29.
WHERE IS THE DIVINE WORLD?

WHEN studying the Upanishads in my early days, I
always visualised the Divine Abode in the Sun
God and was performing the practices enjoined in certain
texts. Even later, after settling at the abode of Sri Maharshi,
I continued this practice (upasana). It proved very hard to
succeed in this process, and I had to undergo very trying
experiences, so I referred the whole matter to Bhagavan.

"So you want to go to the Divine World?" asked He.
"That is what I am trying to obtain; that is what the
Scriptures prescribe," I answered.

"But where are you now?" the Master asked.
I replied, "I am in Your presence."
"Poor thing! You are here and now in the Divine
World, and you want to obtain it elsewhere! Know that
to be the Divine World where one is firmly established in
the Divine. Such a one is full (purna); he encompasses
and transcends all that is manifest. He is the substratum
of the screen on which the whole manifestation runs like
the picture film. Whether moving pictures run or not,
the screen is always there and is never affected by the
action of the pictures. You are here and now in the Divine
World. You are like a thirsty man wanting to drink, while
he is all the time standing neck-deep in the Ganga. Give
up all efforts and surrender. Let the `I', that wants the
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Divine World die, and the Divine in you will be realised
here and now. For, it is already in you as the Self, not
different from the Divine (Brahman ^[?]), nameless and
formless. It is already in you, and how are you to obtain
that which ever remains obtained? The Self (atman) in
you is surely not different from US?" Thus spoke Bhagavan.

"So, then, Bhagavan says that He is the Self (kutastha)
in this, the field of this soul (jiva ^[?]), that This is already
established in Bhagavan as such, so this soul need do
nothing but give up the sense of being a separate soul?" I
asked, prostrating before Bhagavan.

"Yes, yes," He replied. "That is what one must do to
drop the ego-sense. If that is done the Self will be
experienced as `I-I' here and now and at all times. There
will be no going into the Divine World or coming out of
it. You will be as you really are. This is the practice (sadhana ^[?])
and this is perfection (siddhi ^[?]) too."

      This teaching of Sri Bhagavan, Himself being the
Divine World, is recorded for the benefit of all who are
ever in Him.

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