This will be the last state, and the Yogi will become peaceful and calm, never to feel any more pain, never to be again deluded, never to be touched by misery. He will know he is ever blessed, ever perfect, almighty.
Vivekananda, page 134
We can reach this last state by working our ways through the personal mind and our clouded, blocked hearts to the root of all so called problems. Singer tells us, in the below linked podcast, that the root of all suffering is our resistance to what is. It is like we are saying, "I can't handle life unless it works the way I prefer it to, in a way that doesn't disturb my stored stuff."
It is our resistance to what is that is the source of all our issues. And what is our resistance based on? An inability to accept, appreciate, and honor all of Life as it is. It is is based on our preferences. It is based on our psyches ( the sum of all our learned experiences). It is based on the blockages we stored in our heart ( samskaras).
When the Yogi advances beyond preferences, he or she or they, will no longer be disturbed by what is going on out there. They will no longer spend their energy trying to control, manipulate, pull in or push away the outside world because it bothers them. They will not suffer. They will still experience challenging situations and hardships but instead of resisting through avoidance, suppression and repression, they will accept, honor and embrace each experience as being a blessing from Life.
Let's compare how an unevolved human being, and an evolved yogi may approach this situation: Someone they love has been diagnosed with advanced cancer and are being told there is nothing to be done.
An Unevolved Response to Extreme Challenge
The unevolved person with an active psyche and samskara blocked heart (which would be most of us.) : "Oh no! This can't be. I can't handle this. This hurts too much. It reminds me of when I lost my mother to cancer. I don't want to feel that again. We have to fix it in someway. We will try every treatment. We will go to every specialist. We will tell every doctor who says there is nothing to be done to go to he$$. We will only listen to people who tell us otherwise. We will do whatever we can to fix and control this because it isn't what we want! "
Then when they discover that death of the loved one is happening anyway, "God and Life are so cruel. Why are they doing this to me? What am I going to do? I can't...I just can't deal with this. I am so sorry, but I have to leave. I have to numb. I have to run away somehow and in someway from this experience. I have to shut you out. I have to close my heart and therefore the flow of love I have for you. It is the only way I can handle this! I am sorry" The unevolved human may shut their heart to the natural flow of love inside, adding another big dirty samskara to it.
This is how many of us will respond in such a situation. It is completely understandable but is it the most wholesome of options?
Hmmm!
An Evolved Response
The advanced yogi might respond this way. "Oh, I feel so sad when I hear this news. I feel fear, anger, and grief, I know these feelings are coming from the love I have for you and my fear of losing you. They are personal. The situation, however, isn't. It is beyond my control. If there is anything to be done, I will do it. If there is nothing to be done, I will accept it. I will still feel intense fear, anger, and grief as I ride this wave but I will not allow myself to close my heart to the flow of love within. I will be here for you in my ultimate presence, though it hurts, loving you, experiencing all of it. I thank God for all of it too...for allowing me to feel this love for you and these other feelings that make me human. I am blessed. "
Wow! Imagine being able to respond to such a challenge like that? We can, if we do the work of getting to the root of our resistance. When we clear our hearts and minds of that which is blocking the flow of Shakti ( love and bliss) through us, we will not only be accepting of what life gives us...we will appreciate and honor all of it.
All is well.
Michael A. Singer/ Temple of the Universe ( December 17, 2023) The Root of the Mind is in the Heart. https://tou.org/talks/
Swami Vivekananda (n.d.) The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda. Kindle Edition.
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