TEACHING, TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFORMATION

Not long ago, I was having a conversation with a relative of mine who has retired from a high position in the Air Force. He became very spirited in the conversation because he has recently met a guru. He said, “I found a guru, and he does astral travel.” I didn’t comment on this but inquired, “How are you?” He exclaimed, “No, no! He does astral travel anytime and to anywhere he wishes. He also took me once.” I didn’t say anything. He continued, “I am sure you are doing it all the time.” I said, “No, I am grounded because there are no flights now.” I just inquired about him, his wife and children, and closed the conversation. I am sure he was very disappointed because he was looking for an astral conversation with me! Unfortunately, this is what spirituality has become in the world. Too many absurdities have been dished out in the name of spirituality.

Spirituality is not about applying metaphysical techniques to bend the rules of nature to satisfy our curiosity and material desires. Nor is it about adopting some esoteric philosophy or comforting belief system. It is a practical tool that brings a profound dimension to our lives beyond physicality. It is about engineering our interiority in such a way that we transcend our compulsive instinct of self-preservation and become a master of our own destiny. It is a tool for transformation, from compulsiveness to consciousness.

When we were children, our sense of boundary was largely limited to our physical form. Unfortunately, as we grew up to be adults, instead of becoming more conscious, most of us start to extend our need for physical boundaries into our psychological, emotional and energetic structures. When this happens, boundaries become the basis of our existence. Out of this comes our individuality, identity and personality. The need for boundaries is just a natural attribute of our physicality and a manifestation of our survival instinct. However, when this migrates into our mind, emotion and energy system, we start to build a protective cage around ourselves and become a constipated life. We eventually end up extending the nature of our physicality to the entire world. We need to understand that our form is just a tool for our survival, and survival is not the only concern of our life.

Most spiritual processes have a certain dimension of practice, which is about tightening and enhancing the vitality of our physical and energetic forms for well-being, health and overall integrity of our system. However, this should not be taken as the main focus. Only when our body is stable and at ease, we can start thinking about possibilities beyond our physicality. Another important dimension of spiritual processes is about loosening our psychological and emotional structures so we can transcend our present boundaries and transform into a larger possibility. As we continue our journey of transformation, one day we become formless. Becoming formless does not mean we lose our physical form. It means we are no longer being bound to any form or identity. We are free to choose to be whatever we want to be

So how can this transformation be achieved? Transformation cannot simply be taught in a class by a teacher. In order for it to happen, there needs to be a transmission. A teacher is one who is trained to impart useful information and knowledge, but may be entirely incapable of any transmission. A teaching can be analysed and understood, and may inspire changes in our perspectives and attitudes. However, it will not transform us in fundamental ways. Transmission has the power to radically shift the very being of who we are. A teaching is like a knock on the door. The door opens only as a possibility. It is only through transmission that it becomes a reality.

In many mystical traditions, particularly in India, there has been a long line of sages, seers and yogis, who were able to offer this transmission. Many of them were never recognised because most cultures on the planet were not sensitive nor conscious enough to acknowledge the value of their transmission. It takes a certain level of awareness in the society to recognise someone not for their actions or material contributions but for their presence and spiritual essence. Those few, who are perceptive enough to understand that they are transmitting, benefitted greatly from basking in their presence.

Human beings who transmit are of the greatest value to the world. It is far more valuable than what we ‘do’. We need more people to become an effective tool for transmission. In order for this to happen, a certain level of spiritual processes is required to open up the boundaries of our energetic body as well as psychological and emotional bodies. At the same time, we have to strengthen the fundamental constitution of our physicality, so we are strong enough to transmit without exhausting the life process.

Once we learn to burn intensely, with our energetic body open, everyone benefits from this whether they are aware of this transmission or not. The ultimate goal of spiritual process is not just for self-transformation but transformation of the world. What is needed in the world now is transformation through consciousness. If we really want to create a Conscious Planet, Transmission is the way forward.