Scheme for Studying
the Structure of the Absolute
the Structure of the Absolute
Vladimir Antonov
Translated by Mikhail Nikolenko
Comment: the arrows show the dynamics of processes within the Absolute.
The main thing to be taken into account when viewing this scheme (it is shown at the end of the book) is that it reflects the multidimensional nature of space. Therefore, that which is shown at the bottom of the scheme corresponds to that which is located in the deep, in the subtlest lokas. And that which is shown higher on the scheme corresponds to lokas of increasing density (or coarseness). In other words, the downward direction on the scheme corresponds to the depthward direction in the multidimensional Body of the Absolute, and the upward direction on the scheme corresponds to the direction toward the outer layers of the Absolute.
One must not view the sectors shown on the scheme as really existing in the universe. In reality, these are not sectors but infinite layers of multidimensionality. And the scheme shows not layers themselves but entrances to them.
Let me note that multidimensionality cannot be explored with physical devices, because such devices cannot be brought from the physical world to other lokas. The reality of non-material lokas can be perceived only by the refined consciousness of the spiritual seeker developed by means of buddhi yoga . Such a developed consciousness is capable of moving freely from one loka to another.
One must not view the sectors shown on the scheme as really existing in the universe. In reality, these are not sectors but infinite layers of multidimensionality. And the scheme shows not layers themselves but entrances to them.
Let me note that multidimensionality cannot be explored with physical devices, because such devices cannot be brought from the physical world to other lokas. The reality of non-material lokas can be perceived only by the refined consciousness of the spiritual seeker developed by means of buddhi yoga . Such a developed consciousness is capable of moving freely from one loka to another.
* * *
Let us begin our analysis of the scheme by looking at its bottom, which represents the deepest level of multidimensional space.
In the universal void* there exists the most subtle Consciousness of the deepest layer of the Absolute — Ishvara (God-the-Father, the Creator, Jehovah, Allah, Tao, Adibuddha: these and other words are used in different languages to name Him). On the scheme, the entrance to His Abode is shown in the right bottom corner.
Now let us look at the solid vertical line. This line represents the Mirror, a really existing "membrane". To the right of this line (on the scheme), one can see entrances to three basic eternal components of the Absolute: to the Abode of Ishvara (Bridal Chamber, as Apostle Philip, a disciple of Jesus Christ, called it**) and (higher on the scheme) to more dense layers of akasha — to the lokas of protopurusha and protoprakriti. These three basic layers are called correspondingly chidakasha, chitakasha, and bhutakasha.
To the left of the Mirror there shown derivatives of the basic states of the Absolute: the lokas of Brahman (Higher Purusha), of purusha, and of prakriti. They exist only during Kalpas in manifested worlds of the universe — on "islets" of the Creation, which appear at the beginning of each Kalpa and disappear at its end being consumed by akasha. When "the end of the world" (Pralaya) comes for such an "islet", its matter turns into protoprakriti, and individual souls, who did not want or did not manage during their numerous incarnations to achieve Perfection (i.e. to achieve Divinity and to merge with the Consciousness of the Higher and of the Highest Purusha) are disintegrated to the state of protopurusha.
Let me note that during Kalpas (i.e. during existence of material "islets" of the Creation), the amount of prakriti grows (because of photosynthesis, in particular) and the amount of purusha grows as well (because of the increase of the amount of energy of individual souls, which feed on prakriti). At the end of Kalpa they replenish the cosmic resources of protoprakriti and protopurusha. Therefore, the amounts of the latter do not change significantly.
All that is shown on the scheme above the first level represents the "sphere of activity" of Brahman or "Brahman's world" (in Sanskrit — aparabrahman, i.e. that which is not Divine Brahman).
Now let us look at the leftmost column on the scheme. It shows states of souls during Kalpa. Souls of different levels of subtlety-coarseness (in terms of emotional states in which they used to live during incarnations) are distributed over the layers of multidimensional space. The layer of subtler energy (the second layer on the scheme) is called paradise, and the coarsest layer (the topmost one on the scheme) is called hell. The layer between them contains souls in the intermediate state of being attached to the material plane. Most often this layer is called astral plane.
