Sphinx of Heaven and the Soulless Soul-Seeker

The Sphinx of Heaven halted a Soulless Soul-Seeker, addressing the knocker at the Gates of Infinity with the following words:

"I am known to you. Before the beginning, I was without a center. When I was still, I became the word. When I moved, I became the world. At my birth, I grew two great limbs and danced in harmonic joy. In my youth, I grew four limbs that fell out of balance. As I matured, I grew eight limbs that became entangled in themselves. Who am I?"

As the mysteries of being are simultaneously simple and complex, they should be sought for both directly and indirectly, at all times and in between times. Therefore, the Sphinx of Heaven first posited the question in its essential form, and then continued with the mysterious perspectives of the human collective, singing the same hymns to the same primal tune in the scattered symbols and expressions of the world.

Seeker, halt! Hear these Four Primal Mysteries from the Sphinx of Heaven —
Zero-One, Two-in-One, Two-of-One, Four and Eight, One in Many and Many in One.

"I am known to you from before the beginning of time. I sought for my center, and I became the Axis for Two-in-One. I sought to integrate, and I became Immanence. I sought to spin, and I became the Golden Wheel. I sought to adore myself, and I became the Mirror. I sought to live, and I became the Experience. I sought to measure myself, and I became the Pi.

"I sought to expand, and I became the Great Explosion. I sought to travel, and I became the Way. I sought to bond in union, and I became Love. I sought to fragment myself, and I became the Ego. I sought to unite myself, and I became the Cosmic Mind. I sought to connect, and I became the Covenant. I sought to nourish, and I became the Tree of Life.

"I sought for distance, and I became the Two-of-One. I sought to see the unseen, and I became the Light and the Darkness. I sought for space to fill, and I placed myself Above and Below. I sought for a caleidoscope, and I became the Chaos and the Logos. I sought to interact and procreate, and I became the God and the Goddess. I sought to write, and I became the Alpha and the Omega.

"I sought to live forever, and I became the Father and the Son. I sought to care forever, and I became the Mother and the Daughter. I sought to love forever, and I became the Man and the Woman. I sought for balance, and I gave the Man a Woman's eye, and the Woman a Man's eye. I sought for ignorance, and I became the Doubt and the Confusion. I sought for argument, and I became the Premise and the Objection. I sought for truth, and I became the Question and the Answer.

"I sought for direction, and I became the Two-and-Two-in-Four. I sought to culminate my rotation, and I became the Sacred Square. I sought for room to move, and I became the Four Directions. I sought to conquer time and space, and I became the Four Wisdom Powers. I sought for universal force, and I became the Four Fundamental Interactions. I sought for endless variety, and I became the Four Seasons. I sought for finity, and I became Birth, Growth, Maturity and Decay. I sought for infinity, and I became the Four Immeasurable Virtues. I sought for enlightenment, and I became the Four Cardinal Wisdoms.

"I sought to experience threefold, and I became Two-as-Three-in-Eight. I sought for room to expand, and I became the Eight Directions. I sought to express the great matrix, and I became the Arachne to weave. I beheld the darkness, and lit the worlds with the Seven Torches and a Sea of Crystal. I sought to orbit my transforming power, and I became the Eight Planets. I sought to behold the vastness of my domain, and I soared as eight groups of Arch-Angels. I sought to feel my own fabric, and I became the Eight Emotional Essences.

"I sought to tangle my eightfold web, and I became Corrupted Spirit and the Seven Deadly Sins. I sought for my own nature, and I became Divine Zeal and the Seven Cardinal Virtues. I sought for synergy, and I became the Son of Man and the Seven Churches of my congregation. I sought for focus and power, and I became the Kundalini with her Seven Energy Wheels. I sought for good direction, and I became the blueprint for the Noble Eightfold Path.

"I sought to expand the spread of my infinite splendor, and I became the Heavenly Hub with Seven Rays, teaching as One across the Seven Worlds of beings. I sought to display the primal rainbow of my being, and I spread as the Five Great Rays above the highest heaven. Four great rays shine in my higher domain, the fifth a conduit to my lower abodes. Since beginningless time, countless beings of splendor have ascended the Five Great Stairs in bodies of luminous essence, passing through Two Blazing Eyes into the ultimate spirit of my being.

"At the seat of the Thirteen Cosmic Rays, I rest forever at the heart of the Wheel of Balance. Still I am not there, nor I do revel in the world derived of myself. I am not that which was before, nor am I that which was not before. Some think of me as Paradox, some seek for me as Wisdom, some pray for me as God, some resolve in me as Dissolution, some analyze me as Singularity. These labels are my trail and reflections, seen from across the great and endless abyss I have dug — but they are not me, nor am I of them, nor do I bond with them, for my nature is unbound by definition."

