And God said, Let there be light and there was light. (Gen. 1:3).

And this is the true Light

that lighteth ever !an that "o!eth into the world. And Light is the li#e o# !en.
$n !e!orable words li%e these, all the s"ri&tures des"ribe the genesis or "reation o# the world
and o# all that is in the world. 'as o# Light vi( brating with the )usi" o# Li#e, e!anating #ro!
the *or!less Absolute +,isten"e "a!e to !ani#est the world in its variegated "olours in "ount(
less sha&es and #or!s.
As above, so below. -he .&irit and /ower o# God !ani#ested in the vibrating hol Light,
&ervades all the #our Grand 0ivisions o# universe: .a"h 1hand, the Abode o# -ruth or the
2hangeless /er!anen"e in $ts &ristine &urit, with the !aterial "ause (the !ind) et hidden and
involved therein3 the 4rah!and or the +gg o# 4rah!an, the se"ond Grand 0ivi( sion o# the
universe, brought into being b the 5niversal )ind o# ele( !ental essen"e b the 6ill o# the
.u&re!e 4eing3 and the ne,t, And, or the third Grand 0ivision, "alled the astral world with
!ind(stu## in its subtle state3 and lastl, /ind, or the &hsi"al world, the #ourth Grand 0i(
vision, the handiwor% o# the gross !ind.
0uring our so7ourn on the earth(&lane, we wor% out our destin or #ate as &lanned with great
&re"ision and e,a"titude b what is "alled /ralab( dh 1ar!as, whi"h deter!ine in broad outline
the general #ra!ewor% !ar%ing the duration and "ourse o# li#e in ea"h "ase. -his &lane is a big
"ounting house or a "learing o##i"e, so to sa, in whi"h ea"h one has to s8uare u& his or her
a""ounts, "o!ing down the ages, and in doing so, we will(nill o&en #resh a""ounts and raise
"redits and debits to be &aid o## and "leared in the distant #uture, and no one %nows how, and
when, in what #or! and in what !anner. -hus, while rea&ing the harvest sown in the &ast, we
&re&are the ground #or #resh sowing, in season and out o# season, with seeds good, bad, or
indi##erent3 and all this we do &ro!is( "uousl, &ro!&ted b the !ind and the &hsi"al senses.
-he sages "all the earth(&lane as 1ara! 1hshetra or the #ield o# a"tions where sowing and
harvesting auto!ati"all go on all the ti!e, under the su&erintenden"e, dire"tion and "ontrol o#
0hara! 'ai, the %ing o# shadows who !easures and 7udges ea"h thought, word and deed, how(
ever trivial and insigni#i"ant it !a a&&ear to be, rightl and 7ustl and ad!inisters 7usti"e to
ea"h at the end o# ones li#e(s&an. 9ana% "alls this region 0hara! 1hand, #or ea"h &ilgri!(
soul "o!ing to this region has to reali:e in #ullness the e,isten"e o# the Law o# 'etribution and
'e( 8uital, whi"h governs all ali%e with no #avours and no e,"e&tions. +a"h one is weighed
with the weight o# his own a"ts and deeds and learns, so!eti!e with hard blows and heav
%no"%s, the grand lesson o# 4rah!an, the Lord o# the three real!s: the gross or &hsi"al, the
subtle or astral and the "ausal or instru!ental (/ind, And and 4rah!and)3 all o# whi"h are the
!ind(:ones o# the 5niversal )ind with nu!berless &lanes and sub(&lanes, in"luding inter alia
various hells and heavens with inter!ediate stages as one !a "reate b ones senses,
sensibilities and sus"e&tibili( ties, li%es and disli%es, loves and hatreds, &rides and &re7udi"es,
born o# desires o# one %ind or the other. +a"h one thus builds his own habitat and not onl here
but also in the herea#er3 the astral and !ental worlds, where one stores u& ones i!&ressions
gathered #ro! ti!e to ti!e, in di##erent in"arnations #ro! the beginning o# ti!e. All these linger
in the soul in the #or! o# general laten"ies in the #olds o# the %ar!i" bod3 and a &art o# the! at
the ti!e o# rebirth &re&ares an etheri" bod in advan"e o# the "oarse, dense bod. -hus destin
is "ast into the !ould be#ore the &hsi"al vesture is &re&ared, to wor% out the "auses involved
therein.
.i!ilarl, at the ti!e o# death the de&arting soul "arries with it all the li#e(i!&ressions, dee&l
engraved on the tablet o# the !ind and the ruling &assions o# the entire li#eti!e, now singled out
in bla:ing "olours whi"h deter!ine the "ourse o# its #uture destination in the astral and;or
!ental world o# s&irits. .tri&&ed o# the &hsi"al !antle, ea"h soul dis&las its subtle
individualit, as it were, in the light o# the noonda sun. )en !a de"eive the!selves here #or
an length o# ti!e, b wearing &ious loo%s and dressing in attra"tive "lothes. -he !a #or the
ti!e being su""eed in de( "eiving others3 but none "an &la the h&o"rite in the astral world
where one is denuded o# the solid outer "overing, the gross gar!ent o# the #lesh:
< 9ana%= $t is there that the divine !ster is #inall revealed,
-he /er#e"t are the who worshi& /er#e"tion,
And the i!&er#e"t are &er#e"ted over there
.u"h, as ding "o!e to be born again, are et i!&er#e"t.
-he astral world is the world o# s&irits or dise!bodied souls(souls having "ast o## the
&hsi"al bod and et en#olded in the subtle and !ental "overings. $t is also "alled /itri Lo%,
the &la"e o# the /itris or !anes o# the dei#ied souls o# the de&arted an"estors. >ere the souls are
i!&risoned in the seven(shelled en"ase!ent o# the astral world, drawing subtle !aterial #ro!
ea"h o# the seven sub(&lanes e,isting therein. $t is here that the wor% out the "auses whi"h
the set going on the earth(&lane, b un( dergoing "ertain &uri#i"ator &ro"esses in the divine
"ru"ible so as to !a%e the! worth o# the land o# the shining ones a#ter the dross is burnt o##.