In the universal void* there exists the most subtle Consciousness of the deepest layer of the Absolute — Ishvara (God-the-Father, the Creator, Jehovah, Allah, Tao, Adibuddha: these and other words are used in different languages to name Him). On the scheme, the entrance to His Abode is shown in the right bottom corner.
Now let us look at the solid vertical line. This line represents the Mirror, a really existing "membrane". To the right of this line (on the scheme), one can see entrances to three basic eternal components of the Absolute: to the Abode of Ishvara (Bridal Chamber, as Apostle Philip, a disciple of Jesus Christ, called it**) and (higher on the scheme) to more dense layers of akasha — to the lokas of protopurusha and protoprakriti. These three basic layers are called correspondingly chidakasha, chitakasha, and bhutakasha.
To the left of the Mirror there shown derivatives of the basic states of the Absolute: the lokas of Brahman (Higher Purusha), of purusha, and of prakriti. They exist only during Kalpas in manifested worlds of the universe — on "islets" of the Creation, which appear at the beginning of each Kalpa and disappear at its end being consumed by akasha. When "the end of the world" (Pralaya) comes for such an "islet", its matter turns into protoprakriti, and individual souls, who did not want or did not manage during their numerous incarnations to achieve Perfection (i.e. to achieve Divinity and to merge with the Consciousness of the Higher and of the Highest Purusha) are disintegrated to the state of protopurusha.
Let me note that during Kalpas (i.e. during existence of material "islets" of the Creation), the amount of prakriti grows (because of photosynthesis, in particular) and the amount of purusha grows as well (because of the increase of the amount of energy of individual souls, which feed on prakriti). At the end of Kalpa they replenish the cosmic resources of protoprakriti and protopurusha. Therefore, the amounts of the latter do not change significantly.
All that is shown on the scheme above the first level represents the "sphere of activity" of Brahman or "Brahman's world" (in Sanskrit — aparabrahman, i.e. that which is not Divine Brahman).
Now let us look at the leftmost column on the scheme. It shows states of souls during Kalpa. Souls of different levels of subtlety-coarseness (in terms of emotional states in which they used to live during incarnations) are distributed over the layers of multidimensional space. The layer of subtler energy (the second layer on the scheme) is called paradise, and the coarsest layer (the topmost one on the scheme) is called hell. The layer between them contains souls in the intermediate state of being attached to the material plane. Most often this layer is called astral plane.
* * *
Now let us look at the process of souls evolution in more detail.
When conditions on a planet become suitable for existence of organic life (like conditions existing on the Earth), there starts the process of development of particles of purusha, which are formed of protopurusha.
This process begins on crystalline lattices of minerals, then continues in organic bodies, which also evolve along with the development of souls.
The digestive system in living organisms allows transforming prakriti into the energy of purusha, enriching in this way individual souls that grow in the embodied state. This ensures the quantitative growth of souls.
Possessing significant freedom of will, embodied souls of evolutionarily developed animal species and of human beings evolve, being subjected to the law of karma.
At the same time, the majority of them develop intellectual abilities: some people get a chance to begin conscious spiritual self-development and can become inhabitants of paradise or even of the Abode of the Creator.
But others remain materialists who are unaware of anything but matter and consider themselves material bodies. Their way of life is not different essentially from that of many animals.
Souls who habituate themselves to living in coarse emotional states go to hell, which is shown in the top left part of the scheme. It is the outer darkness, in the New Testament’s language. Their destiny is to be embodied again in "hellish" conditions on the Earth or to be disintegrated to the state of protopurusha even before the Kalpa ends.
Thus, all people can be subdivided into three categories: a) the intermediate group of materialists, b) demoniac people, c) people advancing to spiritual Perfection, to Mergence with God.
In case of the latter group, the main component of spiritual self-realization should consist in development of the spiritual heart. The optimal achievements for them are Mergence (as a consciousness, buddhi) with the Higher Purusha or even coming to the Abode of the Creator and Mergence with Him there. One has to learn to live in these states during life in the physical body, having become an integral Part of the Highest Forms of the Divine Consciousness.
When conditions on a planet become suitable for existence of organic life (like conditions existing on the Earth), there starts the process of development of particles of purusha, which are formed of protopurusha.
