THE VISION OF JESUS CHRIST

THE VISION OF JESUS CHRIST

What did Jesus see? Lets not go into what the church says. Let’s analyse the vision of Jesus Christ as per Indian Rishis’ vision.

Lets first of all see what the Rishis saw. All Rishis have unanimously spoken about a core state of existence available to any one who seeks it the right way. To Sree Narayan Guru, an enlightened saint of Kerala it was like the light of countless suns rising in the mind !

This is really interesting. Normal people do not get this experience. The Guru had no attachments in mind. And he meditated for years in a cave all alone. This much we know. Similar experiences are narrated by Rishis who did somewhat similar procedures (meditating continuously all alone with no attachments or thoughts in mind). They have clarified the path to reach this state of existence as well.
That is to sit in isolation with an erect spine and meditate. All may not be able to do it in the beginning. The reason is their own attachments and desires in mind pulling and binding them to the world and individuals. The thoughts will slowly get reduced all by itself, without consciously trying to chase away thoughts but by actually removing the cause of thoughts in mind. Now focus the attention on the gap between thoughts. Don’t fight with the thoughts. Let them float by. But do look into the gap between thoughts. Peacefully. When the mind is free from the attachments and thoughts generated thereby, the mind will feel like a clear pond without waves. Then the bottom of the pond can be seen. With the waves (thoughts) and muddiness (feelings in mind) this bottom was earlier not visible.

Continue the meditation. Now there is no thoughts, no waves, no mind, no pond ! The body is forgotten. The mind is no more to be found. What remains is the consciousness. Pure consciousness. That is our true identity. The core state of existence of all living beings. Rishis said ‘Tat tvam asi’ meaning ‘You are that’ consciousness. Also ‘Aham Brahmasmi’ (I am this consciousness). Or ‘An al haq’ as said by a Sufi meaning ‘I am that truth’ !

The Sufi who declared that he is the truth, was stoned to death by the fanatics who believed no human can say like that and it amounted to blasphemy ! Even prophet Mohammed described himself only as ‘a messenger of God’. How dare some one claim he himself is the truth (God)?! Compared to that Jesus suffered far less. But that Sufi will never be hailed as an enlightened one, thanks to the fanatics, who believe such experiences are false claims ! History has many such tragic incidents. Socrates was made to drink poison for telling something the male chauvinists could not digest. That is another story.

When started, the seeker , as everyone else, believed that they are the body. Now after reaching the pure consciousness at the bottom of the mind, he realises I am not the body or even the mind. I am this formless but the always existing consciousness.

The consciousness is also described as ‘Sat Chit Aaananda’. Sat means Truth, because it only remains for ever, not the body or mind or the visible universe experienced through the body, senses and mind. Everything else is called ‘Asat’ or not ‘sat’ meaning ‘not true’ indicating not ever lasting or which may or may not exist unlike the Sat, which is always there. Asat is also called Maya, which by definition ‘can neither be said is not there or can be confirmed as is there’ ! Whatever that are seen and experienced are Maya. The truth is the consciousness which witnessed all the experiences.

Chit means knowledge. The truth knows everything. The intelligence is like a ray from the knowledge. Like the sunlight of the sun. The ray seeks information. Once the information is received, the ray withdraws and becomes knowledge. Then it does not have to seek again. Once all queries are answered by the intellect, the mind settles at the knowledge. End of search. Then it is rest and peace, and silence.
Aananda means pure happiness, or bliss or ecstasy. It is a nature of the pure consciousness. Indescribable happiness. We experience it as ‘Sukham’ or comfort, smile and laughter while living. When we smile it is actually the soul getting exposed. Just check it next time. We feel happy because of the presence of the soul revealed when the mind was pure. Sexual orgasm is the closest we can feel this bliss. Orgasm is a flash of the soul in mind when the mind loses its orientation in time and space. For a fleeting moment. Ecstasy is the same experience as orgasm, but this time it lasts for ever, unlike orgasm. Unlimited orgasm is ecstasy !
Now judge these Rishis who even did not marry but simply meditated in isolation and reached a far better orgasm than the rest ! They were really wise. We got stuck with relations and challenges and had an occasional bliss ! The Rishis have it 24x7 ! Feel like respecting them? Please do !

