Commenting on the name Bhagavan – which “is used much the way we use ‘Lord’ in English” – Easwaran describes “six bhagas or splendors” which are possessed by a divine incarnation. Each of these splendors is instructive, and Easwaran notes that among them “the fifth quality may be surprising: beauty.”
“The Lord is infinitely beautiful, with a beauty that is not diminished by time. Physical beauty cloys with familiarity, but the inner beauty which shows itself in the capacity to give and to cherish grows with the passage of time. It transcends the senses, transcends even mind and intellect.”
Easwaran notes that while we cannot achieve the perfection of one who is bhagavan, “these are qualities we should try to cultivate in our own lives if we want to remake ourselves in a higher image.” May our eSatsang grow in beauty this week, as we each strive to increase our capacity to give and to cherish! Our reading this week is pages 261–269 in The Constant Companion.*
What is Easwaran telling you about the workings of your own mind? This week, use this new understanding to get some cooperation from your mind when it is being uncooperative. Tell us how it goes!
Spiritual Reading has been our focus for practice extension throughout this book study. What have you found most helpful or nourishing about your spiritual reading throughout this time?
For our spiritual treat, here is the final excerpt from the Easwaran video “Love Alters Not.” Note that the full video is 34 minutes, but the excerpt begins at 26:45 and the player should start automatically at that time.
* For those using electronic versions of The Constant Companion with different page numbering: this week’s reading is Easwaran’s commentary on the names The Shining One through Bringer of Joy. (Please note that the latest edition of our ebook is titled Names of the Lord.)