Monday, 17
February 2020
Spirituality
and its Practice
Shri Krishna urges us in the Gita to perform work without
attachment, to attain freedom even in this life. It is not a myth nor a figment
of a morbid brain. We have actually seen such lives with our own eyes . we too have to attain this freedom. In this
very life. We must attain it, even if we are to sacrifice everything for it. Otherwise
well the tall talks of devotion (Bhakti) religion etc will ever remain confined
to speech, without being realised in actual life. Unless we attain freedom. we
cannot get pure devotion (Bhakti). In whatever station of life we may be, let
us all say with all the force of our soul that we must become Jivanmuktas the “living
–free”. But then we will have to sacrifice our whole life . Many like to hear
of Bhakti, indeed it is very pleasant to listen to it, but it demands the very
life-blood, as it were , when one goes to practise it. Once a man wanted to
have Prema (intense love) for God. Just then he saw a vendor passing by the
street with a basket on his head, crying “He here is Prema. Who wants it? Who would
buy it? Hearing this , some boys cried out, “Oh, we, we will eat Prema”; some
grown –up people also called out, “Oh, yes, we want Prema, we will buy it” At
this , the vendor lowered the basket from his head and said “Come, let me know
how much Prema each of you will have. I sell Prema by weight. How much do you want?
A pound eh?” And with this he drew out a sharp knife and said “Look here ! cut
your head off with this , and i shall give you Prema as much as your head
weighs” if you want Pream you will have to give the price-your head! Verily, mercy-by
empty words! Sacrifice, terrible sacrifice of one’s own life is the price for
it . have you not heard of Shri Radha? She gave up everything that one could
hold dear of life; and so she got Him . we have also seen such lives ourselves.
The sublime lives of Sri RamKrishna, Swami Vivekanda. Nag Mahashaya, and others
are ever shining brightly before our eyes. If you want spirituality follow such
examples. To have wife, children, money business, and all others facilities of
life, and at the same time religion, is an impossibility. You have to give up
everything then alone can you have religion and spirituality.
The Inner Ocean
The Speaking Tree |India | ET
By SANT RAJINDER SINGH
On this planet, we have deep, vast oceans with their cool
refreshing waters, their tranquil scenery, and their hidden mysteries. People
often go to the seashore to bathe in these waters or gaze upon their beauty.
There is another ocean, far greater than the physical
waters of this earth. It is an ocean that is far more permanent than the seas;
an ocean that offers not only refreshing waters to bathe the body, but also to
nourish the soul. It is the ocean of spiritual consciousness, waiting to be
tapped within each of us. It is waiting to be discovered by everyone who seeks
it.
Spiritual consciousness is becoming conscious of the soul
and divinity within. Most of us are aware of our body, of thoughts passing
through our mind, and of the world around us. This is called body consciousness
or physical consciousness. But we are more than our body and mind. We are
actually a soul, a conscious entity that inhabits the body.
The soul is a part of the Divine and is the power that
enlivens the body. This consciousness at the level of soul, independent of body
and mind, is termed spiritual consciousness. We can attain spiritual
consciousness by focusing our attention within, through a process called
meditation.
Through meditation, we contact our true nature, our soul,
and discover it is one with God, the Source of divine love. Then we will find
all the treasures of divinity available to us.
Just as the ocean has been there for people of all ages,
so is the spiritual ocean of love lying in wait for us within. Meditation is
the first step.
DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the author's own.
But, if He exists?
I drive joy There was a doctor in Benaras who spent 7
minutes in the morning and evening for mediation on God. Knowing this, his
colleagues and friends laughed at him. One day they argued that he was wasting
ten precious minutes on something, which he had been misled into believing. The
doctor replied, “Well, if God does not exist, I agree that I am wasting ten
minutes a day. But, if He exists? I am afraid you are wasting your entire
lifetime. I prefer to waste ten minutes rather than a lifetime. Why should you
grudge me the 10 minutes joy that I derive 4m.
