The Sun Behind the Sun

“As the One Sun illumines the whole world, so does the in-dweller illumine the whole body-mind field” (Bhagavad Gita).

Yoga has taught me that everything is a symbol, particularly the sun beaming from on high. A symbol can be defined as “that which points towards something higher than itself”. What is the sun communicating in secret language?   

Universal spiritual teachings refer to a “sun behind the sun”. The Sufi mystic, Rumi, asks:

“Dost not thou know that the light of the sun is the reflection of the sun behind the veil?”   

The sun radiates the “Divine Light”. The Divine Light is personified in India by Brahman, Krishna, Shiva and many other deities. 

The Sanskrit for Divine Light is “Bhargo Devasya”, words contained in the Gayatri Mantra, the mantra of illumination.   

The Divine Light is venerated as the source of love, transformation and, ultimately, our consciousness. While the solar orb illuminates our planet, the light of Awareness is more subtle and bright, because consciousness is the greatest source of illumination. The sun would simply not exist for us if it were not known by the light of Awareness.  

This is what is meant in the Mundaka Upanishad where it says: “That by shining, everything shines”.  “That” refers to the Divine Light which endows everything with consciousness.  

Yoga wisdom teaches that this consciousness shines from the Atman or Spirit. Therefore the “sun behind the sun” is simultaneously seated in our hearts, as well as in the far beyond. 

The Isa Upanishad captures this beautifully:   

“The Face of Truth remains hidden behind a circle of gold. Unveil it, O God of light that I who love the true may see!

O life-giving sun, off -spring of the Lord of creation, solitary seer of Heaven! Spread thy light and withdraw thy blinding splendour that I may behold thy radiant form: that Spirit far away within thee is my own inmost Spirit.” 

The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad expresses the same truth:

“ He who, dwelling in the sun, yet is other than the sun, whom the sun does not know, whose body the sun is, who controls the sun from within- He is your Self, the Inner Controller, the Immortal”. 

Christianity expresses the same truth. Jesus, the Solar Christ, described himself as “the Light of the World”; and there is a psalm which says: “Lord, we shall see light by Thy Light”.   

To conclude, let us recall that “Buddha” means the “Awakened One”; and that the word “Buddha” has the same root source as the word “bud”. May we all awaken and blossom in the Divine Light. 

Hari Om Tat Sat.        

Michael McCann