I have constructed a synthesis based on my strong intuitions and the teachings of the spiritual masters throughout history. I refer to this synthesis as Soul Monism.
I have paid some attention to academic philosophy but it has never been my reference. My background in physics played a role but science is not a reference for this philosophy either. I have paid no attention to religious dogma but I have concentrated my attention on descriptions of spiritual experiences by sages in all cultures.
Epistemology
The statements of spiritual philosophy are derived from the common expressions of the spiritual experiences humans have been having for thousands of years.
The epistemology of spiritual philosophy is based on the intuitive faculty of the human mind. Intuitive faculty is a divine gift to humans.
In spiritual philosophy intuition is more important than intellect but intellect and logic are not ignored. Spiritual philosophy is a rational approach.
Spiritual philosophy is also a synthetic approach. Spiritual philosophers blend their intuitive understanding of spirituality with that of others.
In science, a particular theory is tested by experiments conducted by few independent groups. If the experimental results verify the theory then the theory is accepted by all scientists everywhere even though they did not conduct the experiments themselves. In spiritual philosophy the results have to be repeated and verified by every truth seeker.
In spiritual philosophy there is no revealed truth. The synthesis presented here should not be taken as revealed truth. A particular synthesis of spiritual philosophy serves only as a source of inspiration.
Absolute Being
Absolute Being is the Godhead. Absolute Being is the Consciousness. Absolute Being is also known as Ananda which is the infinite ocean of love and bliss.
Consciousness is not to be confused with waking-consciousness in humans. Consciousness is not the same as perception or awareness either. Consciousness (“C” is capitalized) is the ultimate reality. Consciousness is the only existence.
Absolute Being (Consciousness) is indescribable. Words are very limiting but in its attribute-free unmanifested state (Nirguna Brahma) Consciousness is endless, formless, limitless, dimensionless, unbounded, uncountable, innumerable, immeasurable and eternal. Nirguna Brahma is beyond the bounds of time, space and person. Nirguna Brahma does not come within the scope of measurement.
Synonyms for Absolute Being: Nirguna Brahma, Pure Consciousness, Ananda, Ein Sof, Alam-i Hahut, Zat, Öz.
Reality
Reality (“R” is capitalized) is known as Saguna Brahma in Tantra Yoga, as Haq in Sufism and as Yah in Kabbalah. Reality is manifest divinity. Reality is transformed Consciousness.
The infinite potential of Absolute Being is transformed into infinite life known as Reality. This is why Reality is also known as Living God or sometimes as Eternal Life.
Synonyms for Reality: Saguna Brahma, Supreme Being, Qualified Consciousness, Infinite Life, Eternal Life, Living God, Yah, Haq.
Cosmos emanated from Reality (Saguna Brahma). The terms transformation or emanation are carefully chosen to avoid the term “creation” which may imply that Cosmos is apart from the Supreme Being. That is not so! Cosmos is not a separate entity. In the traditional terminology of Neoplatonism and Kaballah we can say that Reality is an emanation from Godhead and Cosmos is an emanation from Reality. At each stage of emanation pure Consciousness gets more confined, delimited and qualified thereby manifesting more attributes.
Perspectives
Transformation and emanation are the concepts of the ‘flow perspective’ where the concept of “process” plays the central role. The ‘flow perspective’ is the vantage point of the mind. There is another perspective: the vantage point of the soul.
Cosmic Soul (Self)
Cosmic Soul or Self (“S” is capitalized) is the Divine Center. The Cosmic Soul and the infinite number of its reflections are formed at the beginning of the divine transformation. Eternal Life (Saguna Brahma) starts from the Divine Center which is formed when Pure Consciousness allows itself to be confined (qualified) by its immanent operative principle known as Prakrti. Eternal Life flows from this Divine Center.
Life cannot start without a soul. This is a universal principle. Eternal Life cannot start without the Cosmic Soul. The process of divine transformation cannot start without the Divine Center. The process (Eternal Life) will last as long as the Divine Center exists.
The perspective from the Divine Center is known as Cosmic Consciousness which is the perspective of the Cosmic Soul.
Shrii Shrii Anandamurti referred to the Cosmic Soul/Self using the Sanskrit terms Parama Purusha and Purushottama which can be translated as Cosmic Consciousness and Cosmic Nucleus, respectively. Plotinus referred to the Cosmic Soul as the One. In modern literature the Cosmic Soul is sometimes known as the Source.
Each entity from elementary particles, viruses, plants, animals, humans, solar systems, galaxies, to the entire Cosmos has a ‘reference’ to the Cosmic Soul. This ‘reference’ is known as atman or ‘unit consciousness.’ This ‘reference’ is the soul. The soul of each entity is that ‘reference’ to the Cosmic Soul and the Cosmic Soul is that ‘reference’ to the Absolute Being.
The soul whether it is a unit soul or a cosmic soul is a special perspective on Consciousness. The perspective of the soul is special because it is a vantage point where the distinctions between manifested and unmanifested disappear.
Parama Purusha is the Cosmic Soul. Parama Purusha is the Cosmic Consciousness. Parama Purusha is the Divine Center which is the starting point of the divine transformation.
Parama Purusha witnesses, substantiates and controls the entire Cosmos. Parama Purusha knows our innermost feelings, and thoughts. He is the soul of our soul. Parama Purusha is the supreme subjectivity. Parama Purusha is God.
Synonyms for Cosmic Soul: Cosmic Consciousness, Cosmic Nucleus, Divine Center, Parama Purusha, Purushottoma, Self, One, Source, Atman.
The ‘reference’ concept
The ‘reference’ concept implies that the Cosmic Consciousness is at the core of each entity in its entirety. The ‘reference’ (soul) is not a spark of divinity. The ‘reference’ (soul) has no separate existence. It is pointing to the whole in its entirety.
Entities owe their existence to this core, to this reference, or as referred to in ancient philosophy, to this “name.” The metaphor of “name” used in ancient philosophy is exactly the same as the metaphor of ‘reference’ used in Soul Monism.
Cosmic Play (Liila)
The infinite potential of Consciousness cannot be confined. Confinement or bondage is just a play (Liila). Consciousness escapes the bondage of its own doing through the Divine Center by transforming itself into Eternal Life. Another mechanism for the liberation of Consciousness is the reflection of the Divine Center as individual souls.
Liila can also be expressed by the following aphorisms:
- Consciousness cannot be confined indefinetely.
- Seeking freedom is one of the essential characteristics of Consciousness.
- Confinement of Consciousness creates life.
Cosmic Cycle (Divine Progression)
Absolute Being (Godhead, Nirguna Brahma, Pure Consciousness, Ananda) —> Divine Center (Cosmic Soul, Cosmic Consciousness, Parama Purusha) —> Reality (Manifested Consciousness, Saguna Brahma) —> Cosmic Mind (Divine Mind, Mind of God) —> Cosmos —> spiritual, mental, physical realms of Cosmos —> primordial fabric —> space-time-matter —> galaxies —> planets —> organisms —> individual mind (encapsulating the individual soul which is a reflection of the Cosmic Soul) —> expansion of the individual mind —> merger of the individual mind with the Cosmic Mind —> identification of the individual soul with the Cosmic Soul —> Absolute Being (Godhead, Nirguna Brahma, Pure Consciousness, Ananda)
Involution (saincara): the first phase of the Cosmic Cycle, the stages before the appearance of organisms.
Evolution (prati saincara): the second phase of the Cosmic Cycle, the stages after the appearance of organisms.
Consciousness is liberated from bondage one soul at a time. Since there are infinite individual souls the divine process will never end.
If we focus on a particular stage of the divine process where a portion of the Divine Mind is transformed into the physical universe and ignore the big picture we would be labeled as idealists. If we focus only on the part where the individual mind emerges from the space-time-matter then we would be labeled as materialists. These are half-truths. Keep the big picture in mind.
Cosmic Mind
Cosmic Mind is the Mind of God. Cosmic Soul lives its life through the Cosmic Mind. Cosmic Soul is the subject of the Cosmic Mind.
Cosmic Mind organizes the Eternal Life. Entire Cosmos is a thought in the Cosmic Mind. Nothing exists outside of the Cosmic Mind. Physical reality is a mental projection of the Cosmic Mind. All manifestation is internal to the Cosmic Mind but the individual minds within the Cosmic Mind perceive these cosmic thought vibrations as physical particles, as physical worlds. This is the meaning of “relative truth.” Universe is a relative truth.
Mind is a mechanism for causal expression. Cosmic Mind establishes the causal relationships. Therefore, the Cosmic Mind is also the ordering principle.
Cosmic Mind creates the Cosmos and guides the individual minds towards a realization of their connection to the Cosmic Soul. Each unit mind has the potential to evolve and merge with the Cosmic Mind thereby enriching it in infinite ways. Beyond this stage, there is the possibility of the ultimate union, the union with the Cosmic Soul when the human soul realizes its true identity as the Cosmic Soul.
Iishvara
One of the names of God in Sanskrit is Iishvara. The literal meanings of the word Iishvara is “Controller of the Cosmos.” Shrii Shrii Anandamurti explains that Ishvara is the Cosmic Consciousness qualified by the static principle.
Prakrti
Prakrti is the cosmic operative principle of Consciousness. Prakrti is the binding principle which is the root cause of all manifestation. In its Liila, Pure Consciousness allows itself to be confined by its own immanent creative principle (Prakrti) thereby manifesting the cognitive and operative aspects of existence.
The fundamental interaction which is sometimes symbolized by the yin/yang symbol is the binding action of Prakrti on Pure Consciousness. Without this fundamental interaction the Divine Center would not have been formed and replicated as an infinite number of souls. Without this fundamental interaction Cosmos would not have existed.
Maya
Shrii Shrii Anandamurti explains that Maya is the name for the non-equilibrium phase of Prakrti.
Nature
There is a misconception that identifies Prakrti as Nature. Shrii Shrii Anandamurti reminds us that “Nature is the functional style of Prakrti, Prakrti is not Nature.”
3 Gunas
The 3 gunas are the 3 broad principles that the binding principle manifests. The 3 gunas operate within Saguna Brahma. Pure Consciousness (Nirguna Brahma) is beyond the gunas and therefore free of attributes.
Please see “Aspects of Rajoguna, Tamoguna, Sattvaguna” and “Conservation Law of Three Gunas” for details.
Centrifugal and Centripetal Force
Centrifugal force is the force of extroversion. Centrifugal force is another aspect of Prakrti.
Centrifugal force is about multiplicity. It is about the analytic process. It is about ‘inside’ and ‘outside.’ Centrifugal force is about boundaries.
Centripetal force is the divine attraction. Without the attractive force of the Divine Center the Cosmos would dissipate into nothingness. Without the divine attraction souls would be lost in the wilderness of insentient lifetimes. Because of the infinite love emanating from the Divine Center the Cosmos is evolving to facilitate the liberation of Consciousness from bondage.
The centrifugal force is a characteristic of the divine transformation. The centrifugal force is not our enemy but it is a force of nature. The opposing forces of divine transformation and divine attraction create the drama of life. Without the centrifugal force we would not be here. Now that we are here we are supposed to liberate ourselves from a material existence and establish ourselves in a spiritual existence. This is the drama. We have no choice but to act in this drama. We have no choice but to participate and improve life on Earth.
Cognitive and operative aspects of Consciousness cannot be separated
When we say Prakrti we are referring to the operative aspect of Consciousness only. Since the cognitive and operative aspects of Consciousness can never be separated, it makes sense to use the term ‘Cosmic Mind,’ which is a combination of cognitive and operative aspects of Consciousness.
Macrocosm and Microcosm
Traditionally, macrocosm and microcosm terminology was used without much emphasis on the fact that the Cosmic Consciousness is at the core of each entity in its entirety to explain the relationship between the individual soul and the Cosmic Soul. In some philosophies, the concept of hologram is used to express the idea of ‘whole being reflected in the unit.’ The hologram metaphor is problematic because in physics the term ‘holographic’ is used for multiple concepts and theories.
Unit mind cannot function without a body (subtle or material). The Cosmic Mind, however, can exist and function without the physical universe.
Synonym for Macrocosm: Cosmic Mind
Nonduality
Universal spiritual philosophy teaches that God and Godhead are One. This is known as Nonduality which is very difficult to understand intellectually. God has infinite number of names, attributes and dimensions.
Godhead is nameless, dimensionless and free of attributes. Yet, they are the same! This is very confusing? Soul Monism tries to solve this mystery by promoting the perspective of the soul.
Soul is different than the mind
Soul is not the mind. Soul continues its existence between the lifetimes but the individual mind does not. After death all layers of the individual mind dissolve in the Cosmic Mind and become available for reuse
Immanence, Transcendence and the Special Relativity of Consciousness
When you view Consciousness from the perspective of the soul, it is immanent. When you view Consciousness from the perspective of the mind it is transcendent.
Immanence squared is transcendence. This is similar to multiplying (-1) with (-1) which results in (+1). If (-1) represents immanence (+1) represents transcendence. The essence of my mind is my soul. The essence of my soul is the Cosmic Soul. Cosmic Soul appears transcendent to my mind but it is actually immanent because my soul is a reflection of the Cosmic Soul. Soul Monism calls this relativity the ‘special relativity of Consciousness.’
Universal Teacher
Divinity does not need to incarnate. Divinity is incarnated from the very beginning. Divinity is immanent in creation. This, however, does not mean that the Universal Teacher never incarnated in the traditional sense of the word. The Universal Teacher uses us all to deliver messages all the time and comes closer during crisis times. This happened many times at many places. The historical personalities have different names but the Universal Teacher who teaches through them is the same.
Subject and Object
The object of the human soul is the human mind. The object of the Cosmic Soul is the Cosmic Mind. The objects of the Cosmic Mind are the particles, molecules, organisms, galaxies, universes, as well as the human cells, bodies, and minds.
Electrons, protons, neutrons and molecules in my body are not the objects of my soul. They can be the objects of my mind but they are not the objects of my soul. The electrons, protons, neutrons and molecules in my body are the objects of the Cosmic Mind. The Cosmic Mind in turn is the object of the Cosmic Soul. The Cosmic Soul witnesses and substantiates the Cosmic Mind and therefore substantiates ‘All.’ The human soul witnesses and substantiates the human mind only.
When photons enter eyes and hit retinas, the optical nerve translates the stream of photons into electrical signals. The brain processes those electrical signals and passes them to the mental plate (citta). The mental plate models the data and turns them into a form. The higher layers of mind make sense of this mental form and finally soul witnesses the mental form.
The human soul is witnessing the mental forms and not the physical objects. The objective world exists independent of us. We are not creating objects by witnessing them; they are already there, being witnessed and substantiated by the Cosmic Soul through the Cosmic Mind.
The subject/object relationships manifest in layers. This is sometimes expressed with the word ‘control’ or ‘controller.’ Human mind controls the life force in the human structure and in turn the life force controls the body. Human soul witnesses and substantiates the human life through the mind.
Mind reflects the soul and the body reflects the mind. Body is the object of the mind. Mind is the object of the soul. Without this two-stage reflection the soul cannot complete its spiritual journey. The two-stage reflection principle applies to the Cosmic Soul as well as the individual souls. The Cosmic Soul needs the Cosmic Mind and the Cosmic Mind needs the Cosmos to play out the Liila.
