The senses are at the root of material consciousness. The ordinary individual is more inclined toward the world and material things than toward spiritual things, because the searchlights of his senses are directed outward. He is playing the five searchlights- of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch- on material objects and pleasures. This is why everything outside seems beautiful and enjoyable. You never behold the “inner world” unless these searchlights are reversed and concentrated within. Only if you learn not to be carried away by the operation of the senses will you be able to enjoy spiritual consciousness.
When you withdraw your mind inward, you will begin to perceive that there are many more wonderful things within than outside. If you think the music of this world is beautiful, you will find the astral music far more enticing. As you enjoy the touch of the cool breeze and the warm sunshine and all other wholesome sensations, so inside, as you interiorize your consciousness, you will feel the supremely enjoyable subtle perceptions of the forces in the spiritual cerebrospinal centres in the body. Everything beautiful in this world is but a gross copy of the radiant grandeur of the astral world. Nothing material can compare with those wondrous visions of the inner world. Spiritual consciousness brings astral perception of the wisdom and beauty that is behind all material phenomena.
The beauty of nature is like a fountain. You see the beauty of the spray, but you do not see the wonders inside the droplets. The astral light and colour behind each atom are indescribably beautiful. In this fountain of beauty in nature, you see only the gross external, not the subtle inner beauty, nor the Power that gives that beauty to nature.
“O Lord, all things are beautiful because they have borrowed their beauty from Thee. The moon smiles and the stars twinkle because Thou are sparkling there. Because Thou art beautiful, all things are beautiful; without Thee, nothing is beautiful. O Infinite Beauty, Thou art more beautiful than all things beautiful that come from Thee. The beauties of nature are but waves of Thy beauty, dancing in Thee, O Invisible Spirit of Beauty!”
Extract from the book “The Divine Romance” By Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda