CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
MYSTICISM
Mysticism
is not only the culmination of the mysterious human desire to live forever but
also the search for the ETERNAL, which happens to be the greatest mystery. If
man looks into his self, he is sure to unlock this secret because he will find
that the spring of eternity lies within his self, and nowhere else, and he has
been vainly looking for God in deserts, plains, forests, mountains, churches,
temples, mosques and shrines. Why? Because God, the Eternal, is nothing but the
apex of man's glory. No man, no God is the basic thesis of true mysticism.
It is usually believed that the
ultimate goal of life is the union of soul with God. Such a union is possible
only if God and soul are of the same essence. But this is not what is believed.
God is thought of as the creator or procreator. If soul is a creation, it cannot
rank equal with the creator. If it is not a creation, then it is eternal in its
own right and being totally different from God, must have a different essence.
Therefore, union is not possible between the two: it takes place between the
equal and similar only.
The ultimate goal
The ultimate goal of life is not
the union of soul with God but the union of soul with other souls because
Godhead, the only eternity, is the union of souls. As cells combine to form a
human, souls unite to form Godhead. However, there is a difference; cells have
many alternatives of formation - a plant, a monkey or a man, but souls can
assemble into Godhead only because God is the final form; it represents the
ultimate unity into which diversity must dissolve.
Souls and Godhead
There is no external force to
arrange souls into Godhead; they have the inherent ability to compose themselves
into divinity. As nothing is immune to the law of change, the eternity of
Godhead is coextensive with the availability of souls whose birth depends upon
the righteous conduct of mankind: it is only the good deeds which lead to the
formation of souls; wickedness causes an individual's extinction at the point of
his physical death. God does not have a creative or procreative role. His
function is that of a guardian, and is limited to minimal interference necessary
to produce righteous conditions for the formation of souls. Considering the
vastness of the universe, chances of intelligent life on other planets are
Considerably greater than we may think. This is what leads to the abundant
production of souls, making Godhead, the circular reality and an everlasting
truth.
Significance of mysticism
Production of souls is strictly a
practical affair; grace and intercession play no part in it. As explained in the
previous chapters, it is a sociological concern which determines whether most
people will be good or evil. However, what I am about to say under the heading
of mysticism is "extra-individual". It is the icing on the cake, and
not the cake itself. One can be righteous without being a mystic' and qualify
for Godhead. However, mysticism imparts similar zest to righteousness as sugar
does to lemonade, salt to food and arrangement to flowers. In a nutshell
mysticism is the active quest for God based on complete personal devotion which
makes it a strictly individual affair.
Origin of mysticism
As, once upon a time, I was a
sincere practitioner of mysticism, I feel that I am more competent to discuss
this subject than any other. However, before advancing my personal views (not
experiences) about this holiest of sciences, I should say a few words about its
origin.
Mysticism is an offshoot of
Hinduism which arose out of nature-worship as is clear from the Hindu mythology:
every natural phenomenon such as wind, rain, lightning, fire, seasons, dawn,
dusk etc. had a god or goddess behind it to complete the cycle of nature, and
deserved worshipping by the human beings.
From nature-worship arose the Hindu
attitude of philosophical contemplation about the origin of the universe. All
major principles of mysticism owe their origin to the Hindu cogitation. The
oases of rational wisdom are so numerous in the vast desert of Hindu myths and
superstitions that one cannot ignore their beneficence to mankind. Particularly,
to mysticism, they made the following contributions:
1. God and matter are both eternal.
2. The universe consists of
illusory phenomena and God is the reality behind them. (This principle was
adopted by the Greek philosophers such as Plato).
3. Since God is behind every
phenomenon, everything is the same in origin, and proves the doctrine of
"Unity in All".
4. Everything has Atman, an inner
self or soul, and the ultimate object of every soul is to seek union with
Brahman (God).
5. The way to seek union is through
yoga, which is a combination of asceticism and personal devotion.
6. Words have inner meanings which
are beyond the understanding of ordinary people who must have a guru (mentor) to
lead the way to achieve this goal.
7. God is transcendent and the only
reality; He is more easily sought through symbolism than abstract precepts.
Influence of the Hindu mysticism
has been immense on all major religions Even Buddhism, which came into being as
a protest against Hinduism, seeks Nirvana (the State of Bliss) despite the fact
that neither it believes in God nor in soul. Moslem mystics advocate the
doctrine of Fana or self-annihilation and merging with God; Christians seek
mystical union i.e. the faithful uniting with the Christ.
Mysticism and Semitic religions
In fact, mysticism is contrary to
the fundamental principle of Christianity and Islam which believe in a creator
God; all matter is created and the relationship between God and man is the same
as between a master and slave who will be resurrected in his original body on
the Day of Judgement to account for his deeds. Therefore, mystical principles:
"Unity in All" and "Union of soul with God" are alien to
these religions, yet, to a large extent, they have become the pillars of these
faiths. Why?
