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Realm of Mind is Not Self-sustained

 

upon the renewal which comes to it from above. The realm of higher mind is no less dependent upon the transcendent Godhead than are the lower realms of energy or matter; for, though enjoying perpetually the free life of the spirit, the soul has still not attained unity with the Godhead, it has not yet transcended duality, or realized itself as the Infinite One.

 

 

Full Experience of Divinity

 

In short, man on the gross plane makes indirect use of energy and mind through the gross sphere; and he can experience only such joy, power and knowledge as the limitations of the gross permit. Man on the subtle plane uses energy directly but he uses mind indirectly i.e. through the subtle plane. His joy, peace and understanding are severely curtailed by the fact that he can’t make direct contact with the higher mind. Man on the mental plane can use energy as well as mind directly. He, therefore, enjoys immeasurable power, knowledge and bliss; but since these are gifts from the Godhead, he still has a sense of dependence. He experiences the attributes of Divinity as reflected in the mental sphere, but they do not originate in him. So, even when man is able to make use of the higher mind, this, too, proves to be short of that ultimate experience of knowing himself as the infinite Godhead. Though the soul experiences uninterrupted self-fulfillment owing to its absorption in the replenishing divinity, by which it is unfailingly fed and to which it offers no resistance, it has still to transcend the mind completely in order to realize itself as the unlimited and eternal truth, power and bliss of God.

 

 

Superabundant Life Attained by Union

 

It is only after this complete transcendence of the mind that the soul establishes unity with the Godhead and realizes itself to be the fountain-head of infinite love, infinite peace, infinite bliss, infinite power, infinite knowledge. These are now no longer received by the soul as emanations from the transcendent Godhead, but they are now experienced as being its own inalienable attributes. Nor is this state of superabundance merely one of self-sustained and unmarred spiritual sufficiency; it is a spontaneous, overflowing state, in which the divine consciousness sheds the glory of its superabundant life upon all who come within its orbit.

small pen and ink sketch of Lord Krshna playing flute

Uddhava says to Lord Krishna:

 

 

"But we, O great Yogin, who wander in this world through the paths of karma, will cross over the impassible darkness of samsara by conversing with fellow devotees about You, remembering and glorifying Your acts, speech, movements, smiles, glances and jokes and whatever You did to carry out Your role as human being."

― Bhagavata Purana

 

 

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