So the Rishis reached a higher, more real level of existence by simply modifying their mind. At that level, the worldly identity (Mr so and so) will appear only as a temporary identity related to the body. The true identity now shifts to the pure consciousness. And there is no further identities. This is Indian vision, scientific and verifiable by any, anywhere in the world.

The topic is what did Jesus see. To know it the above foundation was required.

Jesus definitely had some experience that was not common. There is no doubt about it. Normal people cannot say “Love the neighbour as we love ourselves” or “ Those who have not sinned may throw stones” or “I am the God’s son” etc. These statements are beyond time and location. Anywhere anytime these will reverberate. Statements directly from the soul has the same characteristics of the soul. They will not be affected by time or space. If in doubt, analyse any such statements from true masters. Their words are not affected by time or location.

So how did Jesus say like that? These are revelations in his mind. That is all we can say about it. When the mind is detached, pure and focussed, the rays of the soul reflects in the mind. Mind you ! These are not well thought out statements by the intellect. These are direct revelations of the soul.

However such revelations are possible for any one who cares to meditate. The church may not like this. But that is the fact. And countless Rishis have reached the same (and even a higher and the ultimate) state of existence that Jesus reached. Not just a few, but countless Rishis, who just laughed and passed away without even bothering to record their names in the history. Who wants the temporary identification of the body to be recorded in something that does not really exist?!.

How does these visions happen to some people only? Why not for the majority? The only plausible reason is the state of mind. Clear, free, open, brave and fearless minds get such special visions. It is more true to say that in that exotic state, even the mind drops off. No body, no mind. Just pure consciousness. Unlimited and over whelming. Dissolving. Blissful silence of divine existence.
To reach that state, one needs solitude and meditation. Those minds which are connected to the worldly things cannot get detached or be devoid of desires.
Lets see what happens to the ripe mind reaching that core state.

We believe that we are the body. No doubts whatsoever ! We are not body alone at all. It is more correct to say that we are in a state of body consciousness. This body consciousness is not a crime either. It is a most common natural state of existence. Let it be like that. Don’t fight it or try to prolong it more than usual. From this body consciousness one can proceed to mind consciousness and finally
reach and settle at the pure consciousness. This all enlightened ones have said unanimously. This journey is life. Most end up in body consciousness only. Some reach mind level. Very very few dedicated ones reach the destination. Even after sighting the destination many have slipped off into body consciousness back again ! However there is no two opinion about the destination and path.

Lets see where Jesus reached, in light of this Indian vision. There is no other way to look into it. In deep meditation (or in a trance) Jesus saw a father figure in heaven. This is what Bible says. Lets take this at face value. Not going into the debate of how Bible was written after Jesus was no more.

As per the Indian vision, well documented and endorsed unanimously by all Rishis, there is no such ‘heaven’ or ‘holy father’. Now lets focus on this aspect. Were the Rishis wrong? Was Jesus right? Did Rishis miss this heaven and holy father? Did Jesus see something further than the Rishis?

The conclusive answer is the Guru himself. Sree Narayana Guru described the ultimate state as “as if countless sun rose in the mind’ . We have no reason to doubt this vision. And countless Rishis endorsed the same. So Jesus did not reach that ultimate state of self realisation. But he was close.

Very close.

Question is how close.

Only Indian vision can explain this state. What Jesus reached itself is beyond the understanding of the Semitic religions. So they thought it was remarkable. And divine. Out of the world. Jesus saw ‘holy father in heaven’. Rishis saw a bright sun of knowledge and realised that that is their actual identity. (Tat tvam asi, Aham brahmaasmi). This bright sun is the pure consciousness which is always there. One would be surprised to know why he did not know this brighter than sun presence within. All covered up by Maya or worldly attachments.
So question is what did Jesus see?

There is a simple answer to this. Easily understandable. Even as we live or even transcend from body consciousness to mind consciousness, and finally to pure consciousness, to the world and people who knows the seeker will not drop the identity that they had impressioned about him. Even when the seeker is in meditation or in any activity, the world (people who knows the seeker) according to the reactions they got earlier, will not change their view about the seeker. If a teacher joins IAS, the identity gets only a modification. The earlier identity still remains in people’s mind. After all we have been living in this world reacting to situations and people. That identity by the world will remain etched in the memory of people until they die. This worldly identity will remain in the seeker’s mind, even when he gets into higher (or deeper) conscious levels. The identity of the body and mind while living in the world. This identity follows the seeker, wherever he is, whatever he does, even if he reaches the ultimate status and realise oneself as the Brahman itself. To the seeker, the worldly identity of the body is just a joke now. A dream. A temporary marking in time like a line drawn in water. But to the world, he still remains the person they knew so well earlier. This is the body identity itself.