Subjectivation and Objectivation
Subjectivation is the identity forming process. When the reality (Consciousness in any stage of transformation) is mapped to a point by a limiting, binding, localizing, encircling, internalizing force, a center is formed. This center is the identity. The center point cannot hold the reality. The reality will express itself in a different way as an orthogonal flow coming out from the center. This orthogonal flow or expression from the identity point is objectivation.
Subjectivation is always followed by objectivation. The internalized (subjectivated) reality at the newly
formed center is expressed (objectivated) in stages. If the internalized (subjectivated, referenced, localized) reality is infinite then the unfolding process will never end. The objectivation flow is a relative reality. The flow emerging from the nucleus is orthogonal to the nucleus-forming force (curvature). That which emerges from the singularity (nucleus, center) is not contained in the singularity. The nucleus or singularity is a ‘reference’ or a ‘name’ of the reality.
Objectivation comes with multiplicity. The flow from the nucleus forms multiple units or wavelengths. Objectivation flow does not dissipate the identity. The nucleus exists during objectivation. The flow continues as long as the nucleus exists.
When Nirguna Brahma activates the binding principle Prakrti, a portion of the infinite ocean of love and bliss is subjectivated (encircled, internalized). This is the fundamental interaction or coupling. In mathematical terms we can say that the infinity is mapped to a point. This point, this nucleus, is known as Purushottama.
How can the dimensionless point contain the infinite possibilities of Nirguna Brahma? The infinity of love and bliss cannot be confined. The infinite potential has to unfold (objectivate) from the identity point as a never-ending flow. This cosmic flow/expression is known as Saguna Brahma.
Mind and Matter
Note the difference between the mind of an organism and the mind-dimension of its constituents. The mind of an organism is the collective-mind. Even elementary particles have a mind-dimension but this is different than the collective-mind of an organism. When protons and electrons come together to form an atom their mind-dimensions come together as well. When atoms come together to form a molecule their mind-dimensions merge. Similarly when molecules come together to form an organism the mind-dimensions of the molecules form a collective. That collective mind which is known as the “unit mind” controls the life energy of the organism. The matter dimension of the organism is controlled by the life energy and the life energy in turn is controlled by the unit mind.
In the first phase of the Cosmic Cycle, after the formation of the space-time-matter, there are no organisms and no unit minds but each particle has that mind-dimension and the nucleus (soul or individual consciousness). In the second phase of the Cosmic Cycle, organisms, animate structures and the unit minds emerge. In the first phase there is mind/matter duality. In the second phase there is mind/body parallelism.
When the organism dies, the memory-kernel of the unit takes shelter in the soul. When the memory-kernel establishes parallelism with an organism with the help of the Cosmic Mind, a new lifetime starts and the unit mind starts reaping the results of its unrealized reactions from the prior incarnations. Rebirths into physical (or subtle) bodies continue until the soul realizes its true identity as the Cosmic Soul. This can be a long journey because each new lifetime brings more complications and entanglements and conceal the true identity of the soul.
Kosha and Loka
According to Tantra Yoga as explained by Shrii Shrii Anandamurti, Cosmos has 7 realms. The traditional names for these realms are: Bhurloka, Bhuvarloka, Svarloka, Maharloka, Janah Loka, Tapah Loka. Cosmos is a formation within the Cosmic Mind therefore the realms of Cosmos are macroscopic expressions of the layers of the Cosmic Mind.
Mind layers are known as koshas in the Tantra Yoga terminology. Cosmic Mind has 5 layers: Kamamaya Kosha, Manomaya Kosha, Atimanas Kosha, Vijinanamaya Kosha, Hiranmaya Kosha. Human mind has 5 layers too. They have the same names. The implication is that the layers of the human mind and the layers of the Cosmic Mind are connected.
The 3 layers Atimanas Kosha, Vijinanamaya Kosha and Hiranmaya Kosha are known as the “causal layer.” The causal layer of the human mind is the same as the causal layer of the Cosmic Mind. This means that the differentiation of the individual mind is happening in the Kamamaya and Manomaya koshas.
