Requirements for spiritual growth

                                       

                        There are numerous requirements for spiritual growth. Let us look up these requirements in detail.

                       A spiritual growth aspirant should be a serious reader of metaphysical studies. Metaphysical studies imply a through and thorough knowledge about the spiritual laws, spiritual growth, the code of conduct required of spiritual growth practitioners, information about other spiritual theories and wisdom about the Universe, the most Supreme Godhead and this and that. It is very important for beginners to know how to proceed on the spiritual path. So knowledge about the spiritual growth process is a must for any serious meditators who want to excel on their  spiritual journey. Merely being curious and experimenting  about spiritual growth is not going to take anybody further than only getting stuck in the first three spiritual planes. The Ultimate reality is not about the Non-Being or the Non-Existence stance, therefore, it would be a good idea not to waste precious time going through anti-God theories and knowledge. There are various useful books on spiritual growth and some of them are- Power Freedom and Grace by Dipak Chopra, The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle and A Master Guide to Meditation and spiritual growth by Roy Eugene Davis. There may be numerous others which is beyond my knowledge. Some very great yogis who have authored spiritual books are, Mr. Dipak Chopra, Dr. Wayne W Dyer, Aurobindo, Ramana Maharshi, Kripaluji, Sri Bramhaprajapita, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, Paramhansa Yoganada, Mr. Eckhart Tolle, Swami Vivekanada, Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Sri Prabhupada, Shivapuri Baba etc. Books on Veda and  the Upanishads are the most insightful.

                              Food is the other factor that plays an important role in the spiritual growth process. It is considered that non-vegetarian food is not recommended for spiritual growth but you don’t have to worry about this as you will be guided about your food during your spiritual growth process. I had thought about abandoning non-vegetarian food when my Kundalini was about to awaken but God guided me that I could stick to my non-vegetarian meals. Remember that great Grace will be showered on you about spiritual growth in this Age of Enlightment. Alcohol and drugs are not recommended for meditators and hinders the spiritual growth process. Cigarettes, tobacco and tea does not hinder the spiritual growth process but do keep some time gap between your consumption of cigarettes, tobacco, tea and meditation.

                         Never  start your spiritual growth process by learning a meditation technique by reading a  book, through the internet and through amateurs. Learn a meditation technique only through a certified meditation instructor. The most ideal time to meditate is during the early morning and during the late evening. Meditation should be practiced two hours after a meal and never meditate  when you  are hungry and when you are tired. Meditation practiced from twelve midnight to three in the morning is not effective at all and does not ensure spiritual growth. Some effective, short and practical meditation techniques are the T.M. technique, Dipak Chopras So-Hum meditation and Sri Sri Ravishanker’s meditation.

                      Activity is very essential for a spiritual growth practitioner. When you lead an active life during your spiritual growth process the awareness that develops with regular contact with your soul gets infused into your activity throughout the entire day and this is how the awareness you develop after the state of Self-Realisation gets into heights of alertness. This way you will be very much aware even if a thug comes and lands a wicked punch onto your face. The level of sharpness of awareness depends on the kind of active life you have led. The activity you do throughout the entire day has to be done with lots of interest and passion. If you are halfhearted while doing your activity it is not going to reap beneficial results. Get yourself active in your own line of work. If you don’t go to the office and you are a housewife or stay at  home all day, do things like going to fetch the groceries, going to the pharmacy to purchase medicines, cleaning the toilet or your kitchen, bathing regularly, washing your clothes, listening to healthy music, reading a book, cooking, gardening  etc. Exercising is another prerequisite for meditators. Maintaining your physical temple while toning up your brain and rejuvenating your soul is of prime importance. Going to the gym and working out is the worst form of exercise. In fact, working out in the gymnasium is nothing but torturing and punishing  your body for which you should take extra care. A brisk walk is the best form of exercise and asanas come next in effectiveness after brisk walks. Press ups, sit ups and pull ups and jogging are also recommended as good exercises for toning up your body.

                    We have seen that whatever we do with an earnest heart and seriousness in the material life reap excellent results. So it is in the spiritual life as well. The rate of growth of consciousness quickens if you meditate with full of interest and if you meditate very very seriously. Forget the enitre world when you sit down for meditation and meditate very seriously and see the results it gives in terms of quickness of growth of consciousness. Never make an effort to hasten spiritual growth process because the more impatient you are for a fast spiritual growth the slower the spiritual growth happens. Take your initiativeness of meditating seriously as only a means for facilitating spiritual growth. Meditating regularly twice a day on a mandatory basis is required for spiritual growth. Skipping meditation sessions frequently will not enhance spiritual growth. If you don’t have a natural realisation about the benefits of spiritual growth, metaphysical studies,  attending regular satsangs,  spiritual discourses and gatherings may prove beneficial. 

                       Satsangs or spiritual communion is considered very essential for spiritual growth practitioners. Going to your meditation centre for single or group spiritual discussions and spiritual communion with your meditation instructor or with an achieved being is considered of prime importance for meditators. An aspirant should normally be under the guidance of an awakened being for competent spiritual guidance if one is to excel in his field of spiritual endeavour. If someone does not prefer satsangs he or she can avail themselves of spiritual knowledge through metaphysical studies. A spiritual aspirant should partake in the right and ideal conversation and not involve themselves in gossip, useless and unfruitful dialogues. Listening to devotional songs can also boost the spiritual morale of meditators.

“ At our innermost level of Being, the real Self of us exists in wholesome purity. Here, untouched by mundane conditions and transitory events, abides undisturbed peace, pure bliss, flawless knowledge, and limitless awareness of absolute freedom. This permanent reality of us can be consciously experienced by the simple, simultaneous acts of acknowledgement and acceptance.”

                                                        -Roy Eugene Davis

                                                 (Book:A Master Guide to Meditation and Spiritual Growth)

                  Accept each and every spiritual development with complete acceptance. Remember! The greater the mental distractions that take place realise that equally immense are the spiritual opprtunities of climbing up to the higher spiritual planes!

“ Why, then, of the millions of seekers of knowledge, do so few awaken to it? It is because many who seek do not look in the right direction. Or, if they do, their resolve does not take their awareness deep enough – into the heart of Reality.”

                                                           -Roy Eugene Davis

                                                 (Book:A Master Guide to Meditation and Spiritual Growth)

                        The heart centre or the Anahat Chakra is the threshold to the state of      Self-Realisation and beyond. Unless you transcend the heart centre your door to spiritual destiny shall be closed forever. The various spiritual exercises to transcend the heart centre,the Anahat chakra,  reach the source of thought , the Unified field, the field of Infinite possibilities are the practice of non-judgement, spending time in silence, spending time in nature and a regular meditation practice. The practice of  non-judgement implies not judging anybody and anything. Spending time in nature means sitting close to a running brook, a stream, a river, in the mountains, near the ocean or in the forest. This can be done for one or two hours. Spending time in silence implies staying in complete silence without the use of speech for one or two hours. Don’t listen to music, don’t watch television  and don’t read while practicing the state of non-speech.  The time duration of silence can be increased according to your convenience. 

                    The Age of  Enlightment is beckoning us to start our Eternal Quest and let us start our spiritual journey right now and this very moment.
                                         (This article is the copyright of Ashwas Thapa)