GANESH BABA
Excerpts
1
CREA SADHANA
Once and Always
It’s said that when the student is ready, the teacher will come.
The day Ganesh Baba came, I was not ready. In fact, I was late. It was a
So, waiting in line to meet the teacher whom my friends Jayant and Roxanne Gupta brought from India, autumn sun slanting across the tables of the little café in Geneva, New York, I was completely unprepared for the sense of recognition I felt when our eyes met. I never imagined that his hand in mine would feel as familiar as my father’s, or that his face would be as recognizable as my own in the mirror. Once I met Baba, I knew I had always known him.
“Ah cha,” he said, smiling and wagging his head in satisfaction. “We meet again!”
It was true.
Two days later, Roxanne and Jayant brought Baba to visit our farmhouse in Ovid.
The first time Ganesh Baba came to our house in Ovid
Because he was only staying in upstate New York a few days before flying to California for eye surgery, and it might be my only chance to see him, I was eager to spend as much time with Baba as possible. He, in turn, tried to teach me as much as he could in the time we had.
The images and understandings that he passed on to me over that three-day period still serve as the lens through which I see life.
As it turned out, I spent three years instead of three days in close contact with Ganesh Baba. About halfway through that time, he decided that we should work on his manuscripts.
Baba traveled with three bags that contained all his posssessions: an old suitcase holding his kurtas and trousers, all orange, and a few books; a shoulder bag for his snuff, the insulin and syringes he used to keeps his diabetes in check, sugarless candies, a worn address book, and his current reading; and a small case of papers: his correspondence, three book-length manuscripts, and a stack of essays and notes.
He chose the manuscript called Crea Sadhana for our work together. Sadhana, which translates roughly to "spiritual practice," is his version of his own guru Sri Tripura Charan Devasharma's book, also titled Sadhana. The Crazy Wisdom of Ganesh Baba is the granddaughter of Tripura's Sadhana.
Read more of The Crazy Wisdom of Ganesh Baba here: The Crazy Wisdom of Ganesh Baba
The following excerpt is transcribed (and only slightly edited)directly from Ganesh Baba's manuscript, Sadhana.
Chapter IV
Eight Categories: the Universal Octave
The 4 Ps of Crea will create the conditions of O3, optimal operational order, of the Whole Man. In other words, our split, which is due to our apparent apprehension of the ‘duality’ between the ‘immanent’ and the ‘transcendent’ functions, is transcended by the unification of the individual with the universal. We often forget our wholeness, the totality of our being, in the hurly burly of our lives.
And that is the prime cause of our degradation and downfall in the world.
True Crea initiation is the induction of Infinity, the Spirit, the sowing of the ‘spark’ of the positive in our negative, existential, relative field.
Our bodies are the concentrated field of the relative. The player is the positive Purush or eternal Spirit. Crea recreates that lost spirit and galvanizes the ego into absolute and unselfish action. It is the positivity of the spirit that will neutralize the negativity of nature, or Prakriti. Crea is the simulation of ‘Cosmic Action.’
‘Cosmic Action’ is based on Cosmic Harmony, the Universal Symphony, the orchestration of the “original Octave.” The whole gamut of Universal Harmonics is the resonant repetitive reproduction of the fundamental of the Prime Scale.
Fortunately for us, mortal humans, this Prime Octave Scale has its replica in the eight primary plexii of our central nervous system. Situated along the central line of the spinal column, they take the form of the eight chakras. The cosmic octave repeats in the celestial rhythm of the vibratory ‘Pronov’ (the sacred syllable, Om, Amen, Ameen, Hum, or any mantram you like.)
Synthesis is repeated ad infinitum to reproduce the infinite varieties by the infinite variation or rather the progressive propagation of the Fundamental Octave. This is the simple concept by which the One-without-a-second, the Cosmic Self, becomes manifold, the Diverse Universe.
In order to be harmonic, all vibratory motion has to follow this scale of “Octave” Harmonic (23 = 8): the natural musical diatonic scale. The vibratory motion or the undulatory movement, is not only the common way of musical sound propagation, but it is also found to be the means of propagation of almost all other cosmic entities like light, including all electro-magnetic radiation, and then bio-psychic, both sensory and extra-sensory: the five senses, smell, taste, touch, sight and sound, plus thought, conception and perception, making a full octave. Each of them, in their turn is also geared to octave harmonics in its fundamental functions. There exists an analogous ‘octave’ in the realm of ultra-concepts, the intello-conscious. The bio-psychic are in natural tune to the cosmic rhythm of the original ‘octave’ harmonized. So also are the intellect and the ego.
