Spiritual Training
The Spiritual Training & Adoration of Life Deity - Pt. Shri Ram Sharma Acharya Ji- Spiritual training of life - Secret of spiritual knowledge
- Adoration (aradhana) and dissemination of real knowledge (Gyan-Yagya)
It is human nature to ignore things which are too close or at a great distance. This applies to every aspect of life. We live every moment of life but do not understand its glory. we are unaware of super neutral divine powers which can be attained by proper use of life. Man takes birth, fulfils his natural instincts of food, sex- indulgence, earning livelihood and ultimately posses away. There are rarely moments when it is pondered that human life is the greatest gift of god's treasure. One who has been gifted so kindly with human life is expected to make its best use, fulfil his imperfections and become great. He is expected like an efficient gardener to maintain and beautify this garden of universe and prove that he has appropriate knowledge of what is selfishness and what is universal good. Our interest lies in getting rid of unwholesomeness of sensuality and imbibing righteousness in adequate proportion. Those who succeed in utilizing trust get admission in the class of divine man. They not only safeguard their own welfare but help countless people in crossing over difficulties. Only such persons are great, praise- worthy and imitable. They get triple pleasures of fulfillment, satisfaction and peace.
Human life is a precious gift of god. When it is entrusted, it is believed that the person concerned is deserving. Other living-beings think and act only in relation to their physical body but man has to discharge several duties and responsibilities as he is the successor prince of Almighty God. He has to maintain his significance and dignity. He will be regarded as a beast if he confines himself to greediness and illusion and remains engrossed in eating and procreating children. It becomes all the more worse if along with greed and infatuation ego also overtakes him. Emergence of vanity to fulfil ambitiousness plunges man deep into the ditch of downfall and degeneration. Such a person becomes licentious, aggressive and dangerous and indulges in devilish activities. Eventually his life which was symbol of great fortune becomes distressed and miserable. Thus boon be comes a curse. Both these alternatives are available to every one. Man has to choose as he is maker of his own destiny.
There are different types of devotees. They have their own favourite deities from whom they seek favour and kindness and expect fulfillment of their aspirations. Nothing can be said who succeeds because in a state of dependence everything rests on the will of the master. The servant can only pray and entreat. This however, does not apply in the case of jiwan devta (God in the form of one's enlightened life).
If life is trained in an appropriate manner everything which cannot be found elsewhere can be obtained below this "Kalpa-Vriksha" (a mythological tree which is supposed to grant all desires of a person who sits below it).
Atom is the smallest form of this universe. Scientists have unanimously accepted that whatever is found in this universe is present in the smallest ingredient of matte. The other aspect of this theory is that individual soul is small but entire symbol of the great power, universal consciousness. According to vedant philosophy, refined soul is God. All divine power according to the Indian philosophy reside in this physical body. All the grandeur and magnificence of divine potentialities of the Almightly are present in its entirety in dormant centres of human soul. If they could be awakened, and known super sensuous, unknown divine powers can be aroused and activated. Ascetics, Yogi, great thinkers and saints are gifted with such potentialities. Truth is eternal and perpetual. What has happened in the past can happen even now. Great spiritual powers can be acquired by training one's own life in the form, of God. The saying about musk-deer is well-known. If one blunders upon to find by fluke and searches outside, he will get nothing but exhaustion and irritation. Peace is attained when it is discovered that the center of fragrance is in one's own navel. It is futile to search God elsewhere. God is beyond the limits of time and space. He is beyond the limits of time and space. He is formless. He can be seen only in one's own inner- self. Our entire life is God's direct manifestation.
Geeta says that God is merged, incorporated in human faith. Man is moulded according to his own belief. A person who incorporates greatness within him is bound to become great.
God is powerful enough to accomplish everything. He is majestic and magnificent. Man, his symbolic representative successor prince is also accomplished with all his attributes. The difficulty, however, is that intensity of self-oblivion and darkness of ignorance covers the reality. Man stumbles at every step, when in darkness bush appears to him to be a ghost and rope, a snake. But when there is light, everything appears, as it is. Self knowledge (atmabodh) is advent of that light in which man gets a glimpse of his real form. No time is then taken in searching the path.
The story of a young cub of a lion having been brought up in a flock of sheep is well-known. The atmosphere and prevalence around us drags us, but when self-knowledge dawns it is fully realised that one's own inner-self is pure, enlightened and transcendental. The saying that "man is God who has lost his way and gone astray", hardly needs analysis. All problems are solved if this bewilderment is brought to an end and then there is deliverance from all worldly bonds. Liberation is nothing else but getting rid of inappropriate thinking about one's own self. A spider weaves web, gets entangled in it and becomes restless, but when it determines, it winds up the web and swallows it itself. Worthless, insignificant life is man's own creation. What we want and think gets materialised in due course. If we want to change our circumstances, we have to change our convicts inferior-most can be made superior-most. A petty man can become great.
