My soul is the same as the Universal Consciousness.
Contemplation and meditation on these concepts helps.
Analyze all thoughts, words, and deeds – why, how, what next, etc.
5. What can help me to reach my goal?
1. Study ( Svādhyāy) scriptures - books, videos, etc. on your own.
2. Guru - quite often a teacher is necessary to help us interpret scriptures and guide us. A Guru should be selected with great care.
3. Satsang - company of 'good' people is very important because it affects our behavior and we can learn from each other.
4. Practicing 'good' values - telling the truth, practicing compassion, etc.
6. The ultimate positive attitude to develop is: एवं यः सवभूतेषु प य ा ानमा ना ।
सः सवसमतामे
ा े त परं पदम् ॥
He who thus recognizes that his/her individual soul
(Self, Atman), is the same as the universal soul (God)
that exists in all beings,
treats everyone as he/she would like to be treated,
enters the highest state, Brahman.
Manusmruti 12.125
All these will purify the mind, the pure mind becomes quiet, and then it will be ready for meditation.
Different Methods Prescribed for Personal Evolution
If we look at our traditions we can find many ways by which we can transform our lives and evolve. Our choice depends on our aptitude, knowledge, background, circumstances, etc.
We can select one or more of the following:
1. Āshram-s (stages of life) – Performing duties prescribed for each stage of life. They teach us:
i. Dama (disciplined effort) in Brahmcharyāshram – first 25 years of life.
ii. Yagna (selfless service) in Gruhasthāshram – age 25 to 50.
iii. Abhyās more detailed study of scriptures in Vānaprasthāshram – age 50 to 75
years.
iv. Tyāg or renunciation of all attachments to worldly things & people in Sanyāsāshram.
2. Four Paths - following one or combination of two or more paths i. Bhakti Yog – Path of Devotion
ii. Karma Yog – Path of Action
iii. Gnān Yog – Path of Knowledge
iv. Rāj Yog – Path of Meditation
3. Guń-s (गुण ) (basic characteristics of each individual) – one can try to evolve from tamas to rajas to sattv (more about Guń-s ( गुण ) in Chapter 13).
4. Sanskār-s – there are some forty milestones throughout our life that we can celebrate. They remind us of our duties as we progress from conception to death (Chapter 14).
5. Dev (deities) – each of our deities has some characteristics that we can emulate.
Depending on our weakness we can select an appropriate deity. For example if we need strength we can worship Hanumanji or Durgamātā and work towards the goal of getting strong and brave.
It is very hard for most of us to imagine or worship a God who is without a physical existence, a shape or form. We need something concrete to relate to. Icons or Murti-s are created so that we can relate to the indescribable God. We can relate to the unknown through what we know or can experience - a form or shape or a picture. A Murti is like a mathematical symbol ∞ that we use for infinity. The symbol represents something very hard to explain in one word. There is nothing wrong about worshiping a Murti or to be ashamed of. This is only an intermediate step to understand and focus on the indescribable and ultimately to realize or experience the Divine.
Later, Icons were created to show
superhuman powers attributed to different Gods. Rituals are performed to invoke specific powers and/or obtain special results.
Rituals are often performed without understanding the meaning of the Shlok-s recited or the reasons for different steps of the pujā (worship ritual). Some rituals are performed to celebrate an occasion like a wedding or birth or death. Others perform them to fulfill selfish desires e.g. to obtain more wealth or get over an illness. The most important reason for performing a ritual is to develop an intense devotion and focus on the ultimate reality - God.
Rituals are performed as a worship of a deity. It is an Icon in the form of a Murti, a sacred fire, or a drawing. All these represent the formless, invisible, indescribable God - the universal energy and the creator of us all. The rituals help us focus and communicate with the Supreme.
It is always better to know the meaning of all Sanskrut Shlok- s and the steps of the pujā
(worship) ritual. It is quite reasonable to ask the priest reasons for using a coconut, or water, or leaves, etc. in a pujā and what they represent?' If rituals are performed without proper understanding and only for selfish reasons they do not help in achieving the ultimate goal of
'Self-realization' or mental peace.
6. Festivals – there is a meaning behind or reason for celebrating a festival. Learning about this can show us a path to further evolution.
7. Vrat – is a resolution. Some resolve to ‘not eat salt’, or ‘fast’ or ‘not speak’ on certain days. This practice improves our willpower and discipline.
8. Abhyās – study of Bhagavad Gitā, Rāmāyan, etc. and learning from these good books.
9. Satsang – keeping good company and learning from each other.
10. Japa – repetition of a mantra or holy name.
11. Yātrā – visiting holy places. Holy places have an effect on some individuals inspiring them to become more spiritual.
12. Rituals – Most of us have observed or participated in religious ceremonies or rituals performed by priests in temples or at home. In the Védic period, fire was worshiped as a symbol of God. Fire gives heat and light. Light represents knowledge and knowledge destroys the darkness of ignorance about God. Heat and knowledge symbolically destroy all our sins (like selfishness, anger, arrogance, etc.) and purify us.
13. Dhyān - Meditation
Deciding on Which Path to take
It is important to know ‘how our minds work’ and ‘how to make wise decisions for important issues in life’.