InnerRealisation

Sir, of course I shall take your advice and get a bangle.”

“For general purposes I counsel the use of an armlet made of gold, silver, and copper. But for a specific purpose I want you to get one of silver and lead.” Sri Yukteswar added careful directions.

“Guruji, what ‘specific purpose’ do you mean?”

“The stars are about to take an unfriendly interest in you, Mukunda.
Fear not; you shall be protected.
In about a month your liver will cause you much trouble.
The illness is scheduled to last for six months, but your use of an astrological armlet will shorten the period to twenty-four days.”

I sought out a jeweler the next day, and was soon wearing the bangle.

My health was excellent; Master’s prediction slipped from my mind.
He left Serampore to visit Benares.

Thirty days after our conversation, I felt a sudden pain in the region of my liver.

The following weeks were a nightmare of excruciating pain. Reluctant to disturb my guru, I thought I would bravely endure my trial alone.

But twenty-three days of torture weakened my resolution; I entrained for Benares.

There Sri Yukteswar greeted me with unusual warmth, but gave me no opportunity to tell him my woes in private.

Many devotees visited Master that day, just for a darshan.

Ill and neglected, I sat in a corner.

It was not until after the evening meal that all guests had departed. My guru summoned me to the octagonal balcony of the house.

“You must have come about your liver disorder.” Sri Yukteswar’s gaze was averted; he walked to and fro, occasionally intercepting the moonlight.

“Let me see; you have been ailing for twentyfour days, haven’t you?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Please do the stomach exercise I have taught you.”

“If you knew the extent of my suffering, Master, you would not ask me to exercise.” Nevertheless I made a feeble attempt to obey him.

“You say you have pain; I say you have none. How can such contradictions exist?” My guru looked at me inquiringly.

I was dazed and then overcome with joyful relief.

No longer could I feel the continuous torment that had kept me nearly sleepless for weeks; at Sri Yukteswar’s words the agony vanished as though it had never been.

I started to kneel at his feet in gratitude, but he quickly prevented me.

“Don’t be childish. Get up and enjoy the beauty of the moon over the Ganges.”

But Master’s eyes were twinkling happily as I stood in silence beside him.

I understood by his attitude that he wanted me to feel that not he, but God, had been the Healer.

I wear even now the heavy silver and lead bangle, a memento of that day-long-past, evercherished-when I found anew that I was living with a personage indeed superhuman.

On later occasions, when I brought my friends to Sri Yukteswar for healing, he invariably recommended jewels or the bangle, extolling their use as an act of astrological wisdom.

I had been prejudiced against astrology from my childhood, partly because I observed that many people are sequaciously attached to it, and partly because of a prediction made by our family astrologer: “You will marry three times, being twice a widower.”

I brooded over the matter, feeling like a goat awaiting sacrifice before the temple of triple matrimony.

“You may as well be resigned to your fate,” my brother Ananta had remarked. “Your written horoscope has correctly stated that you would fly from home toward the Himalayas during your early years, but would be forcibly returned. The forecast of your marriages is also bound to be true.”

A clear intuition came to me one night that the prophecy was wholly false.

I set fire to the horoscope scroll, placing the ashes in a paper bag on which I wrote: “Seeds of past karma cannot germinate if they are roasted in the divine fires of wisdom.”

I put the bag in a conspicuous spot; Ananta immediately read my defiant comment.

“You cannot destroy truth as easily as you have burnt this paper scroll.” My brother laughed scornfully.

It is a fact that on three occasions before I reached manhood, my family tried to arrange my betrothal.

Each time I refused to fall in with the plans, knowing that my love for God was more overwhelming than any astrological persuasion from the past.

“The deeper the self-realization of a man, the more he influences the whole universe by his subtle spiritual vibrations, and the less he himself is affected by the phenomenal flux.”

These words of Master’s often returned inspiringly to my mind.

Autobiography of a Yogi
Paramahamsa Yogananda

When you truly want to be released from this earth dream, there is no power that can stop you from attaining liberation. Never doubt it. Your salvation is not to be achieved – it is already yours, because you are made in the image of God; but you have to know this. You have forgotten it. The musk deer madly seeks the fragrant musk everywhere, and in its frantic search carelessly slips to its death from the high mountain crags. Had the foolish deer only turned its nose to the musk pouch within itself, it would have found that which it sought. Similarly, we have only to turn within ourselves to find our salvation in the realization that our true Self, the soul, is made in God’s image.

– Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda

Spiritual Awakening


Kundalini Awakening and Spiritual Awakening, while related, are different experiences. Kundalini Awakening is a physical and energetic process involving the rise of the ‘Kundalini energy’ from the base of the spine to the crown of the head, usually resulting in profound physiological and psychological changes.

In contrast, Spiritual Awakening is a broader, more holistic experience, involving a profound shift in consciousness and identity, often leading to significant changes in lifestyle and world view.

Kundalini Awakening refers to a powerful energetic phenomenon rooted in Hindu spiritual traditions.

The kundalini energy, symbolized as a coiled serpent at the base of the spine, awakens and ascends through the seven chakras, resulting in a variety of physical, emotional, and mystical experiences.

Spiritual Awakening, on the other hand, is not tied to a specific tradition or energy system. It is a universal experience of ‘waking up’ to a larger spiritual reality beyond the personal self and material world.

It often involves heightened awareness, inner peace, compassion, and a sense of interconnectedness with all life.

Kundalini Awakening is associated with specific physical and psychological phenomena, like energetic rushes, intense heat or coolness, visions, and altered states of consciousness.
Spiritual Awakening is often associated with a deep sense of peace, joy, love, and a shift in values and priorities.
Kundalini Awakening is a specific process within the broader experience of Spiritual Awakening.
Both Kundalini and Spiritual Awakening can lead to significant personal transformation.
While Kundalini Awakening and Spiritual Awakening are different, they are not mutually

6 Aspects: Kundalini Awakening and Spiritual Awakening
Aspect Kundalini Awakening Spiritual Awakening
Definition Kundalini awakening is a form of divine energy through the chakra system. Spiritual awakening is the realization of one’s connection to the universe and consciousness.
Experience It is often intense and can feel like a surge of energy moving upwards from the base of the spine. An individual awakening spiritually might feel a sense of peace, interconnectedness, and a deeper understanding of themselves and others.
Symptoms Symptoms include heat sensations, involuntary jerks, hallucinations, emotional upheaval etc. Signs include feeling peace and unity with the universe, experiencing empathy for others, questioning old beliefs etc.
Practices Involved Primarily involves yoga, meditation and breathing techniques. Varies greatly, but can include meditation, prayer, letting go of old habits, or practicing mindfulness.
Duration Can be sudden or take many years, and is often cyclical or fluctuating in nature. Can also be sudden or gradual, and is usually a lifelong journey rather than a single event.
Goal Often the goal is to raise the Kundalini from the base of the spine to the crown of the head, signifying spiritual enlightenment. The goal of spiritual awakening is typically a deeper connection with the divine, inner peace, and an understanding of one’s purpose in the world.
6 Aspects: Kundalini Awakening and Spiritual Awakening
Table of Contents
Key Takeaway
Kundalini awakening is not the same as spiritual awakening, although they can coexist simultaneously.
Kundalini awakening refers to the arousal of the dormant energy believed to rest at the base of the spine, while spiritual awakening is a broad term that refers to a shift in consciousness.
A Kundalini awakening can bring about intense physical and emotional sensations, as it’s often described as a powerful energy surge through the chakras.
On the other hand, spiritual awakening is a more encompassing and pervasive transformation of one’s worldview, values, beliefs, and self-identity.
Kundalini Awakening Vs Spiritual Awakening
Five Facts About: Kundalini Awakening And Spiritual Awakening
Kundalini is a term derived from Sanskrit that translates into English as “coiled one” referring to the concept of a dormant energy within the body. (Source: “Kundalini: Awakening the Serpent Power” by Georg Feuerstein)
A Kundalini awakened person may experience phenomena such as visions, prophetic dreams, psychic abilities, extraordinary creativity, and access to the Akashic records – a compendium of mystical knowledge supposedly encoded in a non-physical plane of existence. (Source: “Kundalini: The Arousal of the Inner Energy” by Ajay Rana)
Spiritual awakening, also known as soul awakening, can be triggered by various events such as existential crises, near-death experiences, loss, trauma, or intense meditation and yoga practices. (Source: “The Anatomy of a Spiritual Awakening” by Richard Harvey)
A spiritually awakened person typically shows qualities of empathy, unselfishness, and a systemic perspective. It exhibits a shift in awareness from self-centered to other-centered, from material to spiritual. (Source: “Stepping Into the Light: The Journey to Being Awake” by Julia Rogers Hamrick)
Both Kundalini and spiritual awakening are considered complex and deeply personal experiences. They often result in significant psychological and physiological changes that lead to a deeper understanding of the self and universe, and are seen as paths to self-real
What Is Kundalini Awakening?
Kundalini Awakening Vs Spiritual Awakening: What Is Kundalini Awakening?
Kundalini awakening is a term used in hinduism and yoga and refers to the spiritual energy that is believed to be located at the base of the spine.