The principle of attaining super-natural divine powers (siddhis) by spiritual training (sadhna) is well-known. The question is who should be worshipped. Nothing can be said about the form and nature of different divine powers. The organization of this universe is well planned. The sun, moon, air are universal. God, too, is omnipotent and universal. How can he then have different forms, nature and qualities? How can then one arrive at the truth? The real answer to the question is that life itself should be regarded as living awakened God. Filth and impurities which have covered life should bee removed. When live coal is covered with layer of ash it appears black. When this layer is removed, hidden bright fire becomes clearly visible. The object of spiritual training is simply to remove this covering. This amounts to converting dormancy into awakening.
Spiritualists have indicated several ways of spiritual training. If they are seriously analysed it would appear that all symbolic worships worships are nothing but elementary exposition of self-refinement. The object behind all 'Yoga' and 'tap' (asceticism) is to enhance one's own worthiness and sharpness. Worthiness is a magnet which easily attracts useful elements and power. The magnet of developed divinity in man attracts useful elements and powers towards him. Reservoirs are always deep as water from all surrounding areas collect in them. The snow deposits on high hill-tops melt on accounts of heat and the resultant water reaches the sea through rivers. This is known as worthiness or capability. The basic purpose of spiritual training is enhancement of one's own worthiness. God does not need persuasion or appeasement. He is not pleased by insignificant gifts, worship, praises and exaltations. Only Mean persons have such a nature. God is just and prudent. He is pleased and showers blessings on the basis of glory which emerges as a result of permeation of idealism in man's personality. The childish game of trying to allure him results in dis-appointment.
The ascetic asks, " for whom should we worship (kasmai devaya havisha vidhema". The emphatic answer is, we should worship for the God within us (Atma-Dev). The real criterion of cent percent perfection of a person can be judged only on the basis of genuineness of his thoughts, character and behaviour. Fruits, flowers do not fall on the tree from the sky. Trees grow and bear fruits and flowers when their roots suck juice from the earth. Roots are within us which influence the entire personality. It ultimately leads to magnificence and attainment of super-natural powers on the basis of which dual advantage of spiritual greatness and material advancement can be attained. This is the coordinated from of upasana (worship) sadhana (spiritual training) and aradhana (adoration). This spiritual training essentially leads to success. One gets nothing by begging and entreating. God helps those who help themselves. Spiritual training of life is nothing but practicing self-refinement and self-purification. This is the greatest and ultimate object of human pursuit. Those who have understood this ultimate truth have realised the secret behind spiritual knowledge.
Adoration (aradhana) and Dissemination of real knowledge (Gyan Yagya)
There are three signs of physical health, (1) good appetite, (2) sound sleep, and (3) smartness or freshness for doing work. There are three signs of spiritual strength too. They are (1) excellent thinking, (2) faith in character, and (3) abundance of benevolence, generosity and helpfulness in behaviour. These are called worship (upasana), spiritual training (sadhana) and adoration (aradhana). The symptom of spiritual progress is growth of divinity in man. Devta (divine man) is one who gives. In other words, he may be called a man with religious bent of mind having a keen desire for self-less service (seva). If there is emergence of politeness in personality there is bound to be craving for rendering human service. There is growth of magnanimity in qualities, actions and nature of a person who renders self-less service. Devtas (divine persons), who live on earth in the form of men are known as bhoosur. This word is used for people who belong to the saint and brahman class. A brahman renders service in a limited area. Saints are parivrajaks (wandering mendicants who reach from place to place to promote growth of righteousness). They infuse life like air wherever they go. They rain like clouds and flourish greenery. Whether or not a person has been benefited by spiritual progress can be judged only by the tests whether eminence in accordance with human dignity is visible in his thinking, behaviour and character and whether the devotee has a craving for service and doing universal good.
Broadly speaking, alms and donations are known as sacred summum bonum or universal good. But it should have deep tinge of farsightedness. People afflicted by accidents or sudden calamity need immediate help. Similarly, crippled, physically handicapped should also get maintenance. Poor and backward people should get indirect help so that they may become self-dependent. Gandhiji gave importance to khadi so that unemployed persons may get work. Other cottage industries also fall in this category. Provision should be made for creating resources which may help in eliminating unemployment. It is sound method of giving help to the poor. It is no charity to give alms to parasitic persons who live on other's earnings. This encourages indolence, laziness, carelessness, addictions. One who receives such alms suffers from inferiority complex while the giver suffers from egotism. These tendencies are harmful for both. Appropriateness and the ultimate result should, therefore, always be kept in view while giving donations so that there may not be misuse in the name of charity.
Imparting knowledge is best kind of charity. This is known as Braham yagya. Efforts which promote goodwill and righteousness are acts of doing universal good. For want of proper thinking people adopt several vices and invite down fall. Leaving aside physical handicapped and incapable persons the rest are fully competent to solve all their problems themselves, if they are shown correct path of proper thinking. Therefore, for spiritual development everyone should try his best according to his efficiency and circumstances to refine public mind and promote righteousness.
