Theophile the Younger went on asking the Elder about the Lyon seminar:
– Please tell me something about the talk you gave on the inner journey. How did it go?
– Spiritually speaking, I am quite satisfied. As for the rest, it’s only a matter of words …
– How is that? What do you mean? Weren’t words important? Theophile the Younger wondered. Then how did you manage to convey your message? I can understand how heart-to-heart communication works with one single person who is close to you, but what if there are hundreds of people you don’t even know? It must be different.
– It is very easy, the Elder replied. The topic was quite appropriate. Therefore I focused on an inner experience. I began with having everybody relax, thanks to the heartfulness relaxation you are acquainted with: using the earth’s energy, you let it go up from your feet to every single part in your body. Thus, everyone could relax and watch what was happening within themselves, a way to access their inner observers.
– How to be sure we really are being that inner observer?
– Imagine you are watching the sky, having a 180-degree panoramic view. Then close your eyes and look ahead. Using the same panoramic vision, observe the inner space of your heart.
– How is it different from concentration?
– Look again at the sky. Now, you are following the flight of a bird and you need to concentrate. That is all the difference.
Concentration leads to revelation, whereas the inner observer remains absolutely neutral, completely detached from what is happening. You are in a particular state I would call an oxymoron since it is a matter of being both present and absent, of being ‘actively passive’, in a way. That is the best condition for entering meditation.
– Please clarify. It seems somewhat contradictory, the bothered young man added.
– Let us say, if you want, that a part of yourself – your active personality – falls asleep, so that your Self, or soul, may be awakened.
– But how did you proceed, to help people reach such a state?
– First, I suggested they had a waking dream: hiking in the mountains at sunrise, then I conducted a ten-minute meditation focused on the source of light within the heart. That is the non-verbal part I was mentioning to you. For me, it is the most important one.
– What happened then?
– During that moment of complete silence, multiple beams left my heart and got in touch with all their hearts. It was very beautiful!
Non-verbal communication was naturally installed, and a real silent dialogue was initiated.
– A dialogue with hundreds of souls? How can it have been possible? the young man interrupted.
– Everything is possible, the Elder continued. Numbers don’t count since they are illusory, when you are in the unity of your being, in the heart of your heart. The higher mind is where all course of action has come from. Substantially, words are mere vibrations emanating from superior planes. That is how they could each plunge into their hearts and how yogic transmission worked wonders.
– What wonders?
– It varies with the person. Transmission is unique, but its effects are multiple and differ according to each one’s sensitivity. If you want to know more about it, you will have to ask each participant, the Elder suggested maliciously.
– All right. Let us start with you: What did you feel then?
Feeling trapped, the old man answered quietly:
– When I emerged from that meditation, I saw that each one of these hearts was connected to the Original Source. For me, that meant the end of the talk.
– And that is the moment when you started talking! Theophile the Younger concluded, with a burst of laughter.
Theophile the Elder
An excerpt from Dialogs with Theophile the Elder
Theophile the Younger’s initiation