The well-known novelist Herman Melville, who authored Moby Dick 170 years in the past, made this attention-grabbing assertion:
Life is a voyage that’s homeward certain.
From a yogic perspective, was he right? What do you suppose enlightened yogis would say? In the event that they agree, then what sort of a journey is this life? And what precisely does residence imply? Additional, and maybe most vital of all— How will we get there, and is it attainable to get there extra shortly?
House, the truth is, yogically talking, is just not a spot. Swami Kriyananda writes in one in every of his songs:
House is my coronary heart’s land. House’s the place I’m. Nothing can dim the sunshine of my soul.
House then, we will say is a state of consciousness—a state of being.
Paramhansa Yogananda explains that human beings expertise 5 particular states of thoughts. All of us journey by means of these states on an inside journey that takes us from darkness to gentle, from phantasm to illumination, from ego to soul, and from a overseas land to our true everlasting residence.
FIVE STATES OF MIND
Only for illustration and enjoyable, we are going to take an inside practice experience representing the journey of life to discover these 5 states of thoughts. We’ll make stops at 5 stations. Every cease will clarify and make clear these completely different states of thoughts.
Are you prepared? Then, please take your seat. Your practice experience is about to begin. Do you hear the whistle? Fasten your seat belts! Let’s go!
Look across the practice automotive. You aren’t touring alone. There are numerous different folks on the practice with you. In reality—everyone seems to be touring with you!
First station: HAPPINESS
Our practice is stopping after a pleasant lengthy experience on the first station. This station known as HAPPINESS. In reality, everyone seems to be disembarking and having an exquisite time. Take a great look. Everyone seems to be certainly joyful.
Take a look at that man over there—He had a powerful need for a really fancy and quick automotive that he acquired, so he rejoices. The individual subsequent to him received a elevate and all of the sudden has a lot, way more cash. See how he smiles! Take a look at the subsequent individual: He simply had a stimulating sexual expertise and feels absolutely glad.
Then, take a look at that lady over there: She is celebrating the nice success of her undertaking at work. The man at her aspect simply had a dream trip and he’s nonetheless completely thrilled about it. There may be one other fellow close by: He’s light-headed, giddy, and joyful. He has loved a bit an excessive amount of wine. Proper beside him, you see somebody who simply reached their aim and he’s simply jubilant. One other joyful individual to watch is the individual over there celebrating the victory he simply had at his favourite sports activities membership.
On this station, everybody has one factor in widespread: a need has been fulfilled that has given them happiness. That is the primary mind-set.
Let’s get again on the practice and see the place it takes us subsequent!
Second station: SORROW
The practice strikes on and lo, we’re approaching the station. The following station known as SORROW. Go searching as you exit the practice.
Everybody right here is gloomy. That brand-new automotive broke down. The cash is gone and poverty awaits. That sexual expertise is just not accessible anymore however the thirst for it stays. Every thing at work is chaotic and has failed. After the wonderful trip, the gray, dry routine settles in as soon as once more. The enjoyment of wine turns into an incapacitating hangover and the sports activities membership has misplaced closely.
You will notice gloom, unhappiness, frustration, and sorrow in every single place at this station. Everybody right here has one factor in widespread—a need that has been unfulfilled or contradicted now brings sorrow. That is the second mind-set.
The practice of life strikes forwards and backwards between these first two stations. The station HAPPINESS is adopted by the station SORROW and vice versa, regularly. Everybody who goes to at least one station additionally has to go to the opposite. It’s all the time a round-trip ticket for everybody.
Third station: INDIFFERENCE
Generally the practice stops in between these two stations. That cease is the third one. It’s known as INDIFFERENCE. Let’s get off the practice, take a stretch, and observe how the individuals are right here.
After we ask round, ‘Are you cheerful? Do you are feeling content material?‘ The reply is all the time the identical: ‘No.’ And once we ask, ‘Are you unhappy?’ The reply is principally the identical ‘No.’
On this third station, the individuals are within the center. They’re neither within the desired station of happiness nor the terrible station of unhappiness. These folks discover themselves in an intermediate hole – a impartial state of indifference. Additionally it is a station that may foster boredom. Life right here is boring, switched off, indolent, and uninteresting.
