The kindling of the inner psychic fire that at once burns away all the impurities (coloring) and limitations of the mind-stuff, the study both of scriptural texts and one's own reaction to situations from moment to moment, and the meaningful, dynamic and devotional surrender to the indwelling omnipresence - these three simultaneously constitute active yoga, or practice of the indivisible unity.

When it is clearly understood that the instant realization of cosmic oneness, which is yoga, is not the product of any effort, how can one "practice" such unity?

Surely, active yoga is taught not because such practice results in the realization of oneness. However, it can aid in the direction of one 's attention towards enlightenment, and away from the elements that cause mental turmoil, which, as a result of such turning away, are weakened.

The mind is restless because of the many unresolved problems. The elements that disturb mental equilibrium and thus generate psychic distress are:

ignorance of the truth concerning

(2) one's self or egotism which seems to be the obvious truth in ignorance, and the belief in the separative individuality,

(3&4) psychological and unnatural extension of attraction and repulsion which, as neurological phenomena are natural, and

5) blind clinging to the present physical "life", born of the ignorant division of timeless eternity into life and death.

Obviously, ignorance of the truth of oneness (or indivisibility of cosmic intelligence) is the cause of all the other sources of psychic distress - whether these latter seem to be completely hidden or dormant, veiled or weak, or actively spread out, creating the notion that they are not related to spiritual ignorance, that they are independent of ignorance, and can, therefore, be dealt with by means other than self-knowledge.

Ignorance gives rise to a "knowledge" of ego-sense - an assumed fact of the non-existent ego-sense. It is only in a state of spiritual ignorance that one identifies or confuses that which is impermanent with that-which is eternal, that which is impure or colored with that which is pure and unconditioned, pain with joy, and the unmodified consciousness (Self) with thoughts and modifications which are not Self. Realization of the spiritual truth or enlightenment on the other hand enables the impermanent, etc., to be seen as such, and the permanent etc., to be seen as such.

In cosmic consciousness all activities happen. Thus, for instance, seeing happens: the power of sight sees. However, when the consciousness fragmented by the shadow of ignorance identifies itself as the seer, there is the ego-sense.

Attraction (or mental conditioning or coloring) follows, rests in, and is just another term for, the erroneous evaluation of an object or experience as pleasure. Because of the mental coloring something looks attractive.

Blind clinging to life is an inexplicable yet undeniable fact of life which is self-sustaining (since it is just another phase or face of ignorance) and is therefore found to be a dominant factor even in wise beings as long as the physical body which is the operative seat of ignorance exists. It is the operation of the power that preserves the physical sheath for the unfoldment of self-knowledge, combined with the habit of dependence on objective sources for enjoyment and sustenance and fear of losing them, and the inability to see other states of existence.

These sources of psychic distress are subtle, and not to be confused with their gross expansion as likes and dislikes, habits (good and bad), vanity and such personality traits. However, these subtle sources of psychic distress can be dispelled by resolving each in its own cause (or by confronting each of them with its own true opposite).