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Sri Humananda

"...only when one realizes the unity in all diversity can the feeling of love for every created being be developed, transcending all apparent differences. Love for God implies love for all. Each and every individual should be looked upon as the manifestation of the Cosmic Entity."
(Shrii Shrii Anandamurti)

Many To One

For most of us oriented towards yoga there is an understanding that the primary purpose of yoga is the merging of the individual self with the universal Self, or the perceived self with the real Self.

All along the way of your evolution this concept comes to you every so often but remains for the most part a theory only.  Yet with every step closer to the Self over time the concept gains more substance as a truth of experience. 

Later, with persistent practice and dedication, one gets flashes or brief experiences of the Self and the duration of these experiences becomes ever longer until such a time that one can remain in the Oneness of Self for quite a considerable period of time. 

With Samadhi (literally the "making firm" of the state of Oneness, sometimes explained as the state directly preceding Nirvana, or Enlightenment), your consciousness and the experienced object is one in a totally continuous yet effortless mental way.  You are not thinking about it but you are experiencing it, or really, you have become it, and you can then truly exclaim "AUM Tat Sat, Tat Twam Asi" (I am That, That I am).

This Oneness is the central goal of all yoga, and those who have the auspiciousness and the courage to turn away from the world presented by the illusion of duality and can look inward are almost instantly touched by the theory of Oneness, even if only on an intellectual level initially. 

A certain understanding is then gained that suggests to the seeker of Self the error in previous dualistic ways of thinking and living – that there may after all not be a me and therefore "others".  And the old theory (and practice) of "me and the others", for the duration of the consideration of the potential behind the Oneness of Self, becomes unstable, and that we truly are, in reality, not other than the others. 

The implications of this realization and even its very consideration are truly fantastic. All of a sudden it dawns on you that since you feel, others feel as well, and though that seems somewhat obvious rationally, it is the implication of such thought that is important because it becomes an experiential known.  The feelings of "others" are not distinct and separate from yours in their existence and operation. What affects you affects them in the same way.  Everything affects everything else, and so also do you affect everything. 

Over time you come to understand that it would be a senseless thing to even consider hurting others because they are in truth not other than you.  Your hurting would only be hurting yourself, and that the same is true of lies and deception.  They are not inflicted by you to others, but only onto your Self, and also onto all of existence in the process. A weighty idea indeed.

What then follows over more time is an empathy with humanity, and a recognition of sameness, and an understanding that all suffering in all humans is not removed from your Being.  Then, almost immediately after this realization one is overcome with a great sense of deep caring for all others, which, once realized and developed over time is almost impossible to ignore.  And the behavior stemming from such lack of caring is found to be foreign and regrettable when observed in the behavior of others. An almost natural distancing of oneself from non-caring behavior occurs.

But given this caring, all people are treated with it, and with respect and honor, regardless of all other factors related to them, because that is how you treat your Self, and these "others" are recognized as not being separate and distinct from your own Self at all.

Finally, in the most intimate of Divine unfolding an openness of Being ensues towards all others, whether enlightened or ignorant, and for those who share this openness, true communication results and Bliss is not far behind.

And then the gravity of your Being really hits you, and the implication dawns on you of this great responsibility you have towards all of creation and all beings, (and in particular for us humans, the other humans).  And it comes to you that your effect on the universe depends largely on whether you choose to make the turn inwards or not.

It is at this very instant that one gains insight into whether yoga is worth your pursuit or whether you should go back to the world of duality.  And it is a critical moment in ones evolution and worthy of note, because it will happen to you again and again as you evolve, (and even become apparent in each and every decision you are presented with), and if you take note of the opportunity of this choice as such, then the next time you may be more prepared via the Divine quickening, whether that be through pain or Grace or Blessing or auspiciousness, or merely because of your sincere desire for release. 

And at the moment you recognize the choice before you, depending upon your readiness, either a great and inexplicable bliss comes into you, or you become possessed of an almost unmanageable and mostly uncontrollable fear and a sense of dire loss of identity, in which case the turn towards your Self would require not only faith, but also great courage.  And it is this moment that presents to you the opportunity to choose either an inner or an outward direction by means of your free will. 

Sometimes, because their evolutionary level is still incapable of comprehending the concept of Oneness, some people choose the way of the world and continue their lives in ignorance, resulting in a general selfishness and disregard for the existence of others in matters they perceive to be of benefit to them and their needs.  These behaviors are inherent in the acceptance of a "me" and a "not-me" idea which almost immediately develops into concepts of opposition, enemy, protection, defense, attack, and all that go along with these, and soon they are at war because they ignorantly believe that they have to be for their survival.

The yogic guidance suggests that as much as is possible or prudent, these people are not to be taken too seriously and neither should they be blamed.  They should be afforded patience, courteous regard and care, guidance if receptive, and compassion and Love at all times.

Because for these people there is never any real peace.  No stillness of mind can be arrived at and so no real meditation is possible. There exists for them only further confusion and suffering, and they will continue their selfish pursuit of their endless external desires, cravings and needs, and yes, we've all been there at some point or another, and some of us are still stuck in it right now, waiting for the next opportunity at a choice.

Others, being presented with this Divine opportunity choose to turn and face themselves and they start to recognize the sameness in all beings.  They soon arrive at peace and stillness.   Meditation becomes possible for them, and Samadhi eventually ensues as a birthright, which eventually culminates in Nirvana.  Endless compassion and care inhabit their Being, and their actions assume over time the characteristics of honor and respect for all things and beings, and they become the original state of Love, which is also Oneness, and the illusion and suffering created by the play of duality cease to exist.

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