This identity of the body is called ‘ego’ or ‘ahamkar’ or ‘Jeevaathma’. It is the living body’s identity. It is practically still there. But the seeker has reached a higher identity, which he only knows. The others may notice a calm and brightness around him. But they still interpolate that image with the one they earlier had. And will not let it go from their minds. The seeker started from that body identity, which most of us have and believe that they are the body all their lives. The seeker, however progressed from there and reached the mind level. The world of thoughts and dreams. In the physical world, if one loses the way, others can guide back to the right way. The world of mind is not that simple. The mind is an ocean, as big as the universe itself. It is easy to get into the wrong thoughts, fully believing that it is the most correct one ! Because in the mind level, you are your own boss. Decisions are to be made by you. It is easy to get carried away in thoughts. Countless ones.
And views of great people, their thoughts and activities will influence the seeker’s mind.

Some of these so called great people are actually as confused as the seeker himself. But the thoughts may appear appealing. Most die in the body level. The majority of the rest perish in the mind level. That is why people don’t think deeply. Thoughts may become scary and not leading to anywhere. Hence most come back to the body level and live that life even after a short stint in the mind level. Because to transcend mind, one has to beat it ! Get out of own mind ! Completely. A trace of attachment or desire will pack the seeker off his journey and sent back to the world. Only the truly qualifying ones will get access to the secrets of existence.

Poets, philosophers, scientists etc are those who live mostly in the mind level. Mind level is far more bright, higher and more satisfying than the body level experiences. A clear distinction is not possible. Because there is always a mixture of mind and body experiences for the humans. In the animal level, the experiences are purely in body level. Human is a special being. He can fall to the animal level (live in the body level of instincts) or rise to the ultimate level of pure brightness. The difference may be like between a stone and light. The stone is a body level experiencer. The light is the extreme end, the dream level of the stone.

This however does not mean that stone level is low and light level is high. These are just two levels. If the stone does not know how to reach the light level, then it misses a valuable lesson. A lesson, that could have lifted the stone from death to immortality. That is all.

What lies beyond the ocean of mind is not understood by most. The reason being, they are not interested to know. They are more interested in the worldly experiences through the mind and body and senses. So their attention is focussed on the potential experiences that would make them more complete and satisfied. Even those who studied mind in depth, has only segregated it into conscious mind (that we normally have) subconscious mind (where desires, likes and experiences are stored as memory) and unconscious mind.

Conscious mind is like the beach. We see the waves coming one by one. And we can very well read, count and even judge or predict the waves. Except in bad weather, the beach is a fun place to relax and enjoy.

Subconscious mind is more deep. One needs to swim a little to understand them. With life jackets and boats, we can explore more of the subconscious mind part of the ocean. But still we are at the surface. We get ideas what may lie underneath, as evidenced by the happenings in the surface. We can also dive into it with oxygen cylinders and see what is inside. We can even use a submarine with modern facilities. But still we cant reach the deepest parts beyond the limitations of our capabilities.

Unconscious mind is then like the deep sea itself ! Where we have no tool to investigate. Except may be some sensors. But a first hand information is not possible with tools. For that we need to dive to the depths. Learn to breathe inside deep waters ! Or how to survive there without breath ! Only the daredevils attempt that. Here we need the guidance of a great diver, who is brave as well as kind. And none else really knows what lies in the unconscious mind ! With good reason. To know something, we need the light of consciousness to analyse it. The light ends at the subconscious level. The further depths are pitch dark. One needs to develop ‘vision’ to see what lies there. Normal eye sight will not work there.

We know what is there in the conscious mind. Visible waves in a beach. In the subconscious mind, the remnant memories of experiences, desires, likes and dislikes will be stored. This is why those who work abroad feel nostalgia after some time. If they adapt to the new country, then this tendency to go back will not be there. Then that becomes the home. Nostalgic people try to relive the old experiences back home or with the beloved people. If the new country is good to live in, this tendency may slowly disappear. If not the dying nostalgia may strengthen again.
Even if the new country is good and adopted, still there may be some nostalgia to return home.

