, but it takes “two to tango” as they say in
America. There is a complementary relationship between sides, between elements
represented by the Yin Yang symbol. We are all inextricably related in our
complementary nature, which we perceive as conflicting elements on the surface
This is one argument that negative and positive, or any
group of conflicting elements relative to a given whole, is not served well by
making simple-minded, sharp demarcations between them. There is however an even
better argument for the necessity of the negative, or the bad, or the
painful, etc. in the makeup and unfolding of the whole. We can see e.g. that
because of WWII, which we consider a great negative, many positives came
about! A United Nations came to be, a closer alliance of nations throughout the
world came to be, the loosening and disintegration of colonial empires was
brought about, a nascent global economic system of integration was born, the
West was pulled out of its economic depression and malaise, and a host of other
benefits were enabled. The peoples of the world were so appalled by the war, by
all of the elements that enabled it, that they rapidly moved towards new forms
cooperation, integration, harmony of purpose that enabled their further growth,
development, and progress; a movement that that is unfolding, even accelerating
today.
Is this not unlike the child who ventured out to embrace
his newfound prosperity, spurred on by his previously miserable condition?
Though we would like to say he went from negative conditions to positive
resolution, we can also say that the negative enabled the positive. Because of
the suffering that precipitated his flight from poverty, his family rose to a
whole new level of accomplishment and success in life.
We can look at the world from the standpoint of good and
evil, positive and negative, and other contradictions, which is invariable the
case when we observe from our ordinary, i.e. relatively low level of
consciousness. Then, however, we will miss the deeper purposes that are
unfolding, the profound opportunities that are growing out of the current
conflict. When we move to our highest consciousness, we perceive the truer
nature of the unfolding of events and circumstances. In that way, we can be
proactive, and lead life, by sensing its true essence, and by
perceiving its emerging arc of progress. Instead of being overwhelmed by the
contradictions of forces that we see in our surface consciousness; instead of
being led by Nature in its slow march of progress through conflict and
contradiction (which invariably is the case when we live on the surface), we can
perceive life in its unified emerging purposefulness; enabling us to see the
Golden opportunities, and giving us the opportunities to pursue those
opportunities to their great end.
In that way, if e.g. key members of the global community
could move to a higher consciousness, and actually begin to see beyond the
contradictions, we could avoid great catastrophes like World War II in the first
place. In fact, we could avoid many of the predicaments that are sure to befall
the world given its current course. From a deeper poise we would see the utility
of all elements of the emerging reality; giving us the truest and deepest
perspective of the events, circumstance, and unfoldings of life. This will
enable us to have the right knowledge and insight, which will enable is to make
the right decisions, which if acted upon will result in great benefit for the
world.
Then the world will progress, not through the slow, harsh
reality of Nature’s method, as we have seen so dramatically in the last hundred
years, but through our higher consciousness, revealing the deepest truths to us,
which will be the basis of a great and harmonious progress.
Resolving the
Contradictions and Life Response
How then does Life Response fit into this vast picture? How do our perceptions
of positive and negative, of the divisions and dualities of life, of the
disparate multiplicity of elements of any whole relate to our ability to invoke
rapid, abundant, positive response from life?
In our research on the subject over the years, a number of
things came to our attention. One of these was the somewhat simple notion that
the more you focused on a perceived negative, the worse things became. The more
focus you give to a thing at the physical, emotional, psychological, or mental
levels, the more life seems to respond more negatively. Or, to put it in a
positive vein, the more you are unattached or otherwise distanced from the view
of a perceived negative, the more likely the problem would dissipate; i.e. life
would response with a positive outcome.
