Miscellaneous - Religion   

Progressive stages

CHENNAI: The various spiritual practices are prescribed by the scriptures to cater to the level and inclination of seekers of liberation. Spiritual evolution is a long process involving several births and so all will not be at the same level when they embark on spiritual life. Lord Krishna has assured in the Bhagavad Gita that whatever may be the stage of evolution, there is no fall for one who has persevered in spiritual life. He will be born in an environment conducive for his further progress in the next birth.

In his discourse, Swami Omkarananda said as each individual could only practise according to his capacity and level of evolution, one at an advanced level should not lead others astray by misleading them. For instance, one who has advanced to the Yoga of meditation (Dhyana) may try to impose the idea that this was superior to the Yoga of action (Karma). While delineating Karma Yoga the Lord had advised Arjuna, “All beings follow (their) nature; what shall coercion avail?” and also cautioned “Better one’s own duty, though devoid of merit, than the duty of another well discharged…” Hence, instead of misleading one another it is best to follow the practice that is best suited to one and strive with intense desire to realise the objective in this birth itself.

The Gita in this context grades the different practices noting that meditation is far superior to performance of austerities, and that it is also superior to Yoga of knowledge (Jnana) and Yoga of action (Karma). Thus the Lord in the Gita chalks out a natural gradual progress from Karma yoga to Jnana yoga, and finally meditation. The first stage in Jnana yoga is listening (Sravana) to the exposition of the scriptures under a Guru, who is a man of wisdom, and then reflecting (Manana) constantly on the teaching till it is grasped intellectually, and finally meditating on the truth (Nidhidhyasana) taught in it till it is experienced in the depths of one’s consciousness.

Faith in the scriptural teaching and in the Guru, who imparts the truth from his experience, is the basis for meditation. Of all Yogis, one who worships the Supreme Being as his inner Self (Atman) and in all beings, is dearest to Him.

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