Spiritual Unity!

by Michael Ketterhagen

"Always visualize the soul as vast, spacious, and plentiful........

The sun at the center of this place radiates to every part.

God has given it such dignity.

This is your soul.

This is God-in-you.

This is your true self."

--Theresa of Avila, Catholic Christian Saint and Mystic

In conversation with Stella Storch at Mary and my 15th anniversary celebration as associates of the Congregation of St Agnes this past Sunday, Stella mentioned that she was grateful for my writing about the similarities between Christianity and Yoga. Often, when Christians view these traditions, a great tension occurs in their hearts because they see these two traditions as competing religions. However, when one looks at these powerful traditions as spiritual traditions and not religious traditions, then the comparisons become quite apparent and helpful in reducing the tensions that some Christians have when practicing yoga. First, yoga is a science and a philosophy, not a religion. Yet, both are spiritual traditions because each leads to mystical experience and union with God. They both can lead to the direct experience of God.

Each tradition believes, as Theresa of Avila states above, that our true self is our “soul,” the core of our being, the real presence of God in us. In yoga, that core self is called “atman” and is inseparable from our intellect (called “buddhi”) and our unconscious mind (called “chitta”). When we die, Christians say that their soul goes to Heaven or Hell or (if Catholic) Purgatory. According to the yogis, that soul (which is the union of the unconscious mind and intellect—the buddhi and chitta—with atman), goes into another life (is reincarnated) or experiences eternal bliss with the Source of Life (called Ishvara). From either the Christian or the Yogic perspective of “after physical life,” we never die! We live forever!

Yoga teaches that it is possible to experience directly our core self. Of course, this is what Theresa of Avila is talking about. Her direct experience, like many other people who have mystical experiences, has pushed her to conclude that God is that “sun” within her. She knows through experience that her soul, that “vast, spacious, plentiful” space, is God in her and is her core self.

This is the same direct experience of many advanced yogis and yoginis as well.

It is the potential direct experience of all humans, according to yogis, yoginis and Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist monks and nuns who have separated themselves from the world. All it takes is a life of prayer and meditation, a life of solitude and deep desire to know God or themselves.

But my question has always been: “Can I experience this and still remain active in the “non-monk,” the “non-hermit” world? My yoga teacher Pandit Rajmani says, “Yes! Through the practice of Vishoka Meditation.”

Next week, starting Thursday morning for the next six weeks, I will teach “Vishoka Meditation” from 10 am to 12:30 pm in person at The Center. See https://www.fcsh.org/vishokameditation for more information and to register.

Right now, though, I must conclude two truths that are surfacing in my life:

“There is Spiritual Unity because The Spirit is One.”

“There is a path that can establish the awareness of that Unity of Life—the contemplative and meditative lifestyle.”

I pray to the divinity in you!