Let me give you
some more practical examples. In our observations of life, we have noticed that
if one feels a sudden pain, and then intensely focuses on and reacts to that
pain, it will invariably intensity. If, on the other hand, one were to control
one’s reaction, -- such as not giving into the fear or worry that normally
accompanies such an experience -- then the pain has a tendency to rapidly
recede on its own. For example, let’s say you feel the first symptoms of a cold
coming on. If, instead of reacting to this onslaught and giving in to your
fears, you remain calm and put your mind at rest, in an hour or two there’s a
good chance that when you observe yourself again, you will realize that you
never had any symptoms after the original onslaught
This is surely
very different from our ordinary view of such situations, in which we place our
trust and faith in the “reasonable” view of science that tells us that once
microbes enter, the illness is inevitable. Instead, our psychological shift or
transition away from obsession with pain, and withdrawal of fear, moved us from
negativity to the positive. In terms of life response, we see how shifts or
transitions in our psychological perceptions, in our consciousness can alter the
inevitability of negative. From a deeper consciousness still, we would have
never reacted in any way to the onslaught in which case the problem would have
disappeared instantly. Perhaps it would have never come into being in the first
place. Again, we see that the level of our consciousness determines whether
something is negative or not
Just as our level of focus on a negative at the level of
the physical body determines the outcome, the same holds true at the
level of our vital and mental consciousness and being. For example, we have
often seen that if you are deeply troubled by a problem, it tends to increase;
whereas, if you withdraw your anguish, find a settled calm in the situation, the
problem has a tendency to decrease or even completely disappear. These are
transitions made at the vital level of our consciousness; at the level of our
feelings, emotions, and attitudes. Likewise, if in your mind you are racked by a
problem, it tends to worsen when you give it too much attention, leading to more
confusion or uncertainty. On the other hand, if you let go of the thought, of
that which has not been resolved or clarified in your mind, the mental problem
tends to resolve itself on its own sometime thereafter. The answer, the solution
often just jumps into your mind without even any of the hard churnings of
thought. This is a transition away from the perceived negative that enables
“life response” at the mental level.
Whenever you move away from the intensity of a perceived
negative, it tends to dissipate. Indulge it, and it gets amplified. This is life
response at the level of our perceptions of what is negative at the level of the
body, the vital, and the mind.
As we have often said, the way you relate to such problems
of life, the way you react to perceived negatives, will depend on your level of
consciousness at that moment in time. As you move to a deeper poise, you tend to
develop the awareness, calm, equality, and right insight
-- i.e. the overall consciousness and capacity – that enables you to shift away,
to brush of, not be bothered by, yet still recognize the perceived negative. If
the transition is great or intense enough -- i.e. the negative view is absorbed
and negated -- the difficulty will tend to quickly, if not instantly evaporate.
More often than not, the evaporated negative will be accompanied by the sudden
onslaught of unexpected positive circumstances! I have a little incident to tell
you about that illustrates this point.
Nearly Coming to Blows
in Fresno
A couple of years ago I was working for a client in Fresno,
California, a medium-sized city in the farming district of Central California.
The client was in the home construction business, developing
government-sponsored housing for low income families. At the client’s facility,
I conducted a 2-day seminar for the company’s supervisors on the topic of
project management. Each supervisor was in charge of overseeing the development
of their own housing construction site. Project management software would help
each supervisor track the tasks and resources on the project, giving them better
access to start and finish dates, project costs, and so forth.
As we began to discuss the possibility of implementing this
system, the conversationunexpectedly turned
quite heated, as the group grappled with, debated, and argued over the
suitability and viability of implementing the system. Some of the participants
saw the great benefit of it, while others doubted it would help since they were
already overburdened with other work. I wanted to tell this nay saying second
group that the system would actually reduce their current workload.
However, I dared not interrupt the discussion, since it had already reached too
high a pitch. Instead, I stood back and watched the fireworks fly! At various
points the discussions turned so personal in their nature, that the acting
“sheriff manager” had to periodically intervene to create “cooling off periods”
for the overheated participants! In fact, a couple of hombres were one or two
nasty remarks away from coming to blows!
I rationalized that these were simply country folk,
ancestors of Western pioneers, cowboys in modern gear, whose spirits tended to
get the best of them on occasion. Besides, there was the designated marshal to
take care of things if they got too far out of hand! And, they almost did! It
was a bit like a scene out of a film of the Old American West.
