2. Patience: Growing up Spiritually

This article is the second one in the series of GROWING UP SPIRITUALLY.
Link to the first article: http://ashasnair.blogspot.com/2016/02/growing-up-spiritually-prepare-ground.html


We live in a world which expects instant results. We want everything done 'just like that'. We are always in a hurry. But where are we hurrying to? Has anyone thought about it? Oh! where is the time? 'Am soo busy. I don't care......... Really?????? You don't care?............ Actually we all care, but only, when we are in dire straits....... Why me?? WHY? But when everything was going good no one ever thought: Why me? 

This is life. It has its ups and downs. Generally when the going is good, we live without a care in the world and when anything goes wrong, we hit the roof, then hit the bottom and go into depression, This happens when you are not balanced as a person. 

First step towards balancing was mentioned in the earlier blog in the series.When you are able to find  your real self and talk to it daily the realization starts dawning that you were not doing things properly - that all along you were fighting shadows - a futile war, where energy is wasted and ultimately nothing gained. Don't be disheartened. There is a time for everything. 

Spiritual growth comes with a patience-tag. You can't buy it over the counter. If you want to grow spiritually and raise your consciousness you need diligence. Patient day to day effort is needed. In the beginning your efforts might be erratic. Don't lose heart, be purposeful. In due course it will become your routine. 

Link to the third article FAITH: http://ashasnair.blogspot.com/2016/02/3-faith-growing-up-spiritually.html

1. Prepare the ground: Growing up Spiritually:

This is the first in the series of articles, i plan to write.


How can one grow spiritually? This question lurks in the mind of every sane person. The prime point one has to realize is that each one of us is a dormant spiritual seed. When the conditions are optimum , each of these seeds germinate and grow into its current (life) potential. Now what are those optimum conditions and what are the hindrances that block the desired conditions, that leads to spiritual development? 

The biggest block in the spiritual path is ego - the inflated ego that blinds ones perception. So the first step is to sweep aside that blind. It might not be that easy.And the most important factor is whether you are ready for it. Willingness eases everything. Remember, "Where there is a will, there is a way". 

Ego is the reason behind desires,doubts, fear, anxiety, jealousy, envy, anger, revenge,possessiveness, attachments etc. These emotions and reactions are so obsessive and destructive, that they carry you away from the real you - the spiritual being. 

The first step in the right direction is to give some time for yourself, a few minutes daily - cut yourself away from the world, keep your worries away for a few minutes. Do this exercise daily. It might not be easy, but it is not difficult too. You don't have to teach a fish to swim. This is you reaching out to the real you. 

Link to the second article: http://ashasnair.blogspot.com/2016/02/growing-up-spiritually-2-patience.html

My little Angel

One day my daughter asked me, " Where do you want to be incarnated in your next life?" Such questions are not unexpected of her because from the time she could utter two words together she has posed many like the above one. She was always a child who thought beyond her age.  Very forgiving and compassionate  by nature. Such kids are a real blessing. Not only they think, but also make us, parents, think - out of the box. 

The above question and many such, inspired me to think, to study and learn the lessons of life. After which i started seeing life afresh, in a new light, light of love and understanding. It increased my awareness and broadened my perspective. It made me discover the divine in me and the divinity in others. I am not sure whether i have developed my clairvoyance or clairaudience, but i definitely have 'clairguidance', if such a word exists. 

My daughter's words catapulted me from the mundane to esoteric mysticism. She helped me to grow spiritually. I let go of my ego and allowed myself to be guided by the divine. I started to do daily meditation. I found peace, i found inner- happiness. 

When i look back now, i feel that i was reborn with my daughter - a rebirth in the same life. I grew up along with her, spiritually. I feel that she is an angel, send by the divine, to guide me,to help me grow spiritually. Because each life is given to us to learn a certain lesson and thus develop spiritually. In each life we are supposed to develop a spiritual aspect,which will enhance our self-awareness and raise our consciousness. And when we develop complete faith in the divine, we are divinely guided. 

