How effective is your spiritual practise? Is there a scale on which it can be measured easily?

A WhatsApp audio file, that set me thinking:

I recently came across an interesting audio file shared by my friend Anjana. The content of this blog has some insights from the audio, my experiences and study to corelate them.

There were many enlightened beings, will be and are, right now. Many have written about their insights. The key is to find a common insight and contemplate further.

Attachements and aversions:

Life actually, at its core, revolves around attachements and aversions of being, doing and having, which originate from roles in life. Attachements lead to emotions of greed, expectations, anger, ego, pleasure etc. Aversions lead to fear, hate etc. These create experiences, in which the mind enjoys the roller coaster journey of life. Most of the people don't even realise that this is falling m happening, as it all happens very very fast in the mind.

The ultimate goal of spiritual paths is to eliminate the attachments and aversions of the mind. To be with nature, as a witness, unattached, doing ones duty...Different paths call this and similar states by different names. Moksha nirvana, samadhi are some of them.

Spiritual practises:

Spiritual practises, which are innumerable, in different sects, paths, religions across the world, are handed down by gurus (you can call them by different names) to the disciples. These are usually to be done daily, and could include prayer, chanting, reading, meditation, exercises etc. Disciples hold their gurus in highest regard, equating them to the supreme. After all, it's the guru who has shown the path!

Gurur Brahma, gurur Vishnu, gurur devo maheshwara. Gurur sakshat parabrahma, tasmi shree gurubhyo namah.

The attachement of disciple with guru: The reverence of the guru, causes the disciple to expect to be liked by the guru, be with the guru, seek his approval, blessings. This is a form of attachment, which comes with its own emotions. There is competition between disciples, a hierarchy in disciples of senior and junior, etc. The mind is at play again. Though in a far better engagement, then being absorbed in the being, doing and having in a material sense.

Not getting attached to a guru, does not mean being ungrateful to the guru or anything like that. It is to realise that everyone has the same "guru" element. Only the level of awareness in each is different. The consciousness of the guru element manifests itself into events, people, things in life. Its the same, only the form is different.

Relationships of guru and disciples:

In nirvanashatakam, shakaracharya says, among other things that the self is not, i the real self is not in any relationship. Not even in the guru and disciples relationship.

Na bandhu na mitram, gurur naiva shishyam, chidananda Rupa shivoham shivoham.

In a sense, even attachement to guru, like attachement to knowlege (described in a previous blog) is a block to realise the self.

Role of sadhana:

Every guru gives some spiritual practise to the disciples. What the audio talked about sadhana, relates closely to adwaita vedanta, which also states what there is no need of sadhana, only relaization is enough. But to get this realisation, mind has to be silent. Hence the sadhana. Sadhana is not the goal. The question arises that why gurus do sadhana? Gurus who are enlightened and still do sadhana is to set an example for the ones who want to follow the path. As humans, we do what others do. Especially when someone is ahead on the path.

I have seen many, who are doing the same sadhana for life and get better and better at it. It is like giving the maths exam of 5th standard for 15 years and scoring a perfect 100. No problems with that. But the question is, when will you go to the sixth standard? And then to the seventh and so on. Life is all about progress. And as time is limited, the sadhana most appropriate for the next step has to be actively sought out and done.

A true guru guides each disciple individually in this path. This is not a university . This has to be personal coaching! It is rare to find gurus like this now. Hence for many, the desire to have something, doing what others are going, self experimenting by seeing YouTube etc has become the source of sadhana. Most are doing this with utmost faith on their guru. However, an understanding of why this sadhana, it's objectives, it's progress and time to move to the next step has to be clear.

How effective is the sadhana?:

I have experienced myself and seen so many people doing sadhana, yoga, chanting, which has minimal effect on their attachments and aversions. They are still angry with their loved ones, they have opinions which are not open to logical reasoning, they are desire for power, to control others, in whatever position it lor authority etc.

Measuring effectiveness:

The audio talks an interesting concept. It talks of measuring your own attachement and aversions on a scale of ten now by being true to yourself. And check their level after one year. If there is no difference, of these two, in the real world, (not when you are with your guru), then the spiritual practise is not very effective. You may change the practise, by asking the guru or sometimes, change the guru, which is also a possibility.

This is the one it the easiest ways to measure the effectiveness. And can be done quickly. If you are alert enough, you will notice how the mind gets attached or tries to avoid. First a few times a day and then slowly, in every moment. As i have described earlier, being aware of the aum sound at all times is one of the easiest ways to be alert and aware.

Challenge of the real world:

There is a bit of a challenge here. As i live in the real world with responsibilities of family and business, i find it difficult to be unattached or accepting. There are so many things to have, actions to do and States to be in for all the roles i have. The list is amazingly long.

Solving the problem:

There are two ways to solve any problem. One is by solving it. The other is making it relevant. This problem is too complex to be solved as every individual has their own lists of aversions and desires. So making it irrelevant is the way ahead by seeing myself as a medium for value addition to others lives without ego. Without expectation. This has created a world of difference. This is nothing but contribution and seva.

Seva the service:

One of the practises in many paths is serving others. It can be community service, or serving inside the holy place, or serving in the gurus premises. This is designed to get the ego of status down and equal to everyone else.

Seva is done without expectations. With a selfless approach. Anyone doing seva has experienced the fulfillment it gives within.

Doing seva full time is possible:

Seva is not serving only the under previlaged, serving the guru or through gurus ashram, as seva is commonly understood.

Seva is not a full time activity for most of us, Then how does one be fulfilled? We are in the real world, doing work, studying etc.

Seva is giving value, in your roles:

The answer lies in giving! Giving is the value addition i bring to others lives. This is the actual seva. Or service.

Let's look at some examples of seva. A lady, As a mother, adds value to the members of the family. As a business man, someone creates jobs. Seen through the goggles of value addition, the world appears different. Constant alignment to the value addition through your roles itself is seva. Wear the googles of seva to be fulfilled

Then the question comes, what is in it for me. Every process has a model. If the model is right, you will get rewards.

Example of seva in buisness:

Example of a business model, in which increase in sales, is the direct measure of value addition to clients. With a net 20 percent margin, will have higher returns when sales go up.

The key to increase sales is to drive it with tremendous urge to do value addition. Not by forcing targets to the team. Once the team is aligned to giving, there is nothing to stop them.

Into AnandMaya kosha:

This thinking is fundamental to operate from a position of no fear and no greed. In all roles.

This the end of attachements and aversions. A zero state. Without taking sanyas, being in the world, fulfilling all the roles, by giving!

This gives great fulfillment. And i find myself going into the AnandMaya kosha!

The AnandMaya kosha is about being by being fulfilled. Being in love, joy, peace, freedo.

Transcending the anandamaya kosha:

To transcend the AnandMaya kosha, realisation of both the formless and manifested brahman has to coexist. One from the heart, the other from the head.

The realisation that manifestation of one formless brahman, supreme god is all around us in different forms like you and me.

Its like clay shaped into different pots, bricks etc. As me, in this life,in many roles i play, is enabling brahman, with a pure, clear mind, to do value addition, to these forms, (seva) with talent, experience, resources, made accessible to me by the same brahman who wishes to do the value addition. I on my own have no desires, as i am one with brahman now.

In doing this, there is no fear in taking action, no greed of having, and only being a witness (beyond fulfillment, as even that is a feeling in the mind).

This is a key insight. The nirvikalpa samadhi also is about being in nothing...

Finally, at times, i sense that i am a witness. When i close my eyes. Be thoughtless. Hear the internal aum sound. There are no emotions. I just keep awareness of my self with the breath. No focus. No concentration. No mantra. No name. No roles.

Blessing:

May the state slowly increase in time and space and expand to infinity, to transcendend the last kosha and realise the true self within.