Dilemma of human life is beautifully expressed in these few lines of Tagore,s poem. "The sun, moon, the Stars hurry across the sky.Restless river runs towards the ocean, why don't you compel my life run regularly in search of the ocean of nectar?"(gitanjali).This is the urge of every human heart. In life, we all want to touch the shore of peace and happiness, but do not know how to reach that shore.
In nature, plants, animals all are blessed with a programmed goal in life, except human beings.Even endowed with superior intelligence, and will power, human beings are most miserable creatures on to this earth. Like hungry souls, remain ever dissatisfied.
We all are searching paths to be happy, peaceful and liberated. Paths shown by enlightened souls are many and varied in nature, but they all aim at the same goal. And that goal is to have liberation , through self realization. They say, our worldly sufferings and joys are projections of our own mind. And as soon as we purify our mind from all delusions( attachments, aversions, body consciousness etc.) and ignorance , our inner divine soul shines with joy and peace , and reflects inner peace all around.
The path of devotion or Bhakti marg, is a sweet and simple way to worship God. Here God is worshiped with a form and a name. Devotee turns his body consciousness towards divine, and what ever he does , he does it to please God, with whom he establishes a loving human relationship. He may worship God as his friend, beloved , child or as a servant.By loving surrender, the devotee brings God very near to his heart. An important part of Bhakti marg is chanting and dancing with God,s name. It started with Maha prabhu Sri Chaitanya, who was born in 16th century in Bengal, and later got much prominence byKrishna bhakta swami Prabhupada, who was the founder of International society for Krishna consciousness.Chanting purifies mind, brings great joy and attracts others to the Divine.This path is said to be very suitable in present time (Kali yug) , when people are more attached to worldly things.
About the path of action (karma yoga) ,Bhagawad Gita says, "your work is your responsibility, not its result. Never let the fruits of your action be your motive, nor give into inaction. Set firmly in yourself, do your work, not attached to any thing. Remain even minded in success and in failure.Even mindedness is true yoga".( chapter 2, verse, 47-49). In this path, a karma yogi, does selfless service for wellbeing of others, and action becomes the mode of his prayer.
The great karma yogi, Swami Vivekananda asked us to take the position of a giver in life. What ever is needed, love, help,service or encouragement, we must be ready to give our service unconditionally.
To balance life , with efficiency and detachment, with good will and with purity of mind, is the teaching of spiritual paths.One may chose his path ,which suits his nature and tendencies, and should follow it with utmost sincerity and dedication.
Life is uncertain, every moment is precious. Keeping those inspiring words of Swami Vivekananda, in mind, "Arise! Awake! Stop not till the goal is reached," we all can proceed towards the goal of life, and also can help others to evolve.
In nature, plants, animals all are blessed with a programmed goal in life, except human beings.Even endowed with superior intelligence, and will power, human beings are most miserable creatures on to this earth. Like hungry souls, remain ever dissatisfied.
We all are searching paths to be happy, peaceful and liberated. Paths shown by enlightened souls are many and varied in nature, but they all aim at the same goal. And that goal is to have liberation , through self realization. They say, our worldly sufferings and joys are projections of our own mind. And as soon as we purify our mind from all delusions( attachments, aversions, body consciousness etc.) and ignorance , our inner divine soul shines with joy and peace , and reflects inner peace all around.
Bhagawat Gita refers about three main paths, they are Gyan yoga, Bhakti yoga and Karma yoga.( path of knowledge, devotion, and selfless actions.) Teachings of Gyanyoga yoga is found in the early Upanishad. This path aims at the realization of the individual self ,s oneness with the Supreme self, Brahman.Advaita philosopher Adi Shankara, gave primary importance on the path of knowledge. Here the devotee realizes, that he is not his body, senses or mind, he is only a divine soul, one with Brahman, who is beyond name and form, who is impersonal and every where.Shri Ramakrishna described it through a story of a salt doll. When the salt doll went to measure the ocean, it melted and losing its identity became one with the ocean. Same thing happens to a Gyan yogi, he loses his identity and becomes one with Brahman in samadhi. But to worship God as unlimited, unmanifested
consciousness is very difficult to follow.Unless body consciousness is totally given up, one can not reach the point of samadhi.
About the path of action (karma yoga) ,Bhagawad Gita says, "your work is your responsibility, not its result. Never let the fruits of your action be your motive, nor give into inaction. Set firmly in yourself, do your work, not attached to any thing. Remain even minded in success and in failure.Even mindedness is true yoga".( chapter 2, verse, 47-49). In this path, a karma yogi, does selfless service for wellbeing of others, and action becomes the mode of his prayer.
The great karma yogi, Swami Vivekananda asked us to take the position of a giver in life. What ever is needed, love, help,service or encouragement, we must be ready to give our service unconditionally.
By giving , one becomes richer.Every thing comes in life, when following a spiritual path, we awaken our sleeping soul, and fill up life with self conscious activities.Buddha also said, Nirvana can be achieved by giving unconditional love, compassion and forgiveness to all.
Spiritual paths never propagate to renounce worldly duties, or to deny life,s gifts. They teach us ,to perform all duties with perfection, with right discrimination and to be the master over our body, mind and senses, so that we do not harm or pull down others by our actions.To balance life , with efficiency and detachment, with good will and with purity of mind, is the teaching of spiritual paths.One may chose his path ,which suits his nature and tendencies, and should follow it with utmost sincerity and dedication.
Life is uncertain, every moment is precious. Keeping those inspiring words of Swami Vivekananda, in mind, "Arise! Awake! Stop not till the goal is reached," we all can proceed towards the goal of life, and also can help others to evolve.
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