Experiencing the Absolute.

The classical Greek Philosophy Aristotle is reupted to have once said" The whole is greater than the sum of its parts." This is easy to uderstand for example when we have two wheels, a handlebar, saddle, frame, chain, bolts and other related parts lying on the floor before us. they are a jumble of parts now and of little use individually. But one assembled the become a single object of great utility, namely , a bicycle, a machine we can use to ride far and wide at speeds much faster than working. The finished bicycle therefore is greater than the sum of its parts.

In its entirety, existence is comprised of the cosmic, the immaterial plane, and the material plane. from Aristotle's viewpoint, the Absolute can be considered as the sum total of these separate existences and is therefore greater than the sum of the individual existences it is composed of. it is obvious that experiencing the Absolute isn't going to be a trival matter. But just as we can effectively experience simple examples of perfection such as those of mathematical axioms like 4+4 =8, we can simillary experience the ABSOLUTE IN small doses.


Experience is the child of knowledge. when knowledge of a particular event manifests to our physical consciousness, we gain experience of that "kwonledge."

1, Experience of perfection concern events mainly of the material plane.

2, Experiences of the Absolute are more applicable to events on the immmaterial plane.

to be cognisant of knowledge from the Absolute we have to gain experiences such as concentration, contemplation and meditation which provide a bridge between the planes of our consciousness.


REM AND MEDITATION
There is a meditative techique we can employ to our advantage that has much in common with the phenomenon of rapid eye movement during sleep. Scientists are aware that during our sleeping periods a certain type of dreaming occurs which is associated with rapid eye movement (REM). This is indicative of a vivid dream state which we experience as if we were awake and which may readily be recalled upon awakening.
This gives us a clue as to what we should be aiming for in order to raise the level of our outer consciousness to the cosmic plane, our preparation firstly involves the use of concentration techniques such as performing whole-body relation and quieting of the physical aspect of our mind/brain. We then move on to comtemplation, though at this stage most students continue with whole-body relation and mind. i would suggest at this point that relaxing f=the facial muscles, eyes and eyelids are of paramount importance over other parts of the body, so as to bring about REM activity. Alternatively. feel the muscles of the forehead, eyes and eyelides relax.
THis REm should occur involuntarily. we can't try and twitch our eyes in order to induce REM, nor can we observe when ren occurs.
our consciousness must be gently focused on contemolating and receiving any knowledge relevant to the experience we have in mind. No attempt should be made to analyse whatever insights we receive while in this partial-meditative state. Know gained should be mentally noted brifly but written down as soon as the execise is over.

A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
By its nature, experience of the Absoulte is more of a personal event compared to that of experiencing perfection. for example a student on the path may find the experience akin to an initiation ceremony. While in a meditative awareness that something special is about to happen as the student is conscious of the presence of superior personalities" and is about to receive knowledge that will be of much benefit to his or her progress on the path.
Other ways of assisting us to experience the Absolute is to seek knowledge from those highly developed personalities who have experienced it already. for example, the master Jesus taught us the prayer: ' Our Father, who art in Heaven..." in terms of the Absolute, the phrase "Our Father" signifies "the whole" of which we are part. this means that we are intimately and spiritually connected to all life, including animals.

AXIOMS OF KNOWLEDGE
Here are some examples of knowledge from the Absolute gleaned and bequeathed to us by the indian sage and mystic Mahatma Gandhi:

1. The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in service of others.

2. Be the change you wish to see in the world.

3. To give service to a single heart by a single act is better than a thousand
heads bowed in prayer.

4. Happiness is when your thoughts, worlds and actions are in harmony.


There are many more statements of wisdom like these from sages and "holy" persons throughout history, and it is through these axioms of knowledge that we can experience the absolute by our own contemplation and meditations on them.