Aspiration — The inner flame²

God had a glowing Dream. The name of that Dream was Aspiration. Man has a climbing cry. The name of this cry is also aspiration. God was originally one. With His Aspiration God wanted to become many. He wanted to divinely enjoy and supremely fulfil Himself in and through infinite forms.

Man is many. With his aspiration, man the dividing and divided consciousness, man the obscure mind, man the unfulfilled being wants to become one with the world-consciousness, the world-life and the world-soul. He unmistakably and soulfully feels that this is the secret and sacred way to feel the deepest Depth of Reality and the highest Height of Truth.

Aspiration: the inner flame. Unlike other flames, this flame does not burn anything. It purifies, illumines and transforms our life. When purification takes place in our lower nature, we hope to see the Face of God. When illumination dawns in our outer nature, we feel that God is near and dear, God is all-pervading and all-loving. When our nature, lower and outer, grows into the Transformation-flame, we shall realise the truth that God Himself is the inmost Pilot, brightest Journey and highest Goal.

Some people are under the impression that desire and aspiration are the same thing. Unfortunately or fortunately that is not true. These are two totally different things. The difference between desire and aspiration is very simple and clear. Desire wants to bind and devour the world. Aspiration wishes to free and feed the world. Desire is the outgoing energy. Aspiration is the inflowing light. Desire says to man: “Possess everything. You will be happy.” Poor man, when he wants to possess one single thing, he sees that he has already been mercilessly caught and possessed by everything in God’s creation. Aspiration says to man: “Realise only one thing and that thing is God. You will be happy.” Fortunate and blessed man, on his way upward and inward, long before he sees God, he feels sublime peace in his inner life and radiating joy in his outer life. He feels that the realisation of the supreme Beyond can no longer remain a far cry.

Aspiration has not one but three genuine friends: yesterday, today and tomorrow. Yesterday offered its Inspiration-flight to aspiration. Today offers its Dedication-might to aspiration. Tomorrow will offer its Realisation-delight to aspiration.

Aspiration is our inner urge to transcend both experience and realisation already achieved. This is absolutely necessary because God the Infinite constantly transcends His own Infinity, God the Eternal transcends His own Eternity and God the Immortal transcends His own Immortality.

The childhood of aspiration wants to realise the Supreme in its earthly individual way. The adolescence of aspiration wants to realise the Supreme in a divine and glorious way. The youth of aspiration wants to realise the Supreme in the Supreme’s own way.

Aspiration is realisation. Aspiration is revelation. Aspiration is manifestation. Aspiration is realisation if and when the aspirant needs God-Realisation and God-Realisation alone. Aspiration is revelation if and when the aspirant feels that God-Revelation is absolutely for God’s sake. Aspiration is manifestation if and when the aspirant feels that God-Manifestation is his birthright.