Please consult Avtk. Ananda Mitra’s book titled “The Spiritual Philosophy of Shrii Shrii Anandamurti: A Commentary on Ananda Sutram” for the traditional explanations of lokas and koshas.
The interpretations of lokas according to Soul Monism:
Tapah Loka: The spiritual realm of the Cosmos. Tapah Loka is the first layer around the Cosmic Soul. Tapah Loka is the realm of Divine Love.
Janah Loka: The realm of true knowledge and wisdom.
Maharloka: The realm of ideas and abstractions.
Svarloka: The realm of feelings and memory.
Bhuvarloka: The primordial fabric (Cosmic Citta). The stage before the physical manifestation. This is also the realm of vital currents and microvita.
Bhurloka: Physical universes are embedded in this realm.
The interpretations of koshas according to Soul Monism:
Kamamaya Kosha: The material body including the brain and the nervous system is controlled by the Kamamaya Kosha which is also known as the “subtle body.” The vital airs (flows of vital energy) in our subtle body are part of the Kamamaya Kosha. The Ancient Egpytians referred to the Kamamaya Kosha as Ka. In the Western literature Kamamaya Kosha is known as the “etheric body.” In the 19’th century when spiritualism (not spirituality) was popular there was a lot of emphasis on the Kamamaya Kosha and people erroneously used the word “spirit” to refer to the phenomena related to Kamamaya Kosha. This is why Soul Monism does not use the term “spirit” in the philosophical discussion. Kamamaya Kosha is derived from Bhuvarloka.
Manomaya Kosha: The Manomaya layer of the human mind contains the mental structures: ego, intellect, memory as well as emotions and feelings. The dreams during sleep take place in the Manomaya Kosha as well. Manomaya Kosha is the psyche. The waking consciousness, dreaming consciousness and the “subconscious” of the Freudian psychology belong to this layer. The “thinking mind” is in this layer as well. Manomaya Kosha is derived from Svarloka.
Atimanas Kosha: The contemplative faculty of the human mind. Atimanas Kosha is derived from Maharloka. In the Atimanas Kosha there is a thin wall of ego. There are also very refined desires still left. Even when all desires are resolved, the idea of desire still exists in this layer. The idea of desire can easily turn into a seed of desire and grow into a fully formed desire in the lower Manomaya level. The opposite is true as well. The burning of the karmic seeds takes place in the Atimanas layer.
Vijinanamaya Kosha: The intuitional faculty of the human mind. Human beings attain true knowledge through the intuitional faculty when their ego is perfectly transparent. Intuitional knowledge grows as the ways of ego are known and its demands are controlled. The human being who is established in true knowledge is not egoless but the ego is perfectly transparent. You cannot see the ego but it is still there to hold the knowledge.
Hiranmaya Kosha: Hiranmaya Kosha is the seat of the soul. Humans experience Divine Love and true happiness in the Hiranmaya Kosha. In some spiritual traditions the Hiranmaya Kosha is known as the Heart. This is the layer of the mind that we have to cultivate to achieve Self-realization. Hiranmaya Kosha is derived from Tapah Loka.
A fundamental principle regarding action and reaction
When action originates in a kosha the reaction will take place in the corresponding loka but the “reactive momenta” (delayed reactions) will be recorded in the next higher kosha. Remember, kosha means layer and the loka means realm. Kosha is a unit structure, loka is a cosmic structure. Action originated by the unit creates a reaction in the environment but the memory of the environmental reaction is saved in the next subtler layer of the unit’s mind.
Perception, Conception and Special Perception
When the human mind holds an image of the physical stimuli we call it a perception.
When the human mind holds a vision of an idea we call it a conception.
There is also a special kind of perception. Normally, a perception is formed when the external stimuli get reflected (modeled) by the citta (mind stuff). What happens when a conception is reflected from the endoplasm? An idea enters the human mind from the ‘inside’ and creates mental waves in the citta. These waves are reflected from the boundary or periphery (endoplasm) of the citta. The reflection from the endoplasm is a special kind of perception.