When activated, this energy is said to rise up through the chakras, resulting in an expansion of consciousness and spiritual enlightenment.

Here are some key points to help you understand kundalini awakening.
The Concept Of Kundalini In Hinduism And Yoga
Kundalini is a sanskrit word that means “coiled up.”
Kundalini energy is believed to reside at the base of the spine, coiled up like a serpent.
According to hinduism and yoga, activating this energy can lead to spiritual enlightenment.
The Process Of Awakening Kundalini Energy
Awakening kundalini energy can happen spontaneously or through specific practices like yoga or meditation.
The process involves opening the chakras and allowing the energy to rise up through the body.
The process can be intense and is not recommended for individuals with certain mental or physical health conditions.
Signs And Symptoms Of Kundalini Awakening
The experience of kundalini awakening can differ for each individual, but some common signs and symptoms include:

Intense physical sensations such as heat or coldness
Emotional upheaval
Changes in perception of reality
Heightened psychic abilities
These symptoms can be temporary or long-lasting.
Benefits And Challenges Of Kundalini Awakening
Advantages of kundalini awakening include:

Increased spiritual awareness and enlightenment
Enhanced creativity and intuition
Improved physical health
Challenges of kundalini awakening may include:

Intense physical, emotional, or mental experiences
Difficulty integrating the experience into daily life
The potential for negative effects if the individual is not ready for the experience.
Kundalini awakening is a powerful and transformative experience that can bring about spiritual enlightenment and a deeper understanding of the self and the universe.

Like any powerful experience, it is essential to approach it mindfully and with careful consideration.

What Is Spiritual Awakening?
Kundalini Awakening Vs Spiritual Awakening: What Is Spiritual Awakening?
Spiritual awakening is a profound realization that goes beyond religious belief, cultural background, or personal preferences.

It is a state of heightened awareness and consciousness where the individual experiences a sense of unity with the universe and the higher power.

A spiritual awakening can happen suddenly or gradually, and it can take many forms such as a change in beliefs, values, lifestyle, or perspective on life.

Understanding Spiritual Awakening And Its Various Forms
There are different forms of spiritual awakening that people can experience, such as:

Epiphany or insight that leads to a major breakthrough
Mystical experience that goes beyond the limits of the physical world
Nde or near-death experience that alters the perception of life and death
Samadhi or state of trance that transcends the ego and merges with the divine
Kundalini awakening or energy rising from the base of the spine to the crown chakra
Each form of spiritual awakening has a unique path and outcome, but they all share a common goal of transformation and enlightenment.