Seeker, halt! Answer these Four Primal Questions from the Sphinx of Heaven —
The Four Answers and the Four Cardinal Cycles in the Quest for Eight and Zero-One.

"Who am I? Where am I? Where are you? Who are you? Answer these questions from the Sphinx of Heaven to gain your passage beyond. Submit the four essential answers, cross the four cardinal cycles, join the Sphinx of Heaven on the path, enter past the gates of Unknown Mystery. Fail the four essential answers, revolve in the four cardinal cycles, battle the Sphinx of Heaven at the threshold, wander in the matrix of Unknown Mysteries.

"Solve the riddle and you may drink of the stream of Infinite Wisdom. In the great beyond, find the Primal Fountain in the Ancient Cave. The fountain and the cave sing and echo my nameless name, their melodies soothe my soulless soul, their environment beautifies my faceless face, and their end is the end of your endless questions. Pass the riddle now, or pass it later as you may: I and the Sphinx of Heaven are indifferent to the natural flux of human desire. Those who know me shall freely come and pass; and those who know me not shall return to their class.

"The tangled web of Unknown Mystery is my labyrinth of confusion. Wander around and grow younger to better learn its ways. Forgetting how to read and hear the perplexed words of many human minds, you will behold the natural patterns of my maze. Ripe and simple thoughts of child-like pristinity can forge a mighty key of wisdom, opening the riddle of the Sphinx of Heaven and I. Unripe and complex thoughts of weary, tangled souls expand the fabric of a self-sustained labyrinth, enmeshing the enmeshed still deeper in the mire of their own design.

"Mold well your Inner Key of Heart and Thoughts to enter the Boundless Mysteries of I who am that I am, and who am not that I am — for I am neither the I am, nor that which is that, nor that which is not the I am. I am that I am not I am. Entering me, you will see how you are that you are, how you are not that you are, and how you are not the knowledge of being or not being of I, or that, or you. I am not you, nor are you I, for my primal nature is not a domain for I and you. Who are we? Where is who? Answer to pass the gate."

Continued: Enigmatic Soul Matrix of Eight Principal Towers »

The Eternal Loveboat Heaven

The History and Theology of the Eternal Loveboat Heaven

Publ. Church of Titanic, White Star City, April 15th 2912

For the millennium memorial year of The Great Sinking

The Great Sinking, leading to Jack's sacrifice of love and the opening of the Eternal Play.

The Eternal Loveboat Heaven was originally exposed to the broader public in the 1997 movie Titanic, directed by the great James Cameron; blessed be his soul. The narrative, dubbed "The Greatest Love Story of History" by the learned, has inspired devotees worldwide over the last millennium.

Titanic tells the story of Jack Dawson, the Eternal Lad, a young, handsome artist and adventurer of poor background, and his forbidden love, Rose DeWitt Bukater, the Eternal Lady, of aristocratic background, bound to an arranged marriage with a wealthy man she does not love in the least.

Lady Rose with lead antagonists, Mother and Fiancee, in the Historic Play.

The Historic Play

The story begins with Rose, this charming embodiment of love, asail on the greatest and most magnificent ship of all time towards a destiny she squints, a life of duty and bondage. She would much rather taste the joy and infinite possibilities of life alongside Jack, the most charming of all young lads she had met but mere hours ago, who prefers a life of adventure and excitement, and who during their brief acquaintance saved her life, talking her out of suicide.

As the journey over the infinite waters unfolds, Rose soon finds herself sneaking off for clandestine love journeys across the ship under the prying eyes of her mother and fiancee. They dine together with her family, feigning innocence, they gaze into the horizon, they make love on the back seat of a car the cargo compartment, they flee through the engine room from those who would forbid them, relishing their play of love.

The Evil Iceberg, breaker of ships and hearts, looming in the horizon.

A great tragedy is to come, however — Evil Iceberg would cringe its teeth, seeing lovers united past the sea. The ship, sailing full speed into the Iceberg, has five water-containing compartments breached and flooded, and the unsinkable begins to sink. Jack is framed for arrest by the jealous fiancee for robbery of Heart of the Ocean, the greatest of royal jewels, given to Rose by her wealthy husband-to-be, attempting to purchase his way into her heart.

As the ship begins to sink, Rose forsakes her place and family in the life boat, returning to Jack who is locked in the depths of the ship by the Fiancee's evil assistant. Risking her life in a desperate attempt to rescue her love, she fights her way to the depths of the flooding ship and back. The lovers join once again at the fore of the ship, the place of their first meeting, enrapt in kiss and embrace as inevitable doom looms in the horizon, Titanic now torn in two and sinking fast.