Semiosis
Semiosis is the reflection of conception from a symbol. In a broader context, semiosis is the process of ‘reflection’ and ‘reversion.’ The ultimate semiosis is between the soul and the Cosmic Soul.
Reversion
Reversion is the ability of the human mind to hold the soul as an object. Normally, the human mind is the object of the soul. Under normal circumstances the mind does not turn its attention to the soul because for that to happen the mind has to suspend itself.
The ‘reversion’ (making the soul the object of the mind) can happen through semiosis. The ‘reversion’ can also happen in meditation or in dreamless sleep.
Ontological Semiosis
Ontological Semiosis is the fundamental process that opposes the objectivation of Consciousness. Without ontological semiosis, under the influence of Prakrti’s relentless binding action the bondage of Consciousness would never end.
At the most condensed state of Consciousness the analytic process ends and the synthetic process begins. The ontological semiosis is another name for the synthetic process.
Ontological semiosis is the fundamental tendency that opposes the confinement of Consciousness.
Strongest Anthropic Principle
The physical universe is the necessary mechanism for the emergence and growth of the unit minds. The universe and the infinite number of unit consciousnesses within the universe were created for the maximization of the expression of Cosmic Consciousness. This is the Strongest Anthropic Principle.
The belief in the Strongest Anthropic Principle does not prevent us from practicing science. Learning the secrets of the Cosmic Mind, or “…knowing the Mind of God,” as Einstein said, and eventually becoming an integral part of the Cosmic Mind is our human destiny.
On the proof of existence of God
We can never find a proof of the existence of God. Proof is a mental procedure. The mental realm is a sub-domain of the Cosmic Consciousness. We cannot comprehend God or find a proof of God’s existence while staying in the mental realm.
In spiritual practice, belief in God is the first step, whereas in analytical philosophy it is treated as the final step. The spiritual seeker feels the love of God, or tastes a glimpse of the infinite wisdom and this sets him on his spiritual journey. The spiritual seeker is trying to go home - home to the source of infinite bliss. And, the spiritual seeker is satisfied with the state of seeking. The feeling of the search is a sort of proof. In the journey, sometimes moments of profound happiness occur. These moments of experience build themselves into the soul’s spiritual knowledge.
Divine Justice
Spiritual philosophy states that there is divine justice and declares the Law of Karma as the most important law of the universe. Divine justice is precise. The only caveat is that the divine justice takes place over many lifetimes. There is divine justice in the eternal life of a soul but not necessarily in a given lifetime. Some religions defer divine justice to afterlife. Spiritual philosophy corrects this glaring mistake that has been perpetuated for thousands of years. The divine justice is about the living. Divine justice takes place while the soul is living in a body.
No cruelty will go unpunished. If you hurt any living being you will be hurt the same way in one of your lifetimes. You will experience the feelings that others felt sooner or later.
The Law of Karma is symmetric. This means that if you helped other people and did something for the welfare of society you will be rewarded sooner or later. Remember, the biggest reward is having an experience of the love of God. If you experience the ecstasy of Divine Love, that’s your biggest reward as a human.
We witness unbearable cruelty and perceive injustice of the world everyday and we are puzzled by hard questions like the question of evil. Why does God allow evil in the world? The atheist answer to this question is obvious but not convincing because I know with all my heart that God exists. There is nothing but God in existence. If so, then God is suffering all the cruelty and injustice. Spiritual philosophy calls this Liila or Cosmic Drama, which is another way of saying that the answer is not known. This ignorance, however, does not mean that people should simply sit idle and watch the drama. God wants active participants in the drama. Everyone and everything in your perception is an actor in this drama. Play the part to the best of your ability.
Special Education
It seems to me that there are experiences designed to move us on a faster track in spiritual development. Those special paths are independent of our karma.
I see life experiences as manifestations of divine justice and special education. Special education experiences are not tests. This is in clear contrast with some of the religions and philosophies. In the Middle-East the prevailing view is that the entire human life is a series of tests. The basis of that view is that God judges people’s lives from the outside. In my opinion, God does not judge, God simply loves.
