Who is an Aspirant (Sadhaka)?
Bhadrapad shukla tritiya, bhudhvar , Vikram Samvat 2068
Question - What are the main impediments to spiritual discipline (sadhana)?
Answer - Attachments to sensual pleasures is the main impediment. This obstruction stays for a long while in his spiritual discipline (dedication). Wherever he enjoys pleasure, he gets stuck; so much so; that if he relishes even deep trance and deep meditative super-conscious state (Samadhi), he gets trapped. Attachment to good, pure happiness (sattvika sukh) also leads to bondage. The Gita says – "sukhasangena badhnaati" (Gita 14/6); That is why the Lord has said in the Gita "jnanino nityavairinaa" (Gita 3/39); "The desire for happiness is the constant enemy of the wise."
These days an aspirant remains engrossed and passionate about gaining maximum progress in his dedicatory efforts, and about increasing his knowledge, yet he does not direct his energy to the getting rid of attachment to pleasures. It is due to this attachment that an aspirant does not get success immediately, in other words, in the present he does not gain perfection and it takes a long time. Therefore it is extremely essential to get rid of attachment to pleasures.
In reality, God is ever present, the Guru (spiritual guide) is also present; also the "Essential" knowledge for Self-Realization, Truth (tattvagyaan) is present, and the capabilities, competencies and abilities are also ever present in us; only the attachment and infatuation to temporary and perishable pleasures is the main obstacle in manifesting and revealing these. The responsibility of effacing and wiping out this attachment to pleasures is on the aspirant; because he himself has created this attachment and become infatuated. Therefore Lord Krishna says in the Gita –
Uddharedaatmanaatmaanam naatmaanamvasaadayet |
Aatmaiva haatmano bandhu raatmaivaripuraatmanah ||
(Gita 6/5)
"It is up to man to emancipate himself by his own self and not degrade himself, as man is his own friend and he is his own enemy."
Question: How to eliminate attraction and attachment to pleasures?
Answer: There is an excellent remedy to be free of attachments to pleasures - it is to be happy in the happiness of others and to share the sorrows of others with compassion - "par dukh dukh sukh sukh dekhe par" (Manas 7/38/1).
On seeing a happy person, feeling happy along with him, an aspirant becomes unison with his happiness, by which the other person experiences joy. Similarly on seeing an unhappy person, an aspirant becomes compassionate towards him, and shares in his sorrow, and thus the person does not have to bear the entire brunt of the suffering alone, by which it lightens up his sorrow and he feels happy.
By feeling happy with the joy of others, a person's own desire for pleasure lessens, because the pleasures derived from self-indulgence, that same pleasure is specially derived from seeing others happy, by which he does not feel the need to seek enjoyment for himself. Similarly, on sharing other's distress, whatever the means (things), abilities, capabilities etc. an aspirant possesses, these are naturally diverted to reduce other's distress, with the result that his own desire for hoarding, collection, prosperity reduces. In this way, through sharing other's happiness and distress, an aspirant's propensity towards enjoyment (sense pleasures and accumulations) is reduced and eventually is wiped out.
An aspirant who co-shares the joys and sorrows of others can endure his own sorrows cheerfully and willingly, but he cannot endure the distress of others. While indifferent to his own suffering, he cares much for the pain and distress of others. If an aspirant has the primacy of renunciation and dispassion then he does not feel the pain of his body nor does he seek pleasure from others. He cannot bear to draw happiness from others and if others extend it to him of their own, then he is not pleased with it.
From "Vasudeva Sarvam" in Hindi and "All is God" by Swami Ramsukhdasji
Date : 28th August, 2011 - Sadhaka Kaun Kai?
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Date : 28th August, 2011 - Sadhaka Kaun Kai?
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