The Revolution of Consciousness

In our ordinary state of ignorance, living only on the lower planes of existence, we identify ourselves with our bodies and lower minds. We feel ourselves to be different and separate from the world and from our fellow human beings; and we erect social barriers to demarcate our sense of psychic separation- walls of creed or caste, sex, race or nationality. We draw narrow circles around ourselves and those whose bodies and lower minds (philosophies, beliefs and prejudices) are similar to ours; and then we say to others, "Get out! You do not belong to our circle!" … "You are a foreigner!" …. "You do not belong to my church (temple, mosque)." …. This false sense of identification with our lower selves has created endless conflicts in the history of the earth.

But, in fact, only our physical bodies and our conscious and subconscious minds are different and separate from one another; on the level of super-conscious mind and the infinite self, all are One.

Those who have elevated their minds beyond the lower layers of their existence transcend all psychic and social barriers and attain universal vision. Realizing that all minds are part of that Universal Mind, waves in that ocean of Infinite Supreme and they feel an unbroken stream of love pouring out of them, flowing to all alike. They have embraced the universe as their own.

A poet once wrote, "He drew a circle and shut me out ….. But love and I drew a greater circle and took him in." The love-circle of such elevated souls is infinite - its center is everywhere and its circumference nowhere.

Only those with such an all-expanded, universal vision can bring about true unity and harmony on earth, for their all-embracing love is the solvent which dissolves all differences.

Today, there is a dire need of such love. There is too much hostility and fear, contempt and domination in the world, and not enough warm affection, respect and trust. This is due to the false and narrow ideologies which are constricting the psychic spheres of human beings - materialistic philosophies which confine us to the lower levels of self. The present human society, with its heavy emphasis on material and economic success and its total neglect of psychic and spiritual development. Materialistic economic theories such as capitalism and communism, recognizing only the existence of lower, material needs, have propagated false values; and the frantic scrambling to satiate the endless desires of the lower mind has bred frustration and greed, exploitation and strife.

Today a new, healthy human society must be created which not only fulfills physical needs byt fosters psychic and spiritual elevation as well, guided by those with universal vision, whose every thought is for the good of all. The world desperately needs their soothing touch of love.

There must be a comprehensive ideology which embraces all levels of human existence and which includes a practical psychic process to elevate us to the highest levels of lour being and realize our oneness. Then alone, can we shatter all the barriers which have turned us against each other in hate.

The leaders of such a society will have love and sympathy for the whole world, because they are not attached to any nation, race, caste, creed or sex; their lives are attuned to the life of the universe. There is no possibility for them to hate or harm or exploit any creature of the world, because they look upon e very body as themselves. Then all humanity will be encouraged to attain self-realization, and all people will cooperate to fulfill their potentialities and utilize their collective resources for the welfare of all.

Thus, the practical foundation for a universalistic society where people are truly in harmony with one another is an individual mental process by which the leaders and members of that society are regularly, expanding their minds to experience their essential unity. There is no use in trying to reform our political, economic and social systems if our minds are not reformed; the continuous effort to elevate our minds by meditation is the prerequisite for social change.

The first revolution is the revolution of consciousness.