Common Signs And Symptoms Of Spiritual Awakening
Here are some of the common signs and symptoms of spiritual awakening:

Heightened intuition and psychic abilities
Enhanced sense of empathy and compassion
Greater awareness of the interconnectedness of all things
Feeling of inner peace and harmony
Releasing of past traumas and negative patterns
Increased creativity and inspiration
Changes in sleep patterns, appetite, and energy levels
Sense of purpose and meaning in life
These signs and symptoms vary from person to person, and not everyone experiences them in the same way or intensity.

The Relationship Between Spiritual Awakening And Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a practice that cultivates awareness of the present moment without judgment. It involves paying attention to thoughts, sensations, and emotions in a non-reactive and non-attached way.

Spiritual awakening and mindfulness are interrelated in that they both promote self-awareness and inner transformation.

Practicing mindfulness can be a catalyst for spiritual awakening by helping the individual to connect with their true self and higher consciousness.

Likewise, spiritual awakening can enhance the practice of mindfulness by providing a deeper understanding of the nature of reality and the interconnectedness of all beings.

Benefits And Challenges Of Spiritual Awakening
The benefits of spiritual awakening are profound and far-reaching.

They include:

Greater sense of connection with the universe and higher power
Increased empathy, compassion, and forgiveness
Heightened creativity, intuition, and insight
Greater appreciation for life and its mysteries
Sense of purpose, meaning, and fulfillment
However, spiritual awakening also comes with some challenges such as:

Turbulent emotions, mood swings, and identity crisis
Resistance from family, friends, and society
Confusion about the purpose and direction of life
Fear of losing the ego and personal identity
Physical symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and dizziness
Overcoming these challenges requires a commitment to self-care, self-reflection, and spiritual practice. Ultimately, the rewards of spiritual awakening far outweigh the challenges.

Watch video on Kundalini Awakening And Spiritual Awakening
Key Differences Between Kundalini And Spiritual Awakening
Kundalini Awakening Vs Spiritual Awakening
Spiritual awakening and kundalini awakening are two of the most commonly discussed topics on the spiritual journey. Both awakening experiences are unique, and while they share some aspects, they also differ in many ways.

Differences In The Originating Traditions And Practices
Both kundalini awakening and spiritual awakening can take place in different traditions and practices.

However, kundalini awakening is most commonly associated with yoga, whereas spiritual awakening is associated with meditation and other spiritual practices.

Kundalini awakening was first talked about by swami vivekananda in the late 19th century. Whereas, spiritual awakening has been a subject of debate and discussion in many ancient texts and spiritual practices worldwide.

Psychic Experiences And Physical Symptoms During The Awakening Process
Kundalini awakening is typically associated with physical symptoms such as discomfort, pain, and involuntary movements, which are a result of the energy movement through the body.

On the other hand, spiritual awakening is more subtle and is commonly associated with a sense of oneness, heightened intuition, and psychic experiences. This transformative process often involves a deep inner shift, leading individuals to question their purpose and explore the interconnected nature of existence. While both psychic and spiritual elements may overlap during such experiences, it’s important to distinguish between the two — psychic vs spiritual awakening explained can help clarify their unique characteristics. Understanding this distinction allows individuals to better navigate their journey and integrate these profound changes into everyday life.

During kundalini awakening, one may experience vivid dreams, increased sensitivity to energies, and discomfort in the physical body. During spiritual awakening, an individual may have a deeper connection with the universe, divine insights, and an intuitive sense of things.

Level Of Spontaneity And Control Involved In The Process
Kundalini awakening is a spontaneous process that can occur without any preparation, triggering intense physical and emotional changes that can be overwhelming to some individuals.

Spiritual awakening is a gradual process that involves self-exploration and is more under an individual’s control.

The kundalini awakening process is uncontrollable and can happen at any time, whereas spiritual awakening may take years of dedication towards a spiritual practice.

Role Of Mindfulness And Other Practices In Facilitating The Awakening Process
Mindfulness practices, such as meditation and yoga, play a crucial role in attaining both kundalini awakening and spiritual awakening. However, the level of importance and intensity of these practices differ in these two awakening experiences.

