The epic science fiction series “Star Wars” introduced to the general public\u00a0an idea that had been known in the East for thousands of years. It was the concept of “the force”. According to the movie, this “force” was a subtle field of energy that existed inside every living being.<\/p>\n
This force could be used to achieve “miraculous” feats that lay beyond the power of “normal” human beings. It\u00a0could be used for spiritual purposes such as healing and overcoming the forces of nature. It could also be used for demonic purposes, causing destruction and even death.<\/p>\n
The modern idea of a subtle “force” that existed within\u00a0all living matter had its counterpart in the ancient teachings of the Rishis. They not only taught their disciples about the existence of such a force, but they demonstrated it as well by means of various “miraculous” feats.<\/p>\n
According to the Adepts of the East, this force was identified\u00a0by the Sanskrit name of “Prana”. This same force was also referred to by the name of “Chi” in China, and\u00a0as “Ki” by the Japanese.<\/p>\n
According to the teachings of the Rishis, this force exists within every human being whether they are aware of it or not. Most people today are completely unaware of its presence. It lies within them dormant and unused, much like a coiled serpent.<\/p>\n
However, once this serpent power is uncoiled, it can be trained to unleash superhuman powers. What any man or woman can then do depends on\u00a0the extent\u00a0of their “personal power”.\u00a0Those who have little personal power to draw on can do very little.\u00a0But those who have\u00a0learned to use this power can perform amazing feats. In fact they can do whatever their hearts and minds desire.<\/p>\n
Those Rishis, like Jesus, who had attained the highest level of consciousness known as Supreme Awareness, had unlimited power to draw on. As such, they had complete freedom to do whatever was called for by the situation. They could walk on water or turn water into wine as the occasion demanded. They could even transform the dead into the living.<\/p>\n
However, it is necessary to understand that those who have attained the highest\u00a0level of Supreme Awareness do not act according to the dictates of personal desire.\u00a0They have surrendered their individual personalities to the universal consciousness that we think of as God.<\/p>\n
Dying to the individual is the price that has to be paid to gain universal consciousness. This is what Jesus meant when he said that\u00a0those who wished to be like him would have to take up the cross and surrender their individual personality.<\/p>\n
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 16: 24-25)<\/p>\n
Those who have achieved everlasting life\u00a0no longer\u00a0act according to the whims of individual desire. As described by the Buddha, their stream of individual consciousness has merged once and for all with the eternal ocean of awareness.<\/p>\n
No trace of individuality remains. It is in this sense that the enlightened being can say that he and God are a single undivided unity. Or, as Jesus\u00a0explained to the Jews: “I and my Father are one.”\u00a0\u00a0(John 10:30)<\/p>\n
But we do not need to reach the level of Supreme Awareness in order to use the “Pranic”\u00a0force that exists within us. Any one of us can learn how to perform “miracles” here and now. All we need is faith. We need only\u00a0to believe that we can, and have the courage to try.<\/p>\n
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