The three factors that make up the universe are existence, consciousness and bliss. In man, individual development proceeds through these steps. The child first experiences the world and himself through food. Later his senses settle into order, and so, secondly, he experiences himself through the life force. The third step is the intellect, which means on the one hand an impulsive, mental unfolding and on the other a rational, intellectual one. Finally, the fifth aspect of self-awareness is the first-hand experience of bliss, the inner joy of the soul.
The elementary experience of existence is survival and sensory existence. This plane of being is given to every living thing, and a blade of grass is as much an existent as an enlightened man. And yet it does matter what we make the object of our inquiry, and where, how and in what mood we try to interpret existence. Existence is an exceedingly positive foundation, but the insights we may expect depend on how we imagine the world.
The second factor, consciousness, manifests in differing measure according to the various forms of existence. Though the blade of grass also grows and strives towards the light, its awareness is still rather limited. Man's consciousness, even at its most primitive level, is wider than that. Knowledge, the knower and the object of knowledge form a threefold interdependence, as instrument, subject and object. The elements of knowledge are i) the capacity to discriminate, or analysis, ii) mystical vision, or the perception of essence, iii) independence free of attachments, or freedom of the spirit, and finally iv) simplicity, or voluntary discipline for the sake of spiritual development.
The third factor of existence, bliss, is synonymous with the beautiful fact of blessedness, of love, of rapture. Its measure depends on the degree of spiritual maturity. A spiritual man has everything even when he owns nothing, and if he has no house, the whole world is still his home.
Existence is a universal law, awareness a limited law, while love is universal once again. Existence connects all beings and things universally, even ideas and suffering. Ontologically, consciousness too is universal, but few concern themselves with cultivating knowledge. Philosophy, theory, theology are food for the few. Loving, however, everyone does, and even the dove raises its young, though it holds no debates on ontology.
The peak product of existence is consciousness, and the peak experience of consciousness is love. So, then, the peak of existence is love. That is why we can say that love is the final word in the universe, the supreme law of the world. Illusion, falsehood or, at best, self-interest run the world only at an elementary degree, on the level of matter. On the true plane of existence truth, grace and love prevail, and among them love most of all.
Therefore, following the guiding idea of the law of love, we must become aware that love is not a feeling but a matter of outlook, of a state of consciousness. It is the basic stance, shaping every stirring, in which we relate to every element of the universe. We cannot stop at an intellectual love, a love in principle, but must speak of practical, kindly service. Love is service. This holds between people, and it holds in the relationship between man and God as well. Whoever seeks the Absolute Truth, let him do so with love!
The finite can conquer the infinite, though in reality this is impossible. What makes this incredible fact possible all the same? Love alone. (Swami B. R. Sridhar)
One of the great laws of the physical world is E = mc², a rather prosaic one: energy, mass, speed… By contrast, the formula of love-mysticism is a veritable spiritual miracle: only love begets love. And since we are speaking of mysticism, this formula is true in reverse as well, with its elements exchanged: love begets only love.