Human States of Consciousness:
'A Study of Consciousness': Annie Besant
When we once recognize the forces subtler than the physical must necessitate for their expression a more refined vehicle than the brain organized for the reception of the physical, we shall cease to be troubled or distressed when we find that the superphysical forces often find their readiest expression through brains that are more or less out of gear with the physical plane. And we shall understand that the abnormal physical symptoms accompanying their manifestations in no way derogate from the value of these energies, nor from the importance of the part the will play in the future of humanity. At the same time, the wish must naturally arise to find out some method whereby these forces may be enabled to manifest themselves without risking the destruction of their physical instrument.
This way has been found in the East in the practice of Raja Yoga, whereby the safe exercise of the higher consciousness is sought by intense concentration. This concentration, in itself, develops the brain as an instrument for the subtle forces, working in the brain-cells in the manner already described in connection with thought. Moreover, it slowly opens up the spirillae of the atom next in order to those now in activity, and thus adds a new organ for the higher functioning. This process is necessarily a slow one, but it is the only safe way of development; and, if its slowness be resented, it may be suggested as a reason for patience that the student endeavouring to ante-date the atomic development of the next Round, and he can hardly expect to accomplish this with rapidity. It is, however, this slowness of the RajaYogic practices which renders them somewhat unacceptable to the hurrying West; and yet there is no other way to secure a balanced development. The choice lies between this and the morbid nervous disturbances which accompany the eruptions of the super-physical consciousness into an unprepared vehicle. We cannot transcend the laws of Nature; we can only try to understand, and then to utilize them.
'A Study of Consciousness': Annie Besant
When we once recognize the forces subtler than the physical must necessitate for their expression a more refined vehicle than the brain organized for the reception of the physical, we shall cease to be troubled or distressed when we find that the superphysical forces often find their readiest expression through brains that are more or less out of gear with the physical plane. And we shall understand that the abnormal physical symptoms accompanying their manifestations in no way derogate from the value of these energies, nor from the importance of the part the will play in the future of humanity. At the same time, the wish must naturally arise to find out some method whereby these forces may be enabled to manifest themselves without risking the destruction of their physical instrument.
This way has been found in the East in the practice of Raja Yoga, whereby the safe exercise of the higher consciousness is sought by intense concentration. This concentration, in itself, develops the brain as an instrument for the subtle forces, working in the brain-cells in the manner already described in connection with thought. Moreover, it slowly opens up the spirillae of the atom next in order to those now in activity, and thus adds a new organ for the higher functioning. This process is necessarily a slow one, but it is the only safe way of development; and, if its slowness be resented, it may be suggested as a reason for patience that the student endeavouring to ante-date the atomic development of the next Round, and he can hardly expect to accomplish this with rapidity. It is, however, this slowness of the RajaYogic practices which renders them somewhat unacceptable to the hurrying West; and yet there is no other way to secure a balanced development. The choice lies between this and the morbid nervous disturbances which accompany the eruptions of the super-physical consciousness into an unprepared vehicle. We cannot transcend the laws of Nature; we can only try to understand, and then to utilize them.
_We cannot transcend the laws of Nature; we can only try to understand, and then to utilize them_.
ReplyDeleteLove this Sushama. I wish I knew how to quiet my brain down a little, but as you know our culture here is rush, rush, rush. I've always live in a huge city, and slowing down to learn a different way of doing things has been a huge struggle for me. Love the Eastern thinking... have for a long time. Hope you're doing well!
Anna, our present mindset is in noway different from yours, the same rush, disharmony,heavy burden of rationality and so on.
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