(c) John, Rekesh 2004-2008. No part of this work may be copied or reproduced without the author's permission
The Cosmic Human Being
Also called 'the awakened one', the cosmic human being represents the next evolutionary stage for most individuals of the human race.
It represents a stage where the personality anchored to the body becomes simultaneously aware of its own greater Being and beyond, and is able to function in multiple realms simultaneously without impediment. Such a state of functioning requires a purging of those attributes which usually block this greater awareness from the personality - mainly the contents of the subconscious. The composition of the subconscious has a powerful effect on the waking consciousness and how the mind/emotion/body complex functions. Once the subconscious is cleansed, the
Earth Connection is able to fully function and integrate the earth-bound personality tightly into its greater Being. If this integration is forced without the benefit of a cleansed subconscious, any awakening experiences are bound to be of a temporary nature. Such attempts of integration are commonly found in many spiritual practices. They also carry a danger of the personality being 'addicted' to the notion or experiences of this integration, forgetting or disregarding the purposes for which it came in the first place.
The process of true awakening has been detailed in hidden and subtle ways in many of the scriptures that have been given to man. The Judeo-Christian Bible is one for example. In narrating events surrounding the exodus of Israelites from Egypt, Moses simultaneously describes, in allegory, the awakening process that happened to him personally, including his trials and the purging of his subconscious. The chapter 'Exodus' (in The God Principle book) explores his message succinctly and therefore the content need not be repeated here. Instead, another example from a far eastern religion is covered. The example in this case is the Hindu god Shiva, or rather, the
allegoric Shiva.
While traditionally considered to be 'the destroyer', the imagery of Shiva is potent with symbolism of the awakened one. Shiva is depicted as a meditating human being in yogic posture, with the Earth Connection awakened (i.e. kundalini and chakras fully functioning). The earth energy is represented by an ornamental snake on his head or neck (or both). Force or energy when transmitted has a wave nature at some frequency, and the closest live thing in nature to a wave or sinusoidal pattern is found in the slithering snake. Hence the snake has been used extensively in religious depictions as a symbol of raw force or energy, whether for good or for evil.
On the crown of Shiva's head is shown a fountain, depicting the awakened crown chakra which resembles one. There is also a crescent moon on the head. Moon symbolizes the subconscious (see chapter 'Sea'). A very thin moon, the crescent, symbolizes a subconscious that has been purged of everything negative, retaining only the positive, which is a small fraction of the whole. On his crown descends grace from above, a stream of energy that is allegorically called Ganga. It is typically on the crown of the head that a blessing or grace from above is bestowed. The illumined ones function as a channel for these energies, stepping down the heavenly 'Ganga' to earth for the benefit of the human race. It is grace that destroys 'sin' or lessens burdens imposed by the laws of retribution. Hence there is a belief among religious Hindus that by bathing in the river Ganga (also known as the Ganges) one's sins are removed.
Further, the name 'Shiva' literally means purity or the pure one
(1).The throat chakra is called 'Visuddhi' chakra, of purity. Hence Shiva's throat is special and he is called 'neela-kantha' or the blue throated one, blue symbolizing divinity. He is able to take in and transmute the worst of evils. This is again symbolized in a story of Shiva wherein he is able to drink the terrible poison 'Halahala', which is then stopped at his throat, turning the latter blue. The throat chakra is also where the snake is usually depicted as curled around. His third eye chakra destroys 'kama' or bondage to materialism through the fire of illumination or true vision. The illumined ones destroy ignorance, bondage and evil within themselves. Shiva is a destroyer of evil in the sense that he transmutes it.
Shiva is also pictured as holding a trident. On this trident or usually next to it, is illustrated a small drum that he carries. The drum stands for rhythm, which marks its vibrations in time, or rather,
Time. The depiction illustrates that the illumined ones choose to stay back in Time and in Duality for the benefit of those who are still evolving through Time, Good and Evil. Of particular significance is a popular meditative chant invoking Shiva, called 'Shivoham'. The term literally means 'I am Shiva'; not that the meditator is the god or being called Shiva, rather he or she is calling to oneself a state of Being. The allegoric Shiva can thus be seen to represent the awakened cosmic human being.
It must be realized that the subconscious, though seen as an impediment for this awakening, is part and parcel of the personality and its greater Being. It contains much by way of collective life experiences that have been ignored or suppressed for a variety of reasons (see chapter 'Sea'). A lot of its contents have no direct meaning at higher levels and therefore must be dealt with at the earth level of experience before they can be fully released. Hence it is common enough for ardent spiritual seekers to go through, at some point in their lives, a phase known as 'the dark night of the soul'.
(1) If nothing, the allegoric Shiva signifies the overarching importance of purity on the spiritual path. Purity of intent, of feeling, as well as of body.