Volume 2 : Lights on the Teachings (2), Lights on the Ancients (2), Lights on the Fundamentals, Flame of White Light, The way of the Light
Volume 2 includes multiple books : Lights on the Teachings (2), Lights on the Ancients (2), Lights on the Fundamentals, Flame of White Light, The way of the Light.
Regarding the Vedas, some say that Ritual alone is the true meaning of it; some hold that the non-ritual interpretation alone is correct. In the Rig Veda Bhashya22 it is shown that the Ritual can be a means for reaching the deeper truths embedded in the Veda.
24 April 1949
The way of the Vedic sages does not seem to be through meditation. The constantly hymned interchange between men and Gods was founded on a transmission (not transfer) from father to the son, from the Guru to the disciple, of the power, the faculty to vision and to contact God. The Rik refers to the friendship, sakhya, that has come down for ages from forefathers; here naturally friendship, contact, includes the means to contact as well.
Meditation as a means may have been part of the preparation to equip oneself to receive the power from the Elders. Meditation came to acquire more importance only in later Upanishadic times as is evidenced in many passages.
18 August 1949
The Vedic Rishis lived in communion with the Gods; not figuratively but actually. The Mantras are records of their life with the Gods. None who has not had these experiences in life could write that way. It is a sin to touch these sacred documents if one does not understand or has no faith in this basis for the reverence in which they have been held from times immemorial. But anyone, be he a Christian, a Harijan or a Muslim, is competent to study the Veda if he has this faith in the sacred character of the Mantras and the sublime status of the Rishis. Not otherwise.
The Rishis were not merely great men. They were the Gods themselves who had taken human birth for the uplift of mankind. Such indeed were Vasishitha, Vishwamitra and the like.
4 October 1948
The conception of the universe as a gradation of planes was first popularised by the Theosophists and Sri Aurobindo accepted it. In the Upanishads the conception is globular, concentric. But in the Vedas the vision is vertical (not horizontal).
There is a good deal of confusion and absence of historical perspective in those who speak of the Vedic and Upanishadic sages looking upon the world as Maya. The concept of Maya—illusion—appeared prominently only at the time of Buddha and was later reaffirmed and given a firm standing by Shankara. There was no trace of it in the Upanishadic age which was prior to the Buddhist period by at least a thousand years and much less in the Vedic epoch which must have ended centuries earlier than the inception of the Upanishadic revival.
16 November 1949
One cannot expect guidance from an impersonal Divinity. That can only come from the personal God. It is a canalised centre of Divinity that can give a pointed response to your prayers and fulfil them.
Shiva-Shakti is much more than a symbol; it is an active principle of all manifested Existence. And if symbolic, then a living symbol in the life of a yogin.
8 January 1949
Krishna was conscious of his divinity from his very childhood; yet he kept up full interest in the doings about him. Usually one loses interest in these things when one is in that Status; but he maintained it.
5 October 1949
Sri Krishna's is a solitary instance in history where it was possible to retain constantly the God-consciousness and yet participate fully, wholeheartedly, in the affairs of the nation, social and political. Normally what happens is that the higher consciousness evolved in one suffers a relative eclipse, recedes somewhat behind, when thrown in the vortex of currents and cross-currents of public life.
20 April 1949
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was a nityamukta Purusha. He came for a purpose. That all religions are one, they all lead to the One Truth, is the Idea that was broadcast all over the world by him through Vivekananda.
10 June 1949
The one great distinction between Hindu religion and the other religions like Christianity, Islam, etc. is that while they say God is one, the Hindu religion affirms that He is one and many also. The many is as important and real as the one; that has been a fundamental tenet whatever the Vedantins may say in their attempt to reduce the gods to one God. From the Vedas to the Puranas, to the present day, this truth which was perceived by the Seers—Rishis who had the vision—lives with an unmistakable emphasis. The Gods are a fact.
19 January 1949
It is doubtful if in India, the feeling of common nationality and adherence to it is developed well enough to withstand the pull of regional allegiances.
13 February 1948
For centuries India has not known political unity, though there has been a cultural unity. Her freedom, the manner of her getting it is a miracle not wrought by human hand; the World War II had hastened its advent.
Our social structure served admirably well in the past under those limited and different conditions. Now it has to be radically altered, though some of its essential good elements could be preserved with profit.
27 December 1948
The great contribution of Gandhi to Indian history is that by his incessant activities over 30 years he created a situation in the country whereby the British found it difficult to continue as rulers. The World War (II) contributed effectively to the dissolution of the empire in India. The question whether the Freedom would not have been fuller and happier when it dawned had not Gandhi appeared on the scene is quite a different one. The fact stands that he had the largest following and wielded great influence and moral authority over men infinitely greater and taller than him in many respects.
17 September 1948
It looks as if the monster of Communism is preparing to swallow the globe. But a breach in its line is likely after the death of Stalin—which may be any day. A change of policy is sure to ensure resulting in a diminished vigour, if not a total suspension, for the international programme.
8 March 1949
The U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R. represent the two battling forces of capitalism and communism. They are to find their synthesis in India.
21 January 1949
India stands to gain without any real loss in any manner by continuing to be a member of the British Commonwealth.
25 January 1949
It is a striking commentary on the type of the British race that even at the heyday of their material prosperity, they did not care to develop their finer side of life. Theirs was the way of aggrandisement of the vital and the physical. What a contrast India at her best offers? With plenty of riches, plentitude of peoples and lands, India developed to the highest her cultural and spiritual life side by side with the life of material enjoyments.
10 February 1949
The facet of the globe will undergo substantial changes within five years. India will occupy a pivotal position in the affairs of nations.
8 June 1949
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