This process begins on crystalline lattices of minerals, then continues in organic bodies, which also evolve along with the development of souls.
The digestive system in living organisms allows transforming prakriti into the energy of purusha, enriching in this way individual souls that grow in the embodied state. This ensures the quantitative growth of souls.
Possessing significant freedom of will, embodied souls of evolutionarily developed animal species and of human beings evolve, being subjected to the law of karma.
At the same time, the majority of them develop intellectual abilities: some people get a chance to begin conscious spiritual self-development and can become inhabitants of paradise or even of the Abode of the Creator.
But others remain materialists who are unaware of anything but matter and consider themselves material bodies. Their way of life is not different essentially from that of many animals.
Souls who habituate themselves to living in coarse emotional states go to hell, which is shown in the top left part of the scheme. It is the outer darkness, in the New Testament’s language. Their destiny is to be embodied again in "hellish" conditions on the Earth or to be disintegrated to the state of protopurusha even before the Kalpa ends.
Thus, all people can be subdivided into three categories: a) the intermediate group of materialists, b) demoniac people, c) people advancing to spiritual Perfection, to Mergence with God.
In case of the latter group, the main component of spiritual self-realization should consist in development of the spiritual heart. The optimal achievements for them are Mergence (as a consciousness, buddhi) with the Higher Purusha or even coming to the Abode of the Creator and Mergence with Him there. One has to learn to live in these states during life in the physical body, having become an integral Part of the Highest Forms of the Divine Consciousness.
* * *
We have discussed the methodology and specific methods of the shortest Path of spiritual self-realization in other publications. Therefore we will give here only a brief description of this subject.
Having incarnated, we remain under constant supervision and guidance of God in the aspect of Brahman (the Holy Spirit), Who is not somewhere "high above", "in the sky", but is always present everywhere, in particular beneath the matter of our bodies — in the subtlest lokas. (This is emphasized several times in the New Testament.) And the distance to the Abode of the Creator, as Jesus said***, is not larger than the thickness of finest paper. And nothing happens to anyone without consent of the Creator.
Our task in this situation may look very easy: one just needs to learn to move to the depths of multidimensional space right here where the body is — and to reach the Abode of the Creator… But the problem is that one can come to the Abode only through secret passages, and the Creator reveals them only to His worthy disciples — i.e. to ethically pure and refined souls, who have demonstrated a fervent and sincere desire to cognize Him and to merge with Him. That is, we have to fall in love with Him and to prove that our love is steadfast.
What are the main obstacles on the way to the highest lokas? Krishna answered this question concisely****: egoistic sexual passion, anger, and greed — i.e. attachments to earthly things, coarse emotional states, and egocentrism.
And what does lead us to Him? It is cultivation of various aspects of love, refinement of the consciousness, and correctly performed practice of meditation.
The general principle that ensures gaining of the fundamentals necessary for successful spiritual growth is karma yoga — service to God manifested as help provided to people in everything that is good, without expectation of reward, i.e. without self-interest. Instead of having self-interest, one must understand God's interests: He is interested that we evolve positively and dedicate our lives to helping Him in this.
Living according to this principle is the best way to develop such Divine qualities as Love, Wisdom, and Power.
And this way of life provides us with the best conditions for receiving help from God.
How does God help us in our development?
First, He gives to all people instructions on how to live righteously, which are recorded in the holy scriptures.
Second, when necessary He sends to us certain spirits or brings us to certain people who help us find correct decisions.
Third, He Himself takes part in it — guiding us, showing the way, advising, and teaching. He performs this through His Brahmanic Manifestations, Who are called collectively Brahman or the Holy Spirit.
Now, where can one find Brahman, how can one see, hear, feel Him?
Brahman is a totality of the Creator's Manifestations, Who come out from His Abode to help embodied and non-embodied beings, plus the Consciousnesses of those embodied people (Highest Mahatmas) who have achieved oneness with Brahman.
Brahman is present inside and around our planet.
Having entered the lokas of purusha and prakriti, Divine Individualities can condense Their State to a certain level — in order to make it easier for the inhabitants of the corresponding loka to perceive Them. In other words, a Brahmanic Consciousness can exist in three states of different density that correspond to the three layers of the structure of the Absolute.
