| Sublimation through Introspection |
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By Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
[Poojya Swamiji speaks a
few words of guidance at the conclusion of the daily morning
Pushpasamarpana (flower offering) at the Narayanashrama
Tapovanam. These profound words on saadhana, like the
effulgent morning rays, would illuminate many a dark corner
in the listeners' minds. This series is titled
“Prabhaata-rasmih” (Morning rays). The following is the
text of one such talk by Poojya Swamiji on 27th Jan 1999.]
Harih Om Tat Sat. Jai Guru!
For a sadhaka or a devotee, constant self-examination is essential.
It is this self-examination that will intensify and deepen
his sadhana. To the extent a devotee starts examining his
own personality with its different facets, behaviors, interactions,
and effects and the outcome of all these on himself, to that
extent his mind is kept away from worldly involvement.
By doing japa, what is actually accomplished by you? You are
dissuading the mind from worldly interactions and engaging
it solely in the thought of God. In other words, the mano-vrtti
on God becomes a substitute to replace or avoid worldly vrttis.
Now, when you start examining your own personality, you accomplish
the same effect as that of performing japa, perhaps to even
greater degree.
What is this self-examination? How is it conducted? In self-examination,
you perform a constant assessment - "What is the thought
pattern I generally have? What are the motivations behind
these thought processes? What are the desires that cause these
thoughts? What is the level of purity that I have achieved?
What is the level of purity I want to achieve? What are the
impurities that trouble me?" - A number of such questions
are raised and the findings are evaluated. In the process,
you will know your deficiencies and weaknesses. The negative
and hindering elements will be eliminated and positive and
beneficial factors will be incorporated. This has to be done
willfully.
I think this self-examination is required not only in spiritual
or religious sadhana, but also in any walk of life. For any
individual, aspiring for a prosperous life in the world, a
thorough evaluation of his personality is required in order
to find out what must be incorporated and what must be overcome
or avoided.
It is here the question of sincerity comes up. I was wondering
since I got up this morning: "What is it that the sadhakas
generally lack? Why are they not able to progress well in
their sadhana?" Yesterday someone was asking me, "Swamiji,
I have been doing sadhana for so many years, but the progress
is not there." Why? What is the reason? I think it is
due to lack of proper attitude and aim - due to lack of sincerity.
Vajasravas, the father of Nachiketas, was performing the holy
sacrifice. But the desecrating manner and the attitude with
which he performed it made the holy yajna unholy. The son,
looking at the father's actions, felt immensely moved. The
performer of the yajna lost his mission but the one who was
watching it with sincerity gained immortality!
We generally use the word 'sincerity' in common parlance.
Most of the words become cliches through long usage and we
tend to forget what they really imply. What does the word,
'sincerity' really mean in the context of a sadhaka or a devotee?
I am mentioning this to highlight a point Most of the devotees
think of God and chant the name of God repeatedly. What do
they propose to achieve by this? Instead of always chanting
the name of God, I think, the devotee should start asking, "I am chanting the name of God; what for am I doing it?
After chanting for so many years have I got what I wanted?
If not, how will I get it? Why are these negative tendencies
and forces not leaving me? Am I not chanting the name properly?"
The chanting may go on for any number of years but the chanter
will not be all right if the correct attitude and aim are
missing. Have you not thought about it?" "I am chanting
the name of God, so that with every utterance I may get purified.
But am I getting purified? What is the impurity in me? To
remove the impurity what extra note should I infuse into my
chanting?" - have you not thought like this?
Unfortunately, most of the devotees end up in merely praising
the Lord and praying to Him. They seldom take to the scriptural
levels where everything about devotion is mentioned in minute
detail. "What exactly is meant by devotion of man? What
should a devotee think? How should he behave? What is his
strength? What is his goal? It may be related to God, but
to whom does it belong and in what way does it affect the
devotee?" - all these details are explained in our scriptures.
