“Now-a-days there is a large number of persons who call themselves Brahm-gyanis (knowers of Brahm) and consider themselves superior to all others. Of course, Brahm-Gyan is higher than all other practices enumerated above, provided it is real (i.e., the true Brahm). Knowledge (Gyan) acquired from the scriptures is academic. It is mere book-knowledge. It can never lead to salvation.
For, in the scriptures it has been repeatedly stated, ‘So long as the mind and passions are not subdued, knowledge of the real essence, that is, the Creator cannot be acquired. And subjugation of the mind and passions is not possible without Yogic practice. Therefore, the knowledge acquired otherwise than by the practices of Yoga is only theoretical. Any educated man can say and understand this. It does not connote any superiority nor that the mind and desires have been vanquished.
The Brahm-Gyanis of modern times feel annoyed if questioned as to the spiritual practices by which they acquired Brahm-Gyan. Some of them say they did them in their previous lives. If it were so, they should have remembered the mode of practices, because there is no difference between Brahm and Brahm-Gyani. It is said in both Sanskrit and Arabic that the Knower of Brahm becomes Brahm himself, or, he who practiced faqir (yogi) became Allah. So that the Sufi or Gyani should know everything about every state and condition. But the fact is that these Brahm-Gyanis are not even aware of the fact that they are actually slaves to their passions. It is, therefore, quite wrong of them to claim to be Brahm-Gyanis or Brahm. They, too, shall meet with the same fate as the worldly people, that is, pass through the cycle of births and deaths.”
(Shiv Dayal Singh. "Sar Bachan Prose: Part 1, Section 58")
This is a rather interesting passage. In it, in a manner reminiscent of Kabir, Shiv Dayal Singh both states a significant spiritual truth and uses that truth to poke at the spiritual pride and arrogance so often seen in people who think themselves superior to others by virtue of their relative attainment.
The truth that Soamiji relates is that even if you have realized Brahm – to the point where you and Brahm are indistinguishable – you are still not fully realized and released from the cycle of karma, births and deaths (the hamster wheel of 84). This is part and parcel with Soamiji’s earlier statement about how even gods such as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva – and even their father Brahm – are still part of the creation. A wonderful description of this – and much more – can be found in Kabir’s “Anurag Sagar (The Ocean Of Love)”. I highly recommend finding a copy and reading it.
So it stands to reason that if the end result of your quest and realization is still a part of the creation then, even in your relatively advanced state of conscious, you are as well. So for people who preen and pose and strut around thinking they are superior because they believe they have realized Brahm, the joke is on them. For even in Brahmanda – the Causal Plane – there is desire and passion.
What is the Causal Plane? It’s the plane of memories and habits. It’s where archetypes originate. It’s the home of OM. It’s an interesting plane in that it can be seen as somewhat of an intersection of the Mental Plane (Par-Brahm) and the Astral Plane (Sahas-dal Kanwal). Think about it. The Astral Plane is the plane of emotions, in all their vivid intensity. The Mental Plane is the plane of pure thought. And the Causal Plane between them has elements of both. On the one hand, memories and habits have a mental aspect in that they are thoughts. But at the same time, they elicit emotions, which is the province of the Astral Plane. In any case, in even in Brahmanda your thoughts and memories are still prey to forms of lust, anger, greed, attachment and vanity. So unless and until you rise above these passions in even their most subtle forms, they are still with you, weigh you down and keep you mired in the dual worlds of karma, birth and death.
Now I do want to make a point that I am not disparaging knowledge and realization of the Causal Plane and it’s presiding deity, Brahm. Compared with regular human consciousness, Brahm-Gyan is certainly a highly advanced state of awareness. And it is a state that you, as a practitioner of Surat Shabda Meditation, can achieve as part of your inner trek. But when you do so, you must keep in mind that this is but an intermediary stage on the Way Home. Sat Lok – the Soul Plane – is your number one goal. Always remember this.
When you meet someone who is genuinely a Brahm-Gyani, respect them, just as you would respect someone with a Master’s Degree even when your goal is getting a PhD. You never want to fall into the trap of spiritual pride, because that will send you plummeting back to earth faster than you can imagine. Respect them, honor their attainment, and proceed on your way Home. If they ask for a helping hand with proceeding further within, gladly and humbly extend it. Answer what questions you can, and then refer them to your Sat Guru. He will know how to help them take the next step.
And on this note, I will stop here so we can take some time to meditate on this and the Section I posted yesterday. May your meditations be fruitful and full of love and sonic illumination.
Yours always in the LightSong of Eternal Love,
Michael
http://spiritualfreedomsatsang.org