It went on like this for a good part of the session. At
various points, I tried to add my two-cents worth, only to be rebuked; or worse,
ignored. As a result, I kept my distance a good part of the remainder of the
day.
At the end of
the meeting, there was no consensus about what to do next, in which direction to
take things. There were however a lot of strong feelings and opinions on all
sides
Hoping for a happy and productive session, I left the
meeting a little shaken, and not a little discouraged. The situation was
troubling to me because I had after all come to teach them a new system, and now
they questioned its very utility. Moreover, I had come (i.e. driven) a long way,
and now there was the distinct possibility that days of training could be
cancelled.
When I returned to my hotel, I thought about the
possibility of losing this once promising and good-paying project; that my
preparation and efforts to secure the work may have now come to naught. My mind
became filled with doubt and dread; overcome by what I perceived to be a
hopelessly negative situation.
After hours of these dark thought and feelings, I finally
broke out of my inner funk, and decided to make a change. I began by offering a
little prayer up to the Higher Power for the right solution and outcome of my
work with the client. I also realized that if I was going to get a good night’s
sleep, it was best that I stopped worrying about the situation. At that point, I
then made a fundamental shift in my perspective. I took the approach that I did
not have to perceive the situation as negative in the first place. I began to
realize that the conflict I witnessed was simply a part of an unfolding process,
which would somehow resolve itself one way or another the next day. Because of
this subtle shift in my psychological perspective, in my basic orientation to
the situation, I slept pretty well that night considering where I had been in my
heart and mind just an hour or two before.
The next day when I arrived at the company for the second
day of work on the project, pretty much the same group gathered around the
conference table. As I got ready to begin the day’s session, I really didn’t
know what to expect. I struggled within myself to keep an open mind about the
possibilities. I resolved to just let things be. Again, I said a little prayer
just before we began; i.e. I “consecrated” the event to a higher power, which is
something I ordinarily try to do before important or trying occasions.
Well, the good news was that the day turned out
wonderfully. The training session was free of any serious debate and
noteworthy conflict. There wasn’t the slightest bit of anxiety, tension, or
strain amongst the participants. Instead, the day proceeded smoothly and calmly.
In fact, the atmosphere seemed suffused with a quiet stillness, perhaps even a
gentle peace that seemed to last throughout the day.
To be honest,
even though I was amazed by the sudden turn of events, somehow I wasn't all that
surprised. After all, I had called to the spirit, which as I have seen over the
years does tend to attract such positive outcomes. However, this time I
recognized that I also had been willing the night before to let go of my
perception that the conflict was a negative, even opening a smidgen to the
possibility that things could actually go well. And they did; in spades
I understood that the day’s wonderful turnabout was, from
my side, due to three factors -- a consecrated prayer, a reversal of my
perception of a negative, and an optimism that was open to the possibility of a
positive outcome. Life had indeed responded to my various changes in
consciousness.
A day or two later, I wrote my spiritual teacher about the
incident. From what he said I gathered that the problem could have disappeared
on that first day just as things were happening (i.e. deteriorating). If
only I had overcome my attachment to my perception that events had taken a
negative turn, events could have rapidly reversed.
Looking back on the event, I now realize that if I had been
stationed in a deeper consciousness to begin with, I would have seen the utility
and benefit of these intense discussions as they were unfolding. I would have
perceived that these unfoldings, that would ordinarily offend one’s senses, were
simply life’s way of accommodating the necessary variation of forces at play in
the event.
If I had not perceived a negative in oppositionto a positive; if I not have looked at the situation as a kind of
differential between what did occur and what I wanted to occur, which is
our ordinary tendency; if I simply had the wherewithal to maintain my inner
poise to perceive the utility of what was taking place, the “problem”
would have dissolved on the spot.
Resolving the Contradiction
If you reverse your perception of a thing being “negative” or “problematic” or
“difficult,” circumstances have a tendency to quickly reverse themselves. They
can even turn around to such a degree that new unexpected positives emerge from
seemingly out of nowhere. E.g., someone might suddenly appear on the scene with
good news; or a new interesting training assignment might come from the client;
or an email would appear in the inbox indicating that a long overdue bill had
been paid; and so forth. The possibilities are endless.
