Walk on the Razors Edge, Fearless and Focused
You may get motivated to pursue the spiritual path due to various reasons: Maybe you were hurt by your loved one or you failed to achieve what you had striven for. It is possible that you turned to spirituality to fill the void that appeared on realising that you, me or for that matter, anyone, is doing nothing extraordinary. Such a state may lead to despondency or even disillusionment with the materialistic world and relationships. In such times the adage "world is mithya" suddenly seems to start making sense. Some others are driven by sheer curiosity, to know Truth or Reality; to understand Creation. Is there a common denominator driving these disparate groups? Yes, it's ananda. Don't most spiritual paths and sermons promise that the way to end suffering and to expe rience pure and unbounded joy is to look within? Many of us believe that meditation and spiritual practice would bring elation to an other- wise mundane existence. Does this really happen and if it does, to what extent? How long does it take? Is the transformation in line with the expectations of a seeker of this jet age? When the spirituality 'medicine' does not give fast 'results', many pursuers may become sceptical about spirituality itself, rather than of the particular path or approach that they may have followed. This is a great loss, as sincere inquirers who had the potential for achieving the ultimate goal, may quit mid-course. Is there an alternative course that a seeker can possibly take? Coming with right expectations of what the chosen path can do and its realistic time frame, is useful. The changes may be slow; even intangible in the initial stages. The perceptibility of progress will depend on several factors like current level of evolution, prarabdha, intensity of purpose, and effectiveness of the chosen path. If one is very dejected, meditation or spirituality alone might not help in the short run. Counselling by experts, medication, lifestyle changes, and communicating with the person involved to heal the hurt might be necessary. Once committed to a particular spiritual path, most inquirers do not expect pitfalls or sufferings, once they have commit ted themselves to a particular spiritual path or a master. Som- erset Maugham's work titled The Razor's Edge was inspired by the Upanishads which state that the path to salvation is as difficult as passing over the razor's edge. However, many spiritual paths refrain from forewarning the prospective seekers that there might be phases along the journey, when they might feel worse than when they had started out; that the 'work-in-progress' phase process of cleansing may not be that euphoric; that the path to bliss may be chequered with trials and tribulations. Sharing the possibility of potential perils with seekers need not necessarily turn them away. It is debatable as to which is better: initiating seekers with unrealistic expectations or dissuading them from treading the path itself. Pursuers of the path who come in with right and reasonable expectations are likely to persist long enough to receive the fruits and benefits. Mature seekers may even accept that a price has to be paid. Letting them know that grace does come in to give strength would inspire them even more.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are RAJIV R GUPТА kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: RAJIV R GUPТА Speaking Tree,Times of India
Walk on the Razors Edge, Fearless and Focused
You may get motivated to pursue the spiritual path due to various reasons: Maybe you were hurt by your loved one or you failed to achieve what you had striven for. It is possible that you turned to spirituality to fill the void that appeared on realising that you, me or for that matter, anyone, is doing nothing extraordinary. Such a state may lead to despondency or even disillusionment with the materialistic world and relationships. In such times the adage "world is mithya" suddenly seems to start making sense. Some others are driven by sheer curiosity, to know Truth or Reality; to understand Creation. Is there a common denominator driving these disparate groups? Yes, it's ananda. Don't most spiritual paths and sermons promise that the way to end suffering and to expe rience pure and unbounded joy is to look within? Many of us believe that meditation and spiritual practice would bring elation to an other- wise mundane existence. Does this really happen and if it does, to what extent? How long does it take? Is the transformation in line with the expectations of a seeker of this jet age? When the spirituality 'medicine' does not give fast 'results', many pursuers may become sceptical about spirituality itself, rather than of the particular path or approach that they may have followed. This is a great loss, as sincere inquirers who had the potential for achieving the ultimate goal, may quit mid-course. Is there an alternative course that a seeker can possibly take? Coming with right expectations of what the chosen path can do and its realistic time frame, is useful. The changes may be slow; even intangible in the initial stages. The perceptibility of progress will depend on several factors like current level of evolution, prarabdha, intensity of purpose, and effectiveness of the chosen path. If one is very dejected, meditation or spirituality alone might not help in the short run. Counselling by experts, medication, lifestyle changes, and communicating with the person involved to heal the hurt might be necessary. Once committed to a particular spiritual path, most inquirers do not expect pitfalls or sufferings, once they have commit ted themselves to a particular spiritual path or a master. Som- erset Maugham's work titled The Razor's Edge was inspired by the Upanishads which state that the path to salvation is as difficult as passing over the razor's edge. However, many spiritual paths refrain from forewarning the prospective seekers that there might be phases along the journey, when they might feel worse than when they had started out; that the 'work-in-progress' phase process of cleansing may not be that euphoric; that the path to bliss may be chequered with trials and tribulations. Sharing the possibility of potential perils with seekers need not necessarily turn them away. It is debatable as to which is better: initiating seekers with unrealistic expectations or dissuading them from treading the path itself. Pursuers of the path who come in with right and reasonable expectations are likely to persist long enough to receive the fruits and benefits. Mature seekers may even accept that a price has to be paid. Letting them know that grace does come in to give strength would inspire them even more.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are RAJIV R GUPТА kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: RAJIV R GUPТА Speaking Tree,Times of India