The Love of God

 

The eye through which I see God is the same eye through which God sees me; my eye and God's eye are one eye, one seeing, one knowing, one love.

Meister Eckhardt

 

For many of us “God” is some mysterious entity apart from us and our world of experience.  We love such a God abstractly as our creator and benefactor (as well as fear him as our judge and punisher.)  Such a God is truly hard to love and sometimes when we look at the apparent evil and suffering in this world we are tempted to become angry and resentful.  Or we may simply lose faith.

Meditation traditions teach us to look for God within ourselves.  However, this might seem like ultimate hubris.  After all, how can a miserable sinner claim to be God?  And as ego-identified beings we can’t because we have separated ourselves from God.  In fact, all of the apparent evil and suffering in this world is rooted in this sense of separation, in ignorance or avidya.

It is by breaking down the internal structures that prop up the ego that we can awaken to the reality that God is Love.  On the other hand, the ego structures dissolve with the awakening of love as well.  God is not something or someone apart from us but is our deepest most essential being.  As Anita Moorjani writes in Dying to Be Me, “In truth I am not my body, my race, religion, or other beliefs, and neither is anyone else.  The real self is infinite and much more powerful – a complete and whole entity that isn’t broken or damaged in any way.  The infinite me already contains all the resources I need to navigate through life, because I’m One with Universal energy.  In fact I am Universal energy.”

The Bible tells us that idolatry is a sin.  A sin is actually a mistake.  It is a mistaken perception.  Our biggest sin is to believe in the “idol” of duality.  This is what causes the whole cascade of negative emotions based in fear.  Duality is not invalid as a perception but our belief that dualistic perception is ultimate reality is.  The ego buys into duality, believes that it is the body, race, religion, etc.  Spirit is beyond any of our mind-forged, limited definitions. 

Spiritual practice can seem like a tricky proposal.  On one hand it is the ego that believes that it must engage in some practice to make “spiritual progress.”  On the other hand authentic spiritual practice systematically breaks down the subconscious structures that support duality.  Meditation helps us to observe thoughts rather than be controlled by them.  In this way it can lead us into the deeper inner silence.  Inner silence is where we discover our spiritual essence.  It is an inner state of peace, love and freedom.  As one of the members of our meditation group says, “Meditation is like a mini-vacation without having to go anywhere.”  With on-going practice we start to realize that meditation is our true home. 

Meditation is facilitated by Bhakti yoga: the yoga of love and devotion.  Most practitioners need the support of an “Ishta Devata,” a particular form in which to worship God.  In a sense this may seem like idolatry, however the purpose is to transcend duality so that self and God are recognized as the same Being.  So it doesn’t matter if one is devoted to Jesus, Buddha, Krishna or Kali.  I like to say that I prefer Ganesha because I like my god as a fat little boy with an elephant’s head.  (There is actually deep symbolism in the image of Ganesha, as well as other meditative images, which speaks to a deeper part of our psyches.) 

The primary practice of Bhakti yoga is kirtan, or devotional chanting.  Kirtan involves the elements of mantra, melody and rhythm which together have a powerful harmonizing effect on mind, body and spirit.  As Krishna Das a renowned Western practitioner says "Chanting is a way of getting in touch with yourself. It's an opening of the heart and letting go of the mind and thoughts. It deepens the channel of grace, and it's a way of being present in the moment."  Following chanting we can let ourselves move easily into that state of inner silence.

If you are unfamiliar with kirtan you might begin by listening to the recordings of Krishna Das, Girish, Karnamrita, Ragani, Temple Bhajan Band, etc.  Also look around for opportunities to join a kirtan gathering.  If you are in my area you a certainly invited to join ours!  The most important things is begin to sing along, let your heart open and be expressed through your voice.  Dancing is optional but very acceptable.  Let go of preoccupations, self-consciousness and concerns about your musical abilities.  Let go of ego and open to Love.

* Here is a taste of kirtan.  Just me without rhythmic or vocal accompaniment: https://soundcloud.com/turiyaom/om-namah-shivayasri-krishna-govinda