Moment of Recognition

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The Siddha Yoga Message for the year 2000 was Believe in Love. (1). This message sparked the creative process for the digital artwork entitled Moment of Recognition.

The ancient yogic scriptures, as well as the texts of many traditions, assert that the essence of love is pure consciousness, and this state of love exists in each of us. This pure state of love is often shrouded or hidden within us and so we yearn to attain it – to reconnect to an essential part of ourselves. In other words, we long to become fully ourselves. We yearn for the fulfillment of love.

The recognition of love occurs when our feelings are centered in the purity of the heart. When we connect with the depth of our own heart, the natural state of unconditional love flashes forth. For this reason, the work is titled Moment of Recognition.

The imagery in this piece portrays the different paths of human love that eventually lead to the experience of divine love. The pictorial divisions portray the different paths, such as the love between two people, love of family and friends, and love experienced through yoga, a Sanskrit word which can be translated as "union."

Layers and Divisions

The many divisions and layers of the piece mirror the intricate function of love in our lives. Each division and layer has a specific purpose that adds to the complexity of the pictorial meaning. The picture area is divided into four divisions. The bottom division serves as the foundation and depicts the effort that is required to maintain human love and experience divine love (that is represented by the other divisions.) And each division has at least three layers. The layers may be difficult to determine because the images blend into each other. However, with the following explanation, the layers and their meaning will become more readily apparent.

Matrix Layer

The bottom-most layer or level in each division has a linear drawing. This layer has a linear diamond-like shape that represents the matrix or underlying energy of the world, or what could be considered the power of creation. The diamond shape of the middle and top divisions formed by the joining of an upward and downward triangle represents the union of the male and female cosmic energy. The other two divisions have different linear shapes. The second division containing the man and woman has rectangular linear shapes. And the bottom division has pointed triangular or mountain-like shapes. These linear shapes evoke feelings that enhance the meaning of the artistic message. The following sections entitled "The Journey of Effort", "Love Between Two People" and "Universal Love" give further information concerning the linear shapes.

Solar Layer

The middle layer in each division has images of the solar system. The space images were manipulated to simulate a pattern-like energy field. The solar energy images are situated above the level representing the underlying matrix of creation.

Earthly Layer

The top layer contains the images of yogis, god and goddess, faces and human figures. This layer represents our feelings of love for people in our personal life and our devotion to a higher power. The words in the bottom division are also contained in the top layer.

The Journey of Effort

Each division has a specific meaning. The bottom division contains the words – journey, strive, seek, path and oneness. As the words suggest, life is a journey of striving and seeking. We seek a path that leads us to the awareness of universal love. To experience divine love, effort is necessary. The words give encouragement to follow our heart's true calling. The paths are many, but the destination is the same.

In addition to the words, the triangular mountain-like shapes imply an arduous journey. The red fluid-like horizontal movement represents the molten layer beneath of the earth's crust. On a personal level, this movement of the fiery shape symbolizes the fire of enthusiasm that is needed to accomplish our goal. The inner spirit of enthusiasm is required for all paths.

The foundation of self-effort and grace is essential for the attainment of oneness with universal consciousness.

Love Between Two People

The second division from the bottom represents love between two people. Through human love, we seek our soul mate. The five units within this division show the different stages of recognizing love. Each of the units has concentric rectilinear lines in the background representing the individual energy vibrations. The converging center created by the repetitive rectangles indicates a sense of self-focus. In the two outer units the woman and man are by themselves. They have not yet encountered each other.

The red energy field radiating from the person's center shows a sense of openness. As one person turns, the red field expands into rings indicating the acknowledgement of love. The force of love also blends the concentric lines in the background signifying the attraction for the other person. The yellow ring symbolizes the light within the heart – the light of divinity. In the center unit the couple now faces each other. The vortex of love created by the yellow rings envelops both of them. The blue spark situated between the man and women symbolizes divine consciousness – the spark of divinity that each person feels within his/her heart. In this moment love is recognized. To maintain the openness of the heart in each moment effort is required, which the bottom division indicates.