Our normal status is to experience the world in division
and duality; i.e. positive and the negative, good and bad, right and wrong,
pleasure and pain,
and other contradictory oppositesof life. We
do not perceive that these alleged contradictory opposites are part of a shared
whole; in which both sides, and rather all sides of the
contradiction are necessary for the outcome of that whole. We don’t see how
every element forms a symbiotic relationship with every other element, and with
the whole itself. The human mind does not see life in this manner because it
invariably gets locked up in its ego-sense, in its ignorance and falsehood.
On the other hand, when we move into our deeper
consciousness, sense input domination over us wanes, our ego preoccupation and
absorption evaporates, our separateness from others and the world dissolves, our
minds exclusive attachment to its own bits of knowledge out of the whole melts
away, and our wrong and misguided perceptions of the situation vanishes. These
are replaced by the experience of oneness and unity with life around us.
Even society’s dominating influence on us eases when we
move deeper within; as we are able to truly think for ourselves, to see
the true truths for ourselves -- as we are no longer overwhelmed by the social
view, by the view of the herd.
As a result, our fundamental Ignorance born of creation
gradually gives way to a many-sided, integral Knowledge of the truth
around us; as we see all things in life in their fullness, in their right
relations with other things, in their right relationship with the whole, in
their emergences and in their possibilities.
Does this deeper perception indicate that the divisions and
dualities of life do not actually exist in the first place? It is a tricky
question, with a rather simple answer: It depends on the plane of consciousness
from which you are observing the world.
If you are in the surface consciousness,
then the division, dualities, conflict, contradiction are perceived everywhere.
Then if you want to resolve the problems from that perspective, you will be at
the mercy of opposing forces, conflicting positions, different perspectives, et
al.; meaning that you are sure have a never-ending battle on your hands.
On the other hand, when you move to a deeper state, these
conflicting opposites are perceived less and less to be the truth of their
relationship. When you reach the deepest state, disharmonious relationships do
not exist at all. From that perspective, all that is unfolding in life serves a
common purpose, supporting ever-higher harmonies of purpose through the play of
the variability of the parties, entities, elements, forces, etc. From that
poise, all parts are seen as required and necessary. They are also inextricably
connected, to enable not only the current reality, object, or whole to
exist, but to enable its further emergence, at ever-higher levels of
possibility.
This is the case because behind the surface of things there
is an essential Oneness and Unity to all existence.
At the deepest consciousness, we perceive the Oneness of
all object, forms, entities, living beings, people. There we perceive that
sets of things, entities, elements, etc. together form a bond to one another, to
the essential Whole they are part of, and this Whole to other related and
greater Wholes.
In addition, from the deepest poise we perceive the
complexity of that Oneness. We see that all of the individual entities that
makeup any Whole that form this Oneness, have a complex association and
relationship between one another, as well as to the Whole. It is as if tendrils
from each element reach out from one element to the other. Or, perhaps we can
say that a part of each element is a part of another element in some fashion.
There is some underlying unifying fusion of elements. This complexity of
relationships among objects that form a Oneness of being is what we would call
their essential Unity of being.
Where then does this apparent Oneness and Unity behind all
existence come from? It comes from the fact that behind all forms, objects,
entities, sentient beings, people, there is an essential spiritual
substance. There is a spiritual reality, unseen to us, that binds everything in
the cosmos, enabling the essential Oneness and Unity of being
Thus, from the deepest consciousness we perceive not only
the fluidity between the elements of the whole (as opposed to their division and
separation on various sides of contradiction); not only their essential Oneness;
not only their inextricable complementary relationship, i.e. their Unity; but we
come to know the spirit behind all, that binds all, that makes all one, that
unifies all. This perception of existence is perhaps the most profound view of
things one can have in life.
