If you have stuck with me on this blog over the past eight months, thank you! If you’re new here, welcome!
Today’s focus is about unity and Jnanavatar Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri’s book “The Holy Science“ explains how we are all united under one God. Specifically, what is established is a fundamental harmony between the chapter of Revelations in the Bible and the Indian philosophy of Sankhya.
The book is divided into four parts: the gospel, the goal, the procedure, and the revelation.
The chapter on the gospel starts by explaining that since humans identify with the material body, the Eternal Father God is not fully comprehensible unless we become divine by lifting ourselves above this creation.
Swami Sri Yukteswar says that since humans are made in the likeness of God, we should direct our attention inward so that we are able to comprehend the force and feeling of the Almighty. Some of the biblical scriptures that he explains come from Genesis, Revelations, and John.
As we move on to the chapter on the goal, we come to understand that our prime object in this life is relief from evil and liberation from the bondage of being blinded from who we really are. As long as we identify with the material body, we will feel that our wants and desires are unsatisfied. Through ignorance, we arrive at the misconception that the material world is the only thing that exists and there is nothing beyond. But we should understand this material creation is a play of ideas on the Eternal Spirit.
So how do we get to this place of liberation?
The chapter on the procedure is a great guide. For starters, the heart’s natural love is the most important thing to attain a holy life. Another important step is to understand what natural living is. Living a natural life includes the foods we eat, our dwelling place, and the company that surrounds us. Swami Sri Yukteswar lays out a plan any of us can follow.
In the revelation, we learn that when we are able to comprehend the Eternal Spirit, we will abandon the idea of the separate existence and become unified with God the Father. Overcoming the bandage of darkness and entering into the spiritual world will allow us to receive the true Light. Then the eight powers or aisharyyas will be attainable.
Swami Sri Yukteswar makes it clear that the goal of this book is to show that there is an essential unity in all religions and there is no difference in the truths instilled by various faiths.
This book is so rich with knowledge, it would take more than one blog to cover everything. But I hope you were able to gain some value from this short post. Thanks for checking it out!
Sachi Reads Daily 