)rs. Annie 4esant (1?@A(1B33), a &u&il o# )rs. 4lavats%, in her #a!ous stud -he An"ient
6isdo! has given a gra&hi" des"ri&tion o# the various sub(&lanes in what she "alls 1a! Lo%,
a lower sub(&lane in the astral world. As the na!e indi"ates, it is a &la"e o# desires and is
said to "ontain seven sub(divisions in it, ea"h &eo&led b &ersons o# varing na( tures and
te!&era!ents. -he s"u! o# the so"iet, the vilest o# the vile, the !urderers and !arauders,
ru##ians and &ro#ligates and &ersons with bestial tastes and brutish a&&etites who, while living
on earth, sha&ed #or the!selves bestial astral bodies, now a&&ear, a#ter death, in savage #or!s
in their natural li%enesses and native hideousnesses, in the lowest strata o# the in#ernal region,
roa!ing about, roaring, raving and raging, #ier"el and #uriousl, &ret(li%e wandering in sear"h
o# !eans #or the grati#i"a( tion o# their insatiate desires. $n these gloo! and loathso!e
surroundings, the rea& the harvest o# their own sowing and learn the !u"h(needed les( son
whi"h the #ailed to learn during their li#eti!e as the were whirled awa on the tide o# lusts
and desires. 9ature s lessons are bitter and shar& but !er"i#ul in the long run, designed, as
the are, #or their ulti!ate good.
-o the ne,t sub(&lane go su"h souls as 8uit their bodies with so!e dee& an,iet weighing
heavil on the!, or su"h who had i!&la"able a&( &etites or desires #or sel#(en7o!ent and
grati#i"ation.
-hen there are two sub(&lanes #or those who are edu"ated and thought( #ul &eo&le "hie#l
o""u&ied with worldl a##airs during their li#eti!e on earth. -heir attention is dire"ted !ore
onwards than ba"%wards be"ause the belong to the &rogressive t&es.
*ro! the #i#th sub(&lane onwards the environ "hanges "onsiderabl be"o!ing astral in the
true sense o# the word, i.e., trul starr, studded as it is with stars, and the surroundings are
"heer#ull ins&iring. -hese three sub(&lanes are eu&he!isti"all ter!ed heavens ( heavens o# a
lower t&e, so!eti!es s&o%en o#, as b the later Cews, as in#ernal heavens, being sit( uated in
the in#ernal world as distinguished #ro! su&ernal heavens.
-he religious and the &hiloso&hi" bus(bodies #ind their wa to the !ateriali:ed heavens in
the #i#th region, whi"h the desired and "oveted while on earth: li%e the >a&& >unting
Grounds, the Dalhalla (the #inal resting &la"e o# the illustrious dead and the heroes slain in
battles), the 7o(#illed 4ahisht or /aradise o# the )usli!s, the golden Cewelled(Gat( ed 9ew
Cerusale! or the L"eu!(#illed >eaven.
-he souls o# the !ore advan"ed t&es, li%e artists, #ind a &la"e in the si,th sub(division. -he
seventh or the highest sub(division is entirel #or the !aterialisti"all(oriented intelle"tuals,
li%e &oliti"ians and ad!inis( trators, and !en o# s"ien"e who were &ronoun"edl !aterialisti"
on earth and wedded to the was o# the world in a"8uiring %nowledge.
Li#e in 1a! Lo% is said to be !ore a"tive, #or!s !ore &lasti" and the s&irit(!atter !ore
highl "harged and !ore subtle, and intangible and i!&er"e&tible though trans&arent or
translu"ent. -he thought(#or!s here a&&ear and disa&&ear with %aleidos"o&i" ra&idit be"ause
o# the great ve( lo"it o# the vibrations generated b sensations, #eelings and e!otions.
A s&irituall advan"ed &erson with a &uri#ied astral bod !erel &ass( es through 1a! Lo%
without dela. -he &ure and the te!&erate soul, though less va&id in its &light, drea!s awa
&ea"e#ull through it. <thers, less develo&ed still, awa%en to "ons"iousness in the region
si!ilar to the one in whi"h the wor%ed during their li#eti!e. -hose whose ani!al &as( sions
still "ling to the! (&rets) wa%e u&, ea"h literall and e,a"tl to his own &la"e in the
a&&ro&riate region to whi"h he belongs.
-his &lane is trea"herous and tri"%, and as su"h, those who are initi( ated b a /er#e"t )aster
o# the ti!e into the divine !steries o# the 4eond are not &er!itted to tarr, lest the be
bewit"hed here. <n the "on( trar, the are 8ui"%l led under "over through it, to higher regions
#or gaining !aturit and stabilit so as to be able, at a later ti!e, to #a"e it with "on#iden"e and
to stand the te!&ting wit"her and delusive and il( lusor "har!s o# the &la"e, and thus do not
get stu"%(u& in their !ar"h u&wards in the s&iritual region.
*ro! the astral world o# desires, so!e o# the souls &ass on to another world: the world o#
thoughts. $t is a !ental :one (!ano(!ai srishti) "re( ated b the thin%ing !ind, or !anas as it
is "alled. -houghts have tre!en( dous energ and ea"h &erson, while on earth, "reates his own
drea!(land b #lights o# i!agination and #an", and to this, the soul, a#ter death, is graduall
led on to e,&erien"e the "astles built in the air as the saing goes.
)ind at ever stage, #ro! the 5niversal 4rah!an with >is &ure !ind( essen"e down to the
individual, weaves a world o# its own and ta%es de( light to live in it, as a s&ider "aught in the
web o# its own !a%ing #lits u& and down, right and le#t, o# the gossa!er te,ture so artisti"all
set u& with a light #il! substan"e "o!ing out o# its own bod. .o do the thought( &atterns and
thought(i!ages o# ea"h individual soul go out to !a%e a wonder#ul thought(%ingdo!, #ar in
advan"e o# the ti!e that the thin%er in the bod is #reed #ro! the &rison(house o# the &hsi"al
e,isten"e in the !aterial world.
As ou thin%, so ou be"o!e. -his is the law o# nature, and no one "an es"a&e #ro! its
o&eration. $n this world o# thoughts, thought(vibrations are the onl "hannels o# "o!!uni"ation
between soul and soul, and all the souls live in "lose "o!!union with ea"h other. -here, s&a"e
and ti!e do not !atter. $#, at all, there is an se&aration between the!, it is onl due to the la"%
o# s!&ath and not #or anthing else. All in all, li#e there is ri"her, #uller and !ore advan"ed
than in an o# the #oregoing re( gions, but it "ontinues to be delusive being the out"o!e o# the
!ind(stu## o# ea"h, and no one here "an totall es"a&e #ro! delusion, though ea"h one en7os in
#ull his own heaven(world, vast and e,&anding, or shallow and restri"ted a""ording to ones
own !ind(stu##. 4ut all the sa!e ea"h one retains in hi! a sense o# realit in the !idst o#
surrounding illusion.