Concept of unity
"Revealed" religions are
based on bigotry, and hatred of non-believers. People are made to believe in
them through brainwashing, bribe of paradise and threat of hell. It is against
human nature, which despite many infirmities, seeks love, fairness and trust. Mysticism
is the condition of being in love which is the fountain of growth and stability.
The object of love is not money rank or prestige, but the fellow-man. This
is what makes mysticism the practical annotation of "Unity in All".
Love is unity and unity is love; without being the ambassador of love, mysticism
cannot visualise and feel "one-in-all" and "all-in-one". It
is this principle which makes a mystic a cosmopolitan who sincerely believes in
the family of man. The fact that all religions despite being staunch holders of
their dogmas, have stealthily adopted the mystical principles, clearly shows the
relevance of mysticism to humanity and thus makes it the true faith of
mankind.
Core of mysticism
One must realise that mystical love
is not a heap of verbiage, magic of rhetoric or the golden art of
tongue-lashing; it is an ever-burning lamp of concern yearning to illumine the
dark labyrinth of human sorrow with rays of hope, happiness and hilarity. Sincerity
is the cornerstone of mysticism; the urge to seek salvation through serving
mankind and helping the less fortunate, is its driving force. A mystic is
tolerant of the intolerant, a friend of the friendless and a helper of the
helpless. He is harmonious in feeling and acting, and is the agent of harmony
which purifies the social environment, conducive to the birth of souls. Without
sincerity, mysticism is as unimaginable as growth of crops without sun and rain,
wedding without a bride or bridegroom, or rainbow without colours.
Internal fountain of eternity
Mysticism is an intuitive affair.
The primitive man believed in a Super Being but not through any rational
analysis of his surroundings; his inadequacy and helplessness gave him the
unconscious impetus to seek adequacy and independence, thus convincing him that
there is a higher state of living reserved for the higher beings This is what
suffused his mind with the idea of gods and goddesses who are greater entities
and immune from the dread of disease and death. Man's search for eternity, thus
springs from within himself, and external factors only serve to intensify this
desire.
Man, the microcosm
Whatever is outside, principally
exists inside man. In fact, man's interior is far more complex and superior to
the exterior world. It is because man is the most highly evolved being and,
therefore, the best representation of the reality. Thus true exploration of the
reality starts within man and not outside. This is the essence of mysticism, and
this is the reason that man has been called the "microcosm,' and sages have
repeatedly instructed the seekers of truth: "Look into thyself'' Therefore,
the way of God is through the knowledge of one's self and not through science
though it may help to understand the reality.
Harmony of souls and Godhead
What do you look for into yourself?
You look for into yourself what you hold in common with the rest of your
fellow-beings. One can claim that every person is different from others. I
respect this view but the individual difference is not the difference of essence
but difference of stress and intensity because in the last analysis we all
(broadly speaking) want similar things to satisfy needs and desires which are
fairly similar. This self-examination in relation to other people provides the
clue to eternity, that is, if you respect the rights of your bretheren and help
them in achieving their legitimate needs and desires as you do your own, you
have identified yourself with the dignity of mankind and developed a sparkling
love which is bound to assist a healthy growth of your personality - the
guarantee of spiritual elevation. It is only this attitude which can lead to
social harmony and cohesion. At this juncture, I must remind the reader what I
have stated previously, that Godhead is a collective entity which arises from
the harmony and cohesion of individual souls. This harmony which is the source
of cohesion, is the personal trait of every soul. Thus the entity of Godhead
depends upon the uniting ability of souls. In other words, the constitution of
Godhead is not a forced one but spontaneous, emanating from the harmonious
strength of the souls. It expresses the apex of morality or free will and shows
that self-examination is a personal choice, and people cannot be coaxed or
frightened into it by the attraction of heaven or repulsion of hell. Therefore,
the lessons learnt from self-examination must be applied without any
considerations of reward and punishment. Thus a mystic is above the positive law
but bound by the higher rules of morality.
Self -purification
An equally important aspect of
self-examination is purification of one's self. When you peep into the depth of
yourself, you are bound to find that all is not well. What is healthy ought to
remain untouched but what is ill must be remedied. After all, purpose of any
examination is the assessment of one's soundness. If a person is not prepared to
rectify the imbalance, it is futile to indulge in self-examination.
The act of self-purification is
directly connected with others. I may think that I am righteous and wise, but do
other people have the same opinion of me? If they hold me in contempt, I have no
right to think of myself otherwise. Why do people have a low opinion of me? What
is the depth of their hatred? How do they come to the conclusions, as they do?
