In order to achieve a muscular body, people have to engage in exercise
and regulate their diets carefully. It takes time. If all of a sudden,
one starts to lift weights without proper preparation, the risk of
injury is there.

Typically, we find that those who shine and excel in a field of study
have started early in life. Prodigies in Mathematics, Music, and Chess
discover their talents as children. Sill they spent many years in
practice and perfecting their talent.

If we look at the spiritual geniuses, the same pattern appears to be
true as well.

Shankra, Ramana, Jnaneshvar, and others, all became intensely interested
at a young age about the mystery of existence and realized the Self -
Nature. However, age is not a major barrier to Realization, if one has
clarity of purpose.

Study of scriptures, and reflecting on words of wise is good. According
to the testimony of sages, that the role of spiritual practice and long
term meditation is an important one as well

Just like one does not become a body builder by simply reading books on
the subject, one cannot know One's Own Beauty, by merely hearing others
speak of it. It has to be recognized directly by oneself (without the
medium of the mind) in a state that may be described as the Deep Awake
(as opposed to Deep Sleep!).

Although the above perspective can be criticized on the ground that it
treats spirituality as a material thing, it cannot be completely ignored
as the life of all great sages demonstrates the need for spiritual
practice and the practical application of energy with a conscious focus.

The Self is Realized when everything, including one's root instinct for
self preservation is given up with full awareness of the grace of the
Lord of the Heart.

To reach that point where all can be surrendered, one practices
meditation, prayer, inquiry, etc. Sri Ramana has said that Self is
nothing new to Realize. We are already that. Spiritual practice is meant
to remove the obstacles that obscure one's vision of one's own Self.

Love to all
Harsha

--- In advaitin (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com, Harsha <harsha@c...> wrote:
> In order to achieve a muscular body, people have to engage in
exercise
> and regulate their diets carefully. It takes time. If all of a
sudden,
> one starts to lift weights without proper preparation, the risk of
> injury is there.
>
> Typically, we find that those who shine and excel in a field of
study
> have started early in life. Prodigies in Mathematics, Music, and
Chess

Namaste,

Yes knowing what a king is doesn't make one a king......ONS...Tony.