A sanctuary of special interest in the mental world is Dev Lok, the abode of the Devas
or the shining ones ( &eo&le highl enlightened in their ti!e and greatl advan"ed in their
resear"hes. >ere are lo"ated the .vargas and 4ai%unths o# the >indus, the .u%h Dati o# the
4uddhists, the heavens o# the Eoroastrians and 2hristians, the Arshas o# the less !ate( riali:ed
)usli!s and the .u&ernal /aradises or /leasure(grounds o# the later Cews. >ere lies the garden
o# +den #ro! where !an was e,&elled and e,"luded b God #or his #irst disobedien"e o# >is
"o!!and!ents. Cohn )ilton (1FG?(A@), a great &oet and genius o# his age, and a &ro#ound
&oliti"al and s&iritual thin%er has ( in his i!!ortal "lassi"s /aradise Lost, and /aradise
'egained( given a wonder#ul a""ount o# the *all o# )an and his 'esurre"tion and return unto
God through the inter"ession o# the .on o# )an.
6ithout wading through the s"ri&tures o# various religions, dealing with the &ost(!ortal
e,isten"e o# !an in the various real!s, we would do well to on"e again re#er to 4rah!a Dida
or the 0ivine 6isdo!, right( l ter!ed b the Gree%s as -heoso&hia whi"h &rovides an
ade8uate &hi( loso&h, e!bra"ing in its #old, the wisdo! o# the +ast and the 6est. -urn( ing,
again, to the great o""ultist, )rs. Annie 4esant, we #ind the !ental (or "ausal) &lane inhabited
b hu!an beings a#ter the have "ast o## their &hsi"al and astral vestures. /urged o# the sel#ish
ani!al &assions, ea"h one enters into this region to rea& the harvest o# his good deeds, whatev(
er the sa!e !a be, large or s!all, a""ording to the !easure o# good thoughts o# &ersonal sel#(
as&irations and a!bitions, ho&es and #ears, loves and interests. 6e "annot have !ore than
what we are, and our harvest is a""ording to our sowing. 4e not de"eived3 God is not !o"%ed:
#or what( soever a !an soweth, that shall he also rea&. (Galatians D$:A). $t is a universe o# the
Good Law, !er"i#ull 7ust, and brings to ea"h the e,a"t wages or !eed o# his wor% on earth.
+verthing thought o#, ever as&i( ration wor%ed u& into &ower, #rustrated e##orts trans!uted
into #a"ulties, struggles and de#eats be"o!ing &illars o# strength and &ower, sorrows and errors
#orged into shining ar!our3 now #ind #ruition in one o# the seven sub(&lanes, or heavens, in the
land o# the !idnight sun where sel#("on( s"iousness awa%ening, !a%es one #ull "ons"ious o#
his non(sel# sur( roundings3 with !e!or s&reading out into the hitherto un%nown &ast,
bringing to view the "auses that wor%ed out his li#e on earth, and the "aus( es that were wrought
b hi! li%ewise #or the vast #uture. -he &ast, the &resent and the #uture now &resent to hi! an
integrated view o# li#e, li%e an o&en boo%, with nothing hidden and withheld. >ere he develo&s
#or hi!sel# an all(seeing ee and be"o!es a &er#e"t seer, so #ar as his indi( vidualit is
"on"erned, in the true sense o# the word.
$n this heaven(world, the lowest &art is assigned to the least develo&ed souls with sin"ere and
unsel#ish love #or their #a!ilies and #riends, an ad( !iration #or nobler, &urer and better &ersons
than the!selves. -he !ea( sure o# their !eed is a""ordingl narrow and shallow, the "u& o#
their re( "e&tivit being s!all3 but ( still bubbling over to the bri! with 7o, &u( rit and
har!on ( the are reborn a#ter a while on this &lane with i!( &roved &owers and #a"ulties.
9e,t, "o!e in !en and wo!en o# religious #aith with hearts and !inds turned towards God (
the &ersonal God o# their own "hoi"e, with an na!e and an #or! the had #aith in, and to
the! the 9a!eless and the *or!( less a&&ears in the said li%eness in whi"h the lovingl
worshi&&ed >i!, overwhel!ing the! with devotional e"stas a""ording to their !ental and
e!otional "a&a"it. -he 0ivine veils >i!sel# in the #or! #a!iliar to >is devotee. $t is reall
strange that !en #orget that all deities reside in the hu!an breast. 6e have but to turn inward to
get a gli!&se o# the *or!less in the ver #or! in whi"h we adore >i! the !ost. $t is there#ore
said: *or!less is >e and et all #or!s are >is3 9a!eless is >e and et all na!es are >is3 2all
>i! b an na!e thou wishest3 and >e turns to thee.
-o the third &lane, "o!e devoted and earnest souls who see and serve God in !an and
worshi& >i! in >is !ani#ested "reation. At this &la"e, the are &er#e"ted into great
&hilanthro&ists o# ti!es et unborn, and en( dowed with a ri"h &ower o# unsel#ish love #or
!an%ind.
-he souls o# !aster(!inds in #ine arts, li%e !usi", s"ul&ture and &aint( ing3 the resear"hers
and dis"overers o# the laws o# nature3 eager and rev( erent students delving into the de&ths o#
%nowledge, get an o&&ortunit in the #ourth sub(&lane to develo&e into &er#e"t tea"hers o#
!an%ind in the ages to "o!e3 and when the do "o!e, the serve as tor"h(bearers and leave
their #oot&rints on the sands o# ti!e.
9e,t, there are three lo#t regions o# #or!less heavens. A large nu!( ber o# souls si!&l
rea"h the lowest rea"hes, have but a brie# sta and a #lash o# insight, a""ording to their sowing,
and then the "o!e ba"% to the earth(&lane with a di& into the great un%nown. 4ut souls with
dee& thin%ing and noble living, "orre"tl and i!!ediatel &er"eive truths, see the #unda!ental
"auses and the underling unities, and learn o# the "hange( less wor%ing o# the divine law in all
har!on, in the !idst o# the !ost in"ongruous e##e"ts as a&&ear to the untrained ee ( and
where though all things di##er, all agree. (Ale,ander /o&e). )ore advan"ed souls with
!e!or &er#e"t and unbro%en, #ind their wa to the si,th sub(&lane. A#ter garnering the ri"hes
o# the divine !ind (4rah!and), the return as great &ioneers o# !an%ind to 7usti# the was o#
God to !an and to glo( ri# God. -he !ight dead o# ages gone b, here get a taste o# the
glo( rious living, seeing and witnessing as the do, the wor%ing o# the 6ill o# 4rah!an in $ts
#ullness with no lin% !issing in the "hain o# "ausation.
$n the lo#tiest sub(&lane "o!e the souls o# the )asters o# 4rah!a Dida and their initiates
(4rah!a"haris), #or none but an initiate "an #ind the strait gate and the narrow &ath that
leadeth unto li#e and so the "ho( sen #ew enter into the land and li#e o# 4rah!an. -he en7o
their sel#( "ons"iousness to the highest &oint but are not et endowed with "os!i"
"ons"iousness.
