God Realization

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God Realization

THE ultimate aim of human existence is the realization of God. Great saints

and seers, as the forerunners of humanity, have left us a rich heritage. Our

sacred scriptures are full of the invaluable experiences of many saints and

sages in the path of God realization. The paths are innumerable ; the

different paths are suitable to the physical, mental and spiritual

attainments of different aspirants. There are no cut and dry plans. The

uniqueness of Hinduism is its emphasis on the unlimited freedom given to the

aspirants. Here one of the many paths of God realization is described. The

following seven ways, if practised disinterestedly, will lead to God

realization. They are association, prayer, service, kindness, meditation,

humility and benevolence.

Man is so engrossed in the material world that he scarcely has time or

inclination to think of the majority of mankind. The best way out of this

ignorance is the company of holy men. These holy men must have the requisite

qualities such as forbearance and mercy, intense love towards all God's

creation and tranquillity, good disposition and firm devotion to God. They

should have renounced all things; even their kith and kin, for the sake of

the Lord. Their mind should be firmly set on the Lord and should take great

pleasure in listening to or telling stories of the Lord. The company of holy

men can cure the evil of worldly attachments in others and create an

yearning for God without which nothing is possible in spiritual life.

With the beginning of yearning for God arises the great necessity for prayer

or bhajans. In our sacred scriptures volumes have been written on the

efficacy of prayer. It is the communion of the soul with God and a bridge,

as it were, between the human and the divine. Real prayer is an outpouring

of the heart. It should not have any taints of selfishness. During prayer

the body, mind and heart should be in tune with the divine. Then it is

ennobling, purifying and uplifting to the devotee. It was through the power

of prayer that devotees like Dhruva, Prahlada and Mira were blessed with God

realization.

The result of prayer is love for all the creation or God. The love

manifests itself as service to humanity. The service should be

disinterested, rendered with pure mind, speech and body. All

opportunities for service should be regarded as God's favours. By

rendering service to another, one should neither feel that one has

conferred an obligation nor regard the recipient of service as in any way

inferior.

Kindness is a supreme quality of a great soul. It is an intense desire

to remove misery in whatever form it is found in the world. Did not Lord

Buddha, the great world teacher, make kindness one of his cardinal'

teachings ? Non-violence is a negative or passive quality of refraining from

doing injury whereas kindness involves doing something which

contributes to the happiness of another. Lord Chaitanya expressed

in a nutshell his entire teaching in three things : " Taste in the name of

God, kindness to beings, and association of devotees—beyond these ,

three, I know of no other way."

Meditation is the golden key to unlock the gate leading to God vision. At

first the mind wavers and wanders. The purpose of meditation is to steady

the mind, to control it and apply it to whatever .purpose we want it to do.

We can achieve this object only by daily, continued and resolute practice.

Pride is the enemy of man which leads him to a fall. It can be replaced

by cultivating humility. We must be meek and low before God to draw His

compassion. It is said, " In all the eighteen Puranas Maharishi

Vedavyasa inculcated only two teachings, viz., benevolence is the'cause of

virtue and tyranny the cause of "sin." For a man- who has

benevolence in his heart, there is nothing unattainable in the world.

Association, prayer, service, kindness, meditation, humility and benevolence

are the golden stairs up the steps of which the aspirant can climb to the

temple of divine wisdom and God realization.

Saint Saying

To live in the world or to leave it depends upon the will of God. Therefore

work, leaving everything to him, What else can you do ?

H. H. SWAMI KESAVAHJI'S SELECTION'

 

 

 

(Adopted from the Book Pearls of Wisdom by His Holiness Swami Kesavaiahji)