Sadhana means training, taming. This is what animal trainers do. They tame and train impertinent crude animals so methodically that they become domesticated, habituated and useful for the trainers.
It has been observed that the devotee considers God a fool. He finds fault with Him, accuses Him and tries to tame Him. At the same time, he beseeches very humbly, allures Him by offering insignificant presents and tries to serve his own ends. It is understood that God can be seduced merely by talkativeness of tongue and physical manoeuverings, although even in ordinary life there can be no transaction without giving and taking. This error makes a man atheist in disguise. Apparently, persons, who deny existence of God on account of His invisibility are considered as atheists. But parasitic persons who seek favour and fulfilment of worldly desires from God are atheists in disguise. Man contravenes all laws and rules of conduct, but it is not possible for God to violate the divine rule of outcome of one’s deeds (Karmfal). The so called devotees, therefore, get disappointed. On account of this disappointment and grouch, they blame the method of spiritual training and propound mercilessness of God. Of course, some hypocrites, who remain empty handed falsely praise the success of their achievements. The present day theism is entangled in this mockery and has almost reached the stage of atheism.
What is needed is to get rid of illusion and adopt reality. It should be taken for granted that spiritual training alone leads to spiritual health and strength. A devotee has not to wait for his death to attain paradise, liberation of spiritual powers and all other advantages described in ancient scriptures. If we trace the history of true saints, we find that although their actual worship was not so significant they exercised utmost vigilance and never ignored high ideals and ultimate aim of life. Anybody can become a true devotee of life deity (Jiwan Devta), by incorporating faith in love and emotional sensitivity, prudence in thoughts and politeness in public behaviour. He gets its reward immediately.
History is full of voluminous evidence about great saints, supermen and reformers. Each of them had to prove his worth on the test of outstanding eminence and excellence. Short of it, none could realise God. Worship has been regarded as elegance or decoration. Health is real beauty. Of course, a healthy person can be made more decorative and elegant by clothes, ornaments, make up etc. Spiritual training is a device to make life healthy and wholesome. There is added excellence and elegance if it is supplemented by worship, (Puja Path). No purpose can, however, be served if one tries to beautify a sick, worn out or dead person by make up and decoration. Such an attempt will be regarded as ridiculous. On the contrary, if a stout, robust wrestler steps into the arena, with a strip of cloth tucked round his waist to cover privities, he will look elegant. Therefore, persons who make their life wholesome and cultured achieve the goal even if they find little time for ceremonial worship.
The devotees of spiritual science have to bring about fundamental change in their outlook. They believe that human life, which is a precious trust should be used in such a manner so that along with material well-being, man may attain the ultimate end of spiritual perfection and assert before God, that he has fully and correctly discharged his duties.
There are three great obstacles in this path. They are known as Ravan, Kumbhkaran and Meghnad. In Devi Bhagwat, they have been described as Mahishasur, Madhu Kaitabh and Raktbeej. They are greed, attachment or infatuation and egotism, which result in passion, craving and vanity. On account of these three elements man degenerates, meets humiliation and leads life almost of an animal, devil and ghost. In public life, the principle of simple living and high thinking has to be adopted. A person should lead life of an average citizen, based on honest and hard self earned income. A greedy man cannot fulfil his cravings unless he adopts immoral means. An extravagant man is he who spends lavishly and compels others to lead life of deficiency. Indian scriptures have described accumulation as a sin. Extravagant and luxurious persons and those who accumulate money have been condemned.
There is nothing wrong in earning more. However, like King Janak, limited amount should be spent on personal living and the rest should be utilised in upliftment of the down trodden and growth of righteous tendencies. A thrifty person saves himself from licentiousness and addiction. He never becomes so passionate as to indulge in misconduct and immorality. This has been the tradition with saints, Brahmans (persons of devout austerity engaged in seeking real truth and knowledge). Modesty of gentle men flourishes on this very basis. Every aspirant of spiritual training should try to control this first obstacle, namely, ‘greed’.
Attachment or infatuation is either with certain persons or objects. Limiting intimacy within a limited range is infatuation. If attachment persists, broad-mindedness cannot flourish. Man does not see anything beyond himself and his family. He gets fully consumed and ruined in looking after them all the time. There are two important spiritual principles. All living beings should be considered like one’s own self, Atmavat Sarva Bhuteshu’ and the entire world should be regarded as a family, ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’. Such a person will not get infatuated. One should, therefore, visualise himself in each and everyone and everyone in one’s own self.
The family should be as small as possible. When duty towards elderly persons and dependents already living cannot well be discharged, why should new guests be invited? Looking to the present difficult times, it is the foolishness of the first order to enlarge one’s family. There is nothing wrong in getting married provided one gets a companion having similar thoughts. This should be done for extending mutual help and for advancing on the path of progress, Those who have cravings for issues can adopt and bring children of poor people. It is enough to make family members self-dependent and cultured. None should commit the mistake of leaving in succession after death, abundant wealth for progeny. Freely got money is lavishly spent. It cannot be digested. Ill-gotten money invites vices and perversity. If the issues are burdened with this load, it is bound to ruin them.
Family responsibilities should be discharged but one should not get involved in the mess so deep that it may be difficult to get rid of it. Infatuation has been regarded as the chief worldly bond. Those entangled in its narrow limits can hardly fulfill their duty of rendering public service. He who regards everyone like his own family member takes pleasure in helping and serving all.
Broadly speaking, egotism is considered to be pride or vanity. Arrogance, impudence, indecency, anger, all these are signs of egotism But actually, it is more minute and extensive. Fashion, ornamentation, make-up, pomp and show, extravagance, false dignity are all its family members. People are seen wasting a lot of time, labour, and money in bragging and boasting. This is a sort of intoxication in which a man remains engrossed, but every prudent man gets the smell of meanness and childishness in it. For this mockery, strange deceits have to be coined. Ego plays an important role in jealousy and ill will and creates disputes. Man’s specialty lies in his politeness and paying respect to others. An egotist is devoid of all virtues. The ego is a suicidal enemy. Such persons can never become a spiritualist. They are impertinent and are always under terrible emotional pressure to pull down and insult others. Such persons are always engaged in self-praise and condemning others. How can they find time for self upliftment and self-refinement?
A person who has put heavy loads of greed, attachment and vanity on his head, cannot reach to his destination although he may perform any amount of worship. There is no other way except to get rid of these three enemies. Light objects float on water, but heavy ones drown in it. Those, who have loaded heavy burdens of greed, infatuation, and egotism will have to drown in this ocean of mundane existence.
There are thousands of guilts, faults and defects but, at the root of them all, are greed, attachment, and egotism, which have grasped the physical, subtle and causal body of man. Unless they are eradicated, the human soul cannot get the benefit of independence which is known as deliverance. These three should be regarded as one’s enemy. Efforts should be made every day to get rid of them. No doubt, this cannot be accomplished in a day, but, if the process of reformation is continued, success is bound to be achieved.
Source: Spiritual Training of Life Secret of Spiritual Knowledge
Author : Pandit Sriram Sharma Acharya