Thus, what in psychology is called ``introspection", in mystical terms is
an examination of one's self in relation to Others. However, it is not an
exercise in changing other people's opinions through appearance and deceit but a
process of self-reformation to be really good. Hypocrisy is the exact antithesis
of mysticism This brings us back to the basic issue that mysticism is about
one's relationship with one's fellow-beings, and the test of fellowship lies in
one's practical affection for others and the actual good that one has done to
them. Thus mysticism is not for a recluse or an ascete; it is an honour reserved
for the dedicated, devout and divine and not for the devious, devilish and
disconcerting.
Brotherhood of man
Again, this relationship is not
restricted to individuals or even the society; its repercussions extend to the
social and natural environment. Do one's actions add to the social values or
debase them? How do one's attitudes affect the natural environment: do they
inspire love of nature and its beauty or do they lead to its material
exploitation? This point is very important because a mystic believes: "all
is one and one is all", and the love for man falls short of its magnitude
without an expression of regard for all; after all, everything is interconnected
for having the same origin. This is the philosophy that lies behind the
brotherhood of man, nullifying the distinctions of race, colour and creed.
Unity of origin
Unity of origin is the underlying
principle of the universe; the fact that this principle has been confirmed by
the modern science, vouches for the veracity of mysticism. It means that
particles, atoms, molecules, cells, trees, mountains, animals and people are not
only inter-related but potentially one. At human level, this potential becomes
intense. Throughout the range of evolution, chance and environmental factors
play a considerable role, but at human stage, not only do these influences
become less intense but, to a certain extent, give in to man's manipulative
powers. Man's ability to invent, improve and modify seems to be unlimited. Take,
for example, the ability to see. Normally, a person may see only a few yards or
kilometres, but when he invents a telescope he can see millions of miles away
and his microscope can make the invisible visible.
Human potential
This is an example of part
realisation of man's physical potential but when we look into it more carefully,
its spiritual aspect also emerges unmistakably. Take television, for instance.
All of a sudden, you may see a dead singer performing on the screen. He sings
and dances exactly the same way as he did, say, fifty years ago at a certain
time. You cannot say that the artist is completely dead because a part of him in
relation to his original performance still lives on. You may advance one hundred
and one arguments to the contrary, but the fact remains that when that
particular film is shown, he starts singing and dancing as he did fifty years
ago; the beauty of it is that I can see and hear him. If he was completely dead,
this would be impossible.
When talking about movies, one
ought to remember that years ago we did not possess the knowledge of
sound-recording. The older pictures show motions only but the modern films
reveal sounds and even colours. This advance in technology proves the greater
possibilities of living. One can dismiss this discussion by calling it a
recording but it will be wrong because recording is a development of the
technique which keeps a part of the person alive, at least in relation to a
point in time; recording is the technique for keeping the (recorded) sound
alive. The body is dead but its sound is still alive. Can you deny this?
A part of the artist, no matter how
small, still lives on! Why? Because we have discovered the technique to do so.
There is no magic or illusion in it. Had we developed a better technique, the
more of the artist could have survived after his death. There is no way that one
can reject this truth. In fact, it further proves that life-after-death is not a
fairy tale but reality. All we have to do is to find out how we can live
forever. Thus eternity is a part of developing the human potential.
The right development of the human
potential is the main concern of mysticism because the wrong development of this
potential can turn man into the wildest beast. The carnages that have been
carried out throughout history in the name of religion and national prestige,
allude to this fact; modern stockpiles of lethal weapons, claims of tactical
superiority, neglect of the helpless by the capable, pollution of the
environment for economic gains, are some further examples of this truth. In a
nutshell, man has the potential to be God or Devil: it all depends upon how he
develops his potential.
Unity of end
Even if one does not believe in
life-after-death, belief in eternity is the more appropriate way of developing
one's potential for two reasons: firstly, it has a hope value which supplies a
psychological cause for carving a life compatible with higher standards of
humanity. Secondly, as argued earlier, there is no scientific proof that
evolution ends with man. If evolution is to continue, then life-after-death is a
must. However, life-after-death is not possible without the formation of soul,
the germ of new and the best life, which solely depends upon higher morality.
This new eternal life emanates from the rightly developed human potential. One
very important point to remember is, that Godhead is not constituted by one
soul; it is a union of countless souls each having the ability to live and act
in perfect harmony. Therefore, Godhead is as much a collective affair as it is
an individual one. This is why mysticism is based on philanthropy, the love and
care of mankind because this is the only way that one can improve the chances of
righteousness by minimising man's worries which are likely to lead him astray
and thus reduce his chances of attaining eternity. And it is for this reason
that in the previous chapters, I have attempted the outline of a social order
seeking the realisation of a mystic's goal. This collective aspect of Godhead
demonstrates that man's unity of origin determines his unity of end. Mysticism
is the only, and true religion of mankind.
