What is ‘Inner’ and ‘Outer’ in the context of Spirituality?

Inner World and Outer World

Inner and Outer are the terms that are often being used in the context of spirituality. The other extended terms being used are Inner World and Outer World, Inner Journey and Outer Journey. Some new terms like Inner Engineering and Inner Technology have also been added to this spiritual domain. And all these words create a confusion in the minds of a novice. Let me share my thoughts and insights on this.

Inner Objects and Outer Objects

We exactly stand in the middle and there is this inner space and outer space extended from there. The witness stands exactly in the middle. And in this space there are various objects, the whole space is curved up because of the presence of these objects, and we all interact with these objects in our own different ways. When we interact with our thoughts and emotions it is called an inner world. And when we interact with the whole existence outside and other people it is called an outer world. It is very easy for us to know and interact with outer objects. And it is very difficult to reckon the existence of the inner world and the inner objects. The objects are very very small. They are much more smaller than electrons and protons. The inner world is very subtle. We don’t even believe that such inner world really exists. Our mind space is that inner space. Our mind universe is that inner universe.

Being Mindful of the Objects

Why interaction with the objects? The whole purpose of interaction is for the knowledge and understanding of the world of objects. When I understand the objects of my world, I understand my world and myself. This is the science. The whole purpose of observation is because the observer is the observed. And observation changes the nature of the observer and the observed.

Object and the Subject

The objects have emerged from the subject. The other way of saying is that the subject manifests through the objects. And there is this interaction and collaboration between the two. Why mindfulness? There is a duality of the objects and the subject. The separation of the objects gives rise to a duality. And this duality gives rise to stress and strain. Mindfulness bridges this gap and brings us closer to the subject. And there is a possibility of an experience of unification. And the experience of the non-dual gives us stillness, tranquility and bliss. This is the whole journey of spirituality which is infinitely divided between the outer world and the inner world. And enlightenment bridges this gap and gives us the illumination of unification and oneness 🙂

The inner space and outer space is because of the presence of objects. The object is not different from the subject. The separation of the objects from the subject creates duality and gives rise to stress and strain. Mindfulness is a powerful tool and technique that bridges this gap and brings us closer to the subject. And eventually gives us the experience of unification and oneness. And this experience of oneness gives us stillness, tranquility and bliss.