The master has established that in relation to the physical body, this world is real and in relation to the soul, the non-physical realms are real. For the seeker of truth to better understand the true nature of this world, it can be said that there are two intricately linked essential elements to the human being – the physical body and the soul.
The soul sheathed in the physical body is like a seed enclosed in its casing. For the seed to realize its full potential, the seed needs a carrier, an aid and fertile ground – so does the soul. The physical body, the physical realm and the process of birth and death all play an important part in the germination, growth and blossoming of the soul.
The soul can be recognized as a slumbering soul, an unawakened soul, an awakening soul or an awakened soul. For the human being whose soul is heavily influenced by the karmic blueprint, the heavy pall of amnesia thus cast, makes the soul disinclined to discover anything that cannot be perceived by the sensory perceptions of the physical body. These are the slumbering souls – souls that never germinate. Therefore, for them, the physical world is a reality that cannot be disputed.
On the other hand, the awakened soul or the enlightened being is one whose soul has blossomed to its full potential. For such human beings, this physical world is an illusion. They understand the impermanence of human existence and the temporary nature of this physical world. They have reached beyond the time-space compendium.
The curious, the one who holds the potential of becoming a seeker, is the unawakened soul. He is the one who is beginning to question. If the unawakened soul’s curiosity is strong enough it will push that human being to acquire knowledge that would aid his understanding of life. This in turn would lead the human being on a road to discovery and each new discovery would provide a further impetus for the soul to begin its journey as a seeker of truth.
The seeker of truth is the awakening soul. The seeker with his/her questioning mind has gained the momentum to embark on the journey to find the truth. It is the seeker of truth who is caught between the two worlds of reality and must journey from the understanding of an unenlightened soul to that of an enlightened one. The master explains that tipping of the scale starts when the seeker begins to understand that the intangible aspects of life hold the key and freeing oneself from their bondage gives the soul the correct perspective of the reality of this life.
It is the intangible – the thoughts, emotions/feelings and actions/reactions that govern the seeker’s understanding of this world and accordingly its reality. What one views as good, the other views it as bad. What may be a pleasant experience for one, may be an unpleasant one for the other. What may evoke a strong reaction from some, may not evoke any reaction from another. Why is it that the same sort of situation can evoke different thoughts, feelings, reactions? This is so because the level of understanding and the way things are perceived by individuals is different. The level of integration of thoughts, emotions/feelings and reactions/actions determines the perception and understanding of the circumstances and happenings of life, as well as the equanimity with which they are dealt with. The greater the equanimity, the greater the understanding of the impermanent nature of life.
These statements are best understood if they are viewed from the point of view of a land survey. The view of the surroundings is different at ground level than that from the tree-top level. The view and understanding changes further when viewed from the mountain top. The perspective undergoes a further change when an aerial survey is done. When looked upon from outer space, there is a complete radical change in the outlook – the surveyor gets a very comprehensive and an all-encompassing view. The integration of thoughts, emotions and actions work in a similar fashion to change the soul’s perception to an all-encompassing viewpoint of any situation that may arise.
The seeker who keeps a close and constant watch on his/her thoughts, emotions and reactions realizes that these instruments that he/she uses to govern the physcial living of his/her life, ebb and flow like the ocean tide. Therefore, these very instruments are impermanent in nature. Something that itself is impermanent in nature, cannot give birth to reality – the reality will keep changing with the changes that come about in the thought process, emotions and reactions. The thought process becomes all-encompassing, the emotions less binding and the reactions become concious actions. The seeker thus concludes that the reality of this world is ever changing and the reality that keeps changing cannot be the true reality. This is what the enlightened soul has perceived, understood and experienced. The seeker, therefore, begins to see the physical body as a vehicle. The seeker then uses this vehicle, under the guidance of the master, during its sojourn on earth, to help the soul blossom to its fullest potential, i.e., experience the true reality that the enlightened soul has.
It was so beautifully explained..read the lines again and again as you have rightly said ….reality depends from the level you are perceiving…loved the post. Eagerly waiting for the next one🙏🙏
Glad you found the words inspiring.