Abuse of mysticism
Unfortunately, nothing has been
subjected to greater abuse than mysticism. The
abuse lies in:
a. the extreme austerity and the
cynical philosophy attributed to it, and
b. the unmystical methods of
achieving the mystical goals.
a. To start with, all that is
projected as mysticism may not be so but exactly the Opposite. Take Shamanism,
for example. It is supposed to be a branch of mysticism because a shaman
("he who knows") is believed to be an ecstatic figure who has the
power to heal the sick and communicate with the transcendent, he also has the
authority to act as psychopomp, that is, escort of souls to the other world. A
shaman is more an object of fear than respect; his power to communicate with
spirits makes people believe that he is in a position to harm those who annoy
him. This type of belief equips him with social and political prestige and
ordinary folks pray to him for guidance during sickness and bad times.
This type of analogy holds good
with fake mysticism which is a lucrative spiritual business based on presence,
deceit and trickery. The Indian subcontinent is the most flourishing ground for
such hypocrisy. In Pakistan, a mystic is called "Sufi". Though sufism
is the exact antithesis of Islam, a sun is considered a holyman with the powers
to heal, tell future, communicate with the departed souls and arrange paradise
for the sinners - of course, like the shaman, for a financial consideration. The
suns are also courted by the politicians who want these religious mentors (Pirs)
to guide their hordes of followers (Mureeds) to vote for them.
Yoga
With this spiritual fraud goes the
cynical philosophy, originally propounded by some Hindu sages. They hold that
soul is sacred and body is profane, and thus advocate the complete emaciation of
the latter to free soul from its captivity. This was the belief held by Plato
and his followers. This is the reason that Plotinus was "ashamed of being
in the body". To secure release of soul from body, the so-called mystics
prescribed mortification of the latter, against all biological principles. Take
yoga, for instance. It is a philosophy in its own right based on Samkhya which
holds that the world has come into being stage by stage through an evolutionary
process. The person desiring release of soul must reverse his temporal process
to dephenomenalise himself to the extent of discarding his body so that his soul
can re-enter its original state of purity and consciousness.
Yoga is a theistic philosophy but
the achievement of its goal depends upon a very severe discipline. Altogether,
it has eight stages. I should mention here a few to state its case: the first
two, called Yama and Niyama, concern self-restraint to prepare the novice for
purification by prescribing total sexual abstention and a strict dietry control.
The third stage, Asana, deals with sitting and its various postures lasting a
long time without physical distractions, and the fourth stage, Pranayama,
teaches the technique of stabilising the rhythm of breathing to encourage
complete respiratory relaxation. The last stage, Samadhi or "selfcollectedness,',
means that the yogi (practitioner of yoga) is no longer aware of anything but
his self, and is thus supposed to have achieved complete release from all the
secular bonds.
The yoga postures and breathing
techniques used in the west are very mild and physically beneficial forms of its
Indian model which leads to the destruction of its practitioner through
paralysis of the body and destabilization of the mind Having lost his rational
faculties, he finds a distinct departure in his manner of speaking and acting.
Since he ceases to possess any appetite - sexual, social political or financial,
people treat him as a saint, believing that he can grant them temporal wishes
and pave the way for their spiritual betterment.
Body and mind
The purpose of the body seems to be
the creation of a fairly autonomous psychological system called "mind"
without which man is no better than an inferior animal. It hardly needs stating
that only a healthy body contains a healthy mind. The diseased, debilitated and
decimated body warps and distorts the mind for not being able to provide it with
proper nourishment. People become delirious for having a temperature; even a
minor injury or hunger may upset one's thinking and behavioural manners.
Body, the greatest shrine
Not only the condition of the body
affects its psychological performance but even physical appearance influences it
through the prospects of acceptance or rejection. This is the reason that a
deformed person feels spurned; an ugly woman feels less desirable and seeks the
assistance of make-up to enhance her sex appeal. The things spiritual are
closely connected with bodily attraction; the verve of a poet, painter and
sculptor, and the cultural role of physical beauty - all explain this point.
Therefore, body is not to be emaciated but appreciated and elevated. This is the
greatest shrine in relation to an individual and deserves more reverence than
any other object. One's potential-to-be lies in it. By disturbing and destroying
it, you disturb and destroy its essence, the soul. Does sour milk yield butter?
Does a crippled horse win the race? Can a broken arm feed the mouth? Thus
mortification and asceticism are entirely unmystical: mysticism means probing of
one's self, love of mankind and the search for eternity through serving fellow
beings. If one is determined to destroy one's self there is left nothing to
probe into, and renunciation of society deprives an ascete or hermit of the
chance to serve his fellow-men.
b. With profound apology and
respect to the practitioners of yoga and similar disciplines, I dare say that
most of such "mystics" use mysticism to gratify their physical and
sexual appetites. This brings me to discuss part ``b" of this problem,
namely, the unmystical methods of achieving the mystical goals. Of course, yoga
is a philosophy as well as practice, which though partly erroneous, deserves our
respect for its sincerity. By the said "methods", I mean the shameful
contrivances of the self-professed mystics.