In kundalini awakening, the practice of yoga and meditation is essential to help ease the physical symptoms experienced during awakening.

Whereas, for spiritual awakening, practicing mindfulness and meditation helps individuals to attain inner peace, self-awareness, and clarity of the senses.

Kundalini awakening and spiritual awakening are two different experiences, with unique characteristics and practices. Each has its path, and individuals may gravitate towards one or the other, depending on their particular needs and calling.

Exploring The Connection Between Kundalini And Spiritual Awakening
Kundalini awakening and spiritual awakening are two processes that are often associated with each other. Many people often ask if they are the same thing or if there is a relationship between them.

In this section, we will explore the connection between kundalini and spiritual awakening.

How Kundalini Awakening Can Facilitate Spiritual Growth
Kundalini awakening is a spiritual process that involves the awakening of the kundalini energy, which is said to reside at the base of the spine.

This awakening can facilitate spiritual growth in a number of ways:

It helps to purify and balance the chakras, which are energy centers in the body that correspond to different aspects of our being. When the chakras are balanced, we experience greater physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
It can lead to an opening of the heart and a greater sense of connection with others. This can help us to cultivate compassion and empathy, which are important qualities for spiritual growth.
It can result in greater awareness and clarity of mind, which is necessary for spiritual growth. When we are able to see things clearly, we can more easily identify and overcome the obstacles that are preventing us from reaching our full potential.
Commonalities In The Experiences Of Kundalini And Spiritual Awakening
While kundalini awakening and spiritual awakening are distinct processes, there are some commonalities in the experiences that people report.

Here are some of the common experiences:

They both involve a sense of expansion and opening up to new possibilities.
They can both be triggered by intense spiritual experiences, such as meditation or prayer.
They both involve a sense of connection with something greater than oneself.
They both involve a process of shedding old, limiting beliefs and patterns of behavior.
How To Integrate Kundalini And Spiritual Awakening Experiences Into Daily Life
Integrating kundalini and spiritual awakening experiences into daily life can be challenging, but it is essential for continued growth and development.

Here are some tips for integration:

Practice self-care and self-compassion. Kundalini and spiritual awakening can be intense experiences, and it is important to take care of ourselves during the process.
Develop a daily spiritual practice that is tailored to your needs and preferences. This could include meditation, prayer, yoga, or other activities that help you connect with your inner self.
Connect with others who are on a similar path. Sharing your experiences with others can be a powerful way to deepen your understanding and integrate your experiences into your life.
Be patient and compassionate with yourself. Kundalini and spiritual awakening are ongoing processes that require time, patience, and attention.
Risks And Precautions To Consider When Undergoing Kundalini And Spiritual Awakening Experiences
While kundalini and spiritual awakening can be transformative experiences, they can also be challenging and even dangerous.

Here are some risks and precautions to consider:

Kundalini awakening can be intense and overwhelming, and it is important to work with a qualified teacher or practitioner who can guide you through the process.
Some people may experience negative side effects during the process, such as physical or emotional distress. If this occurs, it is important to seek professional help.
It is also important to be mindful of any underlying health conditions that may be exacerbated by the process, such as mental health conditions or neurological disorders.
Remember, kundalini and spiritual awakening are ongoing processes that require patience, dedication, and commitment. With proper guidance and care, they can be powerful tools for spiritual growth and transformation.

FAQ About Kundalini Awakening And Spiritual Awakening
What Is The Difference Between Kundalini Awakening And Spiritual Awakening?
Kundalini awakening is a physical, energetic experience, while spiritual awakening is a deeper spiritual realization of one’s true nature.

What Are The Symptoms Of Kundalini Awakening?
Symptoms of kundalini awakening include physical sensations, emotional changes, psychic experiences, and spiritual insights.

How Is Kundalini Awakening Achieved?
Kundalini awakening is achieved through spiritual practices such as yoga, meditation, breathwork, and contemplation.