Again, how does this all relate to life response? Well, if
we able to live in this deeper consciousness and sense the interrelatedness of
things, the Oneness and Unity behind things, the spirit that binds all and is
behind all and is the source of all, we are more likely to have the right
consciousness at any moment that will enable us to (1) know what we want out of
any situation, i.e. the right aspiration for things will be revealed to
us; (2) we are more likely to have the right attitudes in critical
situations; (3) we are more likely to make the right decisions as life
warrants it, as life challenges us; and (4) we are more likely to take the right
actions when we are obliged to act. We will be far more able to make the
necessary transitions at the level of our aspirations, attitudes, decisions, and
action as life unfolds, and makes its requests and demands of us. We will thus
be able to make life respond continuously in a veritable symphony of rapid
abundant results
E.g., let’s say
that a heated discussion is taking place in my class. I move to that higher
consciousness, where I remain calm and deep within, apart from the turmoil.
There I am able to perceive, not the conflict, but the truth that is emerging;
including the right relationship of things, of individual elements (people,
ideas, etc.) to one another; as well as the necessity of each element (person,
argument, etc.) to the whole. From there I (1) have the right understanding,
which enables me to develop the right wants in the situation, i.e. the correct
and necessary aspiration for the direction of the class. In addition, I (2)
incorporate the right attitudes along the way, especially at key points. I am
also (3) able to make right, truly informed decisions, especially critical ones.
And finally, (3) when I act on my right decisions, I will act rightly, which
will surely enable wondrous positive response from life
The Power of Calm,
Equality, & Peace
When you see beyond the contractions, such as when you see
the necessity of both the positive and the negative, you are in essence
experiencing life through the spirit in your mind. You mental acuity
rises to that point where you see deeper into the true truths of life. How can
you gain such a perspective? You develop this higher illumined and intuitive
capacity of mind -- to perceive life beyond the contradictions and conflicts; to
see the complementary nature of all divisions and dualities; to ultimately see
their inextricable oneness and unity -- when you move to a deeper consciousness
within. The more you move into the depths, the higher your mind rises to
perceive the true truths of things. You don’t even need to think, as thoughts
and ideas of what is occurring around you, of what you should or shouldn’t do,
etc. continually pour into your mind as illuminations and intuitions of right
insight and knowledge.
Yet, even these profound higher mental and even spiritual
perceptions of existence would not have been possible unless you had first
established the foundation of an inner life, which is the experience of a
settled calm, which can be the basis of and equality of being, which culminates
in the experience of a most profound sensation of spiritual peace.
How then are these foundations of inner consciousness
enabled? Or, perhaps we should say, how can we move from our surface
consciousness to that point where we establish these foundations of the inner
consciousness? What is the process?
We know that moving within is the process of withdrawing
oneself from the hustle and bustle of the surface, of the incessant imprints on
the mind relayed by the five senses. This reversal from the outer focus to an
inner concentration relieves you of the bombardment of sensation from the outer
life, including the dissolution of the endless low level and scattered thoughts
it produces in your mind. Furthermore, turning off this outer cacophony by going
within reveals a surprising calm and silence inside. From this status, you are
better prepared to meet the world around you on your terms, higher terms,
enabling you to live the right way, make the right transitions that enable
positive life response.
In addition, as a result of this absence of thought -- this
silence, calm, and peace -- you are less vulnerable to the intensities and
shifting currents of life outside yourself. On the one side, you are not
bothered by the difficult or painful or stressful; while on the other, you are
not overly gleeful about your good fortune, or by the pleasurable or the
pleasant. You remain always equal and undisturbed; yet joyful, solid, focused,
concerned, and responsive. In such ways, you establish an essential equality
of being.
From this equal bent, you are not bothered by the
intensities of the outer life, as you are able to see right through them. You
stay on course; your remain undistracted and undisturbed. You remain on the
beam, on course, always flexible and ready to move in the required direction. By
moving to this status, you are far more likely to have the presence of mind to
make the necessary transitions that enable wondrous life response.