Tanterism
(Sexual union and salvation)
A deviation of yoga is its esoteric
form called Tanterism. There are two types Of Tanterism - Hindu and Buddhist. I
am explaining my point of view with reference to the Hindu Tanterism. It is a
system of esoteric practices aiming to secure spiritual goal through
purification of the body. The stress is laid on rites, rituals and black magic
to woo gods and goddesses. The theoretical structure of the Tanterism is based
on the Hindu philosophy. It holds that the Supreme Reality is non-dual but
consists of two aspects, namely, Siva (masculine) and Sakti (feminine): the
former represents pure consciousnes and transcendent passivity and the latter
concerns mental activity. However, realization of the truth in terms of Siva-Sakti
and the Supreme Being lies within the human body which is an epitome of the
universe. In fact, it is a "search for God" through free sex. The
adroitness of satisfying carnal desires is simply stunning. A theory has been
devised to gratify sexual appetites in the name of divinity. It holds that the
spinal cord is the representation of the fabulous Mt. Meru, and its three main
nerve connections (Ida, Pingala and Susumna) represent the three sacred Indian
rivers Ganges, Yamuna and Sarasvati. Breathing plays the role of time in the
human microcosm. Sakti, the female force, is also called Kundalini i.e.
"the earringed one" which happens to be a name of the Goddess Kali. It
lies serpentwise, coiled and dormant in the lowest psychic centre of the body. A
tube known as Susumna runs through the spine, past the six centres i.e. Cakra
(wheel) of increasing psychic power. Sahasrara, the most potent of these centres
is located just under the skull and is pictured as a lotus of a thousand petals.
The entire problem of salvation is solved when the Kundalini is awakened and
united with the Sahasrara.
The five pillars of sexual
salvation
How is union of the Kundalini and
Sahasrara affected? It is done through some unconventional practices called
Pancamakaras, the five things beginning with the letter "M", namely,
Madya, Mamsa, Matsya, Mudru and Maithuna; in simple English it means,
respectively, wine, meat, fish, female partner and sexual union. To qualify as a
yogic process, thought to be the only true method culminating in the union of
soul and God, the sexual union must not seek pleasurable completion of the sex
act. It is claimed that it creates a condition of lofty suspense which totally
arrests all mental processes, leading to the mystical sense of oneness with the
Supreme Being! For encouraging women to attend sacred orgies, they are revered
as the manifestations of Sakti, and men are thought of as the representations of
the god, Siva. With a view to enhancing the excitment of the sexual act and
giving it the authenticity of mystical sanctity, use is made of Yantras (ritual
mystic diagrams) and Mantras (mystic syllables or formulas).
Christian mystical love
However' fulfillment of erotic
dreams is not confined to the Hindu and Buddhist mystics. The mystics
belonging to other religions equally think of divine love in erotic terms and
express it through symbolism based on the analogy of human love and marriage. In
Christianity, St Bernard is worthy of mention. He has shown that the mystery of
grace and union is moved forward by the carnal, filial and nuptial love of man.
The Christian mystics have looked upon both Church and the faithful to be
Christ's brides! St. Teresa speaks of the love bond between herself and God
"as two human beings are joined in wedlock and will never separate Himself
from her".
Islamic mystical love
The major mystics or suns Islam
have expressed similar ideal of love. The first of them was Rabia Al Adawiah, a
woman from Basra. Ibn al Arabi believed in symbolism; when in Mecca, he became
acquainted with a girl of great beauty He used her as a symbol to express his
love for God; his love poetry is highly erotic
Jalal ud Din Rumi whose didactic
epic "Masnavi" is said to be the "Quaran in Persian", sought
divine love through symbolism. He had several male loves his first love was
Shams ud Din. Rumi loved him so much that the members of his household became
jealous of Shams. His sons are said to have had Shams murdered and buried; his
second love was another man called Salah ud Din, an illiterate goldsmith, and
after his death, yet another man, Hasam ud Din Chelebi became his spiritual love
and deputy.
Summary of mystical vision
Because of the significance of this
chapter, I may recapitulate what I have stated so far:
1. Mysticism is not only the
culmination of the mysterious human desire to live forever, but also the search
for the ETERNAL.
a. God, the ETERNAL, is the apex of
man's glory. No man, no God, is the basic thesis of true mysticism.
b. God is the greatest mystery; its
solution lies within one's self and not outside.
2. The ultimate goal of life is not
the union of soul with God but with other souls because Godhead itself is the
union of souls.
