The World Is, As You Are

The World Is, As You Are

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi often quoted a Rig Veda shloka: richoakshare parame vyoman, which translates as “Knowledge is structured in consciousness."

Everything we do depends upon the quality of our consciousness. How do you feel on a day when you had a poor night's sleep? How is your productivity, your mood, your relationships, your appreciation of the environment? Compare that `poor sleep day' to a day when you had a good night's sleep. How much greater is your appreciation and enjoyment of life?

When our consciousness is sleepy, chaotic, or negative, it impairs everything we do.

Maharishi says: “The quality of experience depends upon the state of one's consciousness. If the mind is cheerful, everything is found to be cheerful; if the mind is sad and miserable, one's outlook is gloomy . When the state of Being becomes infused into the nature of the mind during meditation, then this infusion makes the mind divine. When the mind becomes filled with the divine Being, the vision is naturally full and even. It is steady and undistorted by the diversity of life in the world.“

The second Law of Thermodynamics says: As temperature increases, chaos increases. Temperature is analogous to activity . Bring water to a boil: the water becomes visibly agitated, reflecting an increase in activity among the hydrogen and oxygen atoms.

The third Law of Thermodynamics says: As temperature decreases, orderliness increases. Put the water in a deep freezer. All the molecules line up in perfect crystals. These laws of physics also apply to us. When we have too much activity , we feel frazzled; we make bad decisions, say wrong things. When we feel more settled and fresh inside, we are more perceptive, happier and more effective.

During practice of Maharishi's Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique, mental activity settles down, until we experience the mind's silent depth, completely still and fully awake. This most stable, blissful state of awareness is the basis of material and spiritual success.

When the knower does not fluctuate, then the object of knowledge does not fluctuate. When one's mind is established in the `vacuum state' (Being), silent and alert, then the knowledge one gains is always correct, useful.

Having valid knowledge is important, because “knowledge has organising power". Greater knowledge allows you to “do less and accomplish more“. If you need to organise a function, having the contact numbers of the caterer, florist and others allows you to proceed efficiently. That little bit of knowledge gives you some degree of organising power.

There is a state of consciousness where knowledge is pure, unbounded. Maharishi calls it the state of `knowingness'. This is very different from `knowing'. `Knowing' is on the surface of the mind: I know this or I know that. `Knowingness' is the silent depth of the mind, awareness by itself, pure. It is like the difference between activity on the surface of the ocean and activity from the depths. A small movement at the depth of an ocean can create huge waves on the surface. Activity from the state of pure awareness brings greater `skill in action' than activity from the surface thinking level. And at the same time it stirs the inner bliss.

Take a pan of water and shake it. As the surface becomes agitated, the reflections become distorted. Let the water become still; all the reflections become so clear. “Knowledge is different in different states of consciousness.“ Create a solid foundation of lively inner silence and the outside world spontaneously becomes better. The world is, as you are.

Om Namah Shivay