Let’s leap again on the practice once more and get away from right here! Let’s see what occurs on the subsequent station on the journey of life.
Fourth station: PEACE
Our practice strikes on. There’s a new station in sight. It’s known as PEACE. We’ll get off the practice and see what the mind-set is for the people who find themselves right here.
What we uncover is that this: The folks listed below are experiencing an absence of fluctuations between sorrow and pleasure in addition to detachment and tedium.
View from practice window between stations!
This fourth station is a really fascinating cease. It’s peaceable, restful, and pleasurable. Folks expertise serenity right here. After the tumultuous experience lurching forwards and backwards between ache and pleasure together with intermittent stops on the station of indifference, the passengers who arrive right here profoundly benefit from the calm state of tranquillity and inside peace.
On this station, everybody has one factor in widespread: They’re centered in themselves, much less worldly, and possess a constructive, smart, and balanced mind-set. The folks listed below are serene, poised, safe, and accepting of no matter is.
Apparently, this station additionally is only one cease on the journey. Observe the folks intently: One thing deep inside them remains to be eager for one other vacation spot. They sense there’s something extra. We heard somebody ask, ‘Is that this all we will attain? Is that this all life affords?’ Another person was heard to ask, ‘That is good however isn’t there greater than peace?’
These ideas percolate up from a soul reminiscence. One thing is reminding them that there’s something else deep down for all of them to recollect.
This a lot is true: After so many turbulent durations on life’s journey, this peaceable situation is most welcome. Nevertheless, after a sure time of peaceable enjoyment, we are going to get this suggestions: ‘Someone, please hit me within the head so I can really feel that I’m nonetheless alive!’
In reality, this state of peace is just a state by which pleasure has been neutralized. It isn’t lastingly satisfying. So, let’s hop on the practice once more and head to the final cease – our last vacation spot!
Fifth station: BLISS — EVER NEW JOY!
Wow! Go searching. There are only some folks left on the practice now. These are those that actually need a deeper life, the next life, a lifetime of the soul. The practice will take us on to the final and most great station. It’s known as BLISS — EVER NEW JOY.
Final cease! All people off!
We uncover one thing completely wonderful: Everybody right here has discovered true and lasting pleasure by contacting God in deep meditation and associated methods given by the Enlightened Ones.
One lady ecstatically defined her expertise: ‘Think about that for ten days you weren’t permitted to sleep however had been compelled to remain awake, after which allowed to go to sleep. The enjoyment you are feeling at that second, multiply it 1,000,000 instances, and it could nonetheless not describe the enjoyment that I’m talking about.’
One other individual says: ‘Right here you discover a pleasure you’ll by no means half with, even when the entire world is obtainable to you in alternate. Cash, intercourse, wine—nothing can match that supreme pleasure.” One other individual provides: “It’s an ever-burning radiance in your personal soul.’ One other individual blissfully testifies: ‘This ever-new pleasure stays together with your soul all through eternity.’
Alas, most individuals on this planet have traveled solely to the primary 4 stations. They know solely these first 4 states of thoughts which might be the domains of the ego. They have no idea that fifth state, which is of the soul.
The practice of life takes us to the final and highest station solely by practising day by day silence. In reality, that bliss and ever-new pleasure can solely be attained by perceiving God in inside stillness.
In reality, all of us do do not forget that fifth, supreme station, that state of bliss. How is that this so? As a result of there was a time once we had been good. It’s for this long-lost perfection that we yearn as a result of we’re all youngsters of God.
The practice of life will finally take us all residence. It’ll take us to that final and wonderful station of ever new pleasure.
This brings us again to Herman Melville’s quote:
Life is a voyage that’s homeward certain.
That house is Bliss. We get there faster with meditation. The journey can be even sooner if we apply efficient meditation methods.
The practice of life will take you to the station of true and ever new Pleasure often called Bliss. The promise is that this: in the event you can retain that state the entire time, it doesn’t matter what occurs in life, you’ll stand unshaken amidst the crash of breaking worlds.
Isn’t {that a} spectacular aim? Isn’t {that a} marvelous station and vacation spot to succeed in? Once you arrive finally on the station of Bliss — Ever New Pleasure, you’ll actually be HOME!