3. Formation of soul depends upon
the righteousness of deeds, and not on faith intercession or grace. It is both
an individual and collective affair, and its collective side demonstrates the
spiritual value of one's social conscience in relation to eternity.
a. Owing to the fundamental
importance of the social conscience, mysticism ceases to be the only channel to
Godhead because an honest atheist walking on the road of social conscience
reaches its natural destination, which is eternity. However, the path of
mysticism is like the metalled highway embellished by evergreen fruit-bearing
trees frequently punctuated with fountains of sweet water whereas the road that
an atheist follows runs through a hot desert having a few oases only. This
difference arises from the fact that a mystic is conscious of a definite goal
which inspires him, whereas an honest atheist walks towards God without
acknowledging Him. The former's find is purposeful and carries the reward of joy
associated with a serious quest whereas the latter's discovery is accidental and
lacks the delight of conscious effort.
4 Sincerity and love constitute the
foundation of mysticism. Without these elements, mysticism is a word without
meaning, a body without blood, a singer without voice, a dancer without feet, a
bridegroom without desire.
5. Mysticism is the natural
religion of mankind, and is free from the pollutions of race, colour and creed.
6. Mysticism is about looking into
one's self in relation to others.
7. A mystic's love is not confined
to the fellow-beings but extends beyond - to the natural environment. This is
the principle that lies behind the "unity of origin".
8. Mysticism is as much concerned
with man's unity of end as it is with his unity of origin.
9. Cynical philosophy and extreme
austerity form no part of mysticism. On the contrary mysticism requires the
fulfillment of all legitimate desires in a morally acceptable manner.
10. One's body is the greatest
shrine, mystically; one must keep it in sound condition through reverence and
care.
Rules of mysticism
The above points sum up the essence
and form of mysticism. A mystic is not addicted to any particular appearance
such as filthy looks, long hair, full beard, rosary, bangles, shepherd's crook,
loose clothes, and so on. If this is how he wants to look, it is not due to any
ostentation but humility. Equally, he may be cleanshaven, fragrant and smartly
dressed. He is not a cynic, and possesses good hedonistic and aesthetic tastes
but satisfies them with probity and restrained passion. Moral precepts such as
not to kill, not to lie, not to seduce etc., are well known to him, and he
practices them faithfully. However, what makes a man a mystic is his belief in
the following rules which he practices with all the sincerity at his disposal.
The rules have been known to mankind since its inception:
1. Love thy fellow-men without any
regard to race, colour or creed. Do what you can to reduce their misery by way
of financial or personal help, as your circumstances may permit. There is no
virtue greater than philanthropy.
2. Do not do to others what you do
not want to be done to yourself.
3. Compare your today with your
yesterday. Check yourself objectively why your today is not as good, or better
than yesterday, and try to remedy the situation.
4. Stand up for your legitimate
rights because neglect of rights leads to servitude. But make sure what you
think legitimate is really legitimate.
5. Liberty is the greatest virtue
because without it, free will, the cornerstone of humanity' cannot be exercised.
Liberty is more than one's personal liberty; it means genuine respect for other
people's liberty as well.
6. Give everybody his due, that is,
give benefit of doubt; a person may be doing wrong because he is a religious
fanatic, because he is depressed by circumstances, because he is ignorant of
facts, because he has been instigated falsely, and so on.
7. Earn your loaf honestly and
diligently, instead of robbing others.
8. Learn to relax. Too much hurry,
too much greed, too much ostentation - in fact, too much of anything coupled
with the burning desire to grab it instantaneously, is the source of mental and
spiritual instability. If excessiveness of ambitions makes you unhappy, learn to
be contented with what you have or set your goals in a way which does not
disturb the relaxed posture of your mind. This is the secret of real happiness;
do not barter it for the realisation of false dreams.
Take up a hobby which pleases you.
Once it starts making a demand on your time, you will reduce your worrying
activities to relax frequently.
Hospitality is yet another virtue
to conquer problems of hurry, worry and haste However, I shall describe it
later.
Search for a friend
9. Find a friend, especially
outside your family circle. Better still, find someone outside your racial and
social group. A friend is not the person whose wife you want to seduce or want
to borrow money from or who can help you with your business or career. You
befriend a person for his or her qualities. A good friend is the person who will
stand by you in hour of need without being asked and without any expectation; he
is someone whose chest is the graveyard of your secrets; he will neither molest
you nor will he befriend your molesters. If you are lucky to find someone
outside your own racial and social group, try to be like him instead of
converting him. If he is below your rank, show him respect and kindness so that
he can overcome his inferiority complex. Friends are always equal irrespective
of what they look like, and disparity of wealth and social position.
Friendship is the most beautiful
but delicate thing and may not last without a great deal of mutual trust, care,
understanding and tolerance. Sincerity is the keyword and love is its true
embellishment. A boozing pal or a workmate is not a friend but an associate.
True friendship means that you have
conquered the barrier created by mistrust, intolerance and hatred, and laid a
path founded on mutual good will. This is the way of the mystic.
Friendship is not formal but
intimate, relaxed and homely. You can never befriend a person who makes you feel
uneasy. Friendship is a cure for loneliness and all its evils. Your friend is
your spiritual part; he doubles your personality by reinforcing your sense of
security with his loyal support and unfaltering goodwill. Friendship is a revolt
against selfishness because it is a bond of mutual care.
