The well-known novelist Herman Melville, who authored Moby Dick 170 years in the past, made this fascinating assertion:

Life is a voyage that’s homeward sure.

From a yogic perspective, was he right? What do you suppose enlightened yogis would say? In the event that they agree, then what sort of a journey is this life? And what precisely does dwelling imply? Additional, and maybe most essential of all— How can we get there, and is it attainable to get there extra rapidly?

Residence, in actual fact, yogically talking, will not be a spot. Swami Kriyananda writes in one in every of his songs:

House is my coronary heart’s land. Residence’s the place I’m. Nothing can dim the sunshine of my soul.

Residence then, we are able to say is a state of consciousness—a state of being.

Paramhansa Yogananda explains that human beings expertise 5 particular states of thoughts. All of us journey via these states on an inside journey that takes us from darkness to mild, from phantasm to illumination, from ego to soul, and from a overseas land to our true everlasting dwelling.

FIVE STATES OF MIND

Only for illustration and enjoyable, we’ll take an inside practice trip representing the journey of life to discover these 5 states of thoughts. We’ll make stops at 5 stations. Every cease will clarify and make clear these completely different states of thoughts.

Are you prepared? Then, please take your seat. Your practice trip is about to start out. Do you hear the whistle? Fasten your seat belts! Let’s go!

Look across the practice automotive. You aren’t touring alone. There are numerous different folks on the practice with you. In actual fact—everyone seems to be touring with you!

First station: HAPPINESS

Our practice is stopping after a pleasant lengthy trip on the first station. This station is named HAPPINESS. In actual fact, everyone seems to be disembarking and having a beautiful time.  Take a very good look. Everyone seems to be certainly joyful.

Take a look at that man over there—He had a robust need for a really fancy and quick automotive that he acquired, so he rejoices. The individual subsequent to him bought a elevate and out of the blue has a lot, far more cash. See how he smiles! Take a look at the following individual: He simply had a stimulating sexual expertise and feels absolutely glad.

Then, have a look at that girl over there: She is celebrating the nice success of her mission at work. The man at her aspect simply had a dream trip and he’s nonetheless completely thrilled about it.  There’s one other fellow close by: He’s light-headed, giddy, and joyful. He has loved a bit an excessive amount of wine. Proper beside him, you see somebody who simply reached their aim and he’s simply jubilant. One other joyful individual to look at is the individual over there celebrating the victory he simply had at his favourite sports activities membership.

On this station, everybody has one factor in frequent: a need has been fulfilled that has given them happiness. That is the primary way of thinking.

Let’s get again on the practice and see the place it takes us subsequent!

Second station: SORROW

The practice strikes on and lo, we’re approaching the station. The subsequent station is named SORROW. Go searching as you exit the practice.

Everybody right here is gloomy. That brand-new automotive broke down. The cash is gone and poverty awaits. That sexual expertise will not be obtainable anymore however the thirst for it stays. Every part at work is chaotic and has failed. After the fantastic trip, the gray, dry routine settles in as soon as once more. The enjoyment of wine turns into an incapacitating hangover and the sports activities membership has misplaced closely.

You will note gloom, unhappiness, frustration, and sorrow in all places at this station. Everybody right here has one factor in frequent—a need that has been unfulfilled or contradicted now brings sorrow. That is the second way of thinking.

The practice of life strikes forwards and backwards between these first two stations. The station HAPPINESS is adopted by the station SORROW and vice versa, regularly. Everybody who goes to 1 station additionally has to go to the opposite. It’s at all times a round-trip ticket for everybody.

Third station: INDIFFERENCE

Generally the practice stops in between these two stations. That cease is the third one. It’s referred to as INDIFFERENCE. Let’s get off the practice, take a stretch, and observe how the persons are right here.

Once we ask round, ‘Are you content? Do you’re feeling content material?‘ The reply is at all times the identical: ‘No.’  And once we ask, ‘Are you unhappy?’ The reply is mainly the identical ‘No.’

On this third station, the persons are within the center. They’re neither within the desired station of happiness nor the terrible station of unhappiness. These folks discover themselves in an intermediate hole – a impartial state of indifference. Additionally it is a station that may foster boredom. Life right here is uninteresting, switched off, indolent, and uninteresting.