$n the end, )rs. Annie 4esant su!s u& the &osition thus: .u"h is an outline o# the seven
heavens into one or other o# whi"h !en &ass in due ti!e a#ter the "hange that !en "all death.
*or death is onl a "hange that gives the soul a &artial liberation, releasing hi! #ro! the
heaviest o# his "hains. $t is but a birth into a wider li#e, a return a#ter a brie# e,ile on earth to the
souls true >o!e (>o!e o# the 5niversal )ind), &assing #ro! a &rison into the #reedo! o# the
u&&er air. 0eath is the greatest o# earths illusions3 there is no death, but onl "hanges in li#e(
"onditions. Li#e is "ontinuous, unbro%en, unbrea%able: unborn, eternal, an"ient, "onstant, it
&erishes not with the &erishing o# the bodies that "lothe it. 6e !ight as well thin% that the s% is
#alling when a &ot is bro%en, as i!agine that the soul &erishes when the bod #alls to &ie"es.
-he run o# !an%ind a#ter death #inds no rest in the three worlds: the &hsi"al, the astral and
the "ausal. -he souls #reed #ro! the &hsi"al vesture are "arried on, u& and down, in the giant
4rah!ani" wheel o# li#e b the !o!entu! o# their own thoughts, words and deeds. $t is all a
&la o# the individual !ind with its vast #ield o# ra!i#i"ations, s&reading out #ro! the lowest,
the &hsi"al, to the !ental ("ausal) worlds wherein one builds his own taberna"les in the
herea#ter, #or a te!&orar sta, long or short, a""ording to ones needs #or learning the lessons
o# 4rah!an3 as the soul advan"es on the &ath towards /er#e"tion. +a"h soul gathers as ri"h a
harvest as it "an3 be#ore e,hausting the "auses set in !otion through the e,ternal sti!uli #ro!
&owers that be in his surroundings in the various &lanes in the three worlds thus des"ribed.
-he "ausal or the seed(bod o# the hu!an soul, the inner!ost vest, has et two !ore ver
subtle and subli!e linings underneath res&e"tivel "alled the buddhi" (the vigani") and the
nirvani" (the anandi" or bliss( #ul). $t is onl a brave soul, ver brave indeed, li%e that o# &rin"e
.idd( hartha, who !a enter into 4uddha(hood and be"o!e 4uddha, the +n( lightened one and
en7o the bliss o# the 2reator o# the three universes3 and "o!es to the earth(&lane to give the
Law ( the Law o# 0har!a unto the world, with e!&hasis on desirelessness so as to #ree the
!ind o# all at( ta"h!ents, and then to tread the eight(#old &ath o# righteousness leading to
/er#e"tion. Again, it !a be a Cain -irthan%ara, the )ahavira, the bravest o# the brave, who
"ould dare a&&roa"h the divine throne o# 4rah!an and give out to the world the Law o#
5niversal Love and Ahi!sa, love #or all "reatures #ro! the tiniest inse"t, hel&lessl "rawling in
the dust, and #or the water and air s&irits #loating in "ountless nu!bers, in their res&e"tive
s&heres, invisible to the na%ed ee.
$n the 4uddhi" &lane, one develo&s the intelle"tual side o# divinit in hi! and begins to see
and reali:e the sel#(sa!e .el# in hi!, as in all around hi!, and he is as !u"h in that .el# as
others are. -hus he "o!es to the great #unda!ental unit o# e,isten"e, the .utra At!a,
"arring everthing #ro! an ant to the ele&hant, li%e so !an beads on the string o# a rosar3 in
s&ite o# the di##eren"es in sha&e, si:e and "olour, both within and with( out, due to "li!ati"
"onditions, and !ental !a%e(u& and inner develo&( !ent and growth. 9ow the hu!an !onad,
the outbreathed li#e o# 4rah!an, dwells in the inbreathed li#e o# 4rah!an, with divine &owers
and attributes, and as&ires #or the bliss(as&e"t o# the divinit in hi! ( the At( !i" or the
9irvani" "ons"iousness o# .at(2hit(Anand ( the heart and soul o# the universe, whi"h now
be"o!es his, and he is one with $t.
$t is indeed a long and wear &ro"ess to understand "orre"tl the 4rah! Dida and then to
su""ess#ull &ra"tise it3 and to traverse the 4rah!and #ro! end to end, stage b stage, #ro! the
&hsi"al world o# "oarse !atter to 4rah! Lo% &ro&er, the region where )aha()aa in its #inest
and !ost subtle #or! reigns. -he 4rah!and is the !ani#estation o# the /ower o# God, lodged in
<! ( the !ost sa"red sllable in the Dedi" lore3 hen"e $t is the a%ar or #or! o# <! (<!(%ar).
$t is the Logos o# the Gree%s and +%(<n%ar o# the various s"ri&tures.
-his is the ulti!ate end o# hu!an attain!ent, sas Dedanta ( the high( est tea"hings as given
b the later Dedi" tea"hers and s"holars (the 'ishis o# old), as a result o# their intense !editative
e,&erien"es in the snow( "a&&ed !ountain #astnesses, or in the thi"% #orest dwellings. 4rah!an
is the ver li#e o# the universe, "o!&rising, as it does, the three worlds de( s"ribed above with
all that e,ists in ea"h ( the -rilo%i 9ath, the lord o# the three(#old &anora!i" li#e in its #ullness.
-heir words o# wisdo!, we #ind in a&horisti" #or!, as ge!s o# &urest ra serene, in their
valuable trea( tises %nown as 5&anishads whi"h are rightl "onsidered as Dedantas or the #inal
rungs or &arts o# Deda, the e##lores"en"e o# divine wisdo!, whi"h ends with the )aha Da%a
(the Great -ruth): -hat thou art !eaning that !an is 4rah!an in his real nature and essen"e
and when one real( i:es this #unda!ental truth, he involuntaril &ro"lai!s Aha! 4rah! as(
!i or $ a! 4rah!an or $ and ! *ather are one, or $ s&ea% nothing on ! own but as !
*ather bids !e do. -he greatest lesson that one derives #ro! Dedanta is ( we are all one3 one in
our origin, one in our !a%e(u&, both inner and outer #or!ation, one in our &otentialities and
&owers, however latent and involved the !a be, but e8uall "a&able o# develo&ing the sa!e,
!a be sooner or later, but the &ro"ess o# develo&!ent or un#old!ent o# the sel# is essentiall
the sa!e #or all3 and then the goal too is one #or all !an%ind, #or all o# us are worshi&&ers o#
4rah!an. $n this wa, the out(breathed li#e "onstituting as it does, the individual !ind !erges
in the in(brsathed li#e o# the 5niversal )ind or )ahat, the great !ind o# the "os!os( the third
Logos or 0ivine 2reative $n( telligen"e, the 4rah!a o# the >indus, the )and7usri o# the
4uddhists, the hol .&irit o# the 2hristians, and the Allah(hu o# the !sti"s and .u#i dervishes.
