Seeing Ourselves in a New Light

Meditation helps us to acquire that inner peace and serenity which gives, not necessarily a life of joy, but joy in life. Such joy is available and close at hand. The non-dual teaching is that our innermost Self, our ‘I’, when truly understood, is the source of joy. Therefore joy is to be sought within our own being and not outside, and there are elements in our personality which even now are conducive to the revelation of that joy.

We need to see ourselves in a new light, and be convinced, intellectually, emotionally and intuitively, that the treasure we are seeking—the light of higher knowledge—is innate within our own being, and needs to be uncovered or released, not created anew. 

There is bliss at the heart of human experience. It is close to the surface of the mind in early childhood, and seems, then, to be a natural condition, unless inhibited by pain, fear or hunger. But time passes and conventional influences shape our thoughts. The sense of being at one with all is replaced by the urge to possess and compete. Such considerations become habitual and steal away our joy, so that hardly anything sparks our genuine appreciation.