Edward’s Diary Entry 96: What is the “Soul”?

So let us descend firstly to the initial back-facing “c” representing the soul. And what is the soul? If we had difficulties in describing the mind, how much more difficult it is to attempt to describe the soul. The Medieval calligraphers have been optimistic indeed, having bequeathed us this symbol in such a resplendent form, so harmoniously proportioned, so beautifully balanced. In comparison, I feel like a scribbled Roman cursive “I”, leaning far too much towards the right, facing outwards, with no home to go to, no spine to cling to, no other world to look back on. Why have these monks favoured this letter so much, giving it such depth, such heavily fortified backing, such inscrutable complexity? Are they telling us that something is missing? Or are they pointing towards that which is, yet which takes intelligence and discrimination to actually see? That must be it. They are describing an inner world that is possible, that does exist, and that cannot be otherwise. They are true Rishis in this respect, for the Wise Men of India say:

“If the mind becomes introverted through enquiry into the source of Aham-Vritti (ego-sense), the Vasanas (mental tendencies) become extinct. The light of the Self falls on the Vasanas and produces the phenomenon of reflection we call the mind. Thus, when the Vasanas become extinct the mind also disappears, being absorbed into the light of the one reality, the Heart. This is the sum and substance of all that an aspirant needs to know. What is imperatively required of him is an earnest and one-pointed enquiry into the source of the Aham-Vritti.”

Don’t get caught up in the words. They are just words, i.e. attempts to describe what the many speculate about and the fortunate few actually experience. Our back-facing “c” representing the soul, as shown above, is unknown to me. I can only guess at it and infer it. I can see part 1) outward and upward, section 1a) top section, intellectual functioning; section 1b) emotional function; section 1c) physical function, and I can sense the weak connection of the right-hand part 1) with back part 2 at 2a). The connection of 2a is where the urge to “know” and “experience” and “be” comes from at present. The lower section from 2a to 2b in its half circle represents something to do with the soul, but this is what the outer portions, the mundane outer I’s”, cannot know directly. So from here on it’s all conjecture and based on theories you either believe or don’t believe, or better, can actually experience. If you believe, or have investigated and decided to accept it as a working plan, then you can call it as follows:

1st stage, or Dhāranā: This means thinking of one subject for a long time, thinking of Truth historically. Concentrating the mind on one single idea. It is the “act of holding in the mind”, or curbing the mind, according to the Rig Veda. It may include or be complemented or preceded by the use of the rosary, reading the lives of Saints, the Bible, verbal prayer, the Sermon on the Mount, yogic literature, counting, reciting, mantras, questions, etc. to concentrate the mind. It may include thinking of Christ: his teachings, his personality, his life-activities and all we can know of Him. Or Mohammed, or Krishna, or Buddha. It includes the Sun, Moon, stars, rivers, mountains, lakes, all things created – even a leaf or a flower. Reading scriptures, saying prayers, telling beads is just using time to think of the glories of Truth one way or another, spending time on Truth, on God, on Creation, and nothing else. Everything was created by Him. One sees this in everything. And the circle expands infinitely. This concentration on an object fulfils the purpose of keeping away diverse thoughts and fixing the mind on a single thought, which, in turn, must also disappear before (Self-)realisation. But we are assured that realisation is nothing new to be acquired. It is already there, but obstructed by a screen of thoughts, by the shroud of maya. All our attempts are directed to lifting this screen and then realisation is revealed, it is said.

This, I would think, is the first half circle from 2a to 2b, as drawn by the magnificent Medieval letter-crafters in the symbol we are dealing with. The obstruction or problem here is that this practices leads in a circle. If we stay in this state and never move on, we follow the half circle or backwards “c” round to its disappearing point. We get stuck. We can only continue by backtracking from the point 2b and resolving to go upward towards 2c. This can be called 2nd stage, or Dhyana, more about which we will be seeing in the next article.

(to be continued)