Our body reacts to that rhythm in music, to its plastic, rhythmic modulation or movement, while dancing. It is that high harmony or lack of it, which makes for distinction, discretion, and discrimination between pairs of existential or relative polarities – dyads of dualities, such as good and bad, likeable and unlikeable, every scale of music, sound, sight, smell taste, and touch.
The lilt of life, life-energy, the flow of vital vibrations, also follows the natural rhythm of octave harmonics. So also the ‘thought-waves’ or the modulations of mental energy, and intellect and ego also follow the same pattern of harmonics, the Universal Octave, the Music of the Spheres. Cosmo-mathematically speaking, the process proceeds by the cubing of the couple (23 = 8, the Octave), the Primal Polarities or Double Dualities. ‘2’ represents, fundamentally, the primest primordial polarity: Spirit and Nature. ‘3’ represents the three-phased distribution of the ‘Primal Power’ Principle: positive, negative, and neutral. The four ‘fields’ represent the four phases of the propagation or the four broad divisions of the Unified 4-fold Universe, U3. ‘8’ is the next term to 4 (22), i.e., 2 x 2 x 2.
This is the pattern of comic creativity or universal propagation. The non-dual Brahma, U3, has become the many-faceted, manifold relative phenomenal universe by this process of resonant repetitive reproduction of the Prime Harmonic Scale or the Original Octave, and it is by following back the sound-track of the Primal Notal Vibration (Pronov) that we relativistic beings may be enabled to reach back to the Absolute Source from whom we have evidently been rendered remote by the supreme multiplicative process of Cosmic Creation. Cosmic Evolution is the reverse of that: from One, it has become many, from many, we must evolve to One: U3-Integral.
By effective Crea-practice, the principles of body, life, mind, intellect, and ego are automatically welded into a homogenous, harmonious whole and are absorbed spontaneously into a crucial, critical, concord of Cosmic causality — for Crea-manipulation of Crea-Pranayam is “tuning in” to the natural rhythm of Cosmic action, as explained in the foregoing. This state is often involuntarily reached in deep sleep and is voluntarily recaptured in Crea-concentration. It is the chief aim of all esoteric spiritual techniques, i.e., to reach the state of timeless, eternal ‘Pure Consciousness’ in the ‘waking state’ or consensus consciousness. In the ordinary sleep state, the mind enters the subtle body, but in the simulated deep sleep of Crea, it enters the Causal Body.
This crucial concentration on the primordial images cannot be consummated unless the mind is initially brought to bear on the ‘rhythm of respiration.’ Breath is the outer expression of our psychosomatic pulsation or rhythm, and Pranayam is the scientific yogic technique of the harmonization of the ‘mind’ and ‘life’ pulses. It organizes the relative rhythms of life and mind and brings them into perfect unison with the streamlined motion of psychosomatic energy (Chitta Vritti Nirodha). Patanjali prescribes Pranayam (P2) as one of the 8 Ps, or ‘Prongs,’ of Astanga Yoga. He defines Pranayam as progressively increasing the gap between ‘inspiration’ (inhalation) and ‘expiration’ (exhalation). When synchronized with concentration at the ‘point of penetration,’ the Agyan chakra, Pranayam stimulates the pineal-pituitary complex; indeed, how Complex it is, we common people cannot even guess. But the 4 Fields do meet at a Common Focus, and when, by concentrated attention, the striver is ultimately able to fix his full mental attention at that spot between the eyebrows, he begins to gain intuitive knowledge of the reality of the so-called non-self, the dream world of 4-d ‘objects’ and ‘events.’ The Reality of Unity in Spirit then bursts forth.
The aspirant then perceives and is eventually pervaded by the Effulgent Cosmic ‘Light’ of Ultimate Reality: Cosmic Consciousness. It appears as a visible infra-optical impression of the indwelling ‘reality.’ That inner effulgence, Jyoti, is the radiance of pure consciousness. In initiation, the mentor ignites the ‘inner’ lamp of Divine ‘Light.’ Then it is up to the striver to recapture the ‘vivid vision’ of the ‘Aura of Atma’ as the sure sign of on-going Communion with Cosmic Consciousness, time and again, through appropriate Crea practice.
An effulgent ellipse of Cosmic Light called ‘the circle of the Sun’ is now within the range of easy visibility. This ‘Solar’ mandala, or projected ‘primordial image,’ is interspersed with an inner core of the condensed azureness or deep blueness of Absolute pure Space. The azure ‘enclave’ is the ‘Holy Sea,’ which Christ mentions in the Bible. It has, at the center, the ‘Cave of Consciousness,’ an intrusion of Cosmic Consciousness into the psycho-somatic field of evolved man, the projection of the absolute ‘frame of reference’ on the ‘field’ of relativity.
