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A Series of Lessons in Raja Yoga598
There are two planes of Consciousness, of which we feel it proper to speak,
for we have obtained more or less information regarding them. There are
still higher planes, but they belong to higher phases of life than are dealt
with here.
The first of these planes or states of Consciousness, above the “Self-
Consciousness” of the psychologists (which we have called “Mental
Consciousness”) may be called “Ego-consciousness,” for it brings an
“awareness” of the Reality of the Ego. This “awareness” is far above the Selfconsciousness
of the man who is able to distinguish “I” from “You,” and to
give it a name. And far above the consciousness that enables a man, as he
rises in the scale, to distinguish the “I” from faculty after faculty of the mind,
which he is able to recognize as “not—I,” until he finds left a mental something
that he cannot set aside, which he calls “I” —although this stage alone is
very much higher than that of the average of the race, and is a high degree
of Attainment itself. It is akin to this last stage, and yet still fuller and more
complete. In the dawning of Ego Consciousness the “I” recognizes itself still
more clearly and, more than this, is fully imbued with a sense and “awareness”
of its own Reality, unknown to it before. This awareness is not a mere matter
of reasoning—it is a “consciousness,” just as is Physical Consciousness and
Mental Consciousness something different from an “intellectual conviction.”
It is a Knowing, not a Thinking or Believing. The “I” knows that it is Real—that it
has its roots in the Supreme Reality underlying all the Universe, and partakes
of its Essence. It does not know what this Reality is, but it knows that it is Real,
and something different from anything in the world of name, form, number,
time, space, cause and effect—something Transcendental and surpassing all
human experience. And knowing this, it knows that it cannot be destroyed
or hurt; cannot die, but is immortal; and that there is Something which is
the very essence of Good behind of, underneath and even in itself. And in
this certainty and consciousness is there Peace, Understanding and Power.
When it fully bursts upon one, Doubt, Fear, Unrest and Dissatisfaction drop
from him like wornout garments and he finds himself clothed in the Faith