The Spiritual Aspirant’s Opening to the Action of the Spiritual Force

There are many things in the world that we cannot directly observe with our senses, yet which we otherwise believe to be real, based on the noticeable and palpable effects they have. We cannot ‘see’ gravity, but we feel its effects. Similarly, we cannot ‘see’ electricity, but we not only can experience the effects, but we have learned how to channel it, amplify it and reduce its force to manageable levels for our intended uses. Radioactivity similarly is unseen but able to be measured and its effects recognised in the changes that occur within the individual subjected to it. There are any number of similar things that we ‘know’ but which are not visible to our sight.

The spiritual Force is not recognised by those who have not had the actual experience. The experience may be palpable as many individuals relate the sense of an overpowering energy or force coming down through the crown of the head, in some cases with a sensation of ‘drilling’ or some kind of pressure. Others relate the activation of the various chakras, the subtle energy centers and new powers awakening within them when that happens. Still others describe the rising of the sleeping energy from the base of the being up through the subtle spinal channels to meet the energy center above the head, what is called the rising of the kundalini force, the coiled serpent power awakening and rising to energize the awareness and join with the divine consciousness.

For others the experience can be more subtle, but nevertheless real to the seeker who experiences it. As we have learned with regard to material forces such as electricity, the spiritual force can also be called, chanelled and activated in various ways by the experienced yogic practitioner.

Sri Aurobindo writes: “In this Yoga the whole principle is to open oneself to the Divine Influence. It is there above you and, if you can once become conscious of it, you have then to call it down into you. It descends into the mind and into the body as Peace, as a Light, as a Force that works, as the Presence of the Divine with or without form, as Ananda. Before one has this consciousness, one has to have faith and aspire for the opening. Aspiration, call, prayer are forms of one and the same thing and are all effective; you can take the form that comes to you or is easiest to you. The other way is concentration; you concentrate your consciousness in the heart (some do it in the head or above the head) and meditate on the Mother in the heart and call her in there. One can do either and both at different times — whatever comes naturally to you or you are moved to do at the moment. Especially in the beginning the one great necessity is to get the mind quiet, reject at the time of meditation all thoughts and movements that are foreign to the sadhana. In the quiet mind there will be a progressive preparation for the experience. But you must not become impatient, if all is not done at once; it takes time to bring entire quiet into the mind; you have to go on till the consciousness is ready.”

Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 2, Faith — Aspiration — Surrender, pg. 32