The Everest Climb of Realization
Author: Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami
Description: Satchidananda and nirvikalpa samadhi as described by Gurudeva with commentary by Bodhinatha who then compares the climb of the chakras to the ascent of Everest–”The Climb of Realization.” The anahata chakra (direct cognition) is the resting place where one is released from turbulent emotions, conflicting thoughts and disturbances. Bodhinatha imparts six suggestions on how we can sustain the radiant energy, power of the spine, anahata consciousness throughout the entire day. Once awareness is stabilized in the anahata chakra through raja yoga one strives to make the ascent through the last three chakras of vishuddha (divine love), ajna (divine sight) and sahasrara (illumination)— which is our inner summit—where one can achieve the highest realization of Parasiva—the Absolute.
Transcription:
Good morning everyone. Today I thought I'd read the talk I gave at the Singapore and the Malaysia Mission satsang.
One of Paramaguru Yogaswami’s statements about his deepest realizations compares his inner climb of the chakras to the outer climb of Mt. Everest. “I climbed Mt. Everest in three days. There, there is nothing. No sun, no moon. Then you come down and there is dharma, adharma, and all things.”
Gurudeva gives this description of that state: “Many people think of the realization of timeless, formless, spaceless Parasiva, nirvikalpa samadhi, as the most blissful of all blissful states, the opening of the heavens, the descent of the Gods, as a moment of supreme, sublime joyousness; whereas I have found it to be more like cut glass, diamond-dust darshan, a psychic surgery, not a blissful experience at all, but really a kind of near-death experience resulting in total transformation. The bliss that is often taught as a final attainment is actually another attainment, Satchidananda, an aftermath of nirvikalpa samādhi, and a ‘before-math.’ This means that Satchidānanda, savikalpa samādhi, may be attained early on by souls pure in heart. It also means that one need not gauge the highest attainment on the basis of bliss, which it transcends.
“In my experience, the anahata chakra (direct cognition) is the resting place of dynamic complacency, of thoughtful perception and quietude. Those of a lower nature arriving in the bloom of this chakra are released from turbulent emotions, conflicting thoughts and disturbances. This to many is the end of the path, attaining peace, or shanti. Once one attains shanti as just described, in my experience, this marks the beginning of the path, or part two, the second level. It is from here that the practices of raja yoga take hold, once shanti is attained.”
(End of the quote there.)
In the quote I just read, in addition to the experience of Parasiva, Gurudeva brought in the description of the fourth chakra—the anahata chakra as a natural resting place on the way to the summit of realizing Parasiva. Let’s look closely at the comparison of the inner climb of the chakras to the external climb of Mt. Everest.
On the Nepal side of Mt. Everest the last major city below where climbers start is Kathmandu.We can compare living in Kathmandu to where individuals are before they start striving to go within, seeking to experience the higher chakras. The consciousness of those living in Kathmandu relates to the first three chakras of muladhara (memory), svadishthana (reason) and manipura (willpower). When someone becomes a seeker of higher states of consciousness it is like flying from Kathmandu to the town of Lukia, the first destination for trekkers. The trekking route from Lukia to Everest Base Camp is about 65 kilometers (40 miles) one way, typically completed over 8–10 days to allow for acclimatization. The trail passes through several villages before reaching base camp. For our seeker to reach his inner base camp of the anahata chakra takes of course much longer than 8-10 days. It takes years of consistent daily sadhana in which his journey leads him through purification of the subconscious mind, improving concentration and developing his devotional nature.
Of course, reaching base camp is not the ultimate goal for either our trekker or our seeker. For our trekker, there are four additional camps making a total of five. it is from the fifth camp that climbers attempt to reach the summit which is at 8,849 meters—the highest altitude above mean sea level. For our seeker, he needs to learn to stabilize his awareness in the anahata chakra and then, as Gurudeva mentioned, through raja yoga make the ascent through the last three chakras of vishuddha (divine love), ajna (divine sight) and sahasrara (illumination)— which is our inner summit—where he can achieve the highest realization of Parasiva—the Absolute.
Let’s explore what we experience when we function in the anahata chakra. Gurudeva described it as the realm of artists, inventors, creators of all kinds. Each time you design or create anything, you are bringing the beauty of the within through your nerve system into manifestation. It is a beautiful place to be, and you can be here all of the time by feeling the power in your spine. The minute you feel that radiant energy, you disconnect from instinctive/intellectual consciousness and soar into inner consciousness. A few minutes of breath control will help you to feel the energy in the spine. Visualize a clear tube in the center of your spine being filled with yellow light coming down from the top of your head. Then inwardly see this pure life force flowing through the spine and out into the nerve system.
Gurudeva adds this description: “People with the anahata chakra awakened are generally well-balanced, content and self-contained. More often than not, their intellect is highly developed and their reasoning keen. The subtle refinement of their nature makes them extremely intuitive, and what is left of the base instincts and emotions is easily resolved through their powers of intellect. It is important that the serious aspirant gain enough control of his forces and karmas to remain stabilized at the heart chakra. This should be home base to him, and he should rarely or never fall below anahata in consciousness. Only after years of sadhana and transmutation … can this be attained, but it must be attained and awareness must settle here firmly before (further) unfoldment is sought.”
Gurudeva’s statements about the anahata chakra fit well with comparing it with the Mt. Everest base camp.
Eventually the goal is to experience the anahata chakra during each morning sadhana vigil and then strive to hold that peaceful, creative consciousness throughout the day. Having begun our day in a consciousness of contentment, creativity and intuition, we soon encounter the many ways that inner state can be lost. Here are six suggestions on how we can sustain this consciousness throughout the entire day.
First Suggestion: The most basic requirement is following the yamas, Hinduism’s ethical restraints. Adharmic actions, such as lying and hurting others, disturb the mind and emotions and draw us out into the swirl of external consciousness.
Second Suggestion: Not letting disagreements turn into arguments is also crucial. Disagreements are natural, but they should be handled in an intelligent and harmonious way. We must always be willing to compromise to keep discussions from turning into conflicts. Domestic arguments are the most destabilizing.
Third Suggestion: Every day we are assaulted by a barrage of advertisements promising greater happiness if we acquire whatever they are promoting. This constant enticement presents a major challenge to sustaining a contented consciousness. Fancy new cars, faster computers, attractive clothes—all promise the ever-elusive state of mind called happiness.We can rise above this false allure by holding the perspective that we are content with what we currently have. If we acquire something more, it will not be because we think it will make us happier but because it will benefit our family in a meaningful way.
Fourth Suggestion: Gratitude is an important aspect of holding an inner consciousness. A key to nurturing gratitude is giving thanks for all the good things in our life. We are grateful for our family and friends, grateful for our job or school, grateful for the home we live in, grateful for the wisdom and practices of our religion.
Fifth Suggestion: The affirmation “I’m all right, right now,” a metaphysical tool that Gurudeva gives us in "Merging with Siva", is also helpful in sustaining an inner consciousness. It is a way to live in the eternity of the moment, where we feel perfect in the now, with no future to worry about and no past to regret.
Sixth Suggestion: When we look at the world as providing our happiness, life is a constant series of emotional ups and downs. When we derive our contentment from within, life is joyous, and we can share that joy with others.
In conclusion, though we want to eventually experience the higher chakras of vishuddha, ajna and sahasrara and, of course, ultimately achieve the realization of Parasiva, we need to first perfect experiencing the anahata chakra of direct cognition during our daily vigils and after that achieve the gradual mastery of living in it throughout the entire day.
Thank you very much.
[End of transcript.]