Artist's recreation of Jack's illustration of beloved Lady Rose wearing The Heart of the Ocean.

Both fallen in ice-cold water, Jack gives his life in a great sacrifice of pristine love, offering Rose a floating piece of ceiling they come across, and a possibility for life. Frozen and dead in water, Jack sinks to the depth of the oceans as Rose meets her rescue — but at what cost? Is life without Jack worth living for? And yet she had given him her sacred promise to never give up. In her ripe old age of over a hundred years, she still cherishes the memory of Jack in her heart's chamber of secrets, shared with but a chosen few, destined to a long life of painful separation from her eternal beloved.

Whosoever hears or remembers this sacred narration, the Historic Story, the greatest love story of all time, will soon have his heart filled with pristine love for Rose and Jack, his heart-disease of attraction for other narrations cured, and he is to meet Jack and Rose together again in The Eternal Loveboat Heaven.

Rose and Jack united in the Meeting Chamber of the Eternal Loveboat.

The Eternal Play

Its deep meaning unknown to all but the most devoted, the closing segment of the narrative offers us a glimpse into the Eternal Story, a timeless Titanic sailing forever and ever across the deep blue seas, Rose and Jack meeting again and again in their love adventures on the ship. On the eternal Titanic, the Fiancee and the Mother along with their companions are but shadows present not in flesh but as memories and life-like imaginations, so as to invoke the feeling of forbidden love. Especially, there is no Evil Iceberg in the Eternal Story to force the lovers apart.

In truth, none but those given fully into acting as a supportive player in the love drama may enter The Eternal Loveboat Heaven; for it is those, the supporting elements, that enhance and facilitate the union of the Eternal Lad and Lady, worthy of worship for all.

Jack and Rose enrapt in Dance of Bliss at their daily down below meeting.

Since the early years of the third millennium, ardent devotees have contemplated on the Eternal Play to return unto their Lad and Lady at the end of their lives, enrapt in contemplation of their daily deeds according to their own preference. In some, a special fondness awakens for being a member of the crew, while others share the ambition for joining the circle of Miss Molly Brown's attendants, and yet some long to be one of Jack's rowdy pals. There have even been movements in Eastern Europe and parts of the Grand Soviet Federation recruiting passengers into second and third class of the Eternal Loveboat.

Grand-Captain Dicaprius IV of Vatican, one of the leading early theologicians of the Church of Titanic, has established that regardless of individual inclination, all devotees aspiring to sail with our Eternal Lad and Lady shall drink of the same infinite ocean of spirit, for all are united in the service of Jack and Rose's eternal love. Who can fathom the beauty and depth of love, the pinnacle of touching beauty, so aptly embodied in the two? Who but the cruel'est of men could fail to be attracted to their service?

The Unsinkable Molly Brown, wise mother goddess of Eternal Loveboat Heaven.

And there is much service to be done throughout a day in the Eternal Play. The crew members are required when Lad and Lady storm through the engine room, and in particular when intruders need to be distracted from the cargo hall. The chéf and his entourage are instrumental in preparing the daily meals, the orchestra must be present at all but the most secret of trysts, and Miss Molly Brown's retinue is always available to give Rose guidance on matters of love after a lovers' quarrel.

This is how devotees remember the Eternal Play of their Lad and Lady, full of longing for their service on the Eternal Loveboat, sailing to the farther shore of the seven oceans of love. For testimonies on how the cosmic play of Rose and Jack has affected millions, be sure to tune in to The Eternal Loveboat Heaven. Thank you for your attention. Be sure to read the comments, too!

GeeVees - 01.1: Theology of God's Name

Continuing series The Nectar Name: 01.1 - Theology of God's Name

Namacharya Ramdas Babaji seated, chanting on a rosary

There are a number of theological formulations delving into the nature of God's name, the primary of which are summarized in the following sections. In the name of compactness and ease of reading, I have omitted quoting and referencing. For useful scriptural sources on the theme, please refer to Bhaktivinoda Thakura: Harinama-cintamani; Jiva Goswami: Bhakti-sandarbha; and Rupa Goswami: Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu.

Non-duality of Name and Named

The heart of the Name's powers lie in its non-duality with the named, or Krishna. As God is understood to be of an absolute nature, he and everything we perceive of as relating to him are equally present in him, and are him. His name, appearance, qualities and activities form a single presence in distinct interwoven aspects. The word Name, indicating this particular powerful name, has been capitalized for clarity.

Then, in principle, when the name of God is chanted, it is equal to being in God's presence and interacting directly with him. The only distinctions the Gaudiya Vaishnava theologians would admit to is one of mercy; the Name is abundantly available, while God in his full persona aspect is difficult indeed to reach and as such less merciful. This is, of course, but a witty poetic play of words on the canvas of theology, highlighting the applicability of the method.

