In this couplet (sloka) from the Bhagavad Gita, Book 12, verses 13-19, Lord Krishna states which qualities will lead his beloved devotee (bhakta) towards perfection.
Through a comment of that beautiful sloka, Theophile the Elder offers a few tips for progressing on the Path of Perfection and Love.
Worship the Lord
Worship Him, out of Love, knowledge or renouncement.
“Putting away hate for any being, friendly, pitiful,
without desire of possessions, without vanity,
equipoised in weal and woe, patient,
ever contented, ever following union,
self-ruled, firmly determined,
with heart and soul centered in Me,
who thus loves Me is beloved of Me.
“He whom the world fears not, who fears not the world
free from exultation, anguish, fear, disquiet,
Why? such a one is beloved of Me.
“He who is unconcerned, pure, direct,
able to make the renunciation of the fruit of all works,
who exults not nor hates nor grieves nor longs,
renouncing fortune and misfortune,
who is thus full of love is beloved of Me.
balanced in blame or praise,
full of silence, content with whatever may befall,
seeking no home here, since the whole wild world is his home
steadfast-minded, full of love,
this man is beloved of Me.”
Bhagavad Gita, Book XII, 13-19
If we read these verses from the point of view of a good-willing personality and ego desirous to strictly follow the Lord’s advice while mastering all the aspects of such an approach… Well! We might be scared. It looks insurmountable and impossible to realize. It is the unattainable perfection.
Why? Because the approach is not undertaken from that ‘Unity’ the Lord in Himself will represent for the bhakta: for jnana (knowledge), Unity represents the Self, and for the karma-yogi, it represents how to ‘do without doing’, even for an active devotee who wants to do his practice as prescribed, and who is committed to service-mindedness. There is always something that won’t work, which makes us blame ourselves and feel dejected: “I’ll never make it!” Concerning the mind, too, there is always something we miss there, a ‘monkey mind’ for instance, being self-conscious instead of being Self-conscious, or a limited intellect, an ego that keeps fleeing and is out-of-control. As for action, it is never enough or ever too much; and how could we avoid caring for results, avoid being even just a little concerned, about the consequences our action may have on us, or on the others, or on society!
For the person who wants to practice raja-yoga, it looks worse still, because that person will have to master the three Yogas at the same time.
The Sahaj Marg: the direct path
The Sahaj Marg has found a way to combine the three yogas: it is the Raja Yoga. It connects us directly and really to the Lord via our heart, the Master. We receive pranahuti as soon as we are being introduced, then the samskara of the original fear is removed right away, which will allow us to develop love for the Lord who is within us. Thus we can stay focused constantly and be connected to His love, to His will. At the same time, during the Divine connection, a progressive purification process of the being is initiated through successive cleanings. The first step concerns the heart region, which, with its five elements, will free our soul from the chains and slavery of whishes and help us find the joy and the peace love for the Lord can provide, a love we shall at last receive freely and constantly.
Thanks to meditation, our mental is better balanced and it knows the joy of being moderated and of being clear-minded: the state of lucidity. Chit-lake (point 7) has been purified and it has been put directly in contact with the soul. At first, that gives us an access to our intuition and we receive more and more revelations. When we are really established in the brahmanda-mandal, we have at long last reached the blessed kingdom of the Lord. Our tendencies are not so close now, and far less active, and whenever they are, we are aware of it. A loving distance is operating.
Then comes the last element we have to deal with: ahamkara, our ego. Since the soul has already been liberated from the heart region where it was imprisoned, ahamkara has greatly benefited from the liberation the Lord has operated. Now we have a strong ego, for sure, but one that enjoys being connected, that enjoys the intimacy it has with the Lord. Why is it stronger now? Because the soul has been liberated, so that free access to the Will is now possible. The challenge continues between my will and the Lord’s Will; but a subtle body, a balanced mind, will give us access to the super-consciousness, and our intellect will then acquire a new wisdom. Our ego feels like submitting to the Lord, more out of love than because it would be reasonable. It knows that it is for the good of our being and the best thing that can happen to it. It does want to submit. But this ego of ours has its recurring malaria crises. We must say that, for a long time, it has sojourned in contaminated areas. What the whole humankind around it – or nearly all humankind – suffers from is an endemic disease. And that ego is very much called on, particularly if it diverts the attention it pays to the Lord, be it only for a while. That is practically a reflex.
Progression towards freedom.
After that, what will come is the very long period Babuji has illustrated with eleven circles – the eleven layers of ego (cf. Diagram). We shall have to go through them before really achieving union with the Absolute (11 is a prime number which represents power. It is composed of 1 and 1, which is 2, meaning the duality of an incarnated being. Until the moment when 1+1 will be 1, then 1+1 will be 0). There are certainly epic debates with the ego, and they would be worthy of the Mahabharata. That is where we are infinitely blessed with our Masters’ support and guidance, in the name of the Lord. “Mind on your right! Mind on your left! Crouch! Play dead! Urgent progress! Hold my hand! Jump into my arms!” When we are exhausted, He carries us. We are aware of our inability to go any further. The only thing we can do is to depend on Him, on His love. The jnanis call it ‘submitting’, the ultimate act of humility. I’d rather say that there is nothing better than being carried by the Lord, immersed in His Love, feeling we are cherished and cuddled, even when we are going through the worst times in our lives and that everything is going wrong. That’s what everyone says around us. But you would never change what led you to the Lord. You are grateful and give thanks. The same situation may occur when it all goes well, at all levels, and that, as you are thanking Him, you unconsciously make way for Him, inadvertently, in all innocence. Then He takes all the space available, He takes His rightful place, and you become aware of it, you are Him, or nearly so, but who cares! After all, the slightest fragment of Him leads you to paradise. The ego exults. It is all love, all humility. It cooperates with the Lord, unknowingly. It is immersed within bliss.
Now, imagine the consequence of the Lord’s presence within you, if deep in our heart, a mere tiny fragment of it can already have such a grand effect! May you all benefit from the eternal presence!
Theophile the Elder
An excerpt from Theophile’s journal
Comments on the Bhagavad Gita