As I listened, I started to relate what Andy was saying to some philosophical and spiritual books I had read. I asked him if he was talking about “The Great Nothingness” that some of the eastern mystics have talked about.
“I guess you could call the formlessness I speak of ‘The Great Nothingness.’ Yes, that would definitely fit what I am trying to convey to you.”
“I find such ideas as ‘formlessness’ and ‘The Great Nothingness’ pretty intriguing. Just what are you calling ‘formlessness’?” Janet asked.
“It’s like this, Luv: The formless energy I speak of is a spiritual energy before the creation of this physical world. Once this formless energy joins this world of form, we call it creation, or the physical reality that we live in. The transformation of this formless energy into this physical world is what some of the great mystics throughout time have called ‘The Great Illusion.’ That is why I can assure you that this physical world we live in is all connected to time, space and matter—which all have illusionary values.”
Once again Andy’s words left me wondering and by the expression on her face I could see that Janet was equally perplexed.
“Andy, I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about,” she sighed. “What in heaven’s name do you mean by time, space and matter all having illusionary values?”
The old gardener smiled broadly at the bewildered look on our faces, then pointing to a nearby tree he said, “Do you see that tree over there?”
“Yes,” Janet answered.
“Well, what do you think is between you and that tree?”
“Nothing,” Janet answered.
“Wrong!” Andy replied, “There are particles of air, dust, water and many other unseen forms between you and that tree.”
Both Emily and Andy were grinning from ear to ear at the look of mystification on Janet’s face. Then the old gardener said, “Think of it this way, Janet, what I am saying is this: Literally everything in this physical world is created from the same formless energy.
“Now I want you to look carefully and you will see that if this is so, then you are also a product of this formless energy.
“Then if you look a little closer you will see that all the particles of dust, air, water and a host of other little things present are all created from this same formless energy, but expressed in an endless variety of forms.
“Last, but not least, we have the tree, which is also created from the same formless energy, but in the form of a tree. Therefore, common sense tells me, the division between you and the tree must be an illusion—if everything in this universe is created from the same energy
“When this is seen, everything is One; just as you and I are particles of the whole.”
His explanation struck me like a bolt of lightning. “Are you talking about the Oneness of life?” I inquired.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m talking about,” Andy replied.
“You know, Andy, in many books I’ve read and in my searching throughout the Far East I’ve often heard masters talk about the Oneness of life, but I’ve never heard it explained in such a simple way Come to think of it, I never did hear anyone try to explain such a mystical phenomenon. Can you elaborate a little more on the Oneness of life?”
Andy stared at the ground in deep thought for a while before answering, “This Oneness I speak of has been explained in many ways. For instance, some say there can only be One God and this is true because,
“God is the energy of all things,
Whether inform or formless.
“This is ‘The Great Oneness’ of life that the sagacious have spoken about since the beginning of time.
“I am sure in all the reading and traveling you have done you have heard the saying, I am that which I seek,’ meaning, ‘I am the same energy that I seek—we are One’.”
“Andy, I am definitely familiar with that saying, but for some reason I prefer what you are saying. Your ideas and concepts absolutely fascinate me. Do you realize you are talking about physics?”
Andy smiled and looked a little embarrassed. He dropped his head and said, “To be truthful with you, Eric, I never thought about it that way, because I know nothing about physics. I only know what I know.
“But this I can tell you, once you start talking about the world of formlessness the laws of physics start to break down and are no longer applicable. This is why I think we should talk about the form.”
“How can you say with such assurance that the laws of physics break down when you talk about formlessness, especially when you say you know nothing about physics?” I demanded.
The old gardener gazed intently into my eyes as though looking for the slightest glimmer of understanding. For the first time, I could hear a tone of frustration beginning to creep into his voice as he said, “Haven’t I told you again and again that the Three Principles of Mind, Consciousness and Thought cover all sciences, all psychological beliefs, all philosophies, all religions and all human behavior?”
It was difficult for me to believe what Andy was saying. All the time I’d known Andy I had never related what he was saying about the principles to physics. Up until this point, I thought that he was only trying to link them to psychology and with a sudden sense of shame I realized why Andy had once said to us that the Three Principles weren’t only for the chosen few, meaning the field of psychology, but for everyone.
Janet shook her head slowly and murmured, “You’re blowing my mind again, Andy. I’m just now starting to see that the applications are never ending.”
Andy smiled at Janet’s remark. “This I can tell you, Luv. If you ever have the good fortune to discover the true nature of the Three Principles, that’s when your search for the knowledge of the very essence of your profession will bear fruit.
“That is when you will understand the correlation between Mind and Soul, or, being psychologists, you could say finding the correlation between Mind and Psyche.
“That is when you will find your answers to human behavior.
“That is when you will help people, taking them from darkness into the light of mental health— if they have the ears to listen and the eyes to see.”
Then, very respectfully, Janet asked Andy how he could be so sure of such statements.
“I’m afraid, Luv, that is impossible for me explain to you. However, this I can tell you: As you start to realize the true nature of Mind, you will start to unravel the psychological puzzle you have been looking at and discover the answers you seek.”
“What is the true nature of the spiritual Mind?” I asked.
Andy searched my eyes with his, once again seeking a spark of comprehension, as he replied, “There are many names you can call it. The Spiritual Mind, Divine Mind, or if you prefer, Universal Mind is God. Again I tell you:
“God is the energy of all things, whether in form or formless.
“This is why only God can be infinite.”
Andy knew he had me baffled and chortled to himself at the look on my face as I asked him, “What has infinity got to do with all of this?”
“If you had been listening more openly and less intently you would have heard me explain that to you already!
“Eric, you are trying too hard to figure out my words intellectually, instead of listening beyond my words and finding a deeper dimension of thought. May I suggest to you that we move back into physics and put it this way: Some people have the misconception that infinity has something to do with endless time, space or matter. Believe me, this is not so. Infinity has nothing to do with time, space or matter. Infinity is not a quantity.