Query:
What does it mean if a spiritualist tells me, we have another 2 more cycle of
life. I have been initiated to learn and perform sadhana as taught by my Baba
(Shrii Shrii Anandamurti). Can you explain about chanting Gayathri Manthra?
Vijay Kumar:
Do you realize that
spirituality and religion are two entirely different things... not connected to
each other at any stage of life! Those immersed in religion indulge in rituals...
never truly understanding the facts behind! I have observed many people going
to temples regularly not for days, months or years... but for decades!
The
result... they stood wherever they were before the start of the journey! In present
times rituals practically carry no meaning if our aim of life is traveling the
spiritual path. Those indulging in wanton desires and greed for materialistic
riches do sometimes benefit from rituals... those walking the spiritual path never
indulge in religion.
Rituals
are simply meant to appease gods... the astral powers that be! By seeking blessings
of man gods who gained enlightenment (kaivalya jnana) in the past... we only enhance
our comforts on the physical plane. Worshiping Agni God (god of fire), Vayu God
(god of air) and Mother Earth (goddess of life)... we simply seek more and more
comforts on the physical plane.
No
ritual whatsoever is necessitated in present times! Why? During the time of Vedas...
rituals were dominantly practiced all over. In the nascent stage of life when
human beings had not yet fully evolved... mankind feared the celestial powers
that be! Worshiping and seeking blessings of celestial powers was a daily practice!
To
defend the onslaught of diseases, sicknesses, natural calamities and out of world
phenomenon... mankind at large worshiped all kinds of gods and goddesses conceivable!
In India... it has been a prevalent practice to worship even rivers and mountains.
Mount Calash (the abode of Lord Shiva) and River Ganges are the most revered lot.
With
advancement of science... mankind has clearly understood the significance of Bhagavad
Gita... the doctrine of Bhagavad Gita given to mankind by Lord Krishna in the
battle of Mahabharata! Bhagavad Gita... the most sacred scripture existing on
Mother Earth makes it explicitly clear that it is our soul atman within the body
that is the master and controller of the body and not vice versa.
It
is not within the powers of the body to manifest a soul atman! To reach the stage
of enlightenment (kaivalya jnana)... one needs traveling the spiritual path and
not the path advocated by religious masters! Religion never makes one reach the
portals of God Almighty. Following the path of Bhakti Yoga, singing bhajans and
organizing kirtans simply paves way for remembering God most of the time... nothing
more!
If we seriously
desire reaching the portals of God... we need traveling the spiritual path via
the path of jnana yoga. Bhagavad Gita is one single document knowing which one
gains enlightenment and finally salvation (moksha). Only one who gains enlightenment
knows the path. One who knows the path becomes the revered master... a true spiritual
guru!
If a spiritualist...
a so-called spiritualist tells us something... does it at all mean anything to
us! One who has not gained enlightenment... what right one has to preach anything.
Mahavira... the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism rightly said, "No human being
has the right to preach anything unless one reaches the level of Mahavira... the
enlightened one!
Every
human being has been ordained to pass through a cycle of 1.1 million manifestations
in the human form alone... and earthly life cycle of 12.4 million years! Within
this period of 1.1 million manifestations every human being is expected to reach
the end of cosmic life... the 8.4 millionth manifestation when one gains enlightenment
and finally salvation.
Reaching
the stage of enlightenment is becoming a Mahavira, Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ
or prophet Mohammed in physical manifest life! Amongst the myriads of so-called
spiritual masters... how many enlightened souls can there be! In the last about
150 years only two persons gained enlightenment... sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa
and Maharishi Ramana!
If
we truly desire knowing our level on the cosmic plane... we need hearing the sweet
small inner voice of our soul atman that seems to come from within our heart.
The voice of our soul atman always guides us on the right path. Hearing the sweet
small inner voice of my soul atman I finally transcended all barriers of manifest
ephemeral life and reached the stage of self realization.
The
sweet small inner voice of our soul atman can be distinctly heard by one who travels
the path of absolute truthfulness... never otherwise! We need practice absolute
truthfulness and all the time... something really difficult in the physical manifest
world! In the present times of Kali Yuga (the metal age) following the dictates
of our soul atman within is an uphill task.
No
point chanting mantra most of the time! Almost 99% people world over continue
ritualistic religious practices without ever knowing the truth behind. Before
we chant a mantra we must know the inner meaning behind! The Navkar mantra of
Jainism is without a parallel. If we truly desire singing praises of God Almighty...
we must indulge self in chanting the Navkar mantra... the Mother of all mantras!
In
Navkar mantra of Jainism... obeisance is offered to all gods and goddesses including
God Almighty. The first chant... the first mantra is offered to Arihantas... enlightened
beings who have reached the stage of enlightenment! Subsequently prayers are offered
to Siddhas... the enlightened ones who after gaining enlightenment gained moksha
(salvation).
By
offering prayers to all Siddhas, Siddhas Purushas existing in the cosmic system...
we negate the effect of all bad karmas in rotation. Chanting the Navkar mantra
of Jainism after having understood its meaning is really beneficial! Ritualistic
chanting of a mantra loses its efficacy! All prayers carry meaning only when offered
truthfully and intelligently.
More
Spirituality and Religion related links...
Path
of Spirituality - Spiritual
Path - Spiritual Guru
- Spiritual Consultant
May
God bless all!
Always
there to clarify your queries (send
your query),
Full text of query:
I would like to know what does it mean if a spiritualist tells, I have another
2 more cycle of life. How does he know that? I have been initiated to learn and
perform sadhana as taught by my Baba (Shrii Shrii Anandamurti). Can you explain
about chanting Gayathri Manthra?
