The Puzzle is...

Hari Om 

Each 'Choose-day' we will investigate the process by which we can reassess our activity and interaction with the world of plurality and become more congruent within our personality.

KINDLE LIFE. We continue exploring points raised by HH Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda-ji in the publication of this name. Remember, you can purchase, (very economically!), the book from  Chinmaya Mission Publications or if you prefer, the Amazon Link. Thus you can read Gurudev's words directly and bring your own voice to the discussion.

We are at chapter seven of the book, in which the first sixteen are all about describing the condition of our beings at this point, before we undertake the true purpose of life, which is to raise our inner Self back to its Unified State… 'us' as one. The title of ch. 7 is 'Personality Rehabilitation'.

Last week we had seen the nature of experience, that it takes three components to make the whole. It is through each and every experience that we are in contact with the world. The 'media' through which the contact is transformed into experience is the four-fold aspect of our nature, this being the BMI + ॐ ; OM being the very life spark within. It is the mind and intellect which actually does the experiencing.  The body cannot 'experience' without these present.  The matter envelope cannot of itself express or suffer; only the mental aspects can do this. Even if we look at this biologically, we know that unless the brain is operating, nothing can be felt - which is why the brain gets numbed for surgery, it is why the brain numbs itself in trauma, it is why the brain sends out endorphins to make us smile when the feedback is positive.

The body is as nothing but a lump of inert matter without its organs of perception and action. Five of each. No matter what form the body takes, these organs remain the same. Equally, the vital essence of 'being', the consciousness principle, is within every alert creature and reaches its pinnacle in humankind. We are, every single one of us, made of exactly the same stuff.

What then divides us?  The Rsis, those towering intellects of ancient days, concluded that the variable had to be the mind and intellect equipment. Experiences of exactly the same phenomena are so different due to the texture and quality of the mind and the intellect. Mind is the seat of emotion. Intellect assesses. Mind is the entry port of the contact, the first point of experience, intellect decides what to do with that.  In many respects, mind and intellect are opposites; it is this which can result in our own self-destruction. If we are so overcome with feeling sensations, our intellectual nature may struggle to keep control. Then again, if intellect rules too firmly, there can be a complete lack of sentiment.

This is subtle equipment. It requires subtle tuning.  When we meet and deal with others, it is only the mind and the intellect which is truly doing the work in the experience of that meeting. For as long as there is common ground, the experience is generally positive.  However, when one or other of the M-I connections perceives a difference in the other - or indeed within themselves - there can come about a loss of interest.

It is this aspect which results in changes in relationships as we progress through life. The things which interest us in childhood, rarely are carried through to adulthood. Those things which are, will develop and change nonetheless. If we are on the spiritual path, as we overcome the randomness of our mental structure and develop our viveka, vairagya, etc, those around us may not be able to keep up. We find that others are invested in who we were and not who we are becoming. Likewise, we may find that we are harbouring such thoughts of others. This is the nature of varied experience and 'growing'.

In forgetting that it is really only the mind and intellect at work and the body is a mere 'dwelling place', we get caught up in inconsequentialities relating to maintaining the body.  Returning to a spiritual stance can help us to better control our emotional responses, lift our thinking and carry out better self analysis and self control.

In forgetting our duty to the Higher (which is ourself only!), our personality works negatively on itself, becomes mean and dispirited; the pains and sufferings are thus self-inflicted. Do not raise protest!  It is well-proven; the differences which come up among those who share exactly the same experience comes down to the turn of mind. 

Each of us can choose. Be left; or be lifted.