Yoga: The Alpha and the Omega, Vol 3
Discourses
Table of Contents
Dropping out of the wheel
Dropping out of the wheel. 'Meditate on knowledge that comes during sleep. Meditate on anything that appeals to you. Thus the yogi becomes master of all, from the infinitesimal to the infinite.' Dropping out of the wheel: the wheel of samsara—birth, death, rebirth. Meditation on sleep, on what appeals—Patanjali gives many doors. The yogi masters all because he's beyond all.
Ego's attraction
Ego's attraction. 'I feel a conflict between being loose and natural and being aware.' Ego's attraction: the ego can co-opt awareness—turning it into control. Being loose and natural is not against awareness—it IS awareness. The ego creates the conflict between spontaneity and consciousness. Real awareness is loose; real looseness is aware.
Periphery and center
Periphery and center. 'When the mind is under control, it becomes like pure crystal—reflecting perceiver, perception, and perceived equally.' Periphery and center: savitarka samadhi—the yogi still can't differentiate real knowledge from words and reasoning. The crystal reflects all three but they're mixed. Go deeper—from periphery to center.
The un-minding of being
The un-minding of being. 'Nature abhors disorder—disorder settles itself automatically.' The un-minding of being: when mind is absent, being shines. Nature heals itself if you don't interfere. Don't try to fix—just un-mind. The mind is the disorder; its absence is the order.
The pure look
The pure look. 'Nirvitarka samadhi—when memory is purified, the mind sees the true nature of things without obstruction.' The pure look: seeing without the filter of memory and words. Nirvitarka is beyond thought—the object is seen directly. The province of samadhi extends to the formless stage of subtle energies.
Mind in a hurry
Mind in a hurry. 'When you speak on Patanjali, he's the path. When Zen, Zen is the path. How do I know which is mine?' Mind in a hurry: the mind wants to decide quickly. Don't decide—let the path choose you. All paths lead to the same peak. The path that feels most alive RIGHT NOW is your path—but it may change.
The thought of no-thought
The thought of no-thought. 'These samadhis with seed do not give freedom from rebirth. On attaining utmost purity of nirvichara, the spiritual light dawns.' The thought of no-thought: nirvichara samadhi—beyond reflection. Seed samadhis still have the seed of rebirth. The seedless samadhi is the goal—where even the observer is dissolved.
The Master appears
The Master appears. 'How is it that Krishnamurti cannot see he's not helping? And you say you help all but some must go away.' The Master appears: Krishnamurti helps a few; Osho helps all types—but not all stay. Some must go because they're not ready. The master is contradictory on purpose—to filter out those who aren't ready.
The fall of the idiots
The fall of the idiots. 'In nirvichara samadhi, an object is experienced in its full perspective—knowledge gained direct, without senses. When all controls are transcended, seedless samadhi is attained.' The fall of the idiots: the idiot clings to sense perception. The sage perceives directly—beyond senses, beyond time. The seedless samadhi is freedom from life and death.
The consistency of being
The consistency of being. 'What happened to Rajneesh on March 21st? Did he attain samadhi with or without seed?' The consistency of being: enlightenment is not an event—it's a consistency. March 21st was not a happening but a recognition. The being was always there—it became visible. Samadhi without seed—the ego dissolved completely.