Q: When, why, and how does one stagnate in the spiritual field, and what is the process to measure oneself?
A: When one is performing the same action daily and a sense of boredom, fatigue, or monotony can set in, then it is a clear sign of stagnation. When the action does not inspire or motivate you, that very moment, you have stagnated.
You may be receiving the knowledge, concepts, and teachings from the same Guru, but if that knowledge does not inspire you, then you have spiritually stagnated. Academically, you become proficient in the concepts. You may have all the spiritual knowledge of Atma vidya, but one has to do manana and go in-depth into the knowledge to keep inspiring. Hence, stagnation and inspiration are the spiritual quotient. The moment you look for variety in teachings, you have spiritually stagnated. When you have a higher purpose, the work will inspire and motivate you.
This principle is applicable even in worldly activities. If the daily routine work does not inspire you, then there is stagnation.
The other cause for stagnation is that you have already reached the goal and have not revised your goal. You should continuously keep revising and raising your gaol. Then the work will inspire you. The moment you are selfish in your work, it will not inspire you, and you will stagnate. You must weed out the selfishness and ego in the work. Goal is defined as, beyond your selfish interest and for the greater good. Your attitude determines the degree of unselfishness in your work.
If you don’t do swadhyaya (self-study), you will start to stagnate. Many of the seekers do not put in the effort or put in the wrong effort. Either way, they stagnate. When you do not put effort, it is tamas; putting in the wrong effort is rajas. When you put in right effort with the right attitude and the right ingredients, your actions become sattvic. The right ingredients are to have a higher goal, work with the spirit of service, and then the action will continue to inspire you.
- One can measure their spiritual growth with:
- How calm am I?
- How dependent am I on the external world for my peace and happiness?
- How loving and giving have I become?
- An unhealthy company or the wrong environment contributes to your downfall.
Q: Will too much use of intellect by questioning come in the way of one’s spiritual growth? Is it not one must drop the intellect and go with faith?
A: Intellect is:
- A product of sadhana, having gone through the process of purification
- Expression of wisdom
- Gives the clarity of thought
- Controls the mind
- Gives a purpose, conceives the higher goal.
Intellect plays a multi role but it is a product of wisdom. Intellect will not go wrong as long as it is supported by conscience. Intellect used for selfish purpose is not supported by conscience, nor there is wisdom.
The combination of head and heart completes the sadhana. If only the head is exercised for any action without the heart, then it tantamount to ego and arrogance. If it is only the heart without the head, then you become a fanatic and develop attachment. You will start hating other paths or forms of worship. There is more hatred than cohesiveness. The sadhana begins with faith.
Joel Goldsmith says” Faith is a belief in something unknown, until you come to know what you believed in.
Spiritual sadhana can be compared to the process of extracting ghee from milk
Milk (Fluid) – extroverted mind running helter-skelter
Lukewarm milk – Having experienced the world and developed an attitude of indifference
Add a little culture – Gain a little knowledge from the Guru
Milk transforms into curd – the mind becomes introverted and mature
Churn curd early morning – Reflection during the Brahma muhurta (4 am – 6 am)
Store cream in fresh waters – Waters of Devotion
Heat cream on fire – Fire of Meditation
Ghee – Self – Realisation
This beautiful analogy is drawn from Atmabodha by Adi Shankaracharya.