>ere in 4rah! Lo%, souls live #or long, and in "lose &ro,i!it to 4rah!an, i!bibing the
love, the intelligen"e and the bliss o# that 4eing or /ower3 and again so long indeed is the sta,
that one is &rone to believe and "all it a veritable salvation, the #la!e !erging in the #la!e (o#
4rah!an). 4ut the sta there, however long it !a be, is not eternal and it lasts onl till the
4rah!and itsel# dissolves, and the universal !ind rolls u& its li#e, absorbing all the souls in its
#old wherever the !a be. -his dra!a o# in#olding and un#olding o# li#e, "alled 4rah!and, is
re&eated again and again3 and the grand &la "ontinuall goes on in and through eternit. -he
divine &hiloso&h deals with it so beauti#ull:
>ow "har!ing is divine &hiloso&h,
9ot harsh and "rabbed as dull #ools su&&ose3
4ut !usi"al as is A&&olo s lute,
And a &er&etual #east o# ne"tared sweet.
$t is #ro! 4rah!an that there s&ring the three great &owers (4rah!a, Dishnu and .hiva),
"reating, sustaining and dissolving all that is o# the !atter or !aa in one #or! or the other.
-hese three o##s&rings or &owers "o!e into being b >is .ha%ti, or )aha()aa, "alled the
)other o# the 5niverse ( not in the sense o# se, as we ordinaril %now it to be, but on"e again
we have to ta%e the si!ile o# the s&iders light #l! substan"e that "o!es out not #ro! without,
but #ro! within the s&ider s bod or the "o"oon or a sil% "ase as is s&un b a larva #ro! #ine
threads o# its own !a%ing to &rote"t itsel# as a "hrsalis es&e"iall as a sil%wor!3 where( with
we in "ourse o# ti!e &re&are all sorts o# sil%en gar!ents o# so !an designs and "olours to
"over our na%edness and ta%e delight to stunt in borrowed "lothings.
9ana%, s&ea%ing o# the wor%ing o# Gods "reation, also re#ers to the -ri&le /rin"i&le
"on"erned with "reating, sustaining and destroing ( all wor%ing a""ording to the 6ill o# the
.u&re!e 4eing, as vi"e(regents, onl e,er"ising delegated authorit3 and strange as it !a
see!, it is not given to the! to %now >i!, sin"e the are but the &art o# the ob7e"tive "reation
and >e, the .u&re!e 4eing, is sub7e"tive and #or!less:
-he great )other, "on"eiving, brought #orth three regents3
-he #irst "reating, the se"ond sustaining, and the last destroing.
6hat >e desires, the &er#or!,
-he wor% under >is 6ill.
4ut great the wonder, though >e wat"hes over the!, the behold >i! not.
>ail, hail to >i! alone,
-he /ri!al, /ure, +ternal, $!!ortal, and$!!utable in all ages=
As to the vast and stu&endous wor% "onne"ted with the running o# the three worlds in the
"reation, in"luding all sorts o# hells and heavens in the!, Dishnu, the se"ond "ounter&art o#
4rah!a, in the great triu!virate or tri!urti, wields the &ower o# ad!inistration. <n"e
8uestioned as to how he (Dishnu) "ould !anage su"h a big show and !a%e elaborate
arrange!ents #or the innu!erable souls entrusted to his "are, b &rovid( ing all sorts o#
"o!#orts and woes in the su&ernal and nether worlds in his do!ain, he 7ust s!iled and said:
<h= $ have nothing to do at all, #or whosoever "o!es into an o# ! worlds, he brings with
hi! his own load o# &ains and &leasures, thereb "reating his own hell or heaven, both on the
earth(&lane and therea#ter. 6hatsoever ea"h one needs, in an o# ! real!s, he arranges the
sa!e #or hi!sel#3 and $ si!&l loo% on, un"on( "erned at the hu!an dra!a, tragi" or "o!i", or
tragi("o!i", as the "ase !a be, un#olding the in#old in hi!sel#. -hus runs the divine
!a"hiner au( to!ati"all, all on its own and b itsel#, but all under >is 6ill.
4rah!an is a great &ower, too great #or the hu!an !ind to "on"eive, and o# the 4eond, none
but the .aints %now o# and "an s&ea% with authorit ( not the #or!all "anoni:ed saints as we
%now, but .aints o# the status o# .ant(.atguru, authori:ed and "o!!issioned b -ruth ( the
-ruth that was in the beginning, the -ruth that now is, and the -ruth that shall re!ain herea#ter (
to tea"h !an%ind and initiate su"h as&iring souls into the !steries o# the 4eond and beond
the 4eond(state3 as !a be ri&e #or the &ur&ose o# understanding "orre"tl and &ro&erl the
2auseless 2ause o# all the "auses that o&erate down below, in ea"h o# the worlds3 and are read
to live the li#e o# the s&irit as 7ivan !u%ats or liberated beings while et in #lesh: A 7ivan
!u%at, sas 9ana%, is one who %nows and &ra"tises the art o# death(in(li#e and when he
#inall 8uits the stage, he 8uits it #or good, never to return again. -his is what /ara Dida or
the %nowledge o# the 4eond tea"hes.
A&art #ro! this, there are !an "ategories o# tea"hers o# 4rah!a Dida whi"h is A&ra in
"hara"ter and &aves the wa #or the /ara, and all o# the! tea"h &eo&le in the was o#
4rah!an, ea"h a""ording to his own "a&abilities. -he /ro&hets and the )essiahs generall
&ro&hes the "o!( ing o# great events, train !an%ind to live a godl li#e and bring to the! the
tidings and !essages o# God (4rah!an). -he Avtaras are in"arnations o# the various &owers o#
4rah!an, and their #un"tion is to %ee& the world agoing in a balan"ed and orderl !anner,
holding the balan"e o# the so"ial order aright between righteousness and unrighteousness. -he
ogis and ogishwars re!ain within the s&here o# their og(!aa (!ind(#or"e) and lead their
initiates u& to the highest &oint within their ogi" &owers.
-he 4rah! Lo% has !an sub(lo%s "alled /uris, 4havans, -aba8s or 0ivisions, ea"h allotted
to one or other o# the &owers o# 4rah!an, li%e 4rah!a /uri, Dishnu /uri, .hiv /uri, $ndra /uri,
et"., to ea"h o# whi"h the souls o# the worshi&&ers o# these &owers, "olle"tivel "alled 4rah(
!an, are irresistibl attra"ted and drawn in the "ourse o# ti!e, ea"h to his own destination in
the &la"e to whi"h he belongs.