For example, Brahmanic Individualities can create Their giant anthropomorphic (i.e. resembling a human body) Forms (Mahadoubles). One can talk with Divine Teachers, Who accept such Forms, as with visible persons: one can see how expressions on Their faces change. They speak and use gestures to show and to explain different tasks. One can embrace Them, can merge with Them by entering the forms of Their energy Bodies.
Divine Teachers gladly present Their Mahadoubles for filling them with the consciousnesses of Their worthy disciples. It allows the latter to grow as a refined consciousness (chitta) most quickly and easily by moving gradually through the energy Body of the Teacher to the subtlest loka and merging there with Paramatman. This can be done most successfully at special places of power*****.
During the process of spiritual growth a disciple of God can cognize the Absolute in all lokas at both sides of the Mirror.
Having incarnated, we remain under constant supervision and guidance of God in the aspect of Brahman (the Holy Spirit), Who is not somewhere "high above", "in the sky", but is always present everywhere, in particular beneath the matter of our bodies — in the subtlest lokas. (This is emphasized several times in the New Testament.) And the distance to the Abode of the Creator, as Jesus said***, is not larger than the thickness of finest paper. And nothing happens to anyone without consent of the Creator.
Our task in this situation may look very easy: one just needs to learn to move to the depths of multidimensional space right here where the body is — and to reach the Abode of the Creator… But the problem is that one can come to the Abode only through secret passages, and the Creator reveals them only to His worthy disciples — i.e. to ethically pure and refined souls, who have demonstrated a fervent and sincere desire to cognize Him and to merge with Him. That is, we have to fall in love with Him and to prove that our love is steadfast.
What are the main obstacles on the way to the highest lokas? Krishna answered this question concisely****: egoistic sexual passion, anger, and greed — i.e. attachments to earthly things, coarse emotional states, and egocentrism.
And what does lead us to Him? It is cultivation of various aspects of love, refinement of the consciousness, and correctly performed practice of meditation.
The general principle that ensures gaining of the fundamentals necessary for successful spiritual growth is karma yoga — service to God manifested as help provided to people in everything that is good, without expectation of reward, i.e. without self-interest. Instead of having self-interest, one must understand God's interests: He is interested that we evolve positively and dedicate our lives to helping Him in this.
Living according to this principle is the best way to develop such Divine qualities as Love, Wisdom, and Power.
And this way of life provides us with the best conditions for receiving help from God.
How does God help us in our development?
First, He gives to all people instructions on how to live righteously, which are recorded in the holy scriptures.
Second, when necessary He sends to us certain spirits or brings us to certain people who help us find correct decisions.
Third, He Himself takes part in it — guiding us, showing the way, advising, and teaching. He performs this through His Brahmanic Manifestations, Who are called collectively Brahman or the Holy Spirit.
Now, where can one find Brahman, how can one see, hear, feel Him?
Brahman is a totality of the Creator's Manifestations, Who come out from His Abode to help embodied and non-embodied beings, plus the Consciousnesses of those embodied people (Highest Mahatmas) who have achieved oneness with Brahman.
Brahman is present inside and around our planet.
Having entered the lokas of purusha and prakriti, Divine Individualities can condense Their State to a certain level — in order to make it easier for the inhabitants of the corresponding loka to perceive Them. In other words, a Brahmanic Consciousness can exist in three states of different density that correspond to the three layers of the structure of the Absolute.
For example, Brahmanic Individualities can create Their giant anthropomorphic (i.e. resembling a human body) Forms (Mahadoubles). One can talk with Divine Teachers, Who accept such Forms, as with visible persons: one can see how expressions on Their faces change. They speak and use gestures to show and to explain different tasks. One can embrace Them, can merge with Them by entering the forms of Their energy Bodies.
Divine Teachers gladly present Their Mahadoubles for filling them with the consciousnesses of Their worthy disciples. It allows the latter to grow as a refined consciousness (chitta) most quickly and easily by moving gradually through the energy Body of the Teacher to the subtlest loka and merging there with Paramatman. This can be done most successfully at special places of power*****.