Can You Have A Spiritual Awakening Without Kundalini Awakening?
Yes, a spiritual awakening can happen without kundalini awakening. In fact, many people experience spiritual awakenings without any dramatic physical symptoms.

Conclusion
The kundalini awakening and spiritual awakening are two different but closely related aspects of spiritual development.

While the kundalini awakening focuses on the rising of the inner energy, the spiritual awakening is more about self-realization and the discovery of one’s true self.

“The knower of the Self crosses beyond sorrow.” “He who knows that Supreme Brahman becomes Brahman Itself.” “The knower of Brahman attains the Highest.” “One who is established in Brahman reaches Immortality.” “He returns not again, he returns not again.”

“By knowing Him alone one goes to That which is beyond death. By knowing the Supreme Being, the wise one casts off both joy and sorrow. They who see Him, the Self-Existent – they, and no others, have eternal peace. Of him, whose desires are completely satisfied, who is totally perfected, all desires dissolve themselves here itself. The liberated one becomes onefold, threefold, fivefold, sevenfold, ninefold, elevenfold, hundred-and-elevenfold, twentythousandfold! He goes to the other shore of darkness. That state is ever illumined, it is always day there. Time, age and death, sorrow, merit and demerit do not go there. Fearless is the state of the Bliss of Brahman. Even the gods fear him, even Indra and Prajapati cannot obstruct him – he becomes the Self-Emperor. The knot of the heart is broken, all doubts are rent asunder, and all actions perish, when That is seen. which is the Highest and the Deepest. His vital-spirits do not depart, they are gathered up, here itself. Being Brahman already, he becomes Brahman Itself. He is the maker of everything, he is the creator of all, the universe is his, he himself is the universe. This is the supreme treasure. The freed souls enter into the All, they enter into Brahman, they are liberated beyond mortal nature. The whole constitution of individuality becomes unified in the Supreme Imperishable. As rivers enter the ocean, leaving name and form, so the wise one, liberated from name and form, reaches the Transcendental Divine Being. Thus is Immortality.”

“Bright is he”

In the Katha Upanishad it is said of the self: “Him the sun does not illumine, nor the moon, nor the stars, nor the lightning
–nor, verily, fires kindled upon the earth.
He is the one light that gives light to all.
He shining, everything shines.”

The self is illumined by no external light, but rather illumines all itself.
We could shine the brightest of lights into the eyes of a dead man and he would see nothing. But if the self is present to enliven him, then he will.

The self is known–seen–by the self, and therefore it is called swayamprakash: self-illumined.

Hence only those in contact with their self can be said to possess illumination to any degree.
Those who under the banner of “devotion” obsess on external practices and deities can only dwell in the “light that is darkness.”

We must seek illumination in the self
alone, keeping in mind that God is the Self of the self, that to seek one is to seek the other.
Sukram, the word translated “bright,” also means pure in the sense of being of such perfect clarity that no light is obscured. For it is from the core of the self that the Pure Light of God shines forth.
Therefore, as just pointed out, to attain self-knowledge is to realize both the atman and the Paramatman. Only when we are centered in our self can we see God, and only when we are centered in God can we truly know our self.

In a flawless crystal, what do we see? Nothing. So also, in the self there is nothing seen, for all “things” are transcended, and pure Being alone remains in our consciousness.

Wherefore the Chandogya Upanishad tells us:
“Where one sees nothing but the One, hears nothing but the One, knows nothing but the One
–there is the Infinite.
Where one sees another, hears another, knows another
–there is the finite.
The Infinite is immortal, the finite is mortal.”

– Commentary on the Isavasya Upanishad–by Swami Nirmalananda Giri.

Meditation, Dhyana, is at first nothing but struggling with the mind, bringing it again and again from its flights to the sacred feet of the Lord. This very soon heats the brain. Therefore, in the beginning one must not exert the brain too much, or hold the breath too long. When one gets real meditation, one can easily continue for three or four hours; then one will feel extremely refreshed in body and mind after meditation as after a sound, deep sleep. ❤
~ Swami Brahmananda ❤

DISCIPLE: How long should one continue to enquire into the Self?
MASTER: Non-recrudescence of the darkness of Ignorance is said to be the “limit” of reflection. Therefore one should continue the practice until this darkness of Ignorance does not recur.