The same happens in the mind. While meditation, the consciousness shifts focus from the body to the mind. But the body may pull back this attention back to the body. Because it is used to that way. The new place, mind may not be liked by the consciousness and might return to the body. There has to be an interest to stay longer at the new place. Else the attention will return to the original place, once the visa expires (the interest gets over). Else get jailed in the new place (Get trapped in some unfamiliar thoughts). In both cases, life becomes miserable.

We were talking about the situation where the consciousness shifts focus from the body to the mind, the tendency is to get identified back with the body. This body consciousness is suspicious and fearful (about death or damage to the body) in nature and will hide even in the higher levels of consciousness. To awaken the pure consciousness, continuous uninterrupted meditation in solitude is required. Imagine all goes well. The seeker is able to get out of the labyrinth of mind and enter the inner most core level of pure or supreme consciousness. But the body consciousness (ego) will not leave. It will hide itself into a speck and wait there. Watching the developments in awe. Hence it will be the Jeevatma or the Ego’ or ‘ahamkar’ the body consciousness, that would be seeing the rise of the pure consciousness with a brightness of countless suns within ourselves. There will be no one else at that level. The body consciousness and the pure consciousness come face to face.

Now, the Jeevaatma (the body consciousness or the ego) may visualise the pure consciousness as it is used to when in the body consciousness. That is to imagine something as it visualises. And not as it is. The ego or body consciousness will try to see the supreme consciousness as it likes to imagine. The mind comes back ready to fulfil the wish of the ego. Ego knows only how it used to see earlier. As shapes. Hence if the seeker is a buffalo, then he would be imagining the pure consciousness as a huge buffalo, the size of an elephant or so. This is the limitation of the ego and mind. It cannot function in another way.

Now lets rewind from the start. The seeker started from the body consciousness, graduated to mind consciousness, and from there with proper directions, transcended to the pure consciousness. Now even at the final level, the mind consciousness drags along, not fully rid of itself. Because one end of existence of the seeker is in the world. To be safe is a concern of the body consciousness. Further, the body consciousness (ego) is still not aware of a higher identity than what it always knew about itself. Then how can it modify itself? It will hang on until the last moment. The space and time limited body identity hanging on to the limitless true identity beyond the limitations of body and time. This is what happens in that last stage. This is the last frontier to cross. And what is the obstacle? Our own self inflicted body identity ! None else is responsible for this fiasco.

Jesus describes this state as “testing by the devil”. But there is no devil, whatsoever. It is a confusion created by or happening to the ego. Only a knowing Guru, who transcended this stage, can advise the seeker at this stage. Those who reached there all alone may find it irritatingly funny and may end up trapped at that stage ! Neither coming back to the body consciousness nor rising to the ultimate pure consciousness. Thanks to the ego.

And please note. Ego does not mean arrogance or one-upmanship. Ego refers only to the self identity that each of us have with respect to the body.
Thus the ego at this final stage may start seeing its own projections about what it experiences there. The mind will start wearing shapes to act out what it sees or experiences. That is why self control and mind control are the first requirements to start of spiritual journeys. Without these, there is no guarantee where one might end up with.

Jesus, at this stage, ‘saw’ a holy father, sitting in heaven.

These are truly meaningful words. Assuming these are own words by Jesus, lets see what he meant by that description.

‘Holy’ refers to something above the earth, very clean and hygienic or divine.

‘Father’ refers to his idea of the pure consciousness. Jesus imagined himself as a young man (his ego or body consciousness). He could not imagine pure consciousness as a ‘friend’ or ‘son’. He could imagine it only as something from which he also was born. Or wiser than him. Or which gave him protection like a father. Hence a father figure.

‘Heaven’ refers to a state of peace and happiness, but none that we see in the world. But simply beyond the world. Lasting peace. Unending happiness. Fearlessness. Youthfulness. Somewhere where there is no lack of anything whatsoever. We may have to club several qualities found on earth to even imagine such a state. Still it will be beyond. It was incomparable. Hence the word heaven. Where there is no need or misery as on earth.

This can happen to anyone. Not just Jesus. Those who meditate may please note. Once a certain stage is reached, the underlying ego (body consciousness0 will start playing its pranks depending on the status of mind and the reactions from the external world. In the final stage the mind may start again fantasising or hallucinating as desired by the ego. Then that becomes the reality. The mind may imagine as it feels like. Be careful.