Let’s leap again on the practice once more and get away from right here! Let’s see what occurs on the subsequent station on the journey of life.

 Fourth station: PEACE

Our practice strikes on. There’s a new station in sight. It’s referred to as PEACE. We’ll get off the practice and see what the way of thinking is for the people who find themselves right here.

What we uncover is that this: The folks listed here are experiencing an absence of fluctuations between sorrow and pleasure in addition to detachment and tedium.

View from practice window between stations!

This fourth station is a really fascinating cease. It’s peaceable, restful, and pleasurable. Folks expertise serenity right here. After the tumultuous trip lurching forwards and backwards between ache and pleasure together with intermittent stops on the station of indifference, the passengers who arrive right here profoundly benefit from the calm state of tranquillity and inside peace.

 On this station, everybody has one factor in frequent: They’re centered in themselves, much less worldly, and possess a optimistic, clever, and balanced mind-set.  The folks listed here are serene, poised, safe, and accepting of no matter is.

Curiously, this station additionally is only one cease on the journey. Observe the folks intently: One thing deep inside them remains to be eager for one other vacation spot. They sense there’s something extra.  We heard somebody ask, ‘Is that this all we are able to attain? Is that this all life gives?’  Another person was heard to ask, ‘That is good however isn’t there greater than peace?’

These ideas percolate up from a soul reminiscence. One thing is reminding them that there’s something else deep down for all of them to recollect.

This a lot is true: After so many turbulent intervals on life’s journey, this peaceable situation is most welcome. Nevertheless, after a sure time of peaceable enjoyment, we’ll get this suggestions: ‘Someone, please hit me within the head so I can really feel that I’m nonetheless alive!’

In actual fact, this state of peace is just a state through which pleasure has been neutralized. It’s not lastingly satisfying. So, let’s hop on the practice once more and head to the final cease – our ultimate vacation spot!

Fifth station: BLISS — EVER NEW JOY!

Wow! Go searching. There are just a few folks left on the practice now. These are those that really need a deeper life, a better life, a lifetime of the soul. The practice will take us on to the final and most fantastic station. It’s referred to as BLISS — EVER NEW JOY.

Final cease! Everyone off!

We uncover one thing completely superb: Everybody right here has discovered true and lasting pleasure by contacting God in deep meditation and associated methods given by the Enlightened Ones.

One girl ecstatically defined her expertise: ‘Think about that for ten days you weren’t permitted to sleep however have been compelled to remain awake, after which allowed to go to sleep. The enjoyment you’re feeling at that second, multiply it one million occasions, and it could nonetheless not describe the enjoyment that I’m talking about.’

One other individual says: ‘Right here you discover a pleasure you’ll by no means half with, even when the entire world is obtainable to you in trade. Cash, intercourse, wine—nothing can match that supreme pleasure.” One other individual provides: “It’s an ever-burning radiance in your personal soul.’  One other individual blissfully testifies: ‘This ever-new pleasure stays along with your soul all through eternity.’

Alas, most individuals on the planet have traveled solely to the primary 4 stations. They know solely these first 4 states of thoughts which are the domains of the ego. They have no idea that fifth state, which is of the soul.

The practice of life takes us to the final and highest station solely by working towards every day silence. In actual fact, that bliss and ever-new pleasure can solely be attained by perceiving God in inside stillness.

In reality, all of us do keep in mind that fifth, supreme station, that state of bliss. How is that this so? As a result of there was a time once we have been excellent. It’s for this long-lost perfection that we yearn as a result of we’re all youngsters of God.

The practice of life will ultimately take us all dwelling. It’ll take us to that final and superb station of ever new pleasure.

This brings us again to Herman Melville’s quote:

Life is a voyage that’s homeward sure.

That house is Bliss. We get there faster with meditation. The journey can be even sooner if we apply efficient meditation methods.

The practice of life will take you to the station of true and ever new Pleasure often known as Bliss. The promise is that this: when you can retain that state all the time, it doesn’t matter what occurs in life, you’ll stand unshaken amidst the crash of breaking worlds.

Isn’t {that a} spectacular aim? Isn’t {that a} marvelous station and vacation spot to achieve? Whenever you arrive ultimately on the station of Bliss — Ever New Pleasure, you’ll really be HOME!