Swami Krishnananda Shashtyabdapurti Mahotsava Commemoration Volume
A Souvenir released on Swami Krishnananda's 60th Birthday
Atmic Power and Electric Power
by Swami Andavananda
The marvels of science have captured modern educated minds. Science has advanced so rapidly that it has almost completely revolutionised the way of living and man can now live in great comfort and luxury. Science has revealed through research so many secrets which have turned out to be most useful, especially in the technological, biological and agricultural fields. On the other hand, some of the discoveries have been used for destructive and evil purposes. The climax of this was evident in the two great world wars that this century has seen. The embers of the conflagration were seen flying and falling into India as well; but their effect was not so damaging because of the peaceful efforts of a great soul like Mahatma Gandhi, who was an embodiment of Soul Force—Atma Sakti. It is common knowledge and a page in history how by the shield of Ahimsa the followers of Mahatma Gandhi were able to face bullets and swords. It is mainly by Soul Force that leaders who fought for Indian independence were able to face the onslaughts of brutal physical might.
Modern science has given to man television, radio and electricity. The advantages of how electricity can be made use of in innumerable ways is known to everyone. The ancient seers and sages who did research on their own selves, probing into themselves, and came in contact with the Soul Force working inside, can equally be considered as scientists. Forces of nature and electricity have been the field of research of scientists. Sages did research by austere penance and obtained intuition and contacted the Soul Force. The treasure they have handed down is of permanent value and is to the benefit of all—the learned and the ignorant, the educated and illiterate, the rich and the poor man woman. In every century there have appeared great and wise ones, both in India and abroad, who have kept the torch of wisdom-light bright. Their researches were done in mountain caves, lonely huts, temples and Ashrams. Among modern saints are Sri Ramana Maharshi and Satguru Sivananda. Sage Ramana was found in the cave called Patala-linga. Swami Sivananda renounced his lucrative medical practice and betook himself to Himalayan jungles. The illumined states of the great ones was possible by their Soul Power.
It is very difficult to understand the Soul Power and what it can do. By comparison with electric power, which is known to everyone, we can have an idea of the Soul Power. Many things are there common in the working of the two powers. The purpose of this short article is to show how the Soul Force can be better understood when it is compared to electric power. Electric power is generated in the powerhouse and is sent by negative and positive cables to distant places. Saints are like the power generators; and to draw power from them we have the twin cables of Bhakti and Jnana. The switch that we put on to draw power from these generators is self-surrender and the light that we get is the illumination of the Inner Self. The brightness of an electric lamp depends upon the wattage of the bulb and may vary from the dim light of zero watt to the thousand-watt bulb. Different coloured tube-lights are available—green, red, blue etc.—, although the electric power is the same. These can be compared to the qualities of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas manifesting through various emotions like joy, cheerfulness, anger, greed, passion, etc., giving different colours to the light emanating from the Soul. In the case of electric supply, if the load is too heavy, the fuse-wire goes off in the meter box and the lights are put out. We have to put on a new fuse-wire to get back the current and light the lamps. Likewise, we cannot make use of the Soul Force beyond a limit. If it is used beyond a limit, as in performing miracles, there is a great fall, and one has to do spiritual practices all over again to regain the Soul Force. Insulting the great ones or harming them is like touching the live wire which can give us a terrible shock and do us damage.
To continue the analogy, the electric locomotive is made use of to draw a train of several coaches to take them to the destination. Similarly, the Master gathers any number of disciples and takes them to Self-realisation. Electricity is made use of for sending telegraphic messages to distant places; and Masters also have the capacity to send their thoughts to disciples however distant they may be. If the generator is shut down by the main switch, instantaneously there is darkness, as all lights go off; and fans, radio sets and cooking appliances also go off. All the gadgets start functioning once the mains are on. If the Atmic Power is obstructed, one gets into the darkness of ignorance, and if it comes on, there is again clarity of mind. We have seen occasionally storms, earthquakes and floods causing damage to the power-house itself leading to a complete black-out of towns and cities. Such a state comes when there is Pralaya and everything comes to an end.
If at all there is any difference between the two powers—Atmic and electric—, it is in this fact that the former is more a crea¬tive force, rather than a destructive one. Atmic Power is indestructible, while electric power has an end.
Atmic Power is eternal Brahman.
Atmic Power is indestructible Atma.
Atmc Power is all-pervading.
Atmic Power is supreme controller.
Atmic Power is a creative force.
Atmic Power can overcome evil forces.
Atmic Power confers bliss.
Atmic Power has no end.Hence, one must obtain Knowledge of Atma by hearing it, reflecting on it and following the path of righteousness. Thus doing, a person becomes one with it by obtaining Self-realisation and revels in that supreme experience. Hari Om Tat Sat. Om Shanti.
(The above is a translation from a Tamil article written by the author in 1955.)