Satsang 2 : Principles of spiritual practice (Part 2)

1. Spiritual practice according to one’s spiritual level

A very important principle is spiritual practice according to one’s spiritual level. What is spiritual level? It means authority. Here, the word authority should not be taken in worldly concept but in spiritual terms. Saint Tukaram Maharaj had rightly said, ‘Will give guidance according to one’s authority’. When we start spiritual practice we should not try doing what is impossible or difficult for us. It is always said that we should get up at brahmamuhurta (early morning) and finish our ablutions and then start spiritual practice. Though this is ideal, in the current times we may find it difficult to do it initially. In such cases we should not force ourselves to do it. Instead we can see that we try and devote more time to do spiritual practice during the day. To attain Moksha (Final Liberation) we need to sacrifice everything, but in the present circumstances we can try to sacrifice whatever is possible instead. We can try to let go our small likes and dislikes, our small desires or wants, we can try keeping our opinion aside and doing what others are suggesting, trying to stay away from maya (materialistic world). Practicing such things is doing sadhana according to ones spiritual level. Once our spiritual progress takes place, then we will be able to do things as God expects.

In spiritual terms, spiritual level during Final Liberation is considered 100% and spiritual level of inanimate objects is 0%. An average individual is at 20% spiritual level. Few examples of spiritual level according to ones spiritual path is cited below. A person at 20% spiritual level does not do any spiritual practice. He is very far from spiritual practice. He is into corruption, or enjoys worldly pleasures, is quarrelsome too. Normally a person at 25% spiritual level believes in God. A person at 30 % spiritual level does puja, reads Scriptures, goes to temple, undertakes fasting etc. He/ she is more interested in Karmakand ( path of ritualistic worship). The next type of sadhana is that according to Upasankanda that is, Namjap sadhana (chanting). A person who chants is at a spiritual level of 40%. At 50% a person starts attending satsang. What does satsang mean? It is company of the Absolute Truth. A person who regularly attends satsang, reads scriptures and is most of the time in communion with God is at a spiritual level of 50%. At 55% spiritual level a person starts doing satseva and he is blessed by a Guru that is, a Guru comes in the life of the seeker and guides the disciple. At 60% spiritual level the seeker is liberated from the cycles of birth and death. At 70 % spiritual level, a person attains Sainthood. We can try to understand this concept from the chart displayed on the screen.

Another importance of spiritual level is that an individual is born with the same spiritual level at which he / she had died in the previous birth. His spiritual sojourn takes place from that spiritual level in the next birth. This is unlike our curricular exams. That means, through intellect we begin our studies by learning A, B, C, D… in this birth but we have to relearn it in the next birth, but in spirituality it is not so. Our spiritual strength is with us after our death too. As and when we perform correct spiritual practice our spiritual progress takes place and spiritual level increases. Only a Saint or Sadguru can correctly tell a seeker’s spiritual level. Instead of doing spiritual practice as per our spiritual level if we try to put in efforts to do acts of the next spiritual level our spiritual progress becomes faster. ex: if a person at 30% spiritual level tries to chant and attend satsang, he will progress faster spiritually.

2. Spiritual practice according to Era / time period

The next and important principle in spiritual practice is spiritual practice according to Era / time period. In the present era of Kaliyug, chanting is the most superior form of spiritual practice. If we perform correct spiritual practice as per the time period we are benefitted more.

In Satyayug, since all the people were satvik and were in Soham bhav; the spiritual practice then was through Dnyanamarg (spiritual practice according to the path of Knowledge). In Tretayuga Dhyanyog (path of Meditation) was the means of spiritual practice. In Dwaparyug, Karmakand (ritualistic worship) was given importance by means of Yadnyas and yagas. In the present Kaliyug, Bhaktiyog (path of Devotion) is the means of spiritual practice. In Kaliyug, most of the Saints are followers of Bhaktimarg (path of devotion). Saint Meerabai, Saint  Dnyaneshwar Maharaj, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Raghavendra Swami, Chidambar Swami, there are many such examples.

There are 9 types of bhakti according to Bhaktiyoga. In that smaran bhakti is the one which can be done easily and throughout the day. Bhagwan Shrikrushna has said in Bhagawad Geeta (Adhyay 10, Shlok 25), ‘Yadnyanaam japa yadnyosmi’, meaning in Kaliyug amongst all yadnyas, jap yadnya (namjap / chanting) is superior. To sum up, chanting is the spiritual practice of the present times. But chanting is not enough. This time period is that of establishment of dharma/ righteousness. Many people all around the world are getting attracted to Hindu dharma. To be an active part of this re-establishment of dharma is indeed our spiritual practice too.

Guru-Disciple tradition is an important characteristic of Hindu Dharma. Over the years, this Guru-Shishya parampara  has not only imparted spiritual knowledge but has played an important role in the re-establishment of dharma every time it was necessary.

In Mahabharat, Shrikrushna in Guru form had told Arjuna (as a shishya / disciple) that ‘Paritranaya Sadhunaam, Vinashayacha dushkrutam, Dharmasansthapanarthaya, Sambhavami Yuge Yuge’. Meaning, for the protection of the virtuous, for destroying evil doers and for the re- establishment of dharma, I shall take birth again and again in every Yuga. Keeping in mind about the re-establishment of Dharma, Guru-Disciples like Chanakya – Chandragupta, Vidhyaranya Swami – Harihara Rai and Bukka Rai, Samarth Ramdas Swami – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj etc. took historical steps towards the reinstatement of dharma. Along with chanting, contributing towards reinstatement of Dharma is important and it is the spiritual practice according to the present times.