-he an"ient Gree%s (.o%rates) s&ea% o# this three(#old as&e"t o# 0i( vinit as the -hree
.isters o# the .&inning 6heel ( one engaged in s&in( ning the thread o# li#e #or ea"h, the other
in adorning and e!bellishing the thread o# li#e and the third in "utting the said thread o# li#e,
when the allotted ti!e "o!es to an end. .i!ilar to the 2hristian theolog we have #irst Logos,
the "reative &rin"i&le in nature, the se"ond Logos and the third Logos, who "arr on si!ilar
duties o# their own. -his is the #a!ous 0o"trine o# -rinit: the *ather, the .on and the >ol
Ghost.
6here all the &hiloso&hies o# the world end, there the true religion begins. $t is onl a#ter the
soul, the dweller in the bod, sheds its dross &ersonalit "o!&rising as it does, the three
vestures or vehi"les o# bod, !ind and intelle"t, and be"o!es an entit in its &ristine si!&li"it,
an un( divided whole, the great i!!ortal tree, evergreen and ever(#resh in its native essen"e, in
s&ite o# the ever("hanging &anora!a o# li#e around3 it "an brea% through the !agi" hall o#
!ulti("oloured !irrors and trans"end the -rigunat!a" +gg o# 4rah!and and es"a&e into the
4eond. <ne has to be born anew li%e a new(born &hoeni,, arising out o# the ashes o# its own
&revious sel# with renewed outh and vigour, so as to be able to live through the li#e o# the
s&irit that lies ahead.
-o "ross the !ental world is not so eas as it !a see! to the untrained in the !steries o#
the 4eond. $t is the !ost delusive world, where even the )ahat!as and the 'ishis, with all
their learning and ta&as, #ail to hold on to their own ground. 6hat is there in that vast universe
whi"h 4rah!an would not li%e to o##er to those earnest souls who tr to es"a&e #ro! his
do!ains and rea"h the -rue >o!e o# their *ather= At ever ste&, be it in the &hsi"al world, the
astral or the !ental, he tries to blo"% the wa o# the as&iring souls. -he great /ro&hets and
)essiahs, and all others have given their e,&erien"es o# the #ier"e en"ounters that the had with
.atan, )ara, Ahir!an3 the evil s&irits ( the Asuras, 0e!ons and their agents in "ount( less
was, #air or #oul, whereb the tr to obstru"t the wa, to win over the see%ers a#ter -ruth b
assuran"es o# worldl %ingdo!s and &rin"i&al( ities. $# the do not su""u!b to these
te!&tations, then b threats o# vio( len"e b #ire, thunder, earth8ua%es, heaven(s&littings, "loud(
bursts, light( enings and what have ou. $t is in &redi"a!ents li%e these that one "an onl stand
these trials and tribulations when one has b his side, his Guru or )urshid, #or the Guru(&ower
then draws and absorbs the dis"i&le soul into >i!sel# and ta%es hi! along the &ath o# 'inging
'adian"e. *or ea"h soul, the 4rah!an sta%es his all, and does not ield, unless he is "onvin"ed
that the see%er "lings to the &rote"tion o# the )aster(&ower (A%al or the -i!eless). 0o we not
see even in the !aterial world that the rulers and govern!ents o# one state seal their borders to
&revent unauthori:ed e!i( gration o# their sub7e"ts, and devise laws to "ontrol su"h out#lowH
Great indeed is the &ower o# -i!e and none "an "on8uer it.
And et -i!e itsel# is in !ortal dread o# the -i!eless )usi",
Lest >e hi!sel# !a get lost in the 0ivine >ar!on.
6e had e,egesis o# 0hara! 1hand b 9ana% elsewhere in these &ages. A#ter that, the great
tea"her goes on to des"ribe the 7ourne o# the &il( gri!(soul through various regions
"ul!inating in .a"h 1hand. -he ne,t two regions, he res&e"tivel "alls Gan 1hand (the real!
o# %nowledge) and .ara! 1hand (the real! o# e"stas). $n the #or!er, the souls hori:on
e,&ands i!!easurabl, #or it "o!&rehends at on"e the !ani#old nature o# all "reated things
with in#init o# #or!s and &heno!ena, and understands the i!!utable laws o# the wor%ings o#
nature. $n the latter, the soul be( "o!ing attra"ted b the /ower o# the 6ord, gets a taste o#, and
insight into the real nature o# things.
9e,t "o!es 1ar! 1hand or the real! o# gra"e. 6ith the &uri#i"ation wrought b the >ol
6ord, the soul is #reed on"e and #or all ti!es o# even the #aintest, vague and inde#inite tra"es o#
the dross in the #or! o# vasnas, and !atter no longer blinds the vision, and one be"o!es #ull
"ons"ious o# >i!, "o!ing as one does, #a"e to #a"e with the &ure +ssen"e o# the 6ord, the
Light o# Li#e, giving birth to 4rah!and and all the worlds in"luded therein.
*inall, the soul rea"hing .a"h 1hand ( the abode o# -ruth, reali:es in #ullness, the "o!&lete
oneness and har!on a""ording to >is 6ill: All hearts #illed with God, the live 4eond the
rea"h o# death and o# delu( sion ... All destined to !ove a""ording to >is 6ill ... .u"h is the
beaut that to des"ribe it is to atte!&t the i!&ossible. -his arising o# the soul into .u&er(
"ons"ious Awareness is ter!ed as said be#ore, Li#e +verlasting #ro! whi"h there is no return.
6hat 9ana% has des"ribed above, #alls within the real! o# Di7nana (sub7e"tive inner
e,&erien"e, dire"t and i!!ediate), as distin"t #ro! 7nana or theoreti"al %nowledge whi"h the
)aster e,&ounds and i!&arts to the dis"i&le through a "orre"t rendering o# the s"ri&tures. A
/er#e"t )aster is all the s"ri&tures "o!bined and so!ething !ore. -he s"ri&tures a#ter all are
the re"ords o# the e,&erien"es o# hol !en, who a&&eared #ro! ti!e to ti!e to tea"h !an%ind
in the was o# God. 6e "an, no doubt, read the s"ri&tures i# we are &ro#i"ient enough in the
an"ient and ar"hai" original languages in whi"h the are written3 but "annot get at their true
i!&ort nor "an we reasonabl re"on"ile the a&&arent di##eren"es and e,&lain the dis"re&an"ies
in the s"ri&tural te,ts o# various religions. >e who has an a""ess to the inner #ountainhead o#
the li#e and s&irit o# all these te,ts, whi"h o# "ourse is "o!!on to all !en, with his #irst(hand
inner %nowledge, !a%es things easil intelligible to us all, in a wa si!&le enough both #or
hi!sel# and #or us.
