Question:Swamiji, I wish to ask about a long-term associate of mine.This person, as I have known him...?

April 14, 2010

Radhe Krishna To all,Good morning to all of u and have a divine blessed day aheadâ€¦..His

Holiness Sri.Sri.Muralidhara Swamiji & Namadwaar Team wishes all

E-Satsang members "A Happy Tamil New Year" & "Vishu""When one approaches a fake saint, one fears that his wealth will be extracted. When one approaches a true saint, one fears that his wealth will be refused". ----- SRI SRI MURALIDHARA SWAMIJI

-------------Swamiji,

I wish to ask about a long-term associate of mine. This person, as I

have known him, is an emotionally charged character with frequent mood

swings.He has taken to some spiritual practices since the

past few days. He tells me that he has started having some divine

visions and also that he has been encountering incidents in his life

similar to that of a few Saints.Are these experiences real? Does a spiritual aspirant really perceive such experiencesSri.Sri.Muralidhara Swamiji:Firstly

let us understand that spirituality is not a bed of roses. When we

read about the spiritual experiences of great Saints, we should always

keep in mind the amount of struggle they have undergone and the

rigorous penance they have performed over years together in order to

attain such an exalted state. These experiences, by no means, come by

in a short span of time.In general, If one decides to undertake

a rigorous spiritual sadhana (practice), one has to perform it as

instructed by his Guru with an one-pointed mind with patience and

perseverance over many years to see even a small progress. Above all,

it requires a strong and equipoised mind. Direct spiritual progress and

experiences have been achieved by the strongest of minds. If not, will

lead one to a state of mental instability and render him unfit even for

worldly life, leave alone spiritual life.Let us consider the following traits... 1. Often sitting morosely in solitude2. Nurturing hatred towards life3. Often having a lingering question of why one was born4. Having an urge to commit suicide5. Always worrying about the future6. Eating too sumptuously or otherwise, starving7.

At one time, speaking audaciously that one would accomplish everything,

and at another time, branding oneself as not fit for anything8. Telling others that he has a premonition of what is going to happen9. Always talking with self-pity10. Laughing boisterously without any

reason, and at times, being overly silent and dejected11. Tying together naturally occurring events and incidents and arriving at inferences (usually negative) by reading into them12. Blaming others for all the shortcomings that one faces13.

Not going to work at all; Abstaining from going to work on the working

day just after the weekâ€™s holiday; Purposely absenting from work in

order to procrastinate that day's tasks to the next day, absenting for

a long time and showing the same as a reason to quit work14. Sleeping during the day and being a night-owl because of sleeping during the day; sleeping on the belly15. Believing hallucinations as true16. Imagining and predicting the future incidents17. Abusing others, physically or verbally; or abusing oneself18. Behaving normally when it comes to entertainment or enjoyment19. Being very intelligent or artistic, to the point where it

becomes unrealistic20. Being aggressively passionate about a task or a particular thing of liking21. Targeting one individual and finding faults with him, or being overly possessive22. Being foolishly adamant without any reason23. Spending money lavishly without planning for the future24. Expecting that others should respect him and expecting recognition.25. Doing away with anyone who finds fault with him26. Often being careless at work and quitting work27. Lamenting that no one understands him28. Always engaging in talking to someone or the other either in person or through phone29. Often leaving home30.

Undertaking resolutions from the next day or the forthcoming occasion

to behave in a particular manner or follow a particular routine that is

not practical and then, pushing it to a later date or forsaking it in a

couple of days, or taking that resolution yet again31. Experiencing an inflammation in the nerves around the brain when emotionally charged32. Imagining oneself as an incarnation of a God / special creation and assuming others also to be so33. Trying to attain everything through easy short-cuts34. Trying to imitate others35. Bullying the weak and fearing the strong36. Having a strong feeling of vengeance against others without any particular reason37. Reading the histories of great saints and drawing a parallel between their experiences and one's own life's incidents If

you find someone possessing a few or all of these traits, then his/her

mental disposition is generally not suited for rigorous spiritual

Sadhanas that involve heavy tasking of the mind. Such a person should

be advised to stay away from undertaking such Sadhanas and seek

professional psychiatric help.He might perceive a superficial

similarity in incidents of his life while reading spiritual books about

experiences of great saints. Whereas, in reality, such correlations

will only weaken his already fragile mind. So it is best for him to

avoid reading such texts.A

light religious life with simple and light spiritual practices with a

positive outlook in day-to-day life is advised for such individuals if

they wish to lead a happy life.-- Inauguration of Star Vijay Bhakti TiruvizhaOn