By : Ashutosh Maharaj Ji
Most of us know it too well that abiding peace lies in the lotus feet of the Almighty; even then we are disturbed! Why? Very often, we beseech Him and somewhere deep within we have a constant quest to know Him. But even then we don't find Him and consequently true happiness and peace! Why? Simply because we do not search for God where He actually dwells.
To elucidate the same concept, Saint Rabiya once did a divine sport. She started searching for something outside her cottage. In the meantime, two people walked past her cottage and seeing Rabiya tensed, asked her for the reason. Rabiya promptly answered, 'Oh Sons, my needle is lost. Will you help me in finding that?' Out of respect for her elderly age, these two men also started helping Rabiya in her search. Within no time, dozens of other villagers also gathered to aid her in her mission to search the needle. However, the desired result was not forthcoming. Efforts proved futile. Finally, an irritated villager inquired from Rabiya- 'Mother, just try to recall the spot your needle exactly fell?' Rabiya answered that the needle fell inside her cottage. The villagers were shocked! As if knocked down with a feather! They revolted and questioned why then she was making them look for the needle outside? Rabiya innocently reasoned that it was dark inside. To this, the villagers laughed and explained that if it is dark, then why not light up a candle or a lamp? 'But O old Mother! The needle can be found only at that spot where it actually got lost.' Grabbing the right opportunity, Rabiya remarked that this was the fact she wanted everyone to understand regarding God too. She reasoned - 'You all are searching for God outside, in various temples, pilgrimages, or religious sites; whereas He, verily, dwells within the innermost chamber of your being. And, if it is dark there, then enlighten it with the lamp of divine knowledge. But you can find His glorious presence only where it actually is, i.e., in your own Heart or Self.'
However, in this context, theists or believers often reason that God is omnipresent. He does not only reside within but everywhere, in each and every atom of the Universe. Then, why could He be attained only from within? This logic really sounds reasonable. However, let's try to recognise the other side of this as well through an example. We know that water is everywhere- below the ground where we might be sitting or in the air we are breathing in (in vaporised form). However, when we feel thirsty, can we drink water just by waving our hands in air? No! One can only drink water from its known visible source like the tap, well, river, etc. Likewise, God, undoubtedly, is present everywhere, but His perception and realization becomes a viable proposition only by entering the beatific portal of our inner consciousness, its specific source, and, for sure, by no other outer means.
There are two types of hearts- the Physical and Spiritual hearts. The physical heart is the one that is located under our chest, beats and circulates blood constantly throughout the body. The spiritual heart is positioned at the center of the forehead, right between the eyebrows. According to authentic scriptures and renowned Masters, God resides in this spiritual heart.
Whosoever has beheld His effulgent face has attained it in the immaculate mirror of this heart alone. However, to accomplish this, another inevitable requisite is- Divine Eye! Only this eye capacitates us to gaze and concentrate on the divine realms of the spiritual heart. The two physical eyes we possess have a range limited only to the material world. To experience and behold the Divine and supra-physical visions within, we certainly need this Divine Eye.
The Divine Eye has been referred to by various synonyms in different holy texts, viz, Shiva's Eye (shiva netra), Third Eye, Spiritual Door, Single Eye, etc. Although the Divine Eye exists very much with each individual, but it cannot reveal the face of God unless the Perfect Master imparts Divine Knowledge and thereby activates this Eye. This activation sets in motion the seeker's spiritual journey into the Inner World. All through this, he experiences celestial visions in the form of radiant light or entities and other infinite extraterrestrial sights within his inner consciousness. The same has been advocated by the Bible (Luke 11; 34) - 'When thine eye is single, thy whole body shall be full of light.' Meaning thereby, when your Single Eye becomes active, Divine Light fills up your inner domains. Another holy text- Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (page 922) mentions that our bodily eyes are blind in regard to seeing God. God cannot even be glanced at with them. Only when we seek the tutelage of a Perfect Master and when the Divine Eye is activated, we can clearly see His Infinite and indescribable glory- 'Kahe Nanak ih netra andh se, Satguru miliye dib drishti hoye.'