$n the "o!&an o# a .aint, it is said, God "o!es nearer to !an, #or God >i!sel# s&ea%s
through >i!. As we all are s"ri&ture(bound in one wa or the other, the )aster ta%es #ull
advantage o# these di##erent s"ri&tures whi"h "o!e in hand to >i! as aids in >is wor% o#
s&iritual regenera( tion to lead di##erent t&es o# &eo&le aright along the line o# least resistan"e
in ea"h "ase.
A )urshid(i(1a!il is not "ontent with i!&arting !ere theoreti"al %nowledge. >e gives a
&ra"ti"al de!onstration o# what >e sas and there( in lies >is greatness. <ne who "annot grant
on the soul(level so!e a"tual e,&erien"e o# what he asserts on the level o# the intelle"t, is not a
)aster in the true sense o# the word and his words "annot "arr weight and "on( vi"tion.
A .atguru is veril -ruth &ersoni#ied, God in the garb o# !an. >is !is( sion is to lead hu!an
souls to the -rue >o!e o# >is *ather (.at or -ruth) "alled .a"h 1hand or the abode o# -ruth,
the #irst Grand 0ivision that "a!e into being b >is 6ill and hen"e the region o# &ure .&irit,
eternal and indestru"tible.
-he /ath o# the )asters is a grand road leading #ro! !erel &hsi"al !aterial world to the
&urel s&iritual real!, beond all dualit and &air( ings o# o&&osites. -he .atguru sas:
)ove e in the vast sea o# Light substan"e,
$n our hearts is our &er#e"tion.
Go on, and on and on, until there is not a vestige o# the hu!an le#t. -he Light substan"e
%nows no li!it.
>is is the &ath not o# hells and heavens, nor o# toils and sorrows, but one o# #lower
boulevard studded with heavenl lights and soul(stirring strains o# 0ivine >ar!onies and
above all, >e >i!sel# ( as an un#ailing #riend and an unerring guide ( "o!es in all >is glor in
#ull radian"e, and a""o!&anies the &ilgri!(soul into the great 4eond, instru"ting in the li#e o#
s&irit, as he &ro"eeds along, e,&laining the beauties and !steries o# the wa, guarding against
&it#alls and warning us o# the shar& turns and twists that lie en route.
-he dis"i&le, #ro! the ver beginning is taught how to withdraw #ro! the bod and rise
above bod("ons"iousness into higher regions. -he in( ner !an is to withdraw hi!sel# #ro! his
"oarse bodil en"ase!ent, as a hair is drawn out o# butter3 #or it is the soul in the lu"i#or!
bod to use the 9eo(/latonist &hraseolog, that rises to #ind the .el#. )andu%a 5&( nishad
tells us:
9ot gras&ed b the ee, nor b s&ee"h, nor b the gods (senses), nor b austerit, nor b
religious rites and rituals and "ere!onies, but b serene wisdo!, the &ure essen"e doth see the
/artless <ne in !ed( itation.
.o do the 6estern ."holars sa:
-rue ha&&iness never "o!es through the avenue o# senses3 it lies beond the senses.
4oundless 7o "an be ours,
onl i# we %now how to rise above the senses
and "at"h the subli!e Dision whi"h "o!es to the &ure.
-he divine wisdo!, in short, is at on"e the ."ien"e and Art o# soul and onl a -heo"entri"
.aint, well(versed in both, "an solve #or us the riddle o# li#e and death b giving us a #irst(hand
e,&erien"e o# death(in(li#e, thereb de!onstrating beond the least shadow o# doubt:
Li#e is a &ure #la!e, and we live b an invisible sun within us.
6hat has li#e and death to do with LightH $n the i!age o# ) Light,
I have !ade ou. -he relativities o# li#e and death belong to the "os!i" drea!.
4eholdour drea!less being.
2reation is light and shadow both, else no &i"ture is &ossible.
-he dar%ness grows lu!inous and the void be"o!es #ruit#ul onl when ou will
understand that ou are nothing. $t is onl at the )ount o# -rans#iguration that ou
will get revelation and see the !ingling o# heaven and earth.
-o worshi& &er#e"tion is the highest edu"ation in li#e3 and onl a /er#e"t <ne "an, b
trans!itting >is own li#e(i!&ulse, release the soul #ro! its tra!!els o# !ind and !atter and
grant a vision o# the subli!e 'ealit. >e who "an, at the ver #irst sitting, o&en the inner ee
!ore or less to a gli!&se o# heavens >ol Light and unsto& the inner ear to the )usi" o# the
.&heres, alone is entitled to be "alled a /er#e"t .aint and a -rue Guru. $t is o# su"h a one that
.han%ara sas:
9o %nown "o!&arison e,ists in the three worlds #or a true Guru. $# the &hiloso&her s
stone is assu!ed to be trul su"h, it "an onl turn iron into gold and not into another
&hiloso&her s stone.
-he venerated -ea"her, on the other hand, "reates e8ualit with >i!sel# in the dis"i&le
who ta%es re#uge at >is #eet.
-he Guru is there#ore &eerless, na trans"endental.
Guru Ar7an s&ea%ing o# his )aster ( Guru 'a! 0as ( sas: $ have sear"hed the entire
4rah!and, but have not #ound one who !a "o!e u& to ! )aster. And #inall he said: >ari
(God), it see!s to !e, has ta( %en #or >i!sel# the a&&ellation o# 'a! 0as.
$n the wor%ada world, we are all ver bus, ver bus indeed, too bus to thin% o# God,
!u"h less to &ra"tise the &resen"e o# the living God and still less to live in >is >ol &resen"e.
$#, at all, at odd !o!ents we s&ea% and tal% o# >i!, worshi& >i!, and o##er our &raers to
>i!, we do so not to win >i! #or >is own sa%e or to rea"h unto >i! #or our own sa%e, but 7ust
to see% #avours #ro! >i! and to get an eas and 8ui"% rid( dan"e #ro! our di##i"ulties and to
es"a&e #ro! trials and tribulations.
Again, i# we at ti!es #eel serious about God, we tr to #ind >i! in the earthl surroundings
about us, the snow("overed !ountain "aves, the burning desert sands, the de&ths o# sa"red
&ools and rivers, worshi&&ing >i! in the ele!ental &owers o# nature li%e the rising sun, the
va"uous e,&anse above, the thunderous "louds, the Lu"i#er and the Des&er3 and worse still, in
the hollows o# trees, in the #ish o# the sea and the #owls o# the air3 and no wonder that with all
our e##orts we do not #ind >i!.