There is always the problem of time and solutions have to be found out in accordance with one's own circumstances. Ancient religious narratives and discourses can hardly be of any use in view of prevailing trend and atmosphere. For this one should take resort to Yug-chetna (prevailing collective spiritual consciousness). Attention has to be paid on expositions of Yug-manishis. (exponents of spiritual wisdom). This can only be the correct way of promoting real knowledge. Like literacy, growth of true knowledge is the need of the hour to solve problems of individual and the society. For spiritual development of self, refinement of public mind and promotion of righteousness one has to get engaged in self-less service, so that the religion of present era (Yug-dharma) may be established in intellectual, moral and social spheres.
All far-sighed prudent persons should get engaged in the task of dissemination of knowledge and revolution of thoughts. Pen, speech, visual and audio - visual and all similar devices should be used so that people at large may be inspired to know and materialise religion of the present era. The highest form of universal good and benevolence in present circumstances is dissemination of knowledge (gyan yagya). Neglecting this, no purpose will be served by speeches, writings, giving donations for gaining cheap popularity.
"Yug-nirman" literature is the primary need for making this consciousness sharp and brilliant. Educated persons should be taught this literature. To illiterate one's it should be read over. Devotees of Pragya-Yog should spend their money and time in running bag libraries. It is difficult for everyone to purchase this literature, especially in these days when nothing occurs to one's mind except materialistic self-seeking. Nobody is interested in listening to anything idealistic. Devotees should, therefore, visit literate persons house to house, give them books of their choice for reading and collect them back. The important purpose of spreading spiritual knowledge will thus be served. Such books should be read over to uneducated persons.
Thought provoking meetings, seminars, conferences, narratives, discourses have their on importance. These are known as sat-sang. These activities can be performed anywhere in some form or the other with the help of pen or speech. It is more effective to set one's own example. People think that ideals are meant only to be talked about. They cannot be materialised in practical life. This illusion can be dispelled if those who propound revolution in thoughts themselves act in the manner in which they expect others to do. Those who want to devote to benevolent activities of adoration (aradhana) and work selflessly for public good should display uniformity in their profession and practice.
These are all essential for ideal training of the people. Still, it is not necessary that till a person attains perfection, he should sit idly. A student of sixth class can render at least some help to a fifth class student. Any one can successfully guide those who are less qualified.
These days, equipments can help a lot. In ancient times books were hand-written but now they are printed. Audio and video facilities are easily available these days. They can be used for expansion and publicity of knowledge, Equipments like tape-recorders, loud-speakers, slide projectors, video cassettes can be used to fulfill the need of popular entertainment and public awakening.
Writing inspiring sentences on walls is a good method. Its mechanical editions are stickers which can be pasted on furniture, hand bags etc. This can be a good basis for propagating good thoughts and goodwill. Wherever possible, cinema slides can also be displayed to disseminate useful in inspiration to the masses.
Music parties can start publicity programmes in group meetings with the help of loud-speaker and tape-recorder. Celebrations of deep-Yagya (performance of yagya by lighted lamps) on such occasions have proved very easy, cheap and successful. In the after-noon women meetings can be arranged and problems of family reformation can be discussed and explained. Night programmes may include the process of social development and reforms.
In family, narratives and stories should be told in the night. Books like pragya-puran serve this purpose very well. Mutual discussions, debate competitions, poets conferences are useful devices. Everybody cannot be a poet but he can arrange meetings where inspiring poems and songs can be recited. Paintings can also be exhibited wherever possible.
If a man tries to search he can lay hand on several formulas for spreading real knowledge. Much can be done in respect of bringing revolution in thoughts, growth of righteousness and eradication of evil tendencies. When a true devotee can find God, there is no reason why it may not be possible to find out a way by which the process of spreading real knowledge may be pioneered. What is needed is to understand its importance and pay attention to it.
Upasana (worship) is done of God. By sitting near God, divine virtues are imbibed, feelings and emotions are refined and developed. Sadhana (spiritual training) is performed of one's own life. Jiwan sadhana refines personality of a man by eradication of evil tendencies and growth of righteousness. Aradhana (adoration) is of the society by serving God living in all human beings. It is accomplished by magnanimous self-less human service. Best service is one by which pain and sufferings of distressed persons are redressed, their deficiencies fulfilled. Financial help can be rendered by any rich man but only a spiritually enlightened person can render the survive of uplifting down-trodden persons. In fact, this service is rendered not by material but by divine wealth. Divine wealth never diminishes by giving.
Saints, ascetics have been giving prominence to service to the people who are on the verge of degeneration. They, therefore, become adorable in the world. Persons who were served by these saints also became great. This best form of service can be rendered by any one through the medium of dissemination of knowledge (Gyan yagya). Any person can be enriched by this benefit himself and get the reward of rithteous deed by helping innumerable persons.
