Have you outsourced your spiritual well-being? Are you stuck in rituals? A different perspective.

Have you outsourced your spiritual well-being? Are you stuck in rituals? A different perspective?

3 observations:

Three recent, interesting observations in spiritual journey are...

1. "Outsourcing" of spiritual well-being to a guru/diety/god.

2. Following the same or similar actions like japa, puja etc. for a lifetime.

3. Fixation in on external objects like idols, malas, sandalwood paste, elaborate rituals,

Let's examine these in detail.

Part 1 - Rituals:

Many times, people repeat the same ritual again and again, usually for a lifetime, may it be mantra chanting, Puja, whatever. It's like rewind and play. This shows great consistency, which i admit, i seriously lack...

When i analysed this lack of consistency within, i got a different perspective...

When will you go to the sixth standard!

Isn't being super consistent, like giving the mathematics exam of 5th standard, for 20 years and scoring 100 on 100 yet remaining in 5th standard as it's very comfortable doing so? But, the question is, when will you go to sixth standard? Then seventh, then eight?

Based on your experience, you never scored 100/100 in math in 5 th standard, and even if you did, you did move to the 6th standard, didnt you?.

This is as redundant as practicing writing abcd in the 10th standard. Which is simply not needed.

Law of diminishing returns?

What makes you think that the spiritual practices you are doing today, will remain unchanged for a lifetime? It does not make any logical sense.

Does the law of diminishing returns hold on the spiritual path? This is an uncomfortable aspect worth exploring.

It is maybe due to this reason, i have not taken on any specific spiritual practice as a routine... Which explains these blogs, which are a discovery by themselves.

This is because, as of now, i don't have a physical guru, though our lineage comes from the nath sampradaya. The events, the people, the thoughts, the actions, are all a manifestation of my guru himself.

To accept this needs courage...to take responsibility. No blames, denials or excuses. I am out of the BED!

So why not apply the same logic to the spiritual rituals? Why not progress, work with intuition, change the rituals as per the need of the journey ahead... And get clarity? This brings us to a related topic.

For me, instead of doing something to have something, the state of being is the key, effortless, with om within.

Part 2 - Outsourcing:

Some of my friends say.

"Swamiji/he/god/diety/ dekh lenge (Hindi), bhagtil (Marathi), will see (English)".

Two possibilities

There are two possibilities of anything happening, which you desire.

If things go right, it is seen as Swami's/gods/gurus kripa and that you are blessed.

If they don't, Swami/god/guru is taking your test which you have to pass with faith, determination, not giving up etc.

This comes from being attached to the results, desires. So mind creates a Maya, a game to keep one occupied.

This is operating in the mind domain. This is based on unwavering faith on the god/guru, which is essential. But, it is still in the domain of the mind. Within the mind, not outside the Manomaya kosha.

I understand that it needs great courage and clarity and taking responsibility. Isn't it easier to outsource your spiritual journey to a guru? To most, this the easiest way, as the responsibility now lies with the guru or the diety. Not the self! Very easy, convinient and comfortable!

Role of a guru:

If gurus were so powerful, why are no many people not liberated even today? My understanding is that guru shows the path. To walk on it, is upto you. Guru can Hand hold, support, guide, but not bring enlightenment to most, barring a few notable exceptions.

Now, as dyneshwar mauli says. "Alshi mandamati kevi tare"! The one who is dull in intellect and is lazy, can not complete this journey. Where is this hinting towards. This is hinting towards self effort, under the guidance of the enlightened ones.

In adwaita, there are no twos. So who is guiding whom? The nirguna Rupa of Shiva and saguna Rupa of Vishnu are the same consciousness within.

Both combine to create spiritual organisations:

A combination of both, rituals and outsourcing, creates spiritual organization's, with their own rules, roles and hierarchies, where instead of being free, you are now with another role, another ladder to climb, another path to go on. Instead of being free! Thereby, defeating the very purpose! This is the biggest paradox! The goal is now to have a designation, post, being the favourite disciple, a country head, successor, etc. of the organization

This is in no way, suggesting that the organized sects are not needed. They are necessary to silence the mind, to overcome it, to go forward, but it's so easy to get trapped in these organisations!

I am simply suggesting that one needs to look beyond it, with courage and self confidence, taking responsibility, at the right time, once you are ready for it. This is when you cross the tirade of body, energy and mind, into the duet of self and bliss.

This is not for the faint hearted. This intuition also comes with divine Grace and blessings of satguru.

Part 3 - Fixation on external objects:

Many people are fixated with a specific idol, a place of worship, external symbols like tilak, a specific coloured dress etc. This has to be understood in a different context. These are all external objects. The key is to within, not to get engrossed in the external objects. Let's see how...

The journey from "many to few to one to none to all" is the journey in spirituality.

Many:

In this state, the mind is engaged in it's senses. And engrossed in roles. There is no distinction between the mind, the body, the experience. A cohesive family structure that it value driven, a society which is fair and gives equal opportunities and safety are a great support system in this stage. (This is where most of us are, except for the few, who know that are all experiences are created by the role, in the mind and i am not the mind!). Occasionally going to temples, being in nature, being alone, are some instances that relax the mind and hopefully, some day, with some life experience, prompt one to go ahead to the next level.

Few

A few objects and actions are focused on like chanting, fasting, studying, discussing, going to places of worship, etc. Here the mind has started seeking something which is out of the reach of normal efforts. It could be a spiritual goal, a desire, pursuit of eternal happiness, anything. Worshipping by either engaging all senses towards an idol or withdrawing of all senses like it's done in yoga are the practises in this stage. Shiv rudra Abhishek Puja, with hundreds of desires, fulfilled is a great way to get this.

One

When the focus is only on one. In this stage, there is still seperation. Dwaita. Of the self and the supreme. Here is mind is overcome and there is total focus. In this stage, only you and he remain. You are still in the mind domain, as you outsource everything to the one particular God, guru or diety. Mahan shiv bhakta ravanas shiv tandav stotra is a great way to get this.

None

This is the stage of self realisation, which simply means that there is no seperate self! This is the greatest paradox. This is the state of none. The identity of the self, itself does not exist seperately. Everything is a formless consciousness. This is the seat of zero, knowledge, truth, clarity. Shankaracharya nirvanashatakam is a great composition to truly get it.

All:

Here, the realisation that the entire manifestation of the visible, invisible, past and future are all creations of the same consciousness.. This is the seat of love, peace, harmony, expansion. Shankaracharyas shiv manaspuja is a great composition to get this.

Way ahead:

No rigid path. No hierarchy, listening to the inner self and discovering ones own path. Being in silence within the self are the path only one in a thousand consider. This is possible only when your mind is free of free and greed. There are no attachments or aversions...

Blessing:

May you connect with you inner self. May you get the awareness of doing, abundance of being and acceptance of having, while being immersed in eternal om.