Friendship is forgiveness; if you
are not capable of forgiving, then friendship is not for you. Learn to be
content with yourself.
Like all precious things, a true
friend is hard to come by. Search for a friend is full of frustration; you will
come across showboys, arrogants, misfits, cheats and hypocrites. However, the
traveller who gives up the journey to his dreamland for fear of highwaymen or
inclemencies of weather will never attain his goal, but the one who keeps
marching towards his destination despite all the mishaps is likely to reach
there.
The search for a genuine friend is
sweet, sacred and supreme. It is a symbol of love and sincerity which forms part
of harmony leading to the formation of soul. If you are lucky enough to have a
good friend, don't lose him through ignorance' misunderstanding or intolerance.
Forgiveness is the cure for these infirmities. Do not let your false pride stand
in the way. Giving is better than receiving in friendship, but a true friend
does not expect anything in return nor is he ashamed of accepting a sincere
gift, no matter how small, from a friend of tiny social stature.
Hospitality
Most of our psychosomatic worries
and illnesses emanate from modern civilization which measures everything in
terms of material benefits and does not appreciate spiritual values like
friendship. Be hospitable and learn to relax in the company of your friends.
When you invite them, do not be ostentatious. Offer them what you can by way of
drink and food. Do not have large gatherings: your company must be confined to
those who qualify as companions. It is wrong to offer hospitality to a friend,
expecting him to invite you in return. A true friend remembers his obligations;
he will invite you of his own free will, and not because he owes you a
meal. Remember, every friend may not have the means to invite you back.
Hospitality seeks no return, and if it does, then it is not hospitality.
10. Seek accord with nature. After
all, man is a part of it. More accurately, the entire universe is a part of
man's family; he has evolved from the same particles as rivers, lakes, streams,
springs, forests, mountains, birds and animals. Being the most highly evolved,
and thus, the most exalted, he has a duty of care towards the natural
environment. The nature is a mirror of his excellence; he must look at it more
frequently through a genuine association. It cannot fail to inspire awe and
self-reverence in man. A mystic tries to translate this awe and reverence
through his character. Once he has done so, he is on his way to embrace Godhead.
Meditation
Finally, I must state that
meditation is an integral part of mysticism; dietry discipline and rituals also
play a part in the psychological satisfaction of a mystic as the white gown of a
doctor and red robe of a judge influence patients and litigants. Description of
such details has worried me all the time that I have been writing this book. I
am in a big dilemma. If I specify the meditative details and rituals, then I am
indirectly projecting myself as a god or guru. I am nothing of the sort; I am
just an ordinary human who is not free of blame but trying to discharge his duty
towards his fellow-beings. On the other hand, if I neglect this point
completely, then I have left the conscientious reader in the lurch. This is
especially true because, once upon a time, I did practice mysticism, and I know
it works. Therefore, I shall say just a few words about this subject without
pretending to be a messenger or messiah.
Meditation is an ancient Indian
practice and is common to both Hindus and Buddhists. Now it has been taken up by
mystics of other religions such as suns of Islam. Instead of describing the aims
and methods of other mystics, I shall give my own views:
Meditation is the practice of the
basic mystical principle: "look into thyself". Its purpose is to
enable the seeker to seek himself through his self. Though this search is
conducted by concentration on many media such as colour and light or other
exercises, namely, the consciousness of infinity of space or unconsciousness of
reality, the easier and more effective method is to concentrate on one's self
and recite "Lord, Lord" or "God, God" to intensify one's
concentration.
Essence of meditation
However, the most important point
of recitation is, that "Lord, Lord" or "God, God" does not
refer to the traditional God but to yourself as the future component of Godhead.
It ought to make you conscious of your divine dignity which you must express
through deeds in ordinary life. If you practice convenience or cookery in your
routine affairs and make a show of piety during recitation, you are not
meditating but indulging in hypocrisy which is the exact antithesis of
mysticism. You will do well to discard it but if you think that you are
improving gradually, keep doing it until virtuous aspect of your personality
starts dominating your weaker side.
I never found any solace in
"breath control" or "discipline of postures". These
exercises, in fact, benumb consciousness of yourself and impair your
intellectual capacities whereas the purpose of meditation is to enhance your
intuitive as well as rational powers so that you can knowingly attune yourself
with the divine aspect of yourself. Therefore, ease of posture is essential
because painful posture leads to distraction. The right posture for you is the
one that makes you comfortable and helps you concentrate. It is for you to
decide whether you want to meditate by sitting, standing or lying.
