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 are engaged in activities with various people, entangled in a web of complex events. Yet, when we awaken, we know that our dream was only the mind projecting itself onto a blank screen. Every person, every event, every form, every thought experienced in that dream was merely a projection from our own mind. We are aware of the difference only when we awaken.
Sai Baba says that this same kind of projection of our inner life onto the outer world occurs in the wakeful state as well, that “The entire cosmos is nothing but a projection of our mind.” We project conflicts, unconscious memories, even the delusion of duality itself onto the outer world. In Sai Baba’s words, the outer world is a “reflection, reaction, resound”5 of our mind. Reflection refers to projection, reaction refers to our reaction to our projection, and resound refers to our repeating this interplay with our own self.
We begin to cleanse ourselves of inner conflict and struggle by resisting this “reflection, reaction, resound” by not blaming others, but looking within for the reason for the projections. Becoming aware of our tendency to project helps us to stop blaming others and to take responsibility for ourselves. We must face our own inner defenses and conflicts to be able to break the cycle of projecting and reacting.
Swami quickens this process of inner cleansing by allowing us to project all our needs and wants onto him. Thus, our hidden desires and conflicts are brought to awareness so that they can be released. Swami, knowing the past, present, and future of everyone, is able to intensify and quicken the process of projection and release. Swami says that he is a mirror, meaning that our reactions to him have more to do with ourselves than
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