Finally, if you are very fortunate, then that
settled calm and equality of being can develop into a decided deep
peace within yourself. If calm and equality are one level of experience of
the spirit within, then deep peace is at an even higher level. Deep peace is the
experience of the pleasurable and soothing sensation of the spirit, as
you are literally enveloped and gripped by it. This deep and abiding peace is
not merely an absence of turmoil and tumult that engenders a calm and quietude,
but is an active presence experienced as a profound serenity, a deep silence,
and a gentle spiritual sensation of the nerves. This
deep peace, this pleasure and delight of being, (which is called “Ananda” or
“Bliss” in the East), is one of the great spiritual experiences one can have in
life.
Thus we now see that when you are concentrated within, i.e.
separated from the surface inputs, rooted in calm, equality, and peace, you are
not only better able to see beyond the contradictions, resolving them into their
necessary complementary nature; not only are you better able to make the right
transitions that enable wondrous life response, but you continually feel the
bliss and pleasure of existence.
Bringing any of these to bear in our daily existence has a
staggering power to invoke overwhelming response from life. Consider the
following astonishing life response incident involving a manager in India who
remained calm during a very difficult and stressful situation:
"We have our business unit in a rented shed. One
day the owner of the shed, without any valid reason, picked an argument with our
manager and threatened to terminate the lease. I was away at the time. All the
workers and the manager were agitated by this turn of events, and wanted me to
take appropriate legal action against the owner.
I decided not
to react to the situation, and instead be calm and composed. I also told the
workers and manager to be calm, and to concentrate on their work. During that
time, I functioned in a normal way, as if nothing had happened.
Within a few
days the owner of the shed came to me in tears. He said that his 2 year old
grandson had a heart problem, and wanted me to suggest a hospital where the
child could be treated. Through my doctor friends, I suggested a hospital in
Madras, to which the child was taken. At the hospital in Madras the doctors
revealed that the child had a hole in the heart, and that it was necessary to
operate on him immediately.
The cost of
the operation was two lacs of rupees (~$2000). This person did not have
two-pennies to pay for it. So I personally talked to a bank manager, and
arranged finance from the bank, based on my personal responsibility and
guarantee of the loan. On the other hand, the bank took an undertaking from the
owner that he would not evict me on any ground for the next five years.
My right
attitude not only saved the life of the child, but also created goodwill for me
in the owner."
The manager had the wisdom to see
directly into the cause of this wonderful positive response from life. He
perceived his right attitude, including the necessity of non-reaction and
non-confrontation in the situation. He supported these attitudes by drawing on
an inner capacity of calm, which is a spiritual capacity. He asked others to
take the same approach. The response to this spiritual movement was
overwhelming. He turned the potential ill-will of the owner into rich
feelings and emotions of gratitude and goodwill by helping save his grandson’s
life.
Invoking the spirit directly -- or its
spiritual surrogates of calm, equality, or peace -- has the capacity to invoke
what we call “causal” response. This type of response goes far beyond the
response that we experience when we make transitions of consciousness that
enable life response at the physical, vital, and mental level. Causal responses
enables (1) overwhelming results; i.e. vastly abundant results, (2)
one-of-a-kind results, (3) and results that also enable the beneficiary to
experience spiritual qualities in one’s life, such as Peace, Power,
Light, Knowledge, Truth, Oneness, Unity, Joy/Delight/Bliss, Love, Beauty, etc.
As we can see in our example, the
results were (1) overwhelming, in that it saved the life of a child;
going far beyond any small squabble about rented property. It was (2) a
one-of-a-kind result because the response that followed was so utterly
unique, and was unlikely to reoccur in just that fashion again. Finally, (3)
there were spiritual results because it engendered a sense of Onenessbetween the parties; even perhaps a kind of Love
as expressed through the owner’s intense gratitude. Certainly there was great
Joy, i.e Delight of Being in the outcome. Oneness, Love, Joy (i.e. Delight of
Being) are powers, capacities, and indicators of the Spirit. The calm and
silence of Spirit invoked corresponding spiritual results of Oneness, Love, and
Joy.
Remember, we are here for convenience sake speaking of good and evil as if they
existed. At the deepest levels of consciousness, there is no such distinction.
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