Thus in the final stage of realisation, the mind may start hallucinating. The remaining desires or even traces of them might start blossoming. That is why it is essential to confirm the state with meditation. But Jesus might not have known this trick which was essential to stay steady in the last stage. The Rishis knew this very well. The Ego (or Jeevatma) is to be let off like a pole-vaulter does with the pole once he crosses the bar. Else he would be left holding the pole and crashing to the ground. Then the Jeevatma does not exist. It never really existed. But only appeared to exist. What remains is that pure consciousness, which is the real identity of the Ego, or Jeevatma. Those who did not know how to identify oneself with that bright inner sun of knowledge, and realise the meaning of ‘Tat tvam asi’, I am that (brhman), or Aham Brahmasami, I am Brahman, Prajanam Brahma, An Al haq (I am the truth) etc the duality of the ego (body consciousness) and the Brahman, the real identity of all beings will remain.

Jesus thought that his own real identity is as simply another entity, a holy father like figure sitting in heaven. Thus he was still in duality and never got over it. When he was in the cross, he lamented “ Father, why did you leave me” which vindicates his failure to identify that holy father as none other than himself, his true identity. He believed that he was different from that true identity, which simply was his own self. Rishis did not have this confusion. They, with out even one exception realised that the pure consciousness rising at the mind when it is free and clear is none other than ones’ own dear self.

Prophet Mohammed also saw like Jesus himself. In close parallel lines. Instead of the ‘holy father in heaven’ as Jesus visualised the pure consciousness, Prophet Mohammed visaulaied the pure consciousness within him as ‘kind and majestic owner’. The reason is simple. Nabi had the body consciousness trying to understand and decipher the pure consciousness in a worldly manner, it is used to and comfortable with. The worldly identity plays spoilsport even at the ultimate level. Thus the true non-dual experience with the actual identity gets lost because of the ego.

Thus daitham, that the true identity is different from the bodily identity may happen to many. It cannot be said that daitham (duality) is not a vision at all. Or those who reached that stage do not experience the truth at all. They do. They realise the qualities of the pure consciousness by merging with it. But the ego refuses to die out even then. Thus when they after waking up from the trance of meditation, they may still describe it as dual, separate from them. This distinction is based on their worldly body consciousness, the ego. .

The prejudgements and ego are what distracts the seeker from the ultimate self realisation that he is different and limited, but there is something unlimited and divine within. Thus the price for carrying such baggage of prejudgements and ego is ultimately for the seeker himself.

Any problem with that? At least these great men reached that state, no? Some may ask. What is the problem? The knowledge will not be complete. That itself is the problem. The seeker knows ‘almost’ everything. But beware. Only ‘almost’. Not ‘completely’. If the knowledge itself is not complete, the actions will reflect the small incompleteness. The seeker may do things in an incomplete way, leaving loop holes. Vested interests will enter through the backdoor and interpret what the ‘almost’ enlightened soul said in their own convenient ways, particularly once the great soul is no more. The seeker may fall from the great height to great canyons and may still think he is wiser than most ! All this is because the knowledge or experience was not complete. He might say something but intending something else. Whatever he said, also might get conveniently misinterpreted. His views might be questioned by others who might know better, or who do not agree with his views on certain issues. There are many such issues.

The people are also quite clever. They may quote the master out of context as convenient to them. They are so cunning that they might catch some one with a blurred vision as the one with the ultimate vision. Because it might suit their life style. Or the lifestyles or the errors committed by such ‘incomplete’ masters might be interesting to the followers, who basically want to enjoy life under some excuse.
People are partially blind. They can only see what is before their eyes. That is why we need those Gurus who had complete vision. Those with partial vision are claimed by clever opportunist followers. Because their faults can be hidden behind such incomplete Gurus. A complete Guru may not be as interesting to follow. That is why it is said the blind leads the blind.

The majority do not have any philosophical problems. They may not even think about it. Their problems are basically about how to spend time happily, how to amass wealth, how to maximise pleasures etc. By involving in this, they get disillusioned. At least most of them. They get stuck in relationships, competition, win and loss, guilt, sin, fear, jealousy, revenge etc. They may not be following the way to eternal life as prescribed by the enlightened ones. Their attraction and bondage to the world is far more than their inward pull to the eternal life. That is why.