God >i!sel# has de"lared: $ a! so big that the entire world "annot hold )e, nor the heavens
"an &rovide an ade8uate su&&ort to )e, nor the earth "an &rovide )e a seat3 but strange as it
!a see! to ou, $ reside in the hearts o# >ol )en. $# ou desire to see )e, see% )e there and
ou shall #ind )e. 1abir also tells us:
>ow "an ou #ind the 'ealit, where $t is notH
.ee% thou the 'eal, where 'ealit dwells.
-a%e hold o# hi! who %nows the 'eal,
>e shall hie thee to >i! in no ti!e.
-his then is the wa to sel#(illu!ination. -he &ro"ess, though see!( ingl "o!&li"ated and
length, is si!&li#ied b the gra"e o# a /er#e"t )aster (.ant .atguru). >e &rovides the !agi"
wand, the <&en .esa!e that does the tri"% and enables one to get a""ess to what is
ina""essible:
>e who goes beond the .at Lo%,
>e %nows the $n"o!&rehensible and the $ne,&ressible.
$t is in the 9a!eless that the .aints live,
-he slave 9ana% #inds &ea"e in >i!.
-hus we see that i# one "ould learn to die while living, a voluntar death at will, one gains
li#e ever(lasting, #ree #ro! the endless ""le o# births and deaths and rebirths. .aints, there#ore,
sing &raises beond !ea( sure o# su"h a death and tea"h us how to trans"end the various &lanes,
and to traverse into the 4eond, and gain the 1ingdo! o# God whi"h is our birthright, now lost
to us. $t is within our rea"h i# we but listen to the!, a""e&t their tea"hings and #ollow the!
diligentl and with willing obe( dien"e.
A#ter death, ea"h one o# us has to go blindl in a state o# utter destitu( tion and hel&lessness.
-he s"ri&tures, all the world over, &la"e a high &re( !iu! on "rossing the borderland between
li#e and death on this side o# the world and then, death and li#e on the other side:
6here thou hast to go a#ter death,
6h not gain a #oothold while aliveH
.'$ 'AG ).$
< 9ana%= Learn to die while there is et ti!e,
*or veril this indeed is a real oga.
.5>$ ).$
0ie thou and re!ain dead to the world,
A death li%e this $ e,&erien"e !an ti!es a da.
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6ith the gra"e o# the )aster, one !a ride over the !ind3
4 van8uishing the !ind, ou !eet the Lord #or "ertain.
1A4$'
4e e dead while e live and be #earlessl #ree,
6ith a "o!&etent )aster b th side, there will be noth( ing to rue.
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Iou will get ri"h dividends, shouldou %now >ow to die be#ore death overta%es ou.
45LL+> .>A>
.habd or the eternal Li#e 2urrent is the onl hel& on this &ath:
$n .habd we die (get absorbed), in .habd we live eternall with no #ear o# death,
-his is the true 6ater o# Li#e that a rare soul !a get with >is gra"e.
.<'A-> ). 3
6hat does the )aster giveH >e !a%es !ani#est the eternal .ound 2urrent whi"h is the Li#e o#
the universe and in whi"h we all live. 4 riding on this Audible Li#e .trea! we, while living,
"an at will trans"end the various &lanes o# e,isten"e3 and "o!e ba"% into the &hsi"al when we
so desire:
6ithout the aid o# .habd thou "annot get out o# the "lae !ould.
-here is no other wa besides.
.<A)$ C$
.alvation or Li#e(everlasting "annot be earned b deeds howsoever righteous or
"o!!endable in the!selves the !a be, or in the ees o# the world. $t is &urel a gi#t o# gra"e
#ro! a God(!an with the /ower o# God wor%ing in >i! to the #ull. *or b gra"e e are
saved ... and not b our( selves3 it is a gi#t o# God3 not o# wor%s, lest an !an should boast.
(+&h( esians J:?(B). 9ot b wor%s o# righteousness whi"h we have done, but a""ording to >is
!er" >e saved us, b the washing o# regeneration, and renewing o# the >ol Ghost. (-itus
3:K). 9either is there salvation in an other: #or there is none other 9a!e under heaven given
a!ong !en, whereb we !ust be saved. (A"ts @:1J). -he gra"e o# God that bringeth
salvation hath a&&eared to all !en (-itus J:11), and >is gra"e shall "ontinue to a&&ear
herea#ter so long as God e,ists and >is "reation "ontinues to &eo&le the earth.
-his then is the wa to eternal li#e, b living in the Li#e(/rin"i&le itsel#, ever in 2o!!union
with the >ol 6ord, the 6ill o# God (>u%a!)3 and there is no wa other than this, tr
howsoever hard one !a. 4ut the rev( elation o# the God(wa in the living li#e(lines within (the
>ol Light and the Doi"e o# God) solel de&ends u&on the gra"e o# so!e God(!an, a 6ord(
&ersoni#ied .aint, unto who! all things have been delivered b the *ather, and o# who! it is
said, 9o one %noweth the .on, e,"e&t the *ather, neither doth an %now the *ather, e,"e&t the
.on, and he to who!( soever the .on will reveal >i!. ()att. 11:JA).
-i!e and again great souls "o!e into the world to re!ind us o# our true >o!e. -he tell us
with "larion "all that this world is not our natural habitat. 6e are here 7ust #or a brie# s&an as
travellers in a "aravanserai and !ust there#ore &re&are to 8uit, and sooner we do it, the better it
would be. 6e !ust, there#ore, wor% #or the %ingdo! o# heaven and gain li#e( eternal. )a -h
1ingdo! "o!e on earth as it is in heaven. And o# this %ingdo!, it is said: -he 1ingdo! o#
God does not "o!e b observation. -he 1ingdo! o# God is within, and veril this bod is the
te!&le o# the >ol Ghost and the >ol Ghost dwells in it. -his is wh all the sages and the
seers e,hort us:
-he &la"e whi"h thou hast to 8uit in the end has gri&&ed thee !ost,
Little doth thou %now o# the &la"e where thou hath to dwell #or good.
9A9A1
Arsh (>eaven) is th true Abode, ! soul,
*ie on thee, thou art entangled in "lae !ould.
.>A)A. -A4'+E
-hou ! Lord dwelleth in -h native land,
6hile $ a! here grovelling in dust. Nanak
Iour &la"e is where earth is not,
6h doth thou "ling to the earthH
.<A)$ C$
>u!an li#e is 7ust as a va&our,
6h not live in 2o!!union with the +ternal 6ordH
1A4$'
-hose who have 2o!!uned with the 6ord, their toils shall end,
And their #a"es shall #la!e with glor,
9ot onl shall the have salvation,
< 9ana%= 4ut !an !ore shall #ind #reedo! with the!.
9A9A1
1$'/AL .$9G>