However, some logicians today also reason that the Lord cannot be seen at all. He is not the subject of perception. He can only be felt like air. So, one can merely enjoy His presence. At the most, one can pray and worship to strengthen this consoling and reassuring sensation of Him being around. But, dear readers, if we contemplate sincerely, we will find that this notion has no valid ground. Only a blind person claims that the sun cannot be seen. For him, its golden rays are nothing but moonshine. He can only feel its warmth. So, he stubbornly sticks to his notion that sun is only to be felt, not seen. However, a person with eyes knows that this assumption is blatantly wrong. It is merely a blasphemy resulting from blindness. Once the blindness is cured, the assumption will itself be proved wrong as the very sun would be seen to shine forth brightly. Likewise, seers and divine-eyed devotees invoke us to beseech the shelter of a spiritual Master, the God-ordained eye-surgeon, who can bless us with the Divine eye. With this restoration, Divine Light amounting to thousands of suns will irradiate forth, thereby dissolving the disbelief of the spiritually blind.
Another question, often voiced in this regard is- "What is the advantage of seeing God?" The answer is derivative of the aforesaid analogy itself. Remember- a blind person can undoubtedly sustain himself; however, he can never lead a sound life. On a similar note, a spiritually blind man may survive well in the world. However, being surrounded by the darkness of ignorance, he cannot lead his corporeal life fully, leave aside the spiritual life. He would remain distraught, dependent, stagger, and always sing the tunes of life at a lower note. To amplify these notes and lend the life its due colour and beauty, suspension of the dark period of ignorance is a must. For this to ensue, spiritual knowledge and hence the Divine Eye is more than a must. This Eye sees and foresees discriminately the path of life and the events occurring on it. Contentment, upliftment, and, hence, happiness follow duly. Is it not an advantageous, profitable deal? In fact, it's a priceless one!
Most of us know it too well that abiding peace lies in the lotus feet of the Almighty; even then we are disturbed! Why? Very often, we beseech Him and somewhere deep within we have a constant quest to know Him. But even then we don't find Him and consequently true happiness and peace! Why? Simply because we do not search for God where He actually dwells.
To elucidate the same concept, Saint Rabiya once did a divine sport. She started searching for something outside her cottage. In the meantime, two people walked past her cottage and seeing Rabiya tensed, asked her for the reason. Rabiya promptly answered, 'Oh Sons, my needle is lost. Will you help me in finding that?' Out of respect for her elderly age, these two men also started helping Rabiya in her search. Within no time, dozens of other villagers also gathered to aid her in her mission to search the needle. However, the desired result was not forthcoming. Efforts proved futile. Finally, an irritated villager inquired from Rabiya- 'Mother, just try to recall the spot your needle exactly fell?' Rabiya answered that the needle fell inside her cottage. The villagers were shocked! As if knocked down with a feather! They revolted and questioned why then she was making them look for the needle outside? Rabiya innocently reasoned that it was dark inside. To this, the villagers laughed and explained that if it is dark, then why not light up a candle or a lamp? 'But O old Mother! The needle can be found only at that spot where it actually got lost.' Grabbing the right opportunity, Rabiya remarked that this was the fact she wanted everyone to understand regarding God too. She reasoned - 'You all are searching for God outside, in various temples, pilgrimages, or religious sites; whereas He, verily, dwells within the innermost chamber of your being. And, if it is dark there, then enlighten it with the lamp of divine knowledge. But you can find His glorious presence only where it actually is, i.e., in your own Heart or Self.'
