Note: For the complete lessons, with additions, see the AYP Easy Lessons for Ecstatic Living Books.

Lesson 274 - What’s the End Game in Yoga?

From: Yogani
Date: Fri Sep 9, 2005  12:56 pm

New Members: It is recommended you read from the beginning of the web archive, as previous lessons are prerequisite to this one. The first lesson is, "Why This Discussion?"

Q: I have a question for you. Inner silence as you mention has been really increasing over time throughout much of the day. I can remember a few years back when I would notice inner silence occasionally during the day and realized that it was a direct result of meditation efforts. It is such a nice realization. Now as a result of daily AYP, inner silence takes on a much greater part of my day. It is not a constant state yet (as I hope to attain) but significant none the less.

There is also increasing ecstatic conductivity. All I have to do is stop and notice and it is there. When I am inactive, I do not have to take notice. It is very apparent.

I am wondering what is next. I am sure that I have made significant progress and that alone should be enough to satisfy the fruits of my labor. I know however that that is not the end-all of the journey. I know that there is much more to accomplish. I can't recall reading anywhere in the lessons - what happens next. Obviously, with SRF one of the major milestones is penetrating the star, which is seen at the ajna.

This seems to me to be a common thread to most paths, although it is usually kept in secret. I have seen the star depicted in many medieval paintings and wood carvings in Europe. It is also sitting on top of the pyramid on the back of the dollar bill. You answered a question early on in the original lessons (#92). And I do recall your response that we should not be concerned with that - at least for
now.

Is this a part of AYP? Is this years away? Lifetimes away? I understand that it is different for everyone and what their past lives and current life karma dictates. Perhaps you could expound.


A: Your rise of inner silence is beautiful, and the truest sign of spiritual progress and rising freedom.

As for what is next once inner silence and ecstatic conductivity are coming up, it is a long drawn-out joining of these two, played out as much in our daily activity as in our practices. This gives rise to the "child" of the union, as it were, called "jivan mukti," or "christ consciousness." This is the end game of yoga, and corresponds to what I call "outpouring divine love." It means we increasingly see the world as our own self and act accordingly -- "doing unto others" in service. That, in turn, accelerates our advancement into unity, which is another word for jivan mukti or christ consciousness.

So, I do not see the next step as an exit strategy out through the ajna star, crown or other portal, though, as we advance, we naturally become more familiar with the characteristics and benefits of these in relation to earth life. No doubt we will make the trip out naturally enough when we leave this place. But what's the hurry? There is so much to do here.

Of course, I am speaking from preference, my own point of view. AYP is for moksha, which is spiritual liberation in this life. From there, it is up to the person's preferences. If it is in your heart to travel the far reaches of inner space while still in this body, then you can do that if you wish. If you want to serve others here on earth, you can do that. You can do both, if you want. It is your choice. That is what moksha is about -- real freedom -- and you can't make a wrong choice in that condition. The cosmos is your oyster, and your choices and the divine flow of life will become synonymous. In my case, the orientation is toward service, making all this known in writing. That is my karma, and there is no escaping it -- not that I would want to. It is very fulfilling work, and I can't think of anything else I'd rather be doing, including "exiting the scene" beyond the union of samadhi and daily activity in service. So, for me, the enlightenment is right here. For you, it will be where the innermost desires of your heart lead you. It is your choice.

By the way, neuro-biologically speaking, the jivan mukti/christ stage corresponds with the union of inner silence and ecstatic conductivity evolving up from everywhere in the body, reaching maturity in the head, and then migrating back down into the heart where the spiritual rebirth occurs. So the heart is where we will end up with all this. The heart is the final home of our enlightenment in this body, with the neuro-biology of the whole body supporting that. There is much to do in setting the stage for this final outcome, and that is what AYP is about.

Can it all happen in this life, or will it be in some future one? It depends on the condition of our nervous system in this moment, and on what we do right now. Whatever we accomplish now, we will continue to build on in this life and beyond. So it is always about what we do now. In every minute we have the power of spiritual transformation in our hands. All we have to do is use it.

A very good question, and I hope I did it justice.

The guru is in you.

Note: For detailed instructions on building a balanced daily practice routine with self-pacing, and discussion on the evolutionary stages of enlightenment, see the Eight Limbs of Yoga Book.

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