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yajvan
23 September 2006, 01:39 PM
Hari Om
~~~~~

Namaste Visphulinga ( or spark; what spark? of the Divine)

Akasha comes from a or not + kasha or kasaya, to constrict or contain, astringent, or even some cases used as 'attachment'.
So, Akasha is that without constraints. We know this to be pure space. It is also considered a way of considering Brahman, without constraints.

I thought to perhaps discuss this wonderful akasha that surrounds and is within and without every-thing. Maybe looking around will assist with this idea...

When you look 'round, say at some scenery, people, a house, a yard, a tree, etc. consider looking at the space between the objects. Consider the space. Initially just look, with out judging anything, and look at the space and observe. The objects are secondary, the space is primary awareness.

Consider the following. That space , not the air, but the space (Akasha) that holds the air also holds everything in this universe. That is, it provides the space for things to exist. It is the most subtle of the 5 elements – Space>Air>fire>water>earth (akasha>vayu>agni>jala>prithvi). Some westerner's can consider it from a more scientific bent of think of it as vacuum, gas,fire, water, solid.

Space (akasha) is continuous, without seams, and is everywhere in this manifest creation. Even if this universe has an edge or an “end” – that edge must exist in space. If there is an end, then the end by definition must have dimension, and that must be cradled in space. And on the other side of the edge or end, more space perhaps? Hence akasha is infinite.

This akasha is between sub-atomic particles, between atoms, between the stars and the planets. It’s between you, the object of perception, and is in the object of perception at every level. It’s in you, between your organs, in your organs, and in your lungs. There is no place that it is not. It is the perfect example of being Ubiquitous.

The Space that you occupy today will not be the same space that you will occupy tomorrow. Even if you live in the same house, work in the same office or go to the same school, that space will not be there tomorrow, let alone in the next minute. As the world turns, so does this solar system and so does this galaxy within the infinite space; nothing possess the same space as we glide though the cosmos.

Now, take a look at the space. Is it the same? You can view the infinite in front, and on every side (the 10 directions, because it is seamless and everywhere. It’s said in the Upanishads , when you touch one thing, you touch all things at the same time. This Connectedness comes from akasha, which connects all things as all reside in it. Like that, it’s like Brahman).
This “seeing” allows you to see the wholeness or connectedness of this creation, like that, you are that wholeness.

I have found that "seeing” a bit more is favorable to my spiritual pursuits; I look ‘round at this akasha a bit more with this idea – looking at the space containing the objects found in it.

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Note that this concept is discussed in The 10 Great Cosmic Powers, by S.Shankaranarayanan, Samata Books ( worth the read.) All insights gained by me is attributed to S.Shankaranarayanan the author of the core idea.

Pranams,