Harmony

 

Harmony

 

The spirit seeks harmony. Often, the human being lets himself be guided by his primary instincts, such as survival, reproduction, territoriality. Many social ambitions, desires for success come from these primary instincts. To find the harmony to which the mind aspires it is good to rebalance its behavior taking into account its needs.

Finally, the avowed goal of the human being, always, is well-being, happiness and harmony. No one, or almost none, likes difficulty, discomfort and sadness, even if some indulge in the pathos prey to the tugs of confusion. Since there are several components in humans, there are several levels, planes of satisfaction, each plane having its criteria, its objects.

The Instincts

Man has a fundamental instinct guiding his behaviour and producing a whole series of needs whose satisfaction occupies an important part of his time. This instinct is that of survival. From it flow other instincts such as that of reproduction and territoriality. As a robot possesses, according to Isaac Asimov, a fundamental programming, made of three laws that it can not, in any case, transgress, man has this primary instinct, the survival instinct, inscribed in the depths of his brain.

Most human behaviors are motivated by this survival instinct, like the desire to reproduce, in order to survive through one’s offspring. All kinds of concerns and ambitions flow from this desire. The human has a common base with animals, it is enough to observe it and compare its behaviors with those of birds, monkeys and other males of many species to be convinced.

Some birds in Australia make a kind of bachelor pad on the forest floor, made of dried grass that has a triumphal arch, the base of which is decorated with pebbles and shiny objects. When the female, drawn by these bursts, approaches, the male emerges from behind one of the pillars of his triumphal arc and begins to engage in a dance of seduction. He jumps, inflates, spreads his tail… He looks a bit ridiculous and pathetic, especially if the grey female goes away without paying attention.

Often the Man Follows His Instincts

Man does the same thing: he works all his life, from school, to acquire a higher social status and the signs of this status, apartment, car, luxury watch, chic clothes, etc. All this to attract women and have more chances to reproduce.

The powerful and rich male may not be monogamous, he must disseminate his genetic identity in the breast of as many females as possible. Some ambitions come from this reproductive instinct. Men of power often have a tendency to exercise the right to cook.

The ambition to lead comes from there too: to be the leader, as in a herd of deer or a pack of wolves in order to be the alpha male. Our advanced societies continue to be underpinned by primal instincts.

Those who lead our societies are those who have reached the top of the hierarchy by their perfect fit with this instinct. They are the dominant males (more and more females too). That’s why the females have trouble making room! Many women, eager to succeed, believe themselves obliged to masculinize themselves, at least morally, to reach the dominant places.

It is to the one who will have the most beautiful house, the most beautiful apartment, car, the most chic clothes. It’s like the bird building its bachelor pad and collecting the most shiny objects, the bluest pebbles, the tallest grass… It is worth making fun of animals!

The Human Being Is Not Flesh and Instincts

 

From the instinct of survival flows that of territoriality. The desire for possession comes from the need to control one’s environment in order to be safe there. From this instinct comes nationalism and xenophobia. But, the human is not only made of this physical and animal component. Otherwise how to explain his intelligence?

Even misused human intelligence is absolutely remarkable. Man’s dominion over the whole earth comes not only from his thumbs opposed to other fingers, nor from his articulated language! This intelligence is not the inheritance of its animality, it is not intended to satisfy its instinct of survival or reproduction.

The human is not made up only of the body and its instincts. There are other levels in it. Other levels that have other needs, desires and instincts. The human yearns for happiness and if the gratification of the reproductive instinct were enough to achieve this happiness, then all parents of large families would be blissful awakeners.

No, there is an instinct, a deep attraction that comes from another plan. This attraction is that which the soul has for the milieu from which it originates.

The Memory of the Soul

 

This need for peace and happiness comes from what the soul already knows about this state of fullness, it has the confused memory of it. But, the problem that humans encounter is the confusion where they are. They often confuse needs and desires. They need to eat, they want foie gras. They need shelter, they want a loft in the centre of Paris.

It takes time for the human to discern the need for desire and the need for the body of the soul! Several existences. The more he experiences, through his many incarnations, the more his consciousness will be able to sort between desires and needs, first and, second, between the needs of the body and those of the soul.

Harmony

Harmony is the mark of perfection. It manifests itself in many areas: music, graphic arts, dance, cooking, understanding between two beings, etc. When the consciousness is in harmony with its fundamental desire and the acts are in harmony with the consciousness, then the human is in a state of grace. What is the State of Grace? It is happiness.

When our conduct is in harmony with our center, our true self, then it is harmonious, perfect. When our behavior towards others and our planet is in harmony with our center, our true self, then it is perfect. The world needs harmony. Humans need harmony. That’s what The Path is about.

 

''In the Observance you see Grace, its harmony directing your life.'' (Bhaktimàrga, 376)

 

"In past times, humen followed the Dao, then the Dao forgotten. Humen and their justice became the masters. It was the time of intelligence, ability and desires knew no limits. When cunning and prudence have grasped the princes' minds, it was the birth of hypocrisy and betrayal. Filial piety and affection were replaced by morality and the world fell into disorder. Then appears the wise, to say the help of the Dao." (Dao-De-Jing, 18)

 

"He who remains in the inaction does not speak. A gust does not last; nor does a shower. Who produces these things? Sky and Earth. If they do nothing that lasts, how could Man? He who assiduously frequents the Dao, will identify with him. If he indulges in morality, he will identify with morality. If he indulges in evil, he will identify with evil. If he lives only for pleasures and goods, he will suffer the fruits of his actions. He who identifies with the Dao wins harmony. Those who lack consistency see their confidence drop day after day." (Dao-De-Jing, 23)

 

"The one for whom the consciousness of the Dao is firmly established, is like a newborn who’s not afraid of anything. Her bones and nerves are fragile, but what strength his little hands have ! He does not yet know fleshly love, yet his manhood is already manifesting. He cries all day and his voice remains clear, he’s in such harmony. To know harmony, it is to know the Dao and its light. Abusing pleasures is harmful. To be strong is to subject desire to breath. Too much energy spent takes us away from the Dao, then the end is near." (Dao-De-Jing, 55)

 

"Then the spirit becomes able to focus." (Yogasûtras 2.53)

 

"After receiving the knowledge of the real nature of the soul, the initiate can master the mind, which allows him to detach himself from the fruit of his acts, so he tastes the delights of the harmony of his Grace. For the initiate practicing the true way, no effort is in vain, no benefit gained is never lost; every step brings him closer to the Liberation. Resolved in the Observance, he has only one goal: to remain in harmony. He who lacks constancy, knows confusion." (Bhagavad-Gîtâ, 2.39 à 41)

 

"Absolute truth is the goal of devotional practices made in Holy-Name consciousness, in harmony with the Absolute, the Supreme Person." (Bhagavad-Gîtâ, 17.26/27)

 

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