Filled with Light
One of the esoteric spiritual practices is to be filled with Divine Light. Some teachings would say that this could only be a gift from God, a gift to only special people, so there is nothing one can do to make this occur. It is just up to God. But the esoteric teachings show aspirants how to be filled with Light. Divine Grace is still at work, and one is still dependent on Grace, but there are steps one can do to open the door for this Grace. Some people do seem to receive Divine Light by no effort on their own. It just happens unexpectedly. Now we might hope that it happens to us unexpectedly and without any effort of our own. But these people receiving unexpected grace actually were prepared. They had already developed the necessary attitude and receptive mode of being, in order for this Light to enter them. So we need to prepare ourselves, and we can do this consciously and intentionally, in order to come into the right receptive mode for the Divine Light to fill us. There is no sense remaining in a passive state, waiting for God to choose us or waiting for some Guru to direct Light into us. Take responsibility for your own work.
Remember that the human being and the Divine Power are in a relationship, whereby both sides must function together. The Divine Power of Light is like a source of electricity, and we are like a lightbulb and a switch. The Light source will consistently perform its function, but nothing will actually work unless we perform our necessary part. In one sense, there is an ultimate dependency on the Divine, because any actualization of light depends on the source of light. Yet in another sense, there is an ultimate dependency on the human being to open up the channel, open the switch, and allow oneself (like a bulb) to be filled with Light. Thus, there is mutual dependency or inter-dependency in this relationship of human and Divine.
By another analogy, the Divine is like water from the sky, and we are like bowls or chalices for this water. Without a receptive bowl, the rain from heaven is not contained, so it merely recycles back to into the sky. But if there is a receptive container for this precious water, then the water can be carried to places of need and it can become useful for various purposes. Our physical bodies are containers of water, and if not for this movable body of water there would be no life as we know it. So it is necessary, in our relationship with the Divine Power, that we become useful containers of Light, or receptive chalices for the Divine, and also that we open up to the Light, open the skylight of our house and let it in, allowing the Divine Light to fill the whole of our inner space.
It is also important to be consciously present to what is unfolding from within, because there won’t be any experience of Light without consciousness. The Light of God fills the self when the self surrenders, allows, and is present to what is. If one is completely still inside, relaxed, and consciously open to the Grace of God, the Divine Light spontaneously emerges. The Light simply appears. It is revealed. It emerges as being present. In other words, it is all of sudden present. And the reason that the Light suddenly appears is because the mind has finally become still and quiet, receptive and open, and also consciously present to what is already here.
It is like when noises or talking finally subsides, and in this quietness one hears a subtle music or a beautiful singing, which was already going on but one never heard it because of the surrounding noise and chatter. Quiet the noise and chatter, let it go, and begin to listen in the silence, for the Divine is already singing, and when one finally hears this beauty the heart is filled with joy. Listen for this beauty coming from deep within the heart. The Divine is singing. shush, be quiet, be still, listen. The Divine Light emerges like this. In a sudden moment it appears. All of a sudden there is this experience of Light filling the heart and mind, until there is no heart and mind, but only just Light. This suddenly happens at the point when one finally lets go of the inner talking and the holding on to some idea of self, and it also depends on one’s inner stillness, openness and receptivity.
Thus, as the inner state of oneself changes and comes into the right receptive attitude and mode, the Light will then suddenly be unblocked, the channel will suddenly be open, and Light will then be able to come through. The Light will suddenly be present, because the usual objects of mind and turmoil of emotions will finally cease to obscure the Light that is already behind this usual drama of mind and emotion. Once the obscurations disappear, the Light behind the clouds suddenly appears. The Light is then clearly revealed. Once the window is clear of dust and clutter, the Light can then shine with clarity. Once the lens is clear, the Light is clearly experienced. Once veils are dropped, the Light shines through evermore brightly.
Our mind is like a window or a lens for the Light of God. So if the mind becomes clear, the Light easily shines through. Thus, one important key is clearing the mind of all obstructions, or letting go of all thought and identification. Let the mind be a clear window and a pure receptive space. Then just be awake to the Light that is already present. Don’t think about it; just be present in the Light. This is the Light of Divine Being, which comes through the clear and receptive mind. We are simply uncovering this Light, or discovering it.