DISCIPLE: Can the veiling once removed, return again?
MASTER: Yes. So long as doubts arise, this Ignorance must be inferred to exist.

DISCIPLE: How can there be any doubt left after the Self has been realised?
MASTER: On enquiring into the sheaths and dismissing them as unreal, the Self, their witnessing consciousness is realised to be
unique, finer than ether, even like void. Now that the sheaths have been dismissed as unreal and there is nothing but the void-
like subtle Self, a fear may arise that one is left as nothing or void.

DISCIPLE: How can it be?
MASTER: Transcending all, the Self has nothing in common with worldly things or activities; It transcends the void also;
hence the experience is unique and unearthly. A fear may then arise
“Can this be the Self?
It cannot be
— Should this be the Self, how can I be such a void?”
Even after realising the impartite Self, there is no confidence in one’s own experience; it is regarded as impossible and a great doubt arises. The sense of impossibility gives rise to doubt. But repeated reflection removes
this sense of impossibility. So it is said by Vyasa in the Brahma Sutras:
On account of the repeated instruction
(by the scriptures), (it is) necessary repeatedly (to hear of, reflect and meditate on the Self).

DISCIPLE: What is the “fruit” of such reflection?
MASTER: By continued practice, the veiling is destroyed; with its destruction, the sense of impossibility of the Self shining forth all alone disappears; with its disappearance all obstacles are at an end and then direct experience results as clearly and surely as an apple in the palm of your hand. This is the “fruit”.

– ADVAITA BODHA DEEPIKA.

“The real smile is the smile of bliss that comes when you meditate, when you feel the joy of God’s presence. That is the smile on Lahiri Mahasaya’s face. He is seeing the world partially, but seeing God fully. My smile comes from a joy deep within my being, a joy that you also may attain. Like a fragrance it oozes out from the core of blossoming soul. This joy calls others to bathe in its waters of divine bliss.”

Anandamayi Ma’s advice to a young English sādhaka before their return to England:

Meditate on God all the time, whatever you may do, wherever you may be. Remember, whatever you see, whatever you hear is God’s manifestation. Pain exists because you believe yourself to be separate. Don’t consider anyone as separate from yourself. Regard everyone as your friend. Consider yourself to be God’s tool (yantra) and think that God is moving you. Dedicate yourself entirely to God, feel all the time that God is doing everything. Even when you walk, feel that God is moving your legs.

Whatever work you do, offer it to God, then you will be incapable of any baseness, for how can you offer anything ugly to your Beloved. The little knowledge you possess you have to give up to God and in return, because there is nothing left, God will give you all.

Absolute Consciousness and space resemble each other in being perfect, infinite, subtle, pure, unbounded, formless, immanent in all, yet undefiled within and without.

But space differs from the other, in it being insentient.

In fact, the conscious Self is space. This being so, they are not different from one other.
Space is Self; and Self is space.

It is the ignorant who see the Self as space alone owing to their delusion, just as the owls find darkness in dazzling sunlight.

The wise however find in space the Self, the Abstract Intelligence.
Her Transcendental Majesty, stainless and self-contained, irradiates diversity in Her Self like an individual in the state of dream.

This diversity in the shape of men,
animals and other phenomena, does not delude the Self in its purity, but does delude aberrations of the Self, namely,
the individual egos.

Her Majesty, the Absolute, remains always aware of Her perfection and oneness. Though Herself immutable, She appears mutable to Her own creatures just as a magician beguiles the audience with his tricks but remains himself undeceived.

She is light — One without a second; and yet
She appears divided to Her own creatures, because of the veil of illusion.

🕉 Tripura Rahasya. Chapter XVIII. V 72-82.