Yoga Of Inner Light And Sound

Author(s): Achyutanand Swami, Praveshkumar Singh
Publisher: Santmat Sangh Samiti Chandrapur

Page 17

The mind becomes purified, begins to seek bliss in the inner realms and becomes thus naturally turned away from worldly objects. But the mind is still very much there and the soul has yet to get rid of it. Control of mind comes only with the practice of 'shama'. Shama' or conquering of mind can be affected only with the practice of 'nāda dhyan' or the Yoga of Inner Sound. Mind is a 'ja da' (devoid of consciousness of its own) entity and, hence, it is not possible for its existence to extend beyond the jada, aparā or non-conscious spheres. Therefore, the mind ceases to exist beyond the kāra sa or the causal sphere. The mahākāra sa or the supra-causal sphere is also jada, but it is the equilibrial state where all the three guņas (attributes or qualities namely, 'raj', 'sat' and 'tam') are in perfect mutual equilibrium. Therefore, there is no disturbance, no agitation, no activity and no creation in this (supra-causal) realm and, therefore, the mind can't accompany the soul into this sphere. It is why, once the central sound of the causal domain is caught hold of, and the soul swims across into the supra-causal sphere, the mind is automatically left behind and the seed for compulsory rebirth or transmigration is destroyed; the laws of karma fail to apply to such a yogi as he has transcended all the spheres of action. The soul that has grasped quintessential sound is freed of the transmigratory cycle. However, complete or ultimate salvation or liberation is attained only after the soul has merged into the anāmi (nameless or soundless) state. This is the gist of the Santmat way of meditation or bhakti.
The above discussions, it is hoped, place meditation and the significance of the Yoga of Inner Light & Sound in proper perspective. We currently live in gross (dark) sphere whereas our original abode, our ultimate destination lies in that Soundless/Nameless Realm. Maharshi Mehi says, "You have descended into darkness, while He lives in the Soundless Sphere. Hence, this separation (that keeps us from seeing Him)! Revert, therefore, and journey back into that Soundless State!" This is the crux of true worship. We have to do what it takes to reach back and realise our true Self. Whence will we start? Quite naturally, we would start from where we are, currently. We are currently dwelling on the gross plane and, therefore, have to begin from there only. Now the question is: where do I live in this body? Sant Kabir answers, "The soul (in waking state) resides in the centre of) eyes and reaches out to all the nine doors (two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, one mouth and one opening each for excretion of waste) of the body." That place is the Ajna Chakra, the Sushumnā, the Third Eye, the Tenth Door, the Shahrag. We have to begin meditation by focussing at this Third Eye. The mind, which is fidgety or restless by its very nature, requires being calmed before it becomes capable to focus itself at the Tenth Door. Mānas Jap (mental recitation of a sacred mantra) and Manas Dhyān (visualising within the form of the desired deity) are, as a matter of fact, preparatory exercises for attaining the ability to practice the Drishti Sādhan (Bindu Dhyān) or the Yoga of Inner Light and surat shabd yoga (nāda dhyān) or the Yoga of Inner Sound. Yoga of Light helps us in ascending into the Kingdom of Light (astral sphere) from that of the darkness that we usually live in. How does that happen? It is because of the marvellous design of creation by the God. Maharshi Mehi writes in this context:
"There is a very strong relationship between our body and the world around us. The universe is formed of the very same elements of which our body is made. Just as there are gross, subtle, causal and supra-causal planes or spheres or realms inside our body, these same planes, spheres or realms are to be found in the universe, too. So, we (at any given point of time) lie in the same realm of the universe as that of the body. If we lift ourselves within beyond a particular sphere of our body, we lift ourselves beyond the same sphere of the universe also. Thus, one who can raise himself beyond all the realms of the body will also rise above or transcend all the realms of the universe. The one, therefore, who has freed himself fully from his body, has freed himself of the universe(s), too."