Theo. – I can understand, as far as it concerns an ordinary man, but what about the ‘extraordinary’ man, the one who has reached the first level of liberation?
The Elder – He becomes aware of his universality and of all the powers finally available to him.
Theo. – So, all is well for him!
The Elder – It all depends. Either he continues turning towards God, the Source of everything, or he proceeds on his way (yatra) until he is liberated.
Theo. – How far has he come, spiritually speaking?
The Elder – He will have realized what the Christians call the ‘Union with God’. In Yoga, it is called the ‘complete Realization of the Self’.
Theo. – Can he still go astray once he has reached that stage?
The Elder – Absolutely! He may use his powers and start thinking: “I am going to do good and make the world a better place, I say!” That is the ego at work, when it believes it is almighty and can do better than God.
Theo. – There is something that has not been adjusted then, something he has not well understood yet, I’m afraid!
The Elder – That’s it. He has not yet understood that God is already operating and that he’d better accept the fact that he is nothing but an instrument whose skills have been sharpened by God so that he may serve Him properly. Serving Him is a wonderful experience, by the way, one that is constantly being renewed.
Theo. – In this regard, a notion remains obscure for me. Please, could you tell me more about the eleven circles of the ego?
The Elder – Eleven is a symbolic figure I think, meant to alert us on an ego that wants to grow more and more.
Theo. – You’ve already talked about egocentrism.
The Elder – Yes, but at such a level, the ego has become very subtle, and it is going to be more and more subtle as we walk along the path to sahasra-dal-kamal (the Thousand Petalled Lotus). The challenges to be met there are increasingly daunting, as man is working on great causes and with great leaders who can be more or less charismatic. Charisma may be turned into fanaticism. That is the reason why Saint John of the Cross’ advice is that we should not approach any sort of power until we are fully united with God. He goes as far as saying: “If God is talking to you, ignore Him. How could you know whether it is God or the devil (the ego) who is talking to you?”
Theo. – And what if it is God?
The Elder – Saint John’s answer is: “If it is God, He will understand.”
Theo. – Is not there another way to reach safely the second level of liberation?
The Elder – There is, provided a realized spiritual Master is assisting the aspirant. Such a guide will then act as a guardian for the aspirant’s soul and ego. He will protect the soul from the obstacles to be met on the path. He will help the aspirant overcome the obstacles; he will initiate him and protect him from his own self.
Theo. – Do you mean from his ego and from his tendencies?
The Elder – Yes, of course.
Theo. – So, ideally, we should have a Master, shouldn’t we?
The Elder – Provided that you surrender to him with faith and love. A Master, just like God, will never force you. You will always be free to follow or not to follow the instructions he gives you.
Theo. – What will happen if we don’t?
The Elder – Nothing will happen. You’ll just have to face your own self.
Theo. – Will the Master forsake us, then?
The Elder – He will never forsake you, unless you decide to break that link between you and Him, in which case He can only accept. But He’ll never take the lead in breaking that bond. Which mother would ever be ready to abandon her child? She loves and takes care of her child, whatever he or she may be or do. The bond between the Master and his disciple is a bond of love; it is nothing like a subordination or authoritative sort of relationship.
Theo. – Do you mean that he knows what is best for us, just like a parent knows what is best for his or her child? And what happens when we are going through our spiritual teens?
The Elder – The moment that takes you to spiritual maturity is a very nice one, though it can also be rather tumultuous sometimes. Anyhow, love is always the guide there. We’d better be aware of it and cooperate as best as we can.
Theo. – But if we don’t manage to do it or if we just can’t do it?
The Elder – The Master has infinite love and patience, in the image of God, so much so that we shall ineluctably become Love ourselves, one day.
Theo. – Does the Master know anything about our future and what we are going to be like?
The Elder – Babuji used to talk about ‘Becoming what we have to become’!
Theo. – Yes, but…
The Elder – The Master’s vision is extra temporal. What he knows about us is our realized being. So, he only helps us become what we are since time immemorial, i.e. perfectly divine.
Theo. – Does it mean we already hold that perfection within us?
The Elder – Exactly, because we are holders of God, of God’s entireness within us, at the centre of our being.
Theo. – So that the role of the Master is to allow the unfolding of that centre which already exists within us, isn’t it?
The Elder – That’s what it is: allowing it to expand in all dimensions and reign there.
Theo. – Is it not that a sort of domination?
The Elder – You could say that in the case of an immature ego, but not if it concerns a soul that is at last reunited with its Beloved and that has totally surrendered to Him.
Theo. – It reminds me of the Song of Solomon.
The Elder – It’s really a beautiful step you see.
Theo. – You do look with the eyes of a mother who marvels before her child, whatever age he or she is, don’t you?
The Elder – That’s how it is!
Theo marked a pause before asking again:
– So, in the end, I am going to totally disappear into God, amn’t I?
The Elder – Now, that’s the vision of your ego, the vision that will undermine any try at annihilating.
Theo. – Could you explain me, please?
The Elder – In fact, when you merge with God, all duality disappears completely. ONE has no longer a TWO, though it still contains and bears it. It is the same for 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, as well as for all the other numbers, up to the infinite. This is the infinite expression of God in each one of His creatures. As for man, he regains his original nature, which is universal. He is a new ‘universal man’. In his manifestation, he is a real individual, which means he is indivisible. His personality may surprise. The Latin word ‘persona’ means a mask. But though man seems to wear a mask, he does not. He is Real. We can even say that man is a co-creator together with God, as he contributes to the divine process of creation completely and in full freedom.
Theo. – Then everything becomes available and possible?
The Elder – It does. You only have to let the Holy Breath of the Lord go through your being, without interfering.
Theo. – That is what we call the Divine Will.
Silence …
The Elder – It is a non-voluntary sort of will, a will that is able to achieve in the divine present instant.
Theo. – Are we aware of being in that condition of a total phasing out of the self?
Silence…
The Elder – Sometimes, when a divine consciousness has been bestowed on us in a different way, it may awaken by itself.
Theo keeps quiet again, looking away.
– I am in a great confusion, actually, he whispers.
The Elder – It shows that you are in the right direction. It is only that your ego is feeling rather lost.
Theo. – Lost, for sure, but also very happy!
The Elder – It is at the Source, its Source.
Theo naturally closes his eyes. He savours that silence and the state of perfect harmony he can feel, a state where everything within him is in its proper place. His universal being radiates, ad infinitum, such a blessed moment of eternity.
Theophile the Elder
An excerpt from Dialogs with Theophile the Elder
Theophile the Younger’s Initiation