Why Self-Revelation? What is it?

Why “Self-Revelation?”

Revelation of the Self is the ONE characteristic that distinguishes human life from all other beings in creation. It is the distinctive reason for the soul being born “human” and the destiny of our human life.

The power of self-revelation is given to us by God alone for the sole purpose of realizing our identity with God. Through conscious living aware of God’s divine attributes within us we gradually unfold and manifest the perfection of our divinely-bestowed soul. We choose this goal, this awareness and way of life because of our soul’s inherent desires for pure consciousness, pure existence and pure bliss that comprise God’s perfection.

Each soul’s birthright is freedom, and each soul freely chooses its spiritual ideal. God’s beneficent Law of Freedom is our individual responsibility, and we elect the path of self-revelation unencumbered and unconditioned by anything and anyone else. We do not follow this ideal because someone else wants us to, nor to please anyone else but God. In our soul’s unfolding and perfecting no one can force us against our will. There is no one to blame if we do not progress: No one else can provide for our soul—its happiness, power or wisdom. No one else is the cause for our misfortune, unhappiness or ignorance. The life of our soul is from God as revealed in our God-given pure consciousness.

What is self-revelation?

Revelation of the Self is knowledge of the Self (God) discovered or revealed within our own consciousness. Self-knowledge should not be confused with self-analysis where the mind is prominent as it is observed in terms of its environment. In self-knowledge the “I” is comprehended as the reality itself—without object. Another way of saying this is that the self finds the Self revealed as itself, as One.

How does self-revelation differ from learning?

The knowledge of self is not a product of thought and experience although mind’s right concepts lead to it. It is not an accumulation of knowledge as, for example, learning to drive a car is. In fact, self-revelation requires a knowledge that is unfolded, that is free of concepts, images, desires and memories. The term “nirvikalpa samadhi” for enlightenment designates just this: “nir” (non-, out) “vikalpa” (concepts). All knowledge of our soul comes from Truth that is without limit, changeless.

Why is it necessary to leave the consciousness of time and space?

Time and space separate us from our Self. They divide and demarcate the Self, instilling the false idea of duality. Time is a kind of demarcation of the One Eternal Existence into illusory separate existences of what was and what will be. Space, too, is an illusory perception of the One Infinite within separate existences of “here” and “there.” The Self is revealed as One, above the consciousness of separation.

Does the ideal of self-revelation deny the worthiness of our earthly existence?

Is it unrelated to living in this world? Quite the contrary, the yoga of self-revelation provides the blessed link between earthly (human) pursuits and eternal (divine) ones. There is no permanent feud between our human world of desires and social aims and the spiritual consciousness we aspire to unfold. The kingdom of heaven comes not from earth, but exists IN it to be discovered and manifest. Earthly existence is not condemned in yoga; only that worldly life which is unrelated to the Self is. Such a life is empty and unsatisfying. It comes to an end in the darkness of ignorance.

Why is meditation necessary for self-revelation?

To face life with a spiritual awareness a particular state of mind is required. Not a “religious” mind, but a mind that is dynamic, free and serene. The energy/consciousness that the mind receives from the creation’s vitality is limited. The higher energy that comes from the universal consciousness within creation is more powerful, illuminating and exalting. Conscious of it one can remain gentle and loving, can find inspiration in troubled times, feel continuously creative and can ultimately draw to the Light of Lights, that Self revealed in pure consciousness. The subjective process and practice of spiritualizing the mind for self-revelation is meditation.

Our Church Life

By Swami Kamalananda

(Excerpt from the Self-Revelation Magazine 2002)

Self-Revelation, Atma-jnan, is the ideal and the spiritual heritage of our church. We are here for the knowledge of the Soul. But there is a second purpose—that of sharing the life. You attend the services of this church with the idea that this is your spiritual home. You meet and welcome one another with the joy and interest of being fellow devotees on a path which, through our own Gurus and the lives of other sages and saviors from time immemorial join us together as a congregation. This congregation comprises a spiritual family. As all families do, it has treasured occasions worth savoring and remembering, contributions of love and dedication. Our parental ties of family are maintained by the traditions of values and histories appreciated over time. Our spiritual family prospers, too, from recognizing the lives that have come before ours and have prepared the way for us to have the comfortable and inspiring abode of worship and the vast spiritual heritage that we enjoy.

From time to time, as newcomers attend the church, they inquire about the absence of social gatherings or other activities beyond worship and meditation. They have questions such as why there seems to be no formal membership, and what is the nature of “belonging,” of congregational fellowship.

Our church IS unusual in the way it is supported and maintained, and in that very expression the spiritual ideal and fellowship can readily be understood. With creative and thoughtful devotion, every part of the church grounds, the preparation of the Temple and Sunday School for their services, all the publications and other projects—all are the dedicated expressions of our fellow worshippers of God. The work continues throughout each week and throughout the year.

I should explain that my guru himself, from the very beginning life of his church, took active part in every such care—cleaning, painting, polishing floors and pews, sweeping walkways, painting and trimming bushes. There is very little that we all do today in the care of our church that Swami Premananda did not do. From the very first responsibilities that I was given in the church I became aware of the importance and the benefit of work as worship…as sadhana, “the realization of the spiritual life.” That blessed legacy—a tradition of the Swami Order understood by all who aspired to Kriya Yoga—defines our church more than a membership roster could. There is no growth in yoga without service. Those who love, serve.