Mystic Mantra: The energy of the soul

Once upon a time, a man searched far and wide for a magical object, which would bring wealth, power and happiness. One day, he found an old bottle and while examining it, he pulled the stopper. Suddenly, a mist filled the room and a ferocious looking genie appeared before him. The genie told the startled man that he would be his servant and obey all his commands. However, there was one condition, “You must keep me occupied with work all the time. The moment you do not have work for me to perform, I will destroy you.”

Since the genie was magical, he could complete even colossal tasks in a matter of moments. At first, the man thought he had finally found the key to the fulfillment of his desires. He quickly amassed great wealth, material comforts and power. But he soon began to run out of tasks for the genie to perform; he realised that his very life was in danger. It became all too apparent that the genie, however useful, was like a double-edged sword. At any moment, it could turn upon its master and destroy him.

This story is symbolic of the fate of man. Over centuries, he has made tremendous advances, but each time he has made a new scientific or technological discovery or has harnessed a new form of energy, his achievement has turned out to be double-edged. While it has led to progress, it also has been a danger to his very existence. An example of this is found in Greek mythology. It is said that Prometheus stole the fire of the sun from heaven and bestowed it on man, but he had to pay a very heavy price for his deed. By his selfless sacrifice he was able to transform man from a beast into a being who could compete with gods. The fire brought down by Prometheus may have made man analogous to gods, but in the hands of ruthless conquerors it also served to destroy cities and civilisations.

There is a form of energy of which we have remained unaware or ignored. It is the energy of the soul. The peace and harmony which can save this strife-torn world is dependent upon our finding its source. Just as other forms of energy exist in the material world, this form exists within us. It is an energy which is the source of all other energies and is inexhaustible. By tapping this source, a rapid and spectacular development occurs, resulting in the complete transfiguration of the human subject. It has the power to convert the human into the divine.

Unlike the different forms of material energy, it is purely positive in character. It cannot be used for destructive purposes. It can only work for the good of man. The saints invite us to tap this infinite source of soulergy. They give us a practical firsthand experience of contacting this innate energy. The harnessing of this soul-force, they tell us, brings about the most profound transformation.