FOURTH DIMENSION - Spiritual Realm
'FOURTH DIMENSION - Advanced'
Part 1
"Up Side Down"
21.02.2020
We know three dimentions very well from our material experience: height, length and width, and everything subordinated to this scheme. But there is something more in our reality, the 'Fourth Dimension', seemingly unknown to us, we have also the experience of our depth somewhere within us. Sometimes it is active, but usually it is covered, dormant, or hidden. Someone who wants or needs something more than the flat reality in which he or she lives, tries to find this 'Fourth Dimension', recognise it and penetrate this unlimited, infinite space. Here are the stages of Self-Realization, that you have to go through to get to the 'Top'..., and fully understand it through your own experience.
As we go deeper into the subject of 'Fourth Dimension' we eventually approach the Spiritual Realm step by step...
There is an idea in some sastras, saintly texts that we are constantly present in this 'Transcendental Reality', but now we are in the illusion - material realm, that separates us through our thoughts or mental concoctions from the 'Actual Reality'.
In this regard I want to mention one movie that I remember, where a scientist experimented with electric machine. The same machine was used at the same time on a ship somewhere on the sea. That scientist was injued by electricity during the experiment and lost his sight, he could not see anything around him, but something strange happened, he saw internally another reality. Somehow this two exeriments in a lab and on a ship were connected to each other and our scientist moved to the reality of a ship which was destroyed during the experiment, and its remains were washed ashore. So the scientist saw a rocky shore, although his body was still in the lab where he was before. So he jumped through from one stone to the other in his vision avoiding waves. All this suprised his assistent who in a lab saw him jumping on the floor...
So we can compare our reality to this analogy. We are still within Spiritual Reality (Fourth Dimension), like this scientist within a room of a lab, but our vision is somewhere else, we are jumping through imaginated stones, although real, but this is not what is 'actually REAL'. Our real position is to wake up from this unreal situation, wake up from this illusion, dream, and SEE real 'Spiritual Atmosphere' in which we are actually constantly present...
Haribol!
'FOURTH DIMENSION - Advanced'
Part 2
"Fourth Stage"
28.02.2020
The topic 'Fourth Dimension' here refers to a certain state of consciousness (on the 'Fourth Stage', above three gunas), strictly speaking the level of consciousness at which everything changes. This means that a person's consciousness turns 180 degrees 'Up Side Down'. The vision of the world of such person changes completely, usually this is a graduall process of change, but sometimes the change of vision is immediate. This means that things which we usually see as normal, or as norms, are from a spiritual perspective completely different, opposed. It resembles a mirror image that someone discovers or observes in this material world. One begins to experience real reality, which is reflected in an inrverse way as in a mirror - the mind. It is like a reflection of a tree or something else in the lake, the reflection we identify or with which we identify our lives. This very subtle matter can put us in the position of being an observer from the side, but as soon as we lose this position we immediately fall again into the unreal reflection and false identification.
In Bhagavad Gita in Chapter 15 we have the complex analogy of a 'Banyan Tree', whose roots are upstairs and boughs below. From the description of this analogy we can guess or even little understand what it means, however... we can go further and develop this topic ourselves through our own experience. And this is called Self-Realiation, realizing itself, through ones own experiences. Then there is no possibility that someone would try to convince us something else, because our experience grounds us in our beliefs. This is very significant on each level of consciousness.
The question arises, how to gain this experience. The answer is very simple, by practice, preferably bhakti yoga, the yoga of devotion to God, Radha Krsna. And although it sounds simple, it is actually not that simple, because the experience means that someone must personally pass through all levels on this path, make a really big but very satisfying effort to get through it, and sometimes we don't have enouch determination. Therefore a good association is needed, to set an example, and this we will discuss I hope later.
Hare Krsna!
'Fourth Dimension - Advanced'
Part 3
„Transparent Medium”
07.03.2020
'Transparent' in Cambridge Dictionary is explained as follows: 'If a substance or object is transparent, you can see through it very clearly', 'Clear and easy to understand or recognize', 'Open and honest, without secrets', etc.
'Medium' means: 'Being in the middle between an upper and lower amount, value', 'A method or way of expressing something', 'A method of communication or entertainment, etc.
From this explanations we can have some practical idea, what it means that the bonafide Spiritual Master is a 'Transparent Medium', he is 'clear and easy to understand', honest, without secrets (he doesn't hide anything), we can see through him the Lord. He is located on the middle platform (Madyama) between upper, Spirirtual World and lower, Material World, as an intermediary. He can communicate with the Lord within the heart, Paramatma, and give us proper, perfect instructions how to act to make spiritual progress, and so one. He can take us to the pure 'Fourth Dimension' beyond Three Modes of Material Nature, where he resides...
In every ISKCON Temple on Mangala Arati we sing for the glory of the guru 'Sri Sri Gurv-astakam', one werse says: „saksad-dharitvena...”, 'saksat' – directly, 'hari-tvena' – with the quality of Hari, which means that a spiritual master has the quality of Hari, the Supreme Lord (he achieved this qualities), and should be honored as God, because he is the most confidential (close, intimate) servitor of the Lord (literally the Lord entrusts him with His secret missions). And further: „yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado, yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto 'pi...”, 'yasya' – of whom (the spiritual master), 'prasadat' – by the grace, 'bhagavat' – (of) Krsna, 'aprasadat' – without the grace, 'na' - not 'gatih' – means of advancement, 'kuta api' – from anywhere. „By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Krsna. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement ('kuta api' – from anywhere).” This clear explanation gives us an idea how important is this unique association of a Guru.
We also sing in the Temple every day during Guru Puja to Srila Prabhupada, following Srila Narottama Dasa Thakura: „guru- mukha-padma-vakya, cittete koriya aikya, ar na koriho mane asa, sri guru-caranerati, eise uttama-gati, je prasade pure sarva asa”, „ Make the teachings from the lotus mouth of the spiritual master ONE with your heart, and do not desire anything else. Attachment to the lotus feet of the spiritual master is the best means of 'SPIRITUAL ADVANCENMENT'. By his mercy all desires for spiritual perfection are fulfilled.”
These songs, prayers, for example, can give us so wonderful vision of a spiritual master, therefore it is good to read, know, or refresh within the memory the meaning of each verse or word, analyze this ever fresh glorification, to go deeper into the essence of this songs and in this way to the actual position of a true guru, the transparent mediator between us and God. Appreciate that he is our 'Well wisher', always...
Here the 'Advancement' is mentioned, ...moving forward with our spiritual life, take a steps higher, make more effort, go deeper, with the guidance of a guru. And perhaps one day... achieve such an elevated position of a guru. It may not be soon, but we have a lofty goal ahead of us to rise to such perfection and become 'transparent medium'... The exemplary life of a Spiritual Master can inspire us so much...
Haribol!