Page 20 - Imperience Beckons
P. 20

People may wonder why I have called it as the beginning. It is in fact a state of consciousness. Though consciousness is present at every step, yet this one is the higher and superior. I do not take up the subsequent states for it would be very difficult to grasp them, and the final phase cannot even be conceived of in any way. Oneness prevails there in full swing. Prayer comes before this state is entered into. These three stages, or two and a half as one might say because after that 'awareness' is lost may for the sake of understanding be taken as the entire space from the beginning to the end. The intermediate state is also implied in it. This, which I have termed as the beginning, is in fact the real abode. Perhaps there may be some difficulty in accepting it as the beginning or the first stage of prayer. The idea is analogous with that of child who starts learning the alphabet with a view to secure higher approaches, so that subsequently he may start tackling higher problems and deeper thoughts. That means the ideal was before him, though at the time he was entangled only in the structure of words and letters. This preliminary stage may appear to be a superfluity in comparison with its final phase. This first state exists in every man who starts prayer, but if the final point is in view it will influence the grosser thing too, and by and by he will attain a state where the main point alone will be before him and he will have his stay on it. When this preliminary state is attained one must then try to get it expanded. Expanding does not mean swelling it up like a balloon but to develop it by introducing into it the real substance or power. When it develops to the extent that grossness begins to be converted into lightness almost up to the point of extinction, then he must understand that he has entered the sphere where only the faint ghost of the idea of the subtle existence of something remains.
The currents flowing down from the Origin manifested themselves in diverse ways. They had descended not without purpose. They were in fact powers which began to act in numerous ways, producing the required results. All these powers had emerged from the Origin and began to manifest their actions. Take the case of a baby. At the time of birth he could not even move about. Subsequently he began to sit, stand, talk, walk and run. That is to say, the capacities lay dormant in him, which now began to develop into action till he attained blooming youth and acquired the full active vigour of a man. The elements contained in the composition of the baby developed in various forms, though the origin of all these was the same tiny drop. Veils after veils began to set round which were caused by the effect of the mother's habits, the father's thoughts, the type of training and all external influences which began to display their respective actions. All these influences had a touch of materiality. The multiplicity of actions made him uncognizant of all the various changes which he had

































































































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