For spiritual seekers, Hinduism prescribes four paths, namely, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga and Raja Yoga. If you are curious to know more, do read the works of Sri Paramahansa Yogananda as well as Swami Vivekananda, as they are India's most respected monks who took the wise teachings of the Rishis to the rest of the world.
'Independence or 'Swatantrya' is the soul of Vedantic teachings'
You may wonder "Why can't I simply pray to God and attain God?" You can reach Mumbai from anyplace but you have to plan your trip according to your unique travel needs, right? You have to also consider your circumstances and the place you are currently at to plan your travel ahead. More importantly, simply wanting to reach Mumbai or booking your tickets isn't enough.
To reach the destination, you have to act with sincere will power and disciplined effort.
To reach the destination, you have to act with sincere will power and disciplined effort.
In the picture below, my son and I are sitting by the Ganga. We are filled with love for the beautiful and deep flowing Mother Ganga. We felt happy just being there. We talked about mantras, especially the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra which my mother had taught to my son when he was four or five years old.
Coming back to setting spiritual goals, your first step would be to travel to the railway station/airport. Depending on where you are located right now, the duration of your trip will be determined. So, by merely sitting and thinking about reaching Mumbai, you will not reach anywhere. It is not different in the world of spirituality.
Spiritual seekers will be navigating through different phases.Their goals are very different in the sense that no two spiritual seekers will share the same goals because no two people share the same experience at the same point of time.
[READ: Does Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra work?]
Spiritual Goals: How to set them
Goals can be broad goals and sub-goals that lead to several more. Each spiritual aspirant requires different techniques in the path of sadhana. Why? Each of the prescribed paths can take you to your destination. But lets not forget that every individual has different vasanas (tendencies), experiences, goals, areas of improvement and so on that make it difficult to tread any path effortlessly.
Spiritual seekers will be navigating through different phases.Their goals are very different in the sense that no two spiritual seekers will share the same goals because no two people share the same experience at the same point of time.
[READ: Does Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra work?]
Spiritual Goals: How to set them
Goals can be broad goals and sub-goals that lead to several more. Each spiritual aspirant requires different techniques in the path of sadhana. Why? Each of the prescribed paths can take you to your destination. But lets not forget that every individual has different vasanas (tendencies), experiences, goals, areas of improvement and so on that make it difficult to tread any path effortlessly.
On the path of spirituality, there are no such easy 'lifts' but you have 4 options to choose from. To identify the path one wants to tread, you need to have:
1. A clear vision of your spiritual goals.
2. Identify your vasanas that you want to improve and be more aware of.
3. Be aware of the pitfalls in your own responses to given situations and limitations.
4. Learn to see through the traps created by the mind.
5. Master the mind and be a master mind.
While this seems pretty easy, I can assure you that it isn't. The ego plays tricks on our path to progress and at every point, we have to find ways to beat the ego at its game so that we can meet the destination point. A bit like playing 'Snakes and Ladders' where just as you move up, the snake pulls you down! In a spiritual seeker's dictionary, that is the ego.
[READ: Why Om is Powerful and Important]
While this seems pretty easy, I can assure you that it isn't. The ego plays tricks on our path to progress and at every point, we have to find ways to beat the ego at its game so that we can meet the destination point. A bit like playing 'Snakes and Ladders' where just as you move up, the snake pulls you down! In a spiritual seeker's dictionary, that is the ego.
[READ: Why Om is Powerful and Important]
Are you set to embark on any of these paths? I'd love to hear from you.
If you have any questions for me, I'd love to hear that too. So, don't forget to ask. You can type in your question in the comments section of this blog post and I'll revert.
Comments
I think what I could do more of see God's presence in everyday life, and not just in worship. God is love and love is everywhere so God is everywhere but going through the day, it sometimes gets difficult to recognize that! Especially with unGodly situations and people. haha
Finally, Ido have to say that I've been reading Tolle of late who is helping me consider, reconsider and shift my perspective on God. In the Power of Now, he has a line which says, "You find God by realizing you don't need to seek God". it's a powerful line in the book where he reminds us that we're there by simply being there. I'm not quite sure if this realization is possible in an instant or would require a lifetime of practice to be with God at all times.
Anyway, looking forward to your posts on this subject and the 4 different methods of divinity.
The principle underlying "You find God by realizing you don't need to seek God" is the essence of Advaita, as propagated by Sri Shankaracharya. But the paradox is that even he had explored all the 4 forms of Yoga before becoming becoming the Father of Advaita. So, the four paths of Yoga that he mastered, paved the way for a new concept of God-realization - the realization that God is not a separate entity that one has to seek. Really liked the point you have stated here.
Will write more on these topics and look forward to your insightful perspective on this.