East & West Not So Different! "The Holy Science," by Swami Sri Yukteswar

East & West Not So Different! “The Holy Science,” by Swami Sri Yukteswar

"The Holy Science," by Swami Sri Yukteswar

otqtxwmy October 7, 2023

Why Read It

From the book’s introduction: “The purpose of this book is to show as clearly as possible that there is an essential unity in all religions; that there is no difference in the truths inculcated by the various faiths; that there is but one method by which the world, both external and internal, has evolved; and that there is but one Goal admitted by all scriptures.”

Sri Yukteswar was one of India’s brightest lights, and this short treatise is the only work he left the world in book form. Sri Yukteswar was convinced that the apparent conflict between the world’s major religions was an unnecessary cause of immense psychological and material suffering, so he put this work together to demonstrate that key scriptures in the Hindu and Christian traditions are communicating the same indivisible, timeless spiritual truth.

Overview

“The Holy Science” by Sri Yukteswar Giri serves as a bridge between Eastern and Western spiritual philosophies, highlighting the deep-rooted similarities between the teachings of the Bible and the Bhagavad Gita. At the heart of the text lies the concept of Yuga cycles, which posits that humanity undergoes cyclic spiritual and material progressions, characterized by distinct periods or ages. As humanity navigates these cycles, there is a discernible evolution of consciousness, with periods of ascension leading to greater spiritual understanding and periods of descent leading to a more material focus. Delving deeper into spiritual concepts, the book touches upon the human spiritual anatomy, elucidating the roles of chakras and the significance of the spinal column in spiritual awakening. Ultimately, Sri Yukteswar outlines the spiritual path toward enlightenment, emphasizing the goal of merging the individual soul with the overarching universal spirit, a tenet foundational to the core of many religious traditions.

Key Takeaways

Harmony of Religions: Sri Yukteswar emphasizes the essential harmony between the core teachings of the Bible and the Bhagavad Gita, suggesting that all great religions share a unified truth.
Yuga Cycles: The book introduces the concept of Yugas — cyclic ages that dictate the spiritual and material development of humanity. These cycles consist of ascending and descending periods, with each Yuga having distinct characteristics.
Evolution of Consciousness: In line with the Yuga cycles, human consciousness is described as evolving over vast periods, with spiritual understanding advancing in ascending cycles and receding in descending ones.
Spiritual Anatomy: The text delves into the inner spiritual anatomy of humans, discussing concepts like chakras and the spine’s significance in spiritual realization.
Path to Enlightenment: Sri Yukteswar details the spiritual journey, emphasizing the ultimate goal of realizing the unity between the individual soul and the universal spirit.

Quotes

“Hindu Truth: God causes creation, inert Nature, to emerge. From AUM (the Word), come Kala, Time; Desa, Space; and Anu, the Atom (the vibratory structure of creation). Christian Truth: In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

“Man enjoys a thing when he so desires. At the time of the enjoyment, however, if he directs his organs of sense, through which he enjoys, toward the object of his desire, he can never be satisfied, and his desires increase in double force. On the contrary, if he can direct his organs of sense inward toward his Self, at that time he can satisfy his heart immediately. So the practice of the aforesaid Pratyahara, the changing of the direction of the voluntary nerve currents inward, is a desirable way to fulfill his worldly desires. Man must reincarnate again and again until all his earthly longings are worked out and he is free from all desires.”

“When man thus entering into the spiritual world becomes a Son of God, he comprehends the universal Light – the Holy Ghost – as a perfect whole, and his Self as nothing but a mere idea resting on a fragment of the AUM Light. Then he sacrifices himself to the Holy Ghost, the altar of God; that is, abandons the vain idea of his separate existence, and becomes one integral whole.”

“So long, however, as man identifies himself with his material body and fails to find repose in his true Self, he feels his wants according as his heart’s desires remain unsatisfied.”

“To whatever religious creed a man may belong and whatever may be his position in society, if he properly cultivates this ruling principle naturally implanted in his heart, he is sure to be on the right path to save himself from wandering in this creation of Darkness, Maya.”