But that Absolute ‘frame’ is expected only to be a natural native of the Absolute ‘Plane’ and not of the relative field. In the relative plane of consciousness, it occurs as an occlusion, a small patch of illumined consciousness, the star-board to Infinite Reality. Dwelling one’s mind on that spot will drive away neiscience, expel maya, and flood the mind with pure spiritual awareness. Devoted disciples decipher it as the inner symbol of the Cosmic instructive principle, personified in the Personal Spiritual Preceptor, the Christ, or one’s personal Guru.
One’s personal preference for a particular person as one’s Guru, mentor or guide, is, of course, a psychic projection of that incipient Cosmic Principle, present as a potential in us all.
Crea initiation induces the inner effulgence and focuses it on the kutasth. Further practice concentrates the consciousness on the crucial azure blue circle of Light, the inner Sun. Indeed it is the projection of the ‘tube of Cosmic Consciousness’ into 5 and 6-dimensional bio-psychic space, analogous the electro-magnetic projection of a picture on a cinema screen. The orthogonal projection of the section of a tube is bound to be annular or ring-like. The tube is the “tunnel to Infinity,” in the apt phrase of Paramahansa Yogananda.
We must now map our route from Crea-initiation to Crea-culmination and delineate the details of the step-by-step action and evolving inner experience in the progressive spiritualization of the individual.
First, the grossness of our body-boundedness must be transcended. The subtler sheaths must be realized. An expanded life and greater absorption in the ‘Subtle,’ and then in the ‘Causal,’ realms of existence shall, progressively, divest the striver of his gross physical and bodily predilections, propensities and proclivities, popping up their heads from inside the repressed psyche, a process of progressive sublimation easily done through practice of the 4 Ps.
This will bring about the required ‘synthesis’, and reconcile man’s mad matter-mongering with solace in spirit. It will save us from an overdose of exclusive spirituality on one hand and an overdose of exclusive materialism on the other. Our ancestors were over-spiritualized and we are over-materialized. The balance has to be brought by ‘spiritualization of the material, or the secular’ and ‘practicalization of the spiritual.’
The Absolute has reproduced itself in this relative universe in various forms. One has become many. She plays the various variety of notes by tonal adjustment or juxtapositions of the 8 tones of the Original Creative Octave. So, following back along the prime octave with the differential manifestations of the three-phased Pronov, (A U M, 1, 2, 3), we shall eventually be re-related to our Absolute Frame of Reference, our Self.
This is the culmination of spiritual striving. Once this reunion or yoga is effected, one is put in direct ‘hot line’ contact with the unmanifest Inner Consciousness, Christ Consciousness. Keyed to Crea, the contact becomes constant and concentrated and nothing detracts from Communion with Absolute unity in Existence-Consciousness-Bliss (Satchitananda). The causal body contains the crux, the essence of existence, concentrated happiness, the perennial pleasure principle. Entering that body, the striver sheds all sorts of sorrow: fear of senility and death, the worst detractors of inner calm and happiness. A blissful repose, a spiritual relaxation and release is the result. All tensions are toned down or die completely; all clamors and conflicts cease in the dawning of the divine in the descending cascade of anand, bliss.
Beyond this there is the Monotonic scale of Brahma Akshara, the single unmanifest Prime Note or potential pre-creative vibration out of which all notes have been manifestly modulated. We are products of such multiple manifestations of that single primal vibration. The duality of the distonic is thus reduced to the unity of the monotonic scale. This state of complete union or Purna Yoga is realizable only in a state of Nirvikalpa Samadhi or Unconditioned Supra-conscious Coexistence with Cosmic Consciousness. The Divine descends to keep his appointment with the devotee, the tryst of the Eternal beloved with the Eternal Lover in us, the Ecstasy of Eternity and Infinity rolled into ONE! Thus is the monolithic Monity of Brahma, the Absolute, absolutely reached. This is Kaivalya, or one ONENESS in Supreme Spirit. You are the Spirit and not all you considered yourself all these years!
The experience of this state cannot, however, be realized through phenomenal thought-processes or activity of the mind, nor can they be expressed in the language of normal semantics, though favorable unifying thought and familiarity with the inner significance of the semantics can help. All Crea – especially pronov-mentation – has to be learned under an expert.
Pronov is the note behind all tunes, the rhyme behind all rhythm. Being the first phrase of Creative Vibration, the Sacred Sound, the ‘Holy Ghost,’ it represents the last phase of the return journey to the Absolute Source ‘immanent’ in man at the Kutasth or Christ Center, the third eye. Thus, combining Pronov (P4) and Pranayam (P2) at the Kutasth (P3) while sitting with a straight back (P1), does a Yogi practice Brahma Karma Samadhi, Co-existence with Existence.
