There are three Nadis (subtle tubes) in the front – left and right there are Ida and Pingala, and in the middle Sushmana. Ida and Pingala are material and enter into the astral and causal plane, whereas the Sushmana is not material, it is invisible and reaches above the region of matter. Our soul has to transcend from this central Nadi to reach the plane of consciousness. On the right side, there are the moon and the stars, on the left side there are the sun and the creations. When you meditate and you have a wish – as subtle it may be – at once your mind identifies with it, and it will take you either to the left side or to the right side; both are governed by the negative power. There are the creations, and these are the barriers for the soul. What will happen? You will see the light, you will get emotional, and you will drop down. That is what is going on with every type of these meditations. People see sceneries, flowers, or say that angels appear to them and so on. But these "experiences" were never accepted by the competent Masters.
To meditate only with the help of mind, to meditate to fulfill wishes, is a death trap for the soul. The astral plane is fully controlled by the negative power, and is open for everybody. The experiences given by the self-styled "masters" are merely astral experiences. If you want to go to the astral plane, you do not even need a master, because mind itself will take you there. In any way you will come there into the clutch of the negative power, you will lose your free will, your consciousness and discrimination power, and you will be further bound in the net of transmigration.
Some people tell, "I am initiated by a competent Master." After a competent Master has left the physical body, many people stand up and say, "Master appointed me as the spiritual successor." That is what is going on. The "experiences" they are giving everybody can experience by himself. You can enter into the astral plane without the help of anybody. If you lay stress on the forehead, you can have that type of experience, but it is all negative.
To transcend above mind and body-consciousness, somebody who can guide is needed. So when it is said, "If your eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light" – it means, when our attention transcends from the lower extremities and from the astral and the causal region. First it transcends direct above the causal plane and there is an opening – this is the gateway to the Heaven taught by Christ. There is a serene vibration, the music of the spheres, and there is the heavenly light the scriptures speak of. This is the God-into-expression Power, called Naam, Shabd or Word. Once you come in contact with it, you will be reborn and the purpose of your life is solved. Once you are reborn (in spirit), why should you come into the world again?
That is only possible when our soul transcends with the help of one who is competent. He takes us direct to that place. And there is first utter darkness. So the meditation taught by Christ and all other competent Masters starts from the darkness and not from the light.