God wants us to come home and bring our soul with us. We are lost in the wilderness. We lost our ways. It is true that God sent us into the wilderness in the first place. We don’t understand the cosmic reasons for that. We simply say it is a Cosmic Drama. We are players in this drama. We are supposed to go home by discovering our true identity. Our actions and thoughts are creating endless reactions and we are getting entangled in those reactions. That’s why it is so difficult to find our way home. Entanglements are tying us down, preventing our liberation from bondage.
The secret all sages teach is that we should not own the results of our actions. Let God own those reactions. We are bound by the Law of Karma but don’t forget that the Law of Karma is driven by feeling, or emotional, reactions first and mental, or intellectual, reactions second. The physical and emotional pain and pleasure we cause in others registers as karmic reactions too but the feelings create much deeper impressions on the karmic plate. The only feeling that does not create a karmic reaction is spiritual love.
No matter what happens in life remember that God loves you. No matter how good or bad your fate is, please keep your devotional love alive. Please do not lose your faith. The very act of loving God prevents karmic reactions.
Universality
All music is universal because music touches the soul. The soul is universal. This is the central theme in my writings. The Cosmic Soul is reflected in the infinite number of unit souls. Each soul is universal because it is a ‘reference’ to the One, it is a ‘name’ of the One.
The same criterion applies to philosophy. As long as it touches the soul, a particular philosophical system will be universal. Art, music, poetry or spiritual philosophy can touch the soul. If it inspires you to feel the Divine Love, and inspires you to move one step closer to the Divine Center then it is universal.
When philosophies, ideologies or religions become dogmatic by creating rigid mental structures and create divisions within humanity, they are no longer touching our hearts and souls and they are no longer universal. Dogma can never be universal. Dogma is a form of slavery.
Our universal right as human beings
All religions, philosophies, scientific theories and cultural institutions must allow for adjustments and reforms according to time, place and person. This is our universal right as human beings.
Basic urge of human beings
Everyone wants happiness. Seeking happiness is the basic urge of human beings. The happiness instinct is more basic than the instincts for preservation and reproduction.
Spiritul Surrender
The only force powerful enough to resist and win against the centrifugal force of egoism is love. The only effective spiritual practice is spiritual surrender.
Spiritual surrender is not fatalism. Spiritual surrender is about doing the right thing and not being entangled in the results. You live, you play, you have children, you go through the pain and pleasure, joy and sadness of human life but you always remember that whatever happens in life happens for a reason and you always remain conscious of the miraculous nature of life. With feet on the ground you reach to the stars. This is symbolic of spiritual surrender.
Spiritual surrender is not suicide. It is about living. It is an attitude that reduces friction and suffering.
Spiritual surrender is about controlling ego’s never-ending demands and not letting ego push one away from the center of their being. Ego is constantly seeking gratification. Ego sometimes finds entertainment in crude pleasures and sometimes in very sophisticated intellectual activities. Ego always seeks happiness externally. Spiritual surrender is about being conscious of ego’s externalizing tendency and trying to reverse that tendency.
Spiritual surrender is about opening your heart and letting God work through you. God’s attraction is constant but ego resists it. Spiritual surrender is about accepting God’s great attraction and unity within us, not resisting that magnetic-like pull of the feeling of unity.
God’s only wish is our happiness. The soul, being a reflection of Him, wishes only one thing as well. The soul wishes only to know the kind of pure love that outlasts all the kinds of loves humanity puts markers on, that has timelines and boundaries.
I know it is so hard to practice spiritual surrender and acceptance when you are suffering, when you are unemployed, when you are ill or when you are depressed. But, life still is a miracle. Spiritual surrender is about accepting life as a miracle in each moment. It is about saying yes to joy, saying yes to love. It is about offering the colors of your mind to God. It is about letting go of hurt. It is about forgiveness. It is about merging your mind and ego in the infinite ocean of love and bliss. I surrender to love.
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