The Equinox (Volume III, Number I)

THE EQUINOX while at the same time his air of hopelessness is intensely funny—to the Guru. So we find in this verse that the final result, or something very like it, is given as a qualification antecedent to the starting point; as if one told a blind man that he must be able to see through a brick wall before re- gaining his eyesight. 16. Thou shalt not let thy senses make a playground of thy mind. Following on the tremendous task of verse 15 comes the obvious elementary piece of instruction which one gives to a beginner. The best way out of the dilemma is to take verse 15 ina very elementary sense. Let us paraphrase that verse. “Try to get into the habit of thinking of your mind and body as distinct. Attach yourself to matters of eternal impor- tance, and do not be deluded by the idea that the material universe is real. Try to realise the unity of being.” That is a sensible and suitable instruction, a kind of adumbration of the goal. It harmonises emotional and intellectual concep- tions to—that which subsequently turns out not to be reality. 17. Thou shalt not separate thy being from BEING, and the rest, but merge the Ocean in the deep, the drop within the Ocean. This too can be considered in an elementary light as meaning: “Begin even at once to destroy the sense of sepa- rateness.” 18. So shalt thou be in full accord with all that lives; bear love to men as though they were thy brother-pupils, disciples of one Teacher, the sons of one sweet mother. g2