At that particular juncture, our spiritual community had established a sanctuary in Mitzpe Ramón, a locale positioned in Israel’s southern expanses. Prabhuji, resided there alongside numerous disciples and learners. The community boasted three primary yoga centers along with the ashram. During this era, Prabhuji engaged in extensive meditation sessions with us, often spanning the entirety of the night.
And then, one morning, following a night dedicated to meditation, around five o’clock, Prabhuji initiated a transformative process without any prior preparation or indication of what was to ensue. It was during these instances that a profound amalgamation occurred with Prabhuji. This merging signified the unification of our presence with the boundless consciousness, becoming one entity with it, one entity with Prabhuji. At this moment, Prabhuji and I melded into a singular being. This experience wasn’t about witnessing something external to myself; rather, it was a deeply personal and pivotal event in my journey of spiritual regression and awakening.
For two reasons, this experience stands out as particularly impactful:
Firstly, it marked the inaugural moment I perceived the true fabric of reality, its essence, and my own inherent nature, which mirrors that of reality’s essence. There lies no distinction between the two. The external, the infinite backdrop, embodies the infinite consciousness, the boundless divinity, mirroring my inner self, my being, and that of every individual. This revelation was something entirely unknown to me prior.
It’s crucial to recognize that this insight does not emanate from conventional consciousness, from our repository of ideas, or from our sensory perceptions, thoughts, and emotions. Consequently, this experience transcends the realm of mind and cannot be associated with anything familiar or previously understood. It is intrinsically linked to what I am really are.
Secondly, this episode was profoundly transformative in my life, as it was the inaugural instance where I comprehended the dynamics of the Master/disciple bond. The Master, Prabhugi, having attained enlightenment, possesses the ability to convey the core of his experience, his essence, which inherently aligns with the disciple’s essence. The student is disciple on this profound, absolute, unconditional bond filled with love, akin to the necessity of air for breathing. Thus, a mystical union occurs where the souls of the Master and the disciple merge, enveloped in love. This enigma, the magical bond between teacher and student, defies comprehension and explanation; it simply exists and flourishes in silence and love.
To this day, the marvel of this mystical union astounds me—a phenomenon not meant to be dissected or elucidated, but rather embraced and nurtured. Hence, in the desert’s silence, enveloped in love, Prabhuji and I experienced unity in our beings for the first time. Hegel posits that the realization of being is a pre-philosophical state, suggesting that one can encounter the essence, the infinite consciousness, prior to engaging with philosophy, metaphysics, or theology. This encounter precedes any formal technique or methodological practice.