Success can be achieved only by following the path of progress and co-ordinating knowledge with action. After understanding real form of spiritual philosophy, there comes the next phase of materialising it into actions. The basic philosophy of spirituality lies within two words, self refinement (Atma Parishkar) and self development (Atma Vikas). The object of worship is to fulfil the need of self education with the help of certain ritualistic activities. No ritual can be complete unless the feeling underlying it are fully understood and assimilated. Nothing can be expected like a game of magic if one worships mechanically.
The method of Pragya Yog is being laid down here so that people may get maximum success in a short time and fulfil their object.
There are two modes of daily worship (Sandhya) of Pragya Yog, which are extremely easy, although important. Soon after getting up in the morning, one should feel that every day is new birth. In the night, while going to sleep it should be felt that sleep is a form of daily death. Both these practices should be performed in the bed for fifteen minutes. Life and death are the two ends of existence. Sowing and reaping are two important agricultural operations. The rest is ordinary process which prolongs for a long time. Ordinarily, Sandhya (worship) is performed at the time of twilight, sunrise in the morning and sunset in the evening, but this spiritual practice should be performed as in-dicated above daily in the bed soon after getting up in the morning and while going to sleep, in the night.
The first practice of Pragya Yog is known as self knowledge (Atma Bodh). As soon as one gets up, he should think that he is born today. He has to live only for a day and sleep in the lap of death in the night. The greatest aim of life is to utilise this intervening time in best possible manner. This is testing time and on it, depends all prospects of future.
Prudence lies in making best use of human birth which is regarded as greatest fortune. Soon after getting up, each day should be regarded as full life and it should be pondered how this valuable trust of Almighty God should be utilised for the purpose for which it has been granted. On this basis, the routine for the entire day should be chalked out. This thinking and pondering should not take more than fifteen minutes. Care should be taken to fulfil the schedule during the day. If something has been left out, it should be completed on the following day.
Other worship (Sandhya) is performed in the night while going to sleep. It should be thought that death is shortly being embraced. It will have to be answered in the royal court of God, how today’s time has been utilised? The activities and thoughts of the entire day should be reviewed. It should be judged and analysed impartially what was right and where mistake was commited. The self should be praised for anything done or thought correctly, but where there has been mistake, it should be decided to rectify on the next day. The authors of ancient scriptures have directed that sins committed have to be atoned for and indemnified. Today’s time, which has been spent cannot be brought back, but the wrong done can be expiated and indemnified next day. This will add to next day’s work load, but there is no other way.
Death is certain. People forget it and spend life in useless activities. Human birth is extremely rare. It should be spent in such a way so that future may be bright, man may hope to attain divinity and other persons may get inspiration to imitate.
If man sleeps carefree in the night, he can hope to get peace during the period after death and before rebirth. If day is spent happily, there will be sound sleep in the night. If life is spent peacefully and in best possible manner, man will not suffer agonies of hell after death and will enjoy divine peace. This process is known as attainment of real knowledge (Tatvabodh).
There are two other phases of Pragya Yog, devotion (Bhajan) and contemplation (Manan) which are to be done in the day. One should sit in cross legged sitting posture for worship and devotion. Water is sipped and sprinkled on the body and the process of Pavitry Karan, Sinchan, Achman are done and it is contemplated that the body, mind and speech are being purified. Image of Gayatri, the Goddess of wisdom or a burning lamp is installed in the form of favourite deity and is worshipped with water, grains of rice, flowers, incense, lighted lamp and Naivedya (offering), whatever is available. It is imagined that the qualities of all the articles, which are being used in worship are being imbibed in life. Sandalwood (Chandan) makes the surrounding area perfumed. Lighted lamp spreads light of knowledge all around. Flowers inspire to laugh heartily. Water is symbol of coolness.
Offerings in the form of grains of rice and sweets signify one’s determination to donate time and money for philanthropic purpose. Favourite God (Ishtadev), has to be regarded as aggregate or accumulation of all divine virtues and righteousness. With this belief, worship, devotion should be completed.