So the answer to my daughter's question is: "I'd like to be born in a place and environment where i can develop spiritually". 

Five Steps to attain Salvation

I had been hearing about the attainment of salvation from my very childhood. The stories from Puranas which also turned out to be our bedtime stories, pointed out the importance of Salvation/ Moksha. As a child the word appeared to be out of bounds to children and strictly for the grown-ups. Still at times the questions, what moksha is and how it could be achieved crept into the mind.Though it could not hold sway for much time; kept coming back from time to time.How could one  attain Moksha? I asked many. But the answers i got didn't satisfy me at all.

The growing up years and the world around me, pushed my doubts to the back corner of my mind, but never into oblivion. And i always knew that i will come to know about it one day.

And that one day came without any drama, when my Guru embraced me into his fold. His teachings were a great revelation and it also gave me a sense of deja-vu. Not of this life, maybe of a previous one. The blessings of the Guru might have swept away the darkness from my inner-eye. And these are what i found:


The five steps to attain Salvation / Moksha:

Knowing oneself.

Knowing the Supreme Being.

Knowing the path leading to the Supreme Being and following it in total faith.

Knowing the hurdles one has to face, while following the chosen path to the Supreme One.

Knowing the bliss, when one surpasses all hurdles and reaches the Supreme Being.                

I'll try to deliberate on the above later.

Selfie

We have come across many many definitions and descriptions on friends and friendships. How much of it is true? Is it possible to have a friend who understands us inside out.                                                             

In my experience i have got lots of good friends. We value and understand the goodness in each other. As for me, the topic of discussion with each friend is different, with one i discuss spirituality, with another i delve  on the intricacies of cooking, and yet another, we giggle throughout on trivial things and end up light hearted.

And Each of these relationships are important to me. Knowingly or unknowingly we never discussed unpleasant things, we loved and enjoyed the time spent together. I have never shared my deepest fears and insecurities with anyone. I always solved those myself.

This is how i became a true- blue selfie
As a youngster i held on to props,
My friends true- blue.
Time and tide,parted ways
with My friends true- blue.
Life carried me to new places
I tried, but could not find
New friends true- blue
Then  realized:
Overlooked the real one,
My Self
My friend true-blue.

Karma Yoga

What is Karma Yoga? Let us start with the meaning of the phrase. Karma means action and yoga* means union and the whole phrase literally means union of action. In short, Karma Yoga is the process of achieving perfection in action. It is the path of selfless service.

There are different levels of actions: Physical, emotional ( senses), mental, intellectual. A human being is usually pulled apart by these different levels of action, which in turn takes him away from his life plan - purification of the soul and finally salvation.

To attain Karma Yoga the body, the mind, the intellect and the senses must function in unison. For this to happen one should allow the life-plan to takeover - leave the rest to the Supreme Being and become just a witness to the magic that unfolds before one. 

*Yoga is the union of the mind, body and spirit. Yoga is the realization of the oneness of the individual consciousness to the cosmic consciousness. 

Master oneself

When one is born to a certain dimension, the nature of the dimension deploys its effects on the being. Genuine intention, honesty, constant aim and effort are needed to overcome these effects and find one’s true path to Salvation.

To live on this planet one needs a body which is composed of the PANCHABHOOTHA ( 5 elements ) – air, water, fire, ether, and  earth. The Panchabhootha  needs the PANCHENDRIYA ( 5 senses ) – smell, sight, sound, touch and taste, to experience life on Earth. The senses evoke desire in  human beings and in the long run enslaves the majority of them. The humans ignorant of the repercussions of being enslaved to their own senses, become trapped in the unending cycles of birth and death. Succumbing to ones senses increases ones karmic obligations, the result of which is more and more lifetimes.

What is the point of having more and more similar lifetimes?  Just a waste of precious time. One can overcome this by mastering one’s senses. When one masters one’s senses, the real world presents itself before him, where he is one with all. This develops detachment. Detachment is the first step towards salvation.