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#4043 -
The Nonduality
Highlights - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NDhighlights
Body/Mind as an
Instrument of the Divine (Consciousness)
by Colin Drake
http://nonduality.com/btss.htm
If you sit quietly
noticing the sensations in (and on the surface of) your body, you
can easily see that these occur, are detected by the nervous
system and then appear in awareness, i.e. you become aware of
them.
In the same vein you can
notice that sounds occur, are detected by the ears, and then
appear in awareness.
Sights occur, are
detected by the eyes, and then appear in awareness.
Aromas occur, are
detected by the nose, and then appear in awareness.
Flavours occur, are
detected by the taste buds and then appear in awareness.
Thoughts occur, are
detected by the mind, and then appear in awareness.
Mental images occur, are
detected by the mind, and then appear in awareness.
Therefore the physical
mind/body is an instrument through which awareness (consciousness
at rest) can sense and contemplate the physical manifestation of
cosmic energy (consciousness in motion, or motion in
consciousness).
So the body/mind is an
instrument through which awareness can experience the physical
world, for experience is awareness of thoughts/mental
images/sensations.
The body/mind is also an
instrument through which awareness can interact with, and enjoy,
the universal manifestation of cosmic energy.
Thus the body/mind is an
instrument through which consciousness can ‘know itself’
when manifest as the physical world, that is when in
motion.
The human mind has the
added advantage of being capable of ‘self realization’
that is of realizing the deeper level of ‘pure awareness’,
consciousness at rest, the unmanifest.
Therefore the human
mind/body is an instrument through which consciousness can ‘know
itself’ in both ‘modes’: at rest and in motion.
That is as ‘pure awareness’ and as the physical
universe.
This realization of
humans as instruments of the divine (consciousness) occurs in
many of the world’s religions. In Judaism, as instruments to
enjoy and continue the creation; in Islam, as instruments through
which Allah could know Himself; in Advaita Vedanta, as
instruments through which Brahman could know Himself and His
manifestation; and in Vaishnavism, as instruments to perform
Yagnas (sacrifices) for the satisfaction of Krishna
(Vishnu). There are also echoes of this in Christianity where man
can be seen as an instrument to glorify God and receive His
benefits. Mahayana Buddhism also has the concept of the
Bodhisattva as an instrument to work for the enlightenment of all
beings.
This is particularly
stressed in Advaita Vedanta where we find the idea delineated in
the Upanishads:
As Brahman is everything,
it follows that we all are Brahman and that He is the agent by
which the mind thinks, eye sees, tongue speaks, ear hears and
body breathes (Kena I v.5-9). He is also described as the ‘ear
of the ear, eye of the eye, mind of the mind, word of the words
and life of the life’ (Kena I v.2). Thus He is the ‘pure
awareness’ (Brihadaranyaka 4 v.7) in which all thought, life
and sensation appears; and He is the ‘seer’ (Isha v.8)
and ‘all knowing’ (Katha 2 v.18).
The Katha Upanishad
likens man to a chariot, of which the atman (the Self, awareness,
Brahman within each individual) is the master, the body is the
chariot, the mind is the charioteer, the sense organs are the
horses and the roads they travel on are the objects of sensation.
The atman is the enjoyer and experiencer of the ride, which is
made possible by the charioteer, chariot and horses. (Katha
Upanishad 3v.3-4) So Brahman needs the mind and senses, to enjoy
and experience the physical world. However when the mind is
unaware of the master’s presence, through lack of
discrimination, it is unable to control the senses which run amok
like wild horses (Ibid 3v.5). Brahman, pure consciousness, is
hidden in every heart, being the eternal witness watching
everything one does. He is said to be ‘the operator’
whilst we are his ‘innumerable instruments’.
(Svetasvetara Upanishad 6v.10-12)
Moreover, it is not only
humans but all ‘sensing’ organisms that are instruments
through which consciousness can ‘know itself’ when
manifest as the physical world, that is when in motion.
Obviously different
organisms have different capacities in this respect as all
senses are limited to a certain wavelength, or range, of
sensation (experience). As far as we know humans are the only
species capable of ‘self realization’ that is of
realizing the deeper level of ‘pure awareness’,
consciousness at rest, and thus are the only beings through which
consciousness can ‘know itself’ when at rest as pure
awareness. However, there could well be other species,
terrestrial and non- terrestrial, that are capable of this.
Humans are also only limited instruments in terms of sensing,
contemplating and ‘knowing’ the manifest and the
unmanifest.
Colin Drake
is the author of Beyond the Separate Self:
http://nonduality.com/btss.htm