The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Book 4 - Illumination |
4. The "I am" consciousness is responsible for
the creation of the organs through which the sense of individuality is enjoyed. Here we have the key to manifestation itself and the reason for all appearances. Just as long as the consciousness of any entity (solar, planetary or human) is outward going towards objects of desire, towards sentient existence, towards individual experience, and towards the life of sensuous perception and enjoyment, just so long will the vehicles or organs be created whereby desire can be satisfied, materialised existence can be enjoyed, and objects perceived. This is the great illusion by which consciousness is glamored, and as long as the glamor exerts any power, just so long will the Law of Rebirth bring the outward-going consciousness into manifestation upon the plane of materiality. It is the will-to-be and desire for existence that swings outward into the light both the cosmic Christ, [386] functioning on the material plane through the medium of the solar system, and the individual Christ, functioning through the medium of the human form. In the early stages the "I am" consciousness creates forms of matter inadequate for the full expression of the divine powers. As evolution proceeds these forms become increasingly suitable until the "organs" created enable the spiritual man to enjoy the sense of individuality. When this stage is arrived at, there comes the great realization of illusion. The consciousness awakes to the fact that in form and sense perception, and in the outward going tendency, lie no real joy or pleasure, and there starts a new effort which is characterized by a gradual withdrawal of the outward-going tendency and an abstraction of the spirit from out of the form. |
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