Concentration and aids
Though not always, concentration
usually requires aids. Even when you concentrate on yourself, you may need an
object. This is a paradox but there is no contradiction in it:
Place a large mirror in front of
you, assuming that you are sitting cross-legged or even on a chair. Put a
burning candle behind you in an elevated position in such a way that it reflects
itself into the mirror somewhere parallel to your nose. Concentrate on it
reciting the "Lord, Lord" or "God, God" without forgetting
that you are referring to your own divine dignity. Your concentration should be
intense enough so that after some practice, the reflection of the candle
disappears and you see your own reflection only. However, if you can't eliminate
the flame, do this exercise without the candle, by concentrating just on your
own reflection. Once you have mastered this art, you will find that your image
disappears. This suits a practitioner of yoga who aims at unconsciousness of
reality but not to someone like yourself who is trying to see himself through
his self. Your image must always be there. To make sure that it is there, give
your exercise a temporary break, and resume it after a short while. However, the
most important point is, that your image replaces the mirror itself, that is,
though initially you look at yourself through your reflected image, eventually
you must be able to call your image without the aid of a mirror. Thus you must
become your own companionat-will to reinforce yourself. Under no circumstances
must you forget your divinity during the recitation, and, expressing it through
righteous deeds in everyday life. Otherwise, you are engaged in an exercise of
self-deception.
No drugs
Again, your diet has a bearing on
your physical and mental discipline. Eat and drink what you like, but do it with
moderation, and occasionally, sparingly. Do not resort to drugs or get addicted
to alcoholic drinks for securing ecstacy. These remarks equally apply to dancing
or head-shaking. Devices such as these are meant to impair your intelligence to
convert you into a "believer".
Cleanliness and good dressing
I certainly have no wish to prolong
this discussion but must add that it gives a feeling of exhuberance to be
thoroughly clean and well dressed when meditating. Use of flowers and fragrant
surroundings enhances the zest of the experience. And it brings success much
earlier if you put aside some money to give it to the less fortunate. It should
accompany each meditation though you don't have to give it away immediately. Let
it accumulate and then distribute it, say, once a month. Remember, the money you
have set aside is no longer yours; it belongs to the sick and the needy. Give to
the best of your ability. If you can't give money, set aside so much time to
help the sick and the old.
Frequency of meditation
It is nice to meditate twice a day
- once in the morning and once in the evening. If it is not possible, then do it
once a day or every other day, and if it is still too much, do it at least once
a week. If this is not possible, then meditation is not for you. The duration of
meditation depends upon your power of concentration; it may last from one minute
to an hour. If you can prolong it for ten minutes each session, you have done
well. Remember, concentration means emptying your mind of everything except your
object of meditation, that is, yourself. Also bear in mind that it takes several
years before the meditative efforts bear fruit.
A
warning
However, I must warn you about the
supernatural tales that the so-called yogis and suns have invented. While in
human body, all your abilities stay commensurate with your physical existence.
You will not be able to perform miracles or forecast future events. These are
the hobbies of impostors and tricksters. What you will get is an extraordinary
understanding of life suffused with peace, calm and conciliation. No matter what
your circumstances, you will find ripples of delightful serenity rising in you
most of the time. You will feel lifted above the ordinary level of life where
differences of race, colour and creed disappear. you will feel proud and
fortunate that you are a human, free of scepticism and certain of the Final
Truth. One thing you must not forget; this condition of the mind lasts only
as long as you are really righteous. The moment you bid goodbye to sincerity you
lose it. Believe me that this loss is a dreadful experience, it is like falling
from a tall tree onto a bed of stiff, pointed thorns.
Apology and repentance
However, minor follies can be
rectified through sincere apologies or voluntary compensation to the offended.
Repentance, if genuine, should go a long way to retrieve your divine dignity but
repentance is the medicine which usually works once only. If you commit sins
habitually, hoping that repentance will eradicate their aftermath, you are
simply fooling yourself. However, charity and hospitality being divine virtues,
have an immense value. They may not restore the spiritual stature gained through
meditation but a charitable and hospitable person is blessed in his own right.
If you are a philanthropist, you will undoubtedly attain Godhead. And
philanthropy is not restricted to financial deeds, it also means physical help. Meditation
is the path for those who want to attune themselves with the Divine while still
wearing the mantle of bones and flesh. For the man in the street, a fair conduct
based on goodwill towards the fellow beings is enough provided the goodwill is
active and not a show of words. It means, it matters not what a person's
religion or opinions, he is likely to achieve Godhead if he has actively and
consciously contributed to the advancement of social order with a view to
enhancing liberties and reducing pain, poverty and persecution. If he has
suffered to promote this aim, his spiritual reward is sure to multiply beyond
reckoning
Curse of fundamentalism
However, bigotry, orthodoxy and
fundamentalism being anti-humanitarian in practice, constitute a heavy burden on
conscience and act as a barrier to the formation of soul. These haters of
mankind cannot attain Godhead which is the manifestation of love and harmony.
To be human is the greatest honour
that there is, but it is as vulnerable to fundamentalism as beauty is to age,
flowers to frost and chastity to seduction.
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