I am writing today’s reflection the day after our nation’s capitol building was stormed by an irrational, angry, and out-of-control mob. Fortunately, in the end democracy triumphed over lawless chaos. Thank God! Today, I would like to share a psychological look at yesterday’s events through the spiritual lens of Yogananda’s teachings. Along with many other spiritual teachers, Yogananda tells us that there are different states of consciousness which always influence our feelings, thoughts, perceptions, and behaviors. These are called the unconscious, egoic consciousness and superconsciousness. As you read about these three states, it will be easy to see the dynamics that were at work in our capitol yesterday.
The unconscious tends to be dominated by electricity of sorts — primitive and powerful energies, impulses, and emotions. Yesterday, these forces were unleashed without the influence of grace or the guidance of wisdom and love. Whenever this happens, the result is always chaos and suffering.
Egoic consciousness is marked by a sense of separation or isolation from God and each other; it has no room for grace. It has this belief: I am on my own, and it is up to me to figure out my life, all by myself. Either I shrink back from taking responsibility for my life, or I try to control everything. Because the ego was never meant to handle life’s many challenges, it is subject to anxiety, fear, and a profound sense of inadequacy. When the ego is overwhelmed by life, it cracks and is flooded by reactive, electrical forces from the unconscious realm, resulting in chaos and destruction. Intense political tribalism like we saw yesterday is egoic consciousness on a collective or communal level.
Then, there is superconsciousness. In this state, to paraphrase Yogananda, we drop ego-consciousness and realize that we are the soul, made in the image of God. We realize our oneness with God, with others, and with all of creation. We live in a conscious state of communion with God; the heart abounds with love, the mind with light, and the soul with inspired intuition. The psychologist F. W. H. Myers describes superconsciousness as “a treasure-house, the region that alone can explain the great, unselfish, heroic deeds of men.” Pain, trials, and challenges do not necessarily disappear when we are in grounded in superconsciousness, but we are able to navigate these troubled waters with dignity, wisdom, and love. Slowly and prayerfully read what Yogananda tells us:
“Be afraid of nothing. Hating none, giving love to all, feeling the love of God, seeing His presence in everyone, and having but one desire – for His constant presence in the temple of your consciousness – that is the way to live in this world.“
Love Is Still The Answer
