by Gurani Anjali
When you appear in front of anything, there is a distance between you and that. And in that space, there is a suspended effect. Do any of you experience that? In the presence of anything, or when you approach anything, between that and yourself, there is a little space and in that space, there is a suspended effect.
You will experience it in a form according to your understanding and your conditioning. That experience is felt by you, as it has been my experience to become aware of what you go through, as a feeling of tension. You may term that experience “tension.” But there is an experience, which is experienced all the time, by everyone, not the term “tension,” but the “space.” There is a space. But because of your cultural heritage, you have accepted that situation as a tense experience. But if you will further inquire as to the nature of that tenseness, you will discover that it is your ignorance (non-understanding) of that moment. And therefore you have accepted the term tension in that situation.
When you go in front of some flowers, for instance – I picked flowers, because they are right here and you can see them – before touching them, there is a sort of silent proclamation which says “halt.” Or if you go in front of a bird. You go close to and then you cannot go any further. A distance is there, a space. And that space tells you halt, stop. Now in that space there is that perfection. You, not knowing what to do in that space, experience a sort of anxiety and you have come to accept that as a tense emotion. But that space is always, always there. Between two people, between the cup and the lip, between the speaker and the hearer, there is always that space, that little distance. The distance can be very close, but in reality and according to the person’s understanding and intelligence, it can be very, very far. Even though it can be very close.
Now we have to, and we are constantly, confronted with that space. That is a holy place. “Take off your shoes, wash your feet, because the ground upon which you stand is holy ground.” That’s where meditation begins every time. Go into that space, that place, that little distance. And that distance calls for an obeisance of that place. And according to that place, we bow to it in humble adoration, because that place is holy ground.
The next time you approach a garden with flowers. Experience the experience I’m talking about. You might be incognizant and walking fast, but as soon as you go to that garden of flowers, you are made to halt. You are made to halt. Then the silent vibration which causes you to wait, don’t go any further. At that time, what do you do? The ignorant rushes into everything. But the man or women of wisdom experiences that space. It is that space that supports you and that space must be observed. That little tiny place there. And that very tiny place is also in the anahata (heart) – meditation.
So in order to realize so many places in life that have the space, we must as practitioners of this Yoga path create that place for ourselves and create a situation for ourselves that will be a manifestation of that place. And where is that? It is on top of your havan (alter), sitting there. You create that place and according to the pull that you feel from time to time, you go there and just stand or sit there. You say the Gayatri Mantra or the Brahma Mantra, or the Devi Mantra. Or you just speak with a language that is most comfortable and speak to Agni (fire) and say, “You are so selfless, you burn, you light the world, you serve and you are being of service. You are constant. May I be as constant as you.” Talk to Agni – the eternal flame, the great Surya (sun), manifested in the little flame on your havan. We create that place. Do it regularly, on a regular basis, morning, noon and night – constant – keep those fires burning bright!
“When you say a mantra, say it with respect.”
— Gurani Anjali
If you constantly keep the vigil, that experience will be experienced all through life. It will not only be an austere experience when you go in front of your havan, it will be a constant experience. Then you are really residing in satya (truth). Then you are really abiding in aparigraha (non-attachment). Then you are really observing ahimsa (non-violence). In that space this is known.
The next time you go in front of a bunch of flowers or a new born baby or a person or anything; the presence of that physical manifestation of the unmanifest tells you “halt.” Halt, for I am in silent magnitude. In words of silence it tells you – halt! – and you halt. It might be a second. It might be a fraction of a second. But you do stop. Consciously. You become conscious of that act. It becomes a devi (mother). Meditation – 24 hours a day.
Yes, just to look. Just to look and to appear. You are always stopping in that little space. In that little space in between two – there is always that little space. You look at each other, there is a little space in between. And even in your body there is space – look in between the fingers. And that little space is also in your anahata (heart).
No one can figure it out – why that little space is there. It is there – that is the importance. Never mind why. It is there. And if one was told why it was there, what would one do? Question more and more and more and never get into it. So the questioning must cease and the getting into must be done. “Morning, noon and night, keep those fires burning bright.”
Let us meditate now on early morning – dawn. As the light of dawn slowly begins to appear with its delicate light, the birds join in the celebration of another day. While you are still in bed, you hear them calling. And as it begins to get brighter and brighter, Surya begins to show itself.
Man rises to celebrate, also, the new day. And you hear the sounds of man all over. All emotions are felt. Vibrations get louder. And the day reaches its peak. After much has been done, Surya moves on. Quietly it is setting and night appears. The night is like the great void hovering over – only to manifest again.
Go inward into that space in your heart. That which beholds eternally, the conscious river which flows forever. May all your goings and comings take root from there. And with the understanding of the body – in perfection. Om shanti, shanti, shanti.