However, in this context, theists or believers often reason that God is omnipresent. He does not only reside within but everywhere, in each and every atom of the Universe. Then, why could He be attained only from within? This logic really sounds reasonable. However, let's try to recognise the other side of this as well through an example. We know that water is everywhere- below the ground where we might be sitting or in the air we are breathing in (in vaporised form). However, when we feel thirsty, can we drink water just by waving our hands in air? No! One can only drink water from its known visible source like the tap, well, river, etc. Likewise, God, undoubtedly, is present everywhere, but His perception and realization becomes a viable proposition only by entering the beatific portal of our inner consciousness, its specific source, and, for sure, by no other outer means.
There are two types of hearts- the Physical and Spiritual hearts. The physical heart is the one that is located under our chest, beats and circulates blood constantly throughout the body. The spiritual heart is positioned at the center of the forehead, right between the eyebrows. According to authentic scriptures and renowned Masters, God resides in this spiritual heart.
Whosoever has beheld His effulgent face has attained it in the immaculate mirror of this heart alone. However, to accomplish this, another inevitable requisite is- Divine Eye! Only this eye capacitates us to gaze and concentrate on the divine realms of the spiritual heart. The two physical eyes we possess have a range limited only to the material world. To experience and behold the Divine and supra-physical visions within, we certainly need this Divine Eye.
The Divine Eye has been referred to by various synonyms in different holy texts, viz, Shiva's Eye (shiva netra), Third Eye, Spiritual Door, Single Eye, etc. Although the Divine Eye exists very much with each individual, but it cannot reveal the face of God unless the Perfect Master imparts Divine Knowledge and thereby activates this Eye. This activation sets in motion the seeker's spiritual journey into the Inner World. All through this, he experiences celestial visions in the form of radiant light or entities and other infinite extraterrestrial sights within his inner consciousness. The same has been advocated by the Bible (Luke 11; 34) - 'When thine eye is single, thy whole body shall be full of light.' Meaning thereby, when your Single Eye becomes active, Divine Light fills up your inner domains. Another holy text- Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (page 922) mentions that our bodily eyes are blind in regard to seeing God. God cannot even be glanced at with them. Only when we seek the tutelage of a Perfect Master and when the Divine Eye is activated, we can clearly see His Infinite and indescribable glory- 'Kahe Nanak ih netra andh se, Satguru miliye dib drishti hoye.'
However, some logicians today also reason that the Lord cannot be seen at all. He is not the subject of perception. He can only be felt like air. So, one can merely enjoy His presence. At the most, one can pray and worship to strengthen this consoling and reassuring sensation of Him being around. But, dear readers, if we contemplate sincerely, we will find that this notion has no valid ground. Only a blind person claims that the sun cannot be seen. For him, its golden rays are nothing but moonshine. He can only feel its warmth. So, he stubbornly sticks to his notion that sun is only to be felt, not seen. However, a person with eyes knows that this assumption is blatantly wrong. It is merely a blasphemy resulting from blindness. Once the blindness is cured, the assumption will itself be proved wrong as the very sun would be seen to shine forth brightly. Likewise, seers and divine-eyed devotees invoke us to beseech the shelter of a spiritual Master, the God-ordained eye-surgeon, who can bless us with the Divine eye. With this restoration, Divine Light amounting to thousands of suns will irradiate forth, thereby dissolving the disbelief of the spiritually blind.
Another question, often voiced in this regard is- "What is the advantage of seeing God?" The answer is derivative of the aforesaid analogy itself. Remember- a blind person can undoubtedly sustain himself; however, he can never lead a sound life. On a similar note, a spiritually blind man may survive well in the world. However, being surrounded by the darkness of ignorance, he cannot lead his corporeal life fully, leave aside the spiritual life. He would remain distraught, dependent, stagger, and always sing the tunes of life at a lower note. To amplify these notes and lend the life its due colour and beauty, suspension of the dark period of ignorance is a must. For this to ensue, spiritual knowledge and hence the Divine Eye is more than a must. This Eye sees and foresees discriminately the path of life and the events occurring on it. Contentment, upliftment, and, hence, happiness follow duly. Is it not an advantageous, profitable deal? In fact, it's a priceless one!
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