1.4.2 mysticism

Tonight I will speak on the process of the exploration of the inner science, a science which requires much thought. You know, a man may say, I am very interested in the occult sciences, I have read ten books on the subject, I have attended twenty lectures by prominent people whose names are well known. Such a boy may find that he has gotten a credential in occult science but does he know the occult science? No, no, no, he does not know the occult science. To know the occult science you do not need a credential, you need practical experience. It is through practical experience that a man may come to know the occult science.

You know, if you wish to know something there are different approaches to knowing it. You may use the approach of saying "I will think about it, I will contemplate it". You may use the meditative approach and ideate upon the topic, attempting to get direct experience. Or you may use the intellectual approach, you may read some books, you may attend some lectures. Or you may simply use the third hand approach and listen to others who have attended the lecture. Whatever approach you may use, the approach must have a practical value, a practical methodology. So it is best not to use the third hand approach, "I heard from so and so therefore it must be true. This is not a practical approach. What is your practical experience? Only you have talked to someone, this is not practical. Likewise the intellectual approach is not practical. You have heard the lecture but unless you have contemplated within yourself, it is of little value. It is external. So, if you want to have a practical approach, you will have to practice, you will have to explore the topic at hand.

So, if you want to know about the occult science, that is to say the science of mystical experience, you will have to experiment in the laboratory of your mind. You will have to set up an experiment. You will need to establish criteria. You will need to establish methodology, you will need to practice in a systematic fashion until there is a substantive change. So, if you want to know the occult science, you use the practical methodology and you search in the laboratory of your own mind for the Infinite Entity. You search in the laboratory of your own mind for the secret jewels hidden within the mind, within the heart. Otherwise, you will be running here and there. You may go to Calcutta, you may go to Bombay, you may go to London, or new York, it does not matter. You may go to Mecca. It is only a long journey. They are all long journeys and for what end? To hear the speaker, to see the holy spot, to attend this lecture. No, no, no, this may be helpful, it may be not helpful, it depends but there is no substitute for the internal exploration done in your own home, in your own mind, in your own laboratory, in you. It is a scientific pursuit, the occult pursuit. It requires scientific experimentation. You must experiment by practicing the practical approach in a methodical fashion, and that way you can get measurable results. So you do not become a true believer, you become instead a scientist, a scientific individual, an open minded individual who will perform a practical experiment and observe the results. So this occult science is not simply a mystery. It is not philosophical, it is practical and scientific.

The science of mysticism is a very ancient science. It has been explored for some 12000 years at least and, I think before then by the human race which inhabits this particular place. It has been explored for many millions of years by other races in this galaxy. But for this particular race, there has been some 12000 years, at least, that the occult science has been practically explored.

Now, through practical exploration those ancient peoples have found some very significant findings. They have not theorized to get these findings, they have experimented in the laboratory of the mind and they have observed practical changes. You see the Yogi is a practical man, is a practical woman. The Yogi is one who is a scientist, a practical person. He is not a philosopher, he is not an intellectual, he is not a gossiper, he is a practical person. So, he is is very scientific in the approach to the mind. As a result, the mind is explored. The conscious mind learns to perceive the subconscious and the unconscious mind. Thus the light of consciousness is shined in the darkness of the unconscious and that unconscious, when lit up, turns to be a great treasure house filled with jewels of all nature.

When the light of the conscious mind is shined in this cavern, then all of these treasures become visible to you. They always existed, only they were not visible to you because you have not shined the light of consciousness on them. You have been too busy shining it in the world, looking for this and that pleasure, looking for this and that reward, running from this and that fear. You have been so busy, you have forgotten who you are, you have forgotten what you are and you have not taken a practical approach.

Now, you have the opportunity as a human being to take the practical approach to understanding the mind. So, when the opportunity arises, you grab it. You grasp it and you do not let go. You snatch the opportunity and take it while it is awaiting you so that you may know the Infinite Entity and the path of mysticism for yourself. Now, I think I have said sufficiently for tonight.