COSMIC CONSCIOUSNESS TO UNITY CONSCIOUSNESS - VASISHTAS

COGNITION, MALLORCA, 3 APRIL 1971

Maharishi: Cosmic Consciousness itself is a state of enlightenment, because the infinite
unboundedness has already been gained. But because there is some thought of opponent,
some opposite is there - the infinity is there, the Self is there and the non-Self is there. The
non-Self is there to challenge the validity of the infinity of the Self. Then the Self, very
kindly, very quietly starts to infuse its non-changing value. And this the teaching says
is the cognition of Vasishta - this cognition of the transformation of the state of Cosmic
Consciousness into the value of unity, this is the cognition of Vasishta, in the seventh
mandala of Rik Veda.
And he cognizes how the mechanics of development of Cosmic Consciousness into the
value of unity becomes intellectual clear. This cognition of the reality, how does the state
of enlightenment in Cosmic Consciousness rise to unity, how does it rise?
First Vasishta sees the status of Cosmic Consciousness, the reality and non-reality - the
never-changing Self and the ever-changing non-Self. Both stand before each other,
envying each other. It is a matter of envy. The ever-changing - ever-changing means non-
existent. Relativity has a very peculiar structure to it. It has a structure in ever-changing
structure. That is why we say phenomenal, it is just phenomenal, nothing substantial.
This phenomenal value has its own dignity in the variety of creation, so much and so much
and so much. Such huge variety, from intense darkness of midnight to bright days sun.
And all the changing values of light, from this and this. This and the evenness,
unboundedness, eternity of the Self - both stand side by side envying each other.
Envy is such a beautiful quality. Someone envies the other in order to gain his status. If I
were like that, this is envy. It is not craving (?) or anything, no negativity, envy. I envy
your position, If I were to rise to your position. Envying is to gain the other status.
The Self and non-Self stand face to face, envying each other. Now, who will envy? Both
will envy. It is out of some basis of envy that the unmanifest, unbounded, eternal Being
desired to manifest itself into the multiple variety of creation. That is the basis of envy. I
am alone, may I be many. And here came the thrill (le frisson) and started the variety of
creation. The entire creation is born of the basic and yet hidden value of envy, Could I be
many. And then it started to be many.
This is the envy, that means the unity wants to enjoy itself in the structure of the
multiplicity. This is the basic value of the envying quality of life - the Self, the absolute
unboundedness envies. Envies whom? One could only envy the other. The Self could only
envy the non-Self. And the non-Self could only envy the Self, because there is no fun in
always changing, changing. You know how much headache it is to change [laughter].
Change is undesirable. If it were we could not change. So the ever-changing nature of
relativity envies the never-changing, infinity, unboundedness, the unbounded dignity of
Being. Both envy each other. Here they stand. It is such a beautiful and characteristic
description of Cosmic Consciousness. It characterizes the value on this side and on this
side. In one word envying, face to face, they envy each other.
This is the state of enlightenment, but then for whom? Every word of this hymn is a world
of teaching in itself. For whom this thing happens, that the Self and non-Self, they stand
each other - the actual word is reality and non-reality, sat and asat, for whom? For him
who seeks for a more glorified state of enlightenment. This (Cosmic Consciousness) itself
is a state of enlightenment, because one has risen out of the grip of action. One has risen to
eternal freedom. The Self has been gained as all permeating pure Being. In waking,
dreaming and sleeping consciousness, that transcendental awareness, that unbounded
awareness, uninvolved awareness continuously remains established.
If someone does not aspire for a more glorified state of enlightenment (Unity
Consciousness), then there is no vision of the Self and non-Self envying each other. The
envy is only for the sake of progress, evolution, fulfillment.
Wherever there is lack of fulfillment, there is that vision of envying. The Self will only
envy the non-Self - the Self will never envy the Self. One doesnt envy oneself, one only
envies the other. So, as long the non-Self is there, there is a chance for the Self to envy.
And as long as there is the Self, there is a chance for the non-Self. As long as the non-Self
has not gained the glorified state of the Self, so long there is a chance for the non-Self to
envy on the Self, on the non-changing, eternal value of the Self.
But for whom? Only it is for one who is seeking for, desiring for the more glorified state
of enlightenment. If one doesnt desire, if there is no - it is a very beautiful thing - if there
is no next goal, then there is no sense of the Self and non-Self envying each other. The
envy is only for the sake of fulfillment, for the sake of progress, for the sake of more and
more. If there is no information about anything more to be gained, then there is no sense of
envying.
If someone feels Oh I am the same during waking, dreaming and sleeping, and I am that
non-changing reality - by experience one knows I am that. And if that one considers to be
the end of achievement, then there is no question for the Self and non-Self to feel the sense
of envy on each other; only for someone who desires for greater achievement.
And then how the greater achievement is gained? The mechanics of it is cognized by
Vasishta. Very clearly he sees the Self supplies his nectar, his Soma, his immortality to the
ever-changing feature of the relative life. This means what? The ever-changing value of
relative life is supplied the ray of infinity. And this ray of infinity is spontaneous, is the
natural vision of unity - is the radiation of that unified state of consciousness, that means
the radiation of Being, the vision of Being. It is the vision of Being that locates or enlivens
Being at every junction of the gap between existence and non-existence.