Of course, one could also say that this is the essential light of our own mind, or the light of our intellect. Yet it is also the Light of God, because our own light is reflective of God’s Light. God knows through us. And our knowing is dependent on the Light of God. The light of our own mind depends on the Light of God and is reflective of it, just as the light of a lightbulb depends on its Light source and is essentially Light Itself. So our mind reflects God most essentially when our mind is clear and full of Light. But we do not need to invent this Light or try to make it be. For the Light just is, when the mind is clear.
Then, when one is fully in the Light, or when the Light is full in us, it naturally radiates out to all beings. The Light that we allow into us or through us, or the Light that mind is able to experience, is the amount of Light that radiates from us to all other beings, as we become a channel or centre of radiance for this Light. This is what we can give or share with the world, esoterically or secretly. Our light, or the Light that we know, is our secret and it secretly radiates out into the world, serving the gradual spiritual enlightenment of humanity. We are serving, sharing instruments of Light. We are channels for Light, or centres of radiant Light. We could say the same in relation to Love. For the degree of Love that is full in us, is the degree of Love that secretly overflows into the hearts of others. But this has to be a Love that is pure and unobscured by self-centered emotions.
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Now it might seem from this way of speaking that mind and heart are separate, or that Light and Love are distinctly different. Yet mind and heart are only distinct in our usual level of experience. At deeper levels of mediation, mind and heart are one. Here, we could say that the heart is full of consciousness and intelligence. Or we could say that the mind is full of heart love. We could say that the heart has mind, and the mind has heart. But in speaking this way, we are making distinctions that are not really experienced at the deeper levels of meditation; for at this deeper level, the notion of distinction simply does not arise. For here, one is simply experiencing the truth of being. Here, there is depth of sincerity (which can be termed heart) and expansiveness of consciousness (which can be termed mind). Yet the experience itself is much more of a unity.
Likewise, Light and Love are not really distinct in the deeper levels of meditation. At the very Essence of Reality there is no distinction, for they are essentially the same. And so it is in our own experience, for in our deepest experience of Being these are essentially the same reality. It is only at the level of Intellect that Light and Love are distinguished.
In deep meditation, there is no doubt that Light radiates from the heart. This Light radiance is the natural state of the heart. So light is obviously not just an attribute of mind, but also of the heart. Thus we can say that the heart has consciousness. It is certainly possible to have a conscious heart, an awakened heart, an enlightened heart, or a heart full of Light.
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Enter into the House of God, which is the Source of Light and Love. Enter into Light Consciousness and Love’s Embrace, in the Presence of God, in the Heart of the heart. Be cleaned, healed and filled with this Light and Presence of Love. Stay in this House of God, this Presence of Lighted Love, for as long as need be. But at some point the next step is to turn from the Sun to face the world of need, and in this direction become a radiant servant of Light and Love. Become the giver, pouring Radiant Love into the world and all those who live there. Become the magician of Love’s Light descending into the waiting world. This is to be a servant of God.
The first stage is ascendance, openness and receptivity. The is the stage of the spiritual inward Breath, though it may last many actual in and out breaths. Next is the stage of Light’s descent, which we participate in consciously and willingly. This is the stage of service and of being like a channel for the Divine. The first stage is arms and hands open up, so to be embraced by the Divine and ascend into God’s House. The other stage is a spiritual outward Breath, with hands outward in blessing to all of life and those in need, especially those in need of love and enlightenment. Thus, in greater terms, this is the rhythm of Spiritual Breath, which we can consciously participate in.
In the first stage we are like children needing a Love hug and the nourishment of our Divine Mother/Father God. In the other stage we are like responsible servants of our Lord. How do we serve? By pouring forth Light/Love from what is already overflowing in us. We have become so full of Light/Love that we are now pouring out blessings. Sometimes this seems like it is coming from beyond us, but at other times it may seem like it is coming from our own heart-mind. Both sensings are true; each is merely a perspective about what is.