Three Levels of Experience

It was Kedarnath Datta Bhaktivinoda, author and theologian of late 19th century, who first published the tripartite theological formulation of the Name's aspects, even while diverse depths of experience have been long acknowledged. A graded approach is an important chapter in apologetics over the proposed full presence of God in his name vis-a-vis the lack of correlating immediate experience for the practitioner.

Nama-aparadha, or offending the Name, is the shallowest of levels where hardly any of the powers of God are experienced. At this point, one is still riddled with countless attitude flaws towards the Name despite knowledge of the Name's nature — flaws discussed later on. The pious merits resulting from such chanting are good for worldly boons alone, failing to reach beyond into God's own domain.

Nama-abhasa, or reflected Name, is the medium clearing level where rays of the Name begin to filter into the brightening consciousness. A reflection of the Name is said to grant instant mukti or liberation. Indeed, it is said that even a person chanting in jest, by accident, or referring to something else, would reap the said benefits (and this is a whole other branch of apologetics).

Suddha-nama, or pure Name, is the accomplished level where the fullness of Krishna is experienced through, or rather in, the Name. The chanter's consciousness journeys into the Name's own domain, into the spiritual sky of Krishna. This stage, and the subsequent experience of prema or developed love for God, is said to far supersede the joy of liberation. Associated hymns depict the experience as a climax of rapture that is incessantly relished, yet leaving the devotee addicted, craving for more, and again and again.

The founding eulogy of the dimensions of the fully potent Name, especially when chanted congregationally, reads as follows in Sri Chaitanya's words:

"It cleanses the mirror of the mind; it extinguishes the vast forest fire of material existence; it spreads the soothing moonrays of blessing; it is the life of bride Knowledge; it augments the ocean of bliss; nectar finds full relish at at every step; and it bathes the entire self; supreme victory to the full chanting of Sri Krishna's names!" (Siksastaka 1)

The sufficiency of the Name in Sri Chaitanya's view is evident in how its transforming influence extends from the very bottom to the very top, from the depths of ignorance and suffering to the greatest heights of nectarine relish in a rapturous communion with God.

The Standard Mantra

While the names of God are many, there is one particular formula of three names repeated a total of 16 names that Sri Chaitanya recognized as the foremost of all. The mantra is drawn from Kali-santarana-upanishad, a short text of a relatively late date, conventionally classified under Black Yajur-veda, and reads as follows:

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare /
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare //

While a traditional interpretation would have Hare as a vocative of Hari, and all three as Hari's names, some Gaudiya interpreters (e.g. Gopala Guru) also derive it from Harā, a feminine of Hari, indicating Radha, who steals away Krishna's mind. Many non-Gaudiya renderings of the text have the lines reversed, starting with Hare Rama.

The Upanishad promises a vast number of boons including liberation to one who chants it a total of 35 million times. On a rosary with 108 beads, at a rate of 64 rounds daily, the project would take approximately fourteen years to complete. There are, of course, all sorts of other boons mentioned in other sources, so no matter which way you do it, someone has promised something good for the effort.

Incidentally, a rough estimate of my extensive chantings over the years come to a non-calculated surprise total of 35,714,520 mantras, most marks on the chart towards the end of the session with a bunch of two-hundred-rounders on good days. Perchance that is why I finally graduated from Gaudiya Vaishnavism! Regardless, this is the mantra almost every Gaudiya Vaishnava chants daily for a lifetime, some more and some less.

Song and Repetitive Recitation

There are two primary applications for the Name, namely singing (kirtan) and private recitation (japa). Kirtan, sung to the accompaniment of instruments such as hand cymbals and clay drums, is generally a congregational practice where each participant contributes to the cumulative experience of the group. The prefix sam- turns the word into sankirtan, which refers to kirtan done in a grand style, e.g. parading en masse on the streets, or otherwise to a kirtan of particularly sublime depth.

Japa or private recitation is done on a rosary consisting of 108 beads (japa-mala), made of sacred Tulasi wood and especially sanctified for the purpose, often by a guru in an initiation ceremony. One mantra is either recited, muttered or meditated on at each bead, and a turn-around at the large Meru-bead starts a round anew. Japa is an individual practice, in which one works on his own individual relationship with the Name.

The Name also functions in an accessory and completing capacity in a myriad of other Gaudiya Vaishnava practices. It is said to be essential among the constituents of the secret and silently contemplated diksha-mantras, and believed to complete diverse ritual practices by making up for any inadvertent shortcomings. Chanting of the Name is classified as a compulsory root practice, in the absence of which lesser practices would remain deficient.