How to measure spiritual progress?

April 2, 2010

Deal All,1. Kids go school, learn every day. They know more today than yesterday. We can measure that by asking questions.2. Athletes practice everyday. They play better today after practice than yesterday without practice.3. Weightwatchers go to gym and go on diet. Every week, they can see that weight is going down.4. Bodybuilders go to gym. Their muscles are more tone today than yesterday.5. We all go to work every day. We feel more comfortable everyday as time goes by.6. Surgeons do operations. They become more comfortable after doing few surgeries.7. Artists give performance. They become more comfortable with stage and their performance as time goes by.All those and much more examples are visible evidence of things that are working and we can measure them. How, we measure our Spiritual Progress? Please do not

talk about the abstract and also do not quote something that you are not convinced 100% yourself.Lot of us here have heard or known or following Sai Baