35. Spiritual Contemplation

DISCOURSES ON

RADHASOAMI FAITH

BY

MAHARAJ SAHAB

Pandit Brahm Sankar Misra, M.A.

35. SPIRITUAL CONTEMPLATION

            61. All feelings of strong character are always due to a high state of excitement, but the highest pitch of frenzy to which humanity can be tossed does not approach the perturbations which accompany the passage of a spirit-entity from the ordinary plane of wakefulness to that of death and to the regions beyond it. As, however, the passage is inward, the outward manifestations do not appear to be so strong as those produced by ordinary conditions of excitement. In the stages preceding death, the muscles and the entire nervous system are however, gradually twisted, and when death supervenes, the effect of internal torsion, which is terrible, is unmistakably impressed upon them. The same conditions are very gradually produced by the performance of internal spiritual experimentations or devotional practices. Accordingly, the physical frame of a devotee undergoes a complete change, and the constitution of his nervous system muscles, etc. is so altered that no resistance takes place in the process of separating spiritual currents from the physical frame, i.e. in undergoing the process of death. Outward marks of these changes are not entirely absent from the physical frame, although they are largely manifest in the subtler frames. The physical marks are specially noticeable on the forehead and in the eyes of an adept, and the effect of these marks on advanced devotees in producing concentration and sublimation of spirit is very remarkable. An adept who has reached Brahmanda is beyond the region of creation that we see, and he performs ordinary acts from the planes of Brahmanda. His face thus reflects the spirituality of Brahmanda. Similarly, all actions of Saints and Supreme Saints are performed by spiritual currents coming down from the regions of pure spirit. The contemplation of the image of an adept of Brahmanda would, therefore, be a contemplation of the image of the spiritual form of Brahmanda, and the contemplation of the form of the region of pure spirituality. The contemplation of the form of a Saint or Supreme Saint, or in their absence, the contemplation of the form of a Sadh or Mahatma, has accordingly been prescribed as the spiritual contemplation referred to by us. The effect of association which forms of those for whom we cherish an affection has been explained in Article 33. In the case of adepts, this effect is comparatively much more intense, as it is not the association alone which gives rise to the effect. Adepts have access to all the subtle planes of the various spheres they have traversed and gained access to. They accordingly become cognizant of the contemplation of their forms, as soon as this devotional practice is performed, and accord necessary help to the devotee. This assistance is always accorded in an imperceptible form during the practice of contemplation, but a devotee having some experience recognizes it in the spiritual concentration produced at the spirit-centre by it. To strengthen faith and to stimulate fresh impulse, an adept, however, allows devotees at times to get glimpses of his astral forms.

            62. The contemplation of the image of an adept of Brahmanda, i.e. of the second division of creation, is no doubt highly spiritual and goes far towards awakening spirituality; but, unless the form of an adept of the purely spiritual or the first division of creation be contemplated, a development of the spirit-force, detached from the association of the Universal Mind, will not be possible. The company of such an adept and of those engaged in spiritual training under his guidance is also indispensable in the beginning for spiritual development, as the personal spiritual influence of an adept is very considerable, and it becomes specially manifest when he is conducting divine service for spiritual training. During such service, devotees begin to realize his internal presence, and a service of this kind is, therefore, highly valued. The necessity and the benefit of the company of a Saint are fully described later on in Article 56.