bentinho, can you simplify your answer please? it is a lot to digest and may take a life time, or many lifetimes, I am not sure.
I read your post but have I experienced what you write about, not sure. thanks for your response
seeker
Hm, I can simplify it I guess. It will not be is fewer words, but it will be explained from a different angle, more structured step-by-step wise perhaps. At least, I can try ;):
H20 is water. Whether the form is manifested in solid (ice), liquid (water) or gas, it remains H20. Ice is more gross, more concrete than liquid H20. And Gas from H20 is even more subtler than the liquid form. This is a simple analogy for a delicate and much more complex process that is inherent in Nature. In energy. So I agree with you Pandara: there are different levels to energy. But don’t stop here, many do so, let me try to explain.
[I]Note: When I use ‘Nature’ with a capital, I refer to all that is created in this universe, or better yet: I refer to the entire universe. All forms of energy, whether dense, or subtle, all energy belongs to Nature.[/I]
[B]Basically, what it comes down to, is that all of our universe exists of forms, energy in different forms:[/B] The grosser, more concrete, more solid and obvious forms are those of physical matter. Then there are the forms that exist within the astral level of vibrations. For example the auras we see around people, like Pandara described. These forms are still forms of energy: manifested patterns of energy. Even though they are subtler, less concrete, less solid and less obvious than those of the physical level, they are there and they are forms of energy. They are created, they are manifested somehow. And not to forget that therefore: they are bound by rules that are less concrete than the physical rules, however, they still have to follow nature’s laws. They are limited because they are forms, they are energy, they are manifestations. These can never be free.
[B]Then there are even subtler forms, those of the causal and buddhic level for example, as yoga classifies them:[/B] These forms of energy are even subtler and they are invisible to most of us, even to the aura-viewers. They are not dense, I am not even sure if they can be seen in the way I can see auras, it works a bit different here, but fact is, these forms are there and they are less concrete, less manifested even, than those of the astral and physical plain.
[B]Then there is the subtlest state of energy, which has no specific form:[/B] it is the unmanifested state of energy, it is like a formless field out of which all other forms and less subtle levels manifest from.
To simplify it by using a 2-3D analogy: [I][U]Like a cloath lying flat on the surface of the table:[/U][/I] This cloath, when flat, represents that field; the unmanifested state of nature; the unmanifested and indefinable state of energy. This cloath, when flat on the table, has no specific form, has no manifestation as you might imagine, it just lies there latent, or at least unmanifested.
However if you use your thumb and indexfinger and grap yourself a bit of cloath in between your two fingers and pull the cloath up abit on that specific place, suddenly you have created a mountain like shape in the cloath, do you follow?
Now suddenly, the unmanifested field of energy has manifested into a form and suddenly there is an indication of space. The mountain-shaped form is more dense, more obvious and more concrete than the field that was flat and unmanifested. The higher you go from the base of this mountain-shaped form, the more gross and more concrete the form becomes.
When you relate this analogy to our universe, to Nature; you will see how the cloath that lies flat on the table is the unmanifested state of energy. The purest state of Nature. The base of the mountain could represent for example the very subtle and non-concrete, non-obvious forms of the buddic and causal levels. Then halfway up the mountain-shaped form in the cloath, we encounter the more concrete, yet still subtle when compared to the physical, forms of the astral level. Then when we reach the top of the mountain-shaped form of the cloath, there is an obvious end to the form, the form has reached its peak in the process of manifesting outward into form. It is now very solid, very concrete, very much definable. We can now start to name each different peak because they are very distinguishable.
[B]Now let’s return to my point in this discussion:[/B] When we look again at the most essential state of energy, the latent, unmanifested state, this state is often considered to be the ultimate level, the level of God. I say that is a huge missassumption and one of many reasons why this path takes so long, even for the advanced yogis. Thinking this is God comes from a deluded mind IMO and that’s no shame because it is a very understandable misassumption. This is all my view I am sharing btw, no offense to anyone here :).
[B]This state of nature, this deepest, purest state of energy, is the very foundation of all forms that are created:[/B] It is the ground that consciousness uses to built houses and trees from. It is the very essence of energy. [B]However![/B], and here is the trickiest part of the entire quest for truth: this very energy, is not god, is not consciousness, is not our final state. Consciousness [I]uses[/I] this state to form and shape energy, but if consciousness [I]uses[/I] this state, then you must see there is a distinction in nature between consicousness and this most fundamental level of energy, because consciousness is using this energy like a tool. And as you know by now, we are never the tool, we are never the observed, we are never the created, we are never the seen; we are the creator, we are the seer, we are the one using the tool. Consciousness is free even from this state of energy. Hence I must conclude for myself that consciousness, God, Brahman, is no energy, for energy is created.
In the light of our previous example with the cloath:[I] Where The most fundametal level of energy [B]is[/B] the cloath lying flat on the table operating as the basic ground to manifest and recreate our universe from, Consciousness [B]is[/B] the hand making the shapes and forming the cloath. [/I]
On a side note:[I] Whether consciousness creates a form or not, whether consicousness is busy with creating or not, whether consciousness incarnates into form, comprehends just one, or all forms in its awareness simultaneously, or not… it does not make any difference; Consciousness will never be creation, it will never be the cloath. [/I]
[I]Thinking we are the cloath, is avidya; ignorance. Realizing the distinction between consciousness (the hand) and Nature (the cloath) is moksha; liberation.[/I]
[I]-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/I]
Now Consciousness can be making the shapes or it can choose not to, both ways, it is free from any state of energy whatsoever. It is the mystical, undefinable, uncatchable and unexplainable no-thing that is free and infinite for it has no state and it has no form. It has no source, it is free in itself. Does it make any sense?
[B]What I believe has happened, and what the science of Yoga is telling us:[/B], explained very bluntly, is that consciousness (the hand) got too caught up with creating and playing with these forms to the point of incarnating in one of them and being blinded by his own creation. The hand is now buried under the cloath! Our quest lies in realizing that we are the hand. We are not the physical body, we are not the astral body, we are not the buddic soul even, we are not the mind and we are not that oneness state of nature. We are God, we are the hand. We are consciousness, free even from the very purest state of energy, which is still a cloath in itself. We created that cloath, but we will never be it, even though all forms and non-forms are one. They are one because they exist in us, in our consciousness. And Consciousness is One.
I did my best, hope this clarifies my view a tad,
Love and Luck,
Bentinho
