Astronomy and Mysticism Have Much in Common, by James Bean
IMAGE: First Light from the new James Webb Telescope, One of the New Images: “Stephan’s Quintet, a visual grouping of five galaxies, is best known for being prominently featured in the holiday classic film, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Today, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope reveals Stephan’s Quintet in a new light.” (Courtesy of Nasa.gov)
The bigness of the “known” cosmos keeps on getting bigger! Actually, it’s our awareness that’s growing, seeing That Which Is. I find astronomy and mysticism have much in common. Like Galileo discovering new worlds through the lens of his telescope, mystics have been trying to tell humanity for eons of something quite similar. The reason why the contemplative state of being is still hidden from most of us is that, unlike Galileo’s telescope, in order to look through this particular lens, the third eye or inner vision, we mustn’t focus on the outward sensory impressions, but go in the opposite direction: into Inner Space. Look through the lens of the third eye to access the world of within. Tune the inner radio dial, listening for the subtle inner sounds coming from beyond the silence. This is how to access the Kingdom of the Heavens, the Inner Space within you. The spiritual path is all about this: transformation. Beyond a certain point, when we’ve gone as far as we can go on our own at trying to figure out the mysteries of reality and the cosmos, inspiration can come from others (we trust). The deluxe version of this mentoring process (for a few of us) comes from living and enlightened spiritual masters.
"When we close our eyes and do not see any objects, this does not mean that there exists nothing that can be seen. In other words, the shapeless darkness is also an object. Unfortunately, we cannot even see pure darkness because we are constantly thinking about the images of the world, and instead of seeing darkness we see the imaginary sights projected on the screen of inner mind. Without practicing the meditation of focusing in the darkness, it is not possible to see the subtle Light that lies deep within. The experience of Divine Light in the meditation brings joy, and the progress then becomes rapid. Consequently, one’s faith and conviction becomes stronger." (Swami Vyasanand, The Inward Journey of the Soul)
Kirpal Singh: "The Light within should be penetrated while fixing your gaze intently in its center when it will grow stronger and burst to give you further way up." (Spiritual Elixir)
Kirpal Singh: "As you look within, you will see a sky, or blue sky: If you look minutely into it, you will find it studded with stars, or you may see pinpoints of Light. If so, try to locate the big star out of them, and fix your whole attention on that. Then you may see the inner sun or moon. If so, focus all your attention into the middle; it will break into pieces, and you will cross it. Beyond you will see the radiant form of the Master or his Master." (Spiritual Elixir)
Kirpal Singh: "The inner Light does not come or go. It is always there within. It appears only when we are attuned and concentrated and disappears as soon as there is the slightest dispersion. The Light will not vanish if you just keep your inner gaze constantly fixed." (Spiritual Elixir)
Kirpal Singh: "Once you discover this Light and learn to live by it, your whole existence will be changed. Love will permeate your very being and it will burst forth from the very pores of your body, transmuting all dross into sterling gold." (Spiritual Elixir)
"Experience the state of super-consciousness where the Lord’s love surges, and you will see your own form in each particle of creation. O Nama, the Lord will make the pupil of your eye his home, and your eye will expand to contain the entire universe." (Sant Namdev)
"There are millions of nether regions and skies above skies;
Man has wandered endlessly in His search:
The Vedas also say the same.
The Muslim books speak of eighteen thousand universes,
but it is the same Power that sustains them all." (Guru Nanak, Jap Ji)
"There is no hard way where there is a simple heart,
nor barrier for upright thoughts,
Nor whirlwind in the depth of the enlightened thought.
Where one is surrounded on every side by pleasing country,
there is nothing divided in him.
The likeness of
that which is below
is that which is above."
(from Ode 34 of the Odes of Solomon)
"As above, so below".
(Emerald Tablet of Hermeticism)
“The cosmos is within us.
We are made of star-stuff.
We are a way for the universe ...
to know itself.”
― Carl Sagan
"The Light of one soul
is equal to that of sixteen suns!"
(Kabir)
We are stars
wrapped in
skin --
The light
you
are seeking ...
has
always been
within.
-- Rumi
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