Miscellaneous - Religion   

Spiritual practice religion

CHENNAI: The objective of all spiritual practices is to experience the Self (Atman), which will liberate the seeker from rebirths. Bondage is due to ignorance of one’s spiritual nature and hence knowledge of the Self will bestow Self-realisation.

A systematic approach to spiritual life is essential to progress towards this liberating experience. The aspirant must begin with scriptural study under a competent preceptor and steadily evolve by mastering the teachings and meditating on them. This will enable the mind to develop concentration without distracting it from sensory pursuits.

In his discourse, Sri Sakti Srinivasan said spiritual growth was assured if an aspirant accepted everything in life as the result of divine grace and one’s preceptor’s benediction. To develop this attitude he must learn to look at the world with this insight. Lord Krishna has outlined the fundamental practices for spiritual progress in the Bhagavad Gita.

The first is following Svadharma, which is discharging the prescribed duties ordained in the scriptures. This will vary from individual to individual and has to be learnt from one’s preceptor. The next is to understand the secret of action because Karma is the cause of bondage. When the result is the motive of action it becomes binding; whereas if the same action is performed without attachment to the result it purifies the mind (Chittasuddhi).

This ultimately paves the way for liberation as only such a mind can engage in meditation and experience the Self. Another way is to dedicate every action to God. Lord Krishna told Arjuna, “With your mind established in the Yoga of renunciation (offering of all actions to Me), you will be freed from the bonds of Karma in the shape of good and evil consequences, and freed from them, you will attain Me.”

The other important spiritual practice is devotion to the Supreme Being. As long as ignorance exists (identification with the body-mind-intellect personality) devotion is the key to elicit divine grace. The Gita states that the Lord’s deluding power (Maya) is difficult to overcome and hence it by is His grace that it is possible to know His divine nature.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

CARTOONSCAPE
The Hindu Crossword 8944
Solution to Puzzle 8943
Spiritual practice religion
dated June 20, 1957: Mao on contradictions
dated June 20, 1957: Nehru in Helsinki

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu