Theos-Talk Archives (June 2004 Message tt00040)

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Katinka Hesselink" <mail@k...> 
wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I'm reminded of what Alcyone wrote in At the Feet of the Master:

I dunno if this is of any interest to anyone, but what "Alcyone" (aka 
Krishnamurti) is referring ro is Viveka, the first of the four 
qualifications which make up Sankara's sadhana catustaya. It is 
defined as Discrimination Between the Real and Illusory.

Here is what Sivananda says about it: "Purify the Chitta by doing 
Nishkama Karma for twelve years. The effect of Chitta Suddhi is the 
attainment of Viveka and Vairagya."

The first qualification is what Sinnett describes in THE GROWTH OF 
THE SOUL as "total indifference to the usual objects of worldly 
ambition and desire." (p. 433) This is how he explains the matter:

"The foremost attribute towards which the occult aspirant must 
endeavour to train his interior growth is ... rendering Allegiance to 
the Higher Self. ... The aspirant must appreciate the 
significance ... of the occult teaching which shows us how the 
imperishable element in our consciousness is that 'Higher Self' ..." 
(p. 431)

He goes on to point out that the temporary personality is "unreal" in 
a sense and that only the Higher Self is "real," or permanent, to be 
more precise.

What is required here is, by means of extended reflection, to arrive 
at "that stage of mental growth in which each bodily manifestation of 
the permanent self [i.e., the Higher Self] is appreciated as a 
temporary phase of being." Once this is attained, Sinnett says "no 
long step has to be made" to realize "that some conditions of 
consciousness attached to the personality are transitory," 
including "the outward shape and appearance of the body. With that 
conception fairly grasped, the student has got a good way on towards 
the acquisition of the first attribute of the probationary path. To 
acquire it in sufficient completeness for that step of his progress 
he need only apply it to the practicalities of life. That is to say, 
he has only (!) to appreciate the real insignificance of those 
objects of pursuit in life which relate to the impermanent 
personality as compared with those which tend to the growth and 
invigoration of the Higher Self." (p. 432)

Once again, he points out that beginners are not required to live in 
the ozone. But he says that "Complete absorption in objects of 
worldly ambition and desire is ... incompatible with even the first 
beginnings of aspiration in the direction of occult progress. No one 
to whom the thirst for ease and luxury, for wealth, or for 
applause ... is the mainspring of activity in this existence, is even 
planted with his foot on the first rung of the occult ladder. ... 
>From the very beginning ... there must come about a considerable 
loosening of the old ties to worldly objects. These may not fade 
away into entire insignificance, but they begin to be coloured by a 
sickly aspect of instability, and gradually the interior 
consciousness that conditions of existence relating to planes of 
Nature quite divorced from all physical necessities or enjoyments are 
the only objects worth energetic endeavour, will take hold of the 
mind." (pp. 433-4)