Now comes the stage of Jap (chanting of Gayatri Mantra) and Dhyan (meditation). Both these should go together. Gayatri Jap can be performed mentally also. Counting can be done on the basis of time taken. Those interested in some other Mantra can adopt it. Omkar Mantra is also universally recognised. With Jap, the rising bright golden sun of morning is meditated upon. It should be imagined that we are sitting in uncovered body facing the sun. Subtle rays of the favourite God are entering into the physical, subtle and causal bodies. These rays are symbol of splendour and energy. Splendour means light, prudence and energy means power.
Aggregation of splendour and energy of light and power is entering into and influencing these three forms of body. It should be visualised that health and self restraint, far-sighted wisdom and courage and faith and goodwill are entering into physical, subtle and causal body respectively in the form of sun’s rays and inspiring the entire existence. This meditation should be continued alongwith Jap during the fixed time and at the end, water should be offered in oblation before the sun by way of final offering (Purnahuti). This signifies surrendering the individual self in the form of water to the Almighty God. This much alone is worship, devotion. If, during journey, it is not possible to sit at the fixed place, all this worship can be performed mentally.
The fourth phase of Pragya Yog is contemplation (Manan). This can be done at any time, in the afternoon, for fifteen minutes. In this, one has to review his present state and position. If anything is found lacking, it should be planned how it can be fulfilled ? Contemplation is done in a solitary place with closed eyes. It is necessary to become introversive and chalk out, in the presence of one’s inner self, the plan of cleansing (Parimarjan) and refinement (Parishkar). Whatever has been done from morning till afternoon should be tested and whatever has to be done till one goes to sleep should be planned so that the latter half of day, may be spent better than the former half.
There are four standards of self review (Atmasamiksha). These are self restraint of organs (Indriya Sanyam), self restraint of time, self restraint of money and self restraint of thoughts. It should be examined that there is no violation in respect of any of these restraints. Tongue should not be allowed to eat forbidden materials and speak uncultured language. Sexuality, amorousness has to be avoided. Self restraint of organs is an unfailing remedy for maintaining physical and mental health.
Restraint of time implies best utilisation of every moment. Not a single moment should be spent in laziness, carelessness, addictions, vices, etc. Full alertness has to be exercised to secure and safeguard best utilisation of time. Time alone is life.
Third one is self restraint of money. Money should be earned by hard, honest work. None should resort to dishonest and other’s parasitic earnings. Everyone should lead life of an average citizen and adopt the policy of ‘simple living, high thinking.’ It is foolishness to spend anything in amorous playfulness and show. Money should not be mis-spent on evil traditions. Only those who spend money with far-sighted wisdom and apply a part of savings in philanthropic pursuits get the credit of amassing wealth of sacredness and righteousness.
Fourth is self restraint of thoughts. Mind thinks every moment. Far-sighted wisdom should be appointed as a guard to watch, so that thoughts may not be absurd, scattered and immoral. It should be assigned the job of defeating evil thoughts by good thoughts and replace crude thoughts by constructive ones. Thought is greatest power of man. It materialises in the form of action. Circumstances too, are creations of one’s thought. Constructive thoughts get the credit of making human life Kalp Vriksha (a mythologial tree supposed to grant all desires). Keeping this in view, mind should always be kept engaged in high level constructive thoughts.
Sadhana (spiritual training), Swadhyaya (spiritual study and practice), Sanyam (self restraint) and Seva (service) are four spiritual pursuits which are responsible for progress and success in life. They should find important place in daily routine. Afternoon contemplation should be done to promote four fold process of self review, self reformation, self construction and self development. This should be regarded as spiritual philosophy, which, in due course, results in God’s realisation.
Source: Spiritual Training of Life Secret of Spiritual Knowledge
Author : Pandit Sriram Sharma Acharya
