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Element nine is about our ever deepening experience of Sai’s love as we follow the eight other elements until we finally merge in his love. His all-embracing love expands our individual awareness into the universal consciousness of oneness with God. Swami’s path fills us with love and leads us through selfless service and sacrifice in society to the bliss of union with him and the realization of our own divine self.
The spiritual path can be seen as a progressive expansion of consciousness from duality (I am separate from the other) to qualified non-duality (I experience God within myself and see God in the other) to non-duality (I and the other are one). At first, when we receive Swami’s love and teachings we feel that we are in his light. This stage is called duality. Then, by practicing his teachings and feeling our own love expand, we experience Swami within ourselves and also see him in others. This stage of feeling God within is called qualified non-duality. Finally our love expands into His all pervading light and we become one with Him. This stage of being one with the light is non-duality.
First I am in the light \[duality\],
Then the light is in me \[qualified non-duality\], Finally, I and the light are one \[non-duality\]. (SSB)
These three types of relationship with God have been described by Hanuman and Jesus. When Lord Rama asked Hanuman, “How do you contemplate on Me?” Hanuman replied,
“At the physical level, You are my Master, And I am Your servant \[duality\].
At the mental level, I am a spark
Of Thy divine Self \[qualified non-duality\]. At the Atmic level,
You and I are one \[non-duality\].” 360