Sri Humananda
Advaita Vedanta Tantra Yogi
Satsang: Relationships, Love, and Divine Love
"Self-enquiry is not the mind's inspection of its own contents; it is tracing the mind's first mode, the 'I'-thought to its source which is the Self. When there is proper and persistent enquiry, the 'I'-thought also ceases and there is the wordless illumination of the form 'I'-'I' which is the pure consciousness. This is release, freedom from bondage."
(Sri Ramana Maharshi)
Relationships, Love, and Divine Love - September 30, 2006
You are invited to an exploration of Relationships, Love, and Divine Love.
This is usually one of the most anticipated talks. It is also the talk that elicits some of the strongest responses and the greatest emotions, both negative and positive, but is the talk that is one of the more valued and interesting ones simply because relationships are so direct to us and we are all intimately occupied with them.
Mostly, relationships can be somewhat tricky, and can range from the truly fantastic to the deeply devastating - and from the meaningless to the Divine. We cannot simply ignore the deep influence and impact they have on our lives, nor should we discount the impact that we do or may bring to relationships.
This will be a talk that looks very seriously at the some of the deeper meanings behind relationships and why some of them affect us so profoundly. Then, from a Yogic standpoint we will explore why, with reference to the flow-direction of consciousness (there to here, or here to there).
Exoteric (yogically speaking) suggests that the consciousness flow direction is from there to here (what's out there influences you in here). Esoteric is a reversed state. In a short meditation we'll reverse the consciousness direction-flow to give you some experiential idea.
We will examine some concepts around exoteric love (to and from others), esoteric love (how you experience it inside), and then juxtapose those against the Yogic concepts of Maya (illusion) and consider the principle of Unconditional Divine Love.
We will also investigate the ideas of personal likes and dislikes and look into attraction and repulsion, as well as how we are apparently so naturally drawn to characteristics that encourage these feelings in us or how we tend to avoid other negative feelings.
We will examine "loneliness", exoterically and esoterically, and probe the idea of "clinging" in relationships and some reasons behind these ideas.
Yoga has some distinct ideas and viewpoints on these subjects and items, and some of them may be drastically unexampled to some people even though the ideas make very good sense both reasonably and intimately. We just rarely remember to think of them in such ways.
Nevertheless, I caution that this exploration can be experienced by some seekers as harshly realistic, especially if you are presently involved in any difficult relationship of deep meaning to you. I would like to recommend that children and young teenagers not attend this talk as it may prove unhelpful or disturbing to individuals currently in relationships of infatuation (‘puppy love’) or that can be characterized predominantly by severe “clinging” or “needfulness” albeit only one-sided. These individuals, specially those who find themselves balancing the values of their relationship with a Path of Inner discovery should attend at their own risk or have some comfortable supportive guidance available to them or be open-minded enough to accept views that may be in stark contrast to their current exoteric beliefs. Please speak with me privately beforehand if you are unsure.
For individuals seriously considering the Inner Path of Self discovery, the Yogic concepts around relationships, loneliness, and the required conditions conducive to true esoteric meditation will become a beacon of Light on that Path. For mature individuals trying to better understand existing relationships, particularly troublesome ones, the exoteric concepts you hold will provide a base for approaching these relationships from a more stable point of departure - from the point of you - and your awareness of your own unique qualities; your likes and dislikes, your hopes and needs, and the roots of all these inside of you.
Namaste.
The Agenda:
Introduction
Orientation (Softening the Stare)
Relationships
- Exoteric - what we know
- Esoteric - what we think we know
Likes and Dislikes - the indicators
Maya (Illusion) - (The Goddess and her Source of Power)
Loneliness
- Exoteric - from there to here
- Esoteric - not thinking, from here to there
- as Prerequisite for Meditation
Divine Love - (Neither lover nor beloved, but Loving)
- Love as Essential Nature
- Attaining to Unconditional Love
A 7 minute Meditation ("The Inner Smile" - with a Heart Chakra focus)
Closing Thoughts
Open Discussion and Questions
Private Questions and Ideas (please arrange with me in advance)
