A continuation of “How a Yogi Can Change the World for the Better”
“A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”
Yes, we will be clearly seen “down in the valley,” but that is because we are not in the misty flats below, but on the mountain of higher consciousness and life. To the outer eye two people may be walking along side-by-side, but the inner eye can see that they are miles–even worlds–apart. Similarly, the saints walk among all men, but never walk with them in the inner sense.
Many times I have seen holy people right in front of me, but I could tell that they were dwelling in another world. They were aware of me, but they were not “with” me. I understood that I had to pass over into their world if I would truly live. Most people spend their life trying to pull God and the holy ones down into their little world so they can get out of them what they want. Blessed are the few who seek to lift themselves into the “heavenly places” (Ephesians 2:6), to truly be with the holy.
Writing these words, my mind turns back over forty years to Sivanandashram in Rishikesh. In the morning satsang with Swami Sivananda, he would announce: “Kirtan by Swami Sivananda-Hridayananda.” Plying a little one-note sruti box, “Doctor Mother” would lead us in beautiful kirtan. Swami Sivananda would sit there in his chair with closed eyes, deeply absorbed within. The atmosphere would be so divine that I was sure the entire hall had been lifted up miles beyond the earth into a realm of divine life. (After all, the ashram was also known as “The Divine Life Society.”) It was a real shock to look out the open doorway and see the roofs and trees of the “outside world.” We were in heaven and on earth at the same time, foreshadowing the state of enlightenment in which the finite and the Infinite are lived simultaneously.
Until we reach that goal, we must do our utmost to keep our consciousness elevated through the japa and meditation of Om. Most important is the fact that the citizens of a city on the top of a mountain are not just tourists or occasional visitors. They live there. In the same way, we must dwell continually in higher consciousness, not just drop in occasionally. And this is possible through the japa and meditation of Om.
A further point. Jesus refers to us as a city–not a small group of isolated individuals. Sri Ramakrishna said that devotees of God form a caste to themselves. Throughout the world those who seek higher life form a great spiritual association, even if they are not aware of one another. In Kings 19:9-18, we find that the prophet Elijah thought he was the only one in Israel who had not forsaken the Covenant, but God told him that there were seven thousand (a great number in those days) who were true to Him.
In the seventh chapter of Judges we find a remarkable incidence of the spiritual power and effectiveness of devotees. Gideon had a large number of soldiers to repel the invaders, but God said that there were too many to win (!) and had Gideon pare their numbers down to only three hundred. And those three hundred routed the enemy without striking a blow. No wonder Jesus said to his disciples: “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32).
On the lamp stand
“Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:15,16).
When “ripe” human beings see others living a higher life, they are attracted, and the ripest among them see the glory of higher consciousness and begin seeking it themselves. In this way, one lamp lights another, so to say. This is our purpose: not just to shine but to inspire others to shine as well.
Read the previous articles in this series:
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