During the process of spiritual growth a disciple of God can cognize the Absolute in all lokas at both sides of the Mirror.
* * *
What are the criteria of self-check, so that one can correctly determine one’s own location in the multidimensional Absolute? The only tool which can help here is the ability to see with the eyesight of the consciousness. This ability is gained in the process of development of the spiritual heart, which moves to the depths of the Ocean of the Absolute and begins this path from the anahata chakra of the body.
By developing ourselves in this way we learn to see flame-like Consciousnesses of Divine Teachers — Holy Spirits. One of our tasks is to learn to be this living Light-Fire.
The Consciousness of Brahman is Perfect Purity. Having passed through the Mirror to the side of the Creation, It begins to look like Fire or subtlest Light.
Refined individual consciousnesses are also pure and light.
Astral souls are gray, and souls of the inhabitants of hell are black.
By developing ourselves in this way we learn to see flame-like Consciousnesses of Divine Teachers — Holy Spirits. One of our tasks is to learn to be this living Light-Fire.
The Consciousness of Brahman is Perfect Purity. Having passed through the Mirror to the side of the Creation, It begins to look like Fire or subtlest Light.
Refined individual consciousnesses are also pure and light.
Astral souls are gray, and souls of the inhabitants of hell are black.
* * *
Using their Atmic energy kundalini, which is stored in a special reservoir connected with the muladhara chakra, and gradually strengthening their presence (including self-awareness) in Brahman, having become one with Brahman, successful disciples of God get ready for the ultimate Mergence with Paramatman******.
Exploring the akasha lokas on the other side of the Mirror, we first perceive there a state of calm resembling the state of a soft southern starlit night; this is protoprakriti. If we go deeper, we perceive a "pre-dawn" state with "lightened sky"; this is protopurusha. And going even deeper — we perceive clear and pure Atmic Light, similar to the light of the morning sun*******.
It is only at the stage of development where the Absolute is cognized to the extent described above (i.e. when the disciple has cognized the highest loka, learned to merge with Paramatman and to live in the state of this Mergence) — only then it is appropriate to say that the disciple has achieved the stage of development called advaita (union with the Higher Self, with the Self of God and with the Absolute).
Exploring the akasha lokas on the other side of the Mirror, we first perceive there a state of calm resembling the state of a soft southern starlit night; this is protoprakriti. If we go deeper, we perceive a "pre-dawn" state with "lightened sky"; this is protopurusha. And going even deeper — we perceive clear and pure Atmic Light, similar to the light of the morning sun*******.
It is only at the stage of development where the Absolute is cognized to the extent described above (i.e. when the disciple has cognized the highest loka, learned to merge with Paramatman and to live in the state of this Mergence) — only then it is appropriate to say that the disciple has achieved the stage of development called advaita (union with the Higher Self, with the Self of God and with the Absolute).
* In Buddhism the term void has a different meaning.
** www.philosophy-of-religion.org.ua
*** Cullen B. (compil.) — The Book of Jesus. “Polus”, Saint Petersburg, 1999 (in Russian).
**** www.philosophy-of-religion.org.ua
***** www.new-ecopsychology.org, www.highest-yoga.info
****** The word Atman literally means “not-darkness” (i.e. Light). It denotes the Main Divine Essence of the human multidimensional organism. Atman is cognized through the methods of going depthward (as a consciousness) in the multidimensional space inside the developed spiritual heart.
Besides that, every person who has a sufficient experi-ence of previous incarnations, has also a personal reserve of Atmic energy. This energy is called kundalini. It has to be cognized and realized at a certain stage of the Path (www.new-ecopsychology.org, www.swami-center.org).
The word Paramatman (the Highest Atman) means the Self of Ishvara. (When an Avatar says “My Atman” He or She means Paramatman).
Atman is the Higher Self of human beings; Paramatman is the Higher Self of God. They are almost coessential. Cog-nition of Them and becoming established in Them means Mergence of the adept with God, the final Enlightenment, the full Self-Realization, attainment Divinity. This is the end of personal evolution.
******* This is the origin of the term Sun of God (Cullen B. — The Book of Jesus; see also websites www.philosophy-of-religion.org.ua and www.swami-center.org)
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