It is the intellect that divides the world, and the same intellect can bring it together by soaking itself in divinity. When the intellect discusses mundane things, it starts dividing the existence. When the intellect discusses knowledge, wisdom and truth, then it starts uniting. It brings forth the transcendental. It rediscovers its true nature, which is non-dual. Whether you complain, compose a poem, or speak knowledge, you are a witness to the flow.
When someone complains or justifies, they are simply saying things spontaneously. In the same way, when you speak knowledge of the self, or spontaneously compose a poem aloud, there is a flow from the intellect. Anything can flow from the intellect, and you are a witness to the flow, whether it is garbage or wisdom. All that you can do is pray to the Divine, ‘Let wisdom, divinity and truth flow through this intellect”.
There are 5 factors that influence the mind - place, time, food, past impressions, associations and actions. Every place you are in has a different impact on the mind. Even in your house you can see that you feel differently in different rooms. A place where there has been singing, chanting and meditation has a different influence on the mind. Suppose you like a particular place, you may find that a little later it will not be the same. Time is also a factor. Different times of the day and year have different influences on the mind. Different types of food that you eat influence your mind for several days. Past impressions, karma, have different impacts on the mind.
Awareness, alertness, knowledge and meditation help erase past impressions. Associations and actions, or the people and events you are associated with also influence your mind. In certain company your mind behaves in one way and with others your mind behaves in a different way. Though these 5 factors influence your life and your mind, know that the Self is much more powerful. As you grow in knowledge, you will influence them all.
Desire, action and awareness of the Self are all manifestations of the same energy that is you. Among these three, one dominates at any one time. When you have many desires, you are not aware of the self. When desire dominates, self-awareness will be at its lowest and that is why philosophers all around the world have advocated renunciation and dropping desires. When desire dominates, stress and sorrow result. When action dominates, restlessness and disease are the result. When awareness dominates, happiness dawns. When your desires and actions are sincerely directed to the divine or welfare of society, then consciousness is automatically elevated, and self-knowledge is sure to be attained.
An example inspires and brings confidence in the application of knowledge, and the visible sign of it is an undying smile. The self knows neither sorrow nor death, yet in it flow all relative events. It is easy to be detached when you are not in love. Being in utter love and yet undisturbed, caring yet not worried, persistent yet not perturbed all are the obvious signs of the Self shining through.
Ten people were walking on foot from one village to an other. On the way, they had to cross a river. Reaching the other shore, they wanted to be sure all had crossed safely. Each one started counting but counted only nine. They became distraught and began to cry for the loss of the tenth. A wise man came along and asked them, “Oh, my dear friends, why are you crying?”. We were ten but now we are only nine” they replied. The wise man saw they were ten, so he asked them to count. Each counted nine but left out himself. Then the wise man made them stand and count off, one by one, and he said to the last person, “You are the tenth”. And they all rejoiced for having regained the tenth.