Universal Love

The largest division of the artwork corresponds to the path of universal love. To love everyone equally and unconditionally is a means of experiencing divinity. A great saint implores us to See God in Each Other (2) is to experience the state unconditional love. In this division the combined image of the solar system with the underlying diamond-like shape represents the matrix of unconditional love. This shape signifies the nature of Supreme consciousness as universal love. And, superimposed upon the shape are faces of people that encompass our universe. The faces are contained within a spiral. The spiral is a symbol denoting the evolution and involution of consciousness. When viewing the spiral as expanding outward, the spiral depicts the evolution of consciousness into the physical world. The expansion is the result of divine love.

Another way to see the movement of the spiral is to see it as curling inward. In other words, the spiral is seen as moving toward its center that contains the pair of sandals. This inward movement of the spiral signifies that through our relationships we have the opportunity to experience universal love. Through grace and devotion, and the true vision of seeing God in all, the individual consciousness moves within to higher levels of awareness and unites in unconditional love. Universal love is synonymous with the state of God-realization.

The Guru's Feet – The Bridge

The pair of sandals in the center of the spiral represents the Guru's feet. Since the Guru's feet dwells with in, the feet are not physical objects, but manifestations of the Guru's energy in the subtle body. (3) According to Tantric tradition, the sandals are located in the spiritual center in the crown of the head. This center is the source of bliss. Through devotion and knowledge of the Self, the ultimate state is obtained. (4)

Shree Guru Gita, a prayer dedicated to the Guru, says devotion to the Guru's feet removes the pain of mundane existence. (5) The Guru's feet are referred to as the bridge that takes us across the ocean of illusion. The ocean of illusion refers to not recognizing our own divinity. The Guru removes the suffering of worldly existence by awakening the spiritual energy within us called Kundalini. This spiritual awakening sets into motion the process of transformation by which we obtain unity consciousness and experience divine love.

Shree Guru Gita also states that the feet (sandals) have the luster of red and white, representing the female and male aspect of Supreme Consciousness. (5) In this work, the colors of the sandals are red and blue, since white would not be visible.

Unity Consciousness and Divine Love

The top division represents the culmination of the spiritual journey and the ultimate attainment. Images of yogis symbolize this attainment and represent the individual approach to experiencing divine love. Through meditation and other yogic practices, the awareness of one's own divinity expands until unity consciousness is experienced. Having attained unity consciousness, the great yogis experienced God within themselves.

In the digital artwork, the images of the yogis are in two positions, each having a different psychic energy center activated by the fiery force of Kundalini. The red, white and yellow flame-like horizontal shape symbolizes the power of Kundalini. The yogis with their back toward the viewer have the third psychic center activated, which is considered the seat of will power. The yogis facing the viewer have the fourth center opened, which represents the heart and love. Both, love in the form of devotion and will power expressed through perseverance in performing spiritual practices are necessary to obtain the ultimate goal of divine love.

Divine Couple

At the apex of the underlying diamond-like shape is a linear drawing of the heads of Shiva, the male aspect of Supreme Consciousness, and Shakti, the female aspect. The divine couple signifies the experience of divine love. The white light and red sphere represent the male and female aspect of consciousness respectively. The horizontal red and white flame-like shape emerging from the cosmic Shakti represented by the red sphere indicates the nature of Kundalini. When the heart is open, Kundalini awakens through grace. Through the power of Kundalini, the yogi unites with Shiva and experiences unity consciousness.

The imagery in this digital artwork portrays the role of love in our life. Unconditional love aids and helps us to achieve our final purpose as human beings.

A Golden Mind, a Golden Life, SYDA Foundation, 2000.
Play of Consciousness, Swami Muktananda, (an SYDA Foundation book) Harper & Row Publishers, New York, 1978, p.19
Meditation Revolution, A History and Theology of the Siddha Yoga Lineage, Douglas Renfrew Brooks and others, Agama Press, South Fallsburg, New York, 1997, p. 270
Kularnava Tantra, Ram Kumar Rai, Prachya Prakashan, Varanasi, First Edition, 1983, p.222
The Nectar of Chanting, South Fallsburg, New York: SYDA Foundation, 1983, verse 45, p.19
The Nectar of Chanting, South Fallsburg, New York: SYDA Foundation, 1983, verse 55-57, p.22