The Religious Society of Friends believe in a divine Light that’s within everyone. They never clearly say what they mean by this Light. But they give us a clue by referring to it as being “within.” I take that to mean residing in an inner, meditative space.
I think of the Light in two ways. First, it’s the observer that sees what’s going on in our mind and reminds us—when we are occasionally on rails—to get back on track. Yes, though we sometimes fail to admit it to ourselves, there is a straight and narrow path. In this sense the Light within is the voice of conscience that tells us how we are performing in relation to our deepest values and commitments.
The Light is also the animating spirit that gives life to all sentient beings. The Dali Lama calls this spirit the fundamental, innate, mind of clear light. This is the Light we connect with whenever we meditate. It takes a certain amount of effort to make ourselves available to the Light. But, interestingly, the Light draws us to it—as light draws a moth—so we needn’t do anything out of the ordinary, except sit quietly. The Light does the rest by attracting us towards what we begin to realize is the source of who we are constantly becoming. This takes time and discipline, which is where effort becomes a factor.
The observer Light derives spiritual power from the fundamental source of life within us. Remember, the observer is who you are. So, who you are is not only drawn towards the source of light within, but it also wants to identify with that source. So, it facilitates closeness by making you feel at home in silence, even yearn for it when you’ve been away too long. In other words, there’s a mutual attraction between observer and source, about which the busy world around us pays little heed nor gives much support.
“The meditative process pokes holes in your story, revealing the gaps between your thoughts.”
All of this is related to the cosmology of meditation. Unless one is a seeker, the cosmological perspective is broader than we ordinarily consider. Not only does it look within, but it considers a spiritual view of the world, which is unseeable and ineffable, but, nonetheless, very powerful. It’s easy to overlook spiritual power unless you realize that your current life is the result of actions you’ve taken since your youth. This is part of your story.
If I ask you to tell me who you are you would probably tell me your story: family, schooling, work, etc. The ego mind is constantly and incessantly making up your story. And you either revel in your story (dangerous) or you hate it and wish it were different (also dangerous). Remember, you are not your story, but the observer entity that facilitates your meditative connection to the Light by telling you to bring your attention back to the mantra.
The meditative process pokes holes in your story, revealing the gaps between your thoughts. The observer notices how the feeling texture of those gaps differs from the thoughts themselves. The thoughts are a distraction from closer connection with the Light. This divine Light within is the origin of who you truly are, unsullied by egoistic thinking. The true self is manifested authentically in every moment of a joyful, peaceful life.