Q: How can we
bring about the Inner Revolution?
A:
In fact it is very simple! But we can not
understand the simplest thing because of our
over grown complex mind! We have to begin
from the beginning, from the point where we
are right now. So first thing is to understand
our present situation, our present state of
mind. So let us look into this thought factory
called mind. There are thoughts and thoughts
and thoughts. Is there any gap between the
thoughts from where we can enter in, to understand,
that, which is beyond the thought-mind?
Is our body-mind structure sensitive enough
to be ready to start this journey? If not,
we need to sensitize our senses, our instruments.
There are various ways to do so, which we
shall see during our practical sessions. We
also need to slow down a bit from our present
levels of hyper activity of thought mind.
This is not just for high flying busy executives,
even housewives and retired people are also
hyper active as far as mental activity is
concern.
Please observe your breathing. Is it rhythmic
or chaotic? Is it very fast and shallow or
slow and deep? Becoming aware of our breath
is the first step. This is the simplest secret
to remain in the present. Because you can't
breathe - in the past or in the future - at
this moment, you have to be here to observe
your breath right now!
We need to practice this for some time, before
we can go ahead further.
The next step is to understand this mind,
which is nothing but the bundle of thoughts
& emotions, fears & phobia, greed
& lust, hurt & humiliations. To understand
it we will have to observe it properly, aloofly.
Right now we are so much caught up into it
that aloof observation may not be possible,
as the flow of thoughts carries us away.
If you enter into the river, it's easier to
get carried away. If you want to observe the
running waters, you will have to jump out
of the river and sit on the bank. Similarly,
if you want to observe this river of thoughts
you will have to jump out of it! Become alert
and aware. Remain aloof and be vigilant.
If you contemplate on what is been said here
and practice it sincerely, you will understand
the knack of aloof observation of the thought
mind. This is the first milestone on the journey.
Once you get the grip of it, you need to put
lot of intensity into it. A lukewarm approach
won't do! As you put more & more intense
efforts by giving more time & channeling
your energy to this process of aloof observation,
the thought mind starts slowing down. Now
you may see some gap between two thoughts.
If you watch intensely the entire trajectory
of the thought, its beginning, the middle
and the end, you will see the gap at the end
of it, just before the next thought starts.
You need to become sharper and faster to capture
the thought, before it captures you! Higher
the intensity of your vigilance, more the
gap between two thoughts.
Now the change of gestalt can be advantageous.
Instead of focusing on the thought, focus
on the gap. If you give more attention to
the gap, it grows!
To stay in this thoughtless gap you really
need very high degree of alertness that comes
with intense aloof observation.
With more & more practice, you get the
knack of retrieving the energy that was earlier
trapped in thoughts. This adds to the reservoir
of your energy. As you remain more alert &
vigilant, this reservoir of energy grows.
This added energy in turn helps you to intensify
the vigilance. Now the awareness can become
broader, deeper and sharper too! With this
new sensitive vehicle of multi dimensional
awareness now available to you, your attention
can encompass body awareness, breathing, thought-emotional
activity, ideation etc., all at a time. This
is the second milestone on the journey.
To stay in this state of multi dimensional
awareness and wait, without any expectation
of any kind, is the Sadhana. If one continues
to stay in this state, suddenly, in the mysterious
manner, the awareness falls back upon itself.
This is the quantum jump beyond the words.
This mysterious process engulfs the ego completely
and the new birth happens! The health is experienced
as never before. We usually know sickness
and the absence of sickness. The real health
is totally different than this absence of
sickness. It's dimensionally different. This
is the process that rejuvenates each and every
cell of the body. It also rejuvenates the
neurons of the brain that can be felt inwardly.
This process adds to the sensitivity to a
great extant.
In Hindi, we have two different words for
'Experience'. One is Anubhava and the second
is Anubhuti. Normal experience when the fictitious
identification that is very much there is
called Anubhava, but what will you say to
that experience when the experiencer is not
there? That is Anubhuti. We do not have a
parallel word in English, at least I do not
know. The modern science 'Noetics' which is
the 'study of Consciousness', uses the phrase
'Self referral consciousness' for this state.
You may also call it as Amrutanu-bhava or
Atmanubhava. The one who drinks this nectar
of life from the very source of it becomes
Amara, the deathless, eternal one. This is
the third major milestone on the journey.
With this Anubhuti, comes the simple understanding
of life. The struggle with the thought-mind
stops. Meditation is more spontaneous. It
is like carrying a torch in your hand! You
can put it on whenever you like it to dispel
the darkness of confusion of thought mind.
This kind of inner revolution brings about
the total transformation at the very core
level. You may call it enlightenment or self-realization
or no-self realization (as that usual self
is not there!) or whatever you like! The chattering
mind with its words has no role to play in
this arena.
The new kind of qualitative change reflects
onto the outer as well! There are many qualities,
which come to fore fronts as the natural by-product
of this happening.
This is the beginning of new life, which is
eternal. The journey continues.