By George A. Boyd © 2003
Level
|
Aspect of Functioning
|
Operator/
Vehicles Activated
|
Other Names
|
Associated Mudras or Techniques
|
Supernal
|
Divine Will
|
Monad, Spirit
|
Alaya, Agya
|
Guru Kripa Yoga
|
Transpersonal
|
Transpersonal Will
|
Soul
|
Adi Shakti
|
Raja Yoga, Transformational Mantra
|
Transpersonal
|
Higher Octaves of Will
|
Superconscious Mind
|
Siddhi, Riddhi
|
Kundalini Yoga, Agni Yoga, Jnana Yoga
|
Spiritual
|
Vow, Sacred Promise
|
The spiritual heart
|
Tapasya
|
Nada Yoga, Dharma Yoga, Prayer
|
Personal
|
Volition
|
Self/Vehicles of Metaconscious
Mind
|
Ichaichashakti
|
Centering Methods
|
Mental
|
Decision, Choice
|
Intellect, Concrete Mind, Reason
|
Vijnana
|
Centering Methods
|
Emotional
|
Resolve, Commitment
|
Desire Body
|
Kama
|
Centering Methods
|
Noetic
|
Intention, Fixation
|
Attentional Principle, Attention
|
Purusa, Chittam
|
Raja Yoga, Mantra Yoga
|
Etheric
|
Habit, Suggestion, Mental Affirmation
|
Subconscious Mind/Astral Body,
Etheric Body
|
Manas
|
Silent Affirmation, Visualization Process Meditation,
Autohypnosis
|
Physical
|
Behavior, Speech (Command, Verbal,
Affirmation, Decree)
|
Physical Body, Will or Intention,
Activating Speech Center
|
Indriyas, Sphotam
|
Chanting, Spoken Affirmation or Decrees
|
Unconscious Mind
|
Autonomous Will (Addiction or
Compulsion)
|
Unconscious Entity
|
Vitarka
|
Opening, Yoganidra, Rainbow Technique
|
In the Mudrashram® System of Integral Meditation
classesthe Mudrashram® Master Course in Meditation, the Accelerated
Meditation Program, and the Mudrashram® Advanced Course in Meditationwe
teach specific techniques to tap this power aspect of the Soul. We advocate,
however, that to achieve balanced development, that aspirants must also
cultivate the love and wisdom aspects of the Soul.
There are certain teachings that emphasize this power
aspect of the Soul and advocate the cultivation of supernormal abilities
(siddhis) to demonstrate Mastery over vehicles and Nature. We point out
that without compassion and wisdom, these powers may be used to exploit,
manipulate or control others, even to cause harm to others.
Building the Compassion and Wisdom
Aspects of the Soul
If we do not have compassion, then we may use our abilities
to act from motives of anger, cruelty, revenge or narcissistic offense.
Compassion begins by sensing the suffering of other people, how they feel
pain and misery, and how certain acts may affect them.
For example, what if a person had powers to kill with
a thought or to send down thunderbolts to strike someone, who angered
or offended them? They would be killing people whenever they became angry
or upset. We note what carnage and misery result when anger and hatred
seize a collective mass of humanity, resulting in war. Thousands of people
die or are injured seriously, sometimes irreparably. Thousands of children
are orphaned and thousands of women become widowed. Buildings and the
landscape are turned into a wasteland. Billions of dollars of investment
and thousands of man-hours of effort are destroyed in wars.
One Buddhist sect begins the practice of meditation
by contemplating compassion. Compassion teaches us to stop the actions
that arise from anger, hatred, lust, attachment and ignorance, because
we consider the impact on others. War, violence, prejudice and hatred
of all kinds cease when compassion becomes the dominant emotional keynote
of human life.
Wisdom is the faculty that teaches us when it is appropriate
to act and when it is not. Its higher counterpart, discernment, reveals
the nature of the Soul and the landmarks of the Inner Planes. It acts
as a brake on the impulsive nature and counsels the will to right action.
If compassion guides us, then we use powers for service.
If wisdom guides our will, then we use powers appropriately, in the proper
context, in the perfect timing, when the individual is ready to receive
what we have to give.
Legends of the great powers such as the ability to
levitate, to vanish from sight at will, and to be able to view at a great
distance are exciting and often stimulate the desire to take up spiritual
practices. But we underscore that it is equally, if not more important,
to concomitantly develop the wisdom and compassion aspects of the Soul.
These will act as safeguards against the misuse of powers by the well-meaning
but misguided chela.
Powers will come to you naturally and spontaneously
as a part of your spiritual growth. You need not hanker after them.
Those disciples who have reached the highest stages
of spirituality have told us, "when all of the powers of the universe
came to me, I laid them on the lotus feet of my Master, saying, I do not
want these powers. You, Lord, know how to use them rightly, so I surrender
them to you. The only power that I seek is the power to give your Love
and Grace to others, and the gift of devotion to you."
These devotees understood that the goal of the spiritual
journey is to know the Divine and do service to other living beings. Viewed
in this light, great powers over Nature only ensnare.
Consider why you seek powers. Contemplate the power
aspect of your Soul, and notice how wisdom and compassion function to
reign in your will. Think on the sayings of the great devotees and why
they abandoned powers with an aim to a higher aim.