The World and the Self

Imagine a double screen television having a front screen, as well as a screen at the rear side. You would never see such a television practically, but just imagine this for the purpose of this analogy. You may call this a dual-sided or double-screen television. Imagine that there is a torch placed behind this dual-sided television. Initially there is pitch darkness. Before the light falls on the rear-side screen, the television is switched off from both sides. When the torch is switched on, its light falls on the rear-side screen. What will happen when the light of the torch falls on the rear-screen? The light of the torch reflects back from the rear-screen and illuminates the torch itself.

The Self-in-Rest (Shiva) brings about the state of Self-in-Action (Shakti) with the wish that the light should reflect back and illuminate the source from where it originates. The torch itself is in darkness. You know that when the torch is lit in darkness, all objects other than the torch are illuminated. After lighting the torch, the light gets scattered but the torch does not get self-illuminated. The light of the torch lights up the space around it, but the torch itself remains in darkness.

When the torchlight strikes the rear-screen of the television, the torch does get self-illuminated by the reflected light. Additionally, the television also switches on, projecting several channels. Now, on the front screen, a serial is being telecast in which a person is narrating his life story. He says, “I had to go through so many difficult situations in my life, why did this happen with me?” Such scenes are being projected on the front screen.

In truth, the sole purpose of the light was to reflect back and illuminate the source of the light –the torch– itself. All these other happenings are just an additional bonus, a by-product. As a by-product, several such characters such as I, you, he, and she appear in this game of illusion (maya). These scenes are being manifest through the various channels on the front screen. But they are just a by-product and not the real purpose.

The significance of the double-screen TV is to indicate two screens – the front-screen represents the external world, the rear-screen represents the inner world, the world created within the mind. The external world is where the movie of life is going on. It may be a tragedy or a horror movie, a violent movie or a suspense thriller. It is the way life is manifesting and visible in the external world. This is symbolized by the programs being telecast on the front-screen.

The rear-screen represents whatever is being formed in the inner mind – various beliefs, preconceived notions, stories, assumptions, prejudices, and tendencies. This film is being played on the rear-screen. This rear-screen is used as a reflective medium, a mirror, for Self to experience Self. This analogy is useful in explaining how the Self-uses the world to experience itself. If the TV had a rear-screen as well, then what would be the purpose of the rear-screen? It would be to reflect the projected light of the torch on the torch itself. When the rear-screen is able to perfectly reflect light on the source, then it also has a transformative effect on the programs being projected on the front-screen. This is how the quality of the rear-screen is related to the expression on the front-screen.

To the extent that the inner mind is cleansed off preconceived notions, beliefs, stories and tendencies, to that extent the Self will be able to experience itself by using the mind and projected world as a mirror.

The Self is the writer, producer, director, the hero, the villain and also the audience of the movie of life. The purpose of the Self in making the movie is to experience itself by expressing its creative potential.

The Self is projecting light on the rear-screen of the body-mind, thereby illuminating itself, being self-aware. The TV represents the human body-mind which is enlivened by the light of awareness. In the process, several different types of films are being projected due to the light of awareness that falls upon the body-mind. Somebody’s film is an emotional drama or a tragedy. Someone else’s film is a classical art film. Someone’s film is dragging slowly at a snail’s pace in which tears are flowing due to emotions. Someone’s film is a horror film in which the person is always gripped with fear. For someone else, a comedy film is going on.

When the Self experiences its own presence continually and never gets diverted from the Self experience, then the body-mind will serve as a medium for the real expression of Self. Then the movie being projected on the front-screen into the world would express the standpoint of the Self. For this, the Self needs to be established in the conviction that there is only one whole and sole purpose behind creating the body-mind –the Self should experience the Self.

Summary:
In the double screen television analogy, the front screen represents the external world and the rear screen represents the inner world of the mind.To the extent that the inner mind is cleansed off preconceived notions, beliefs, stories and tendencies, to that extent the Self will be able to experience the Self by using the mind and projected world as a mirror, which is the only one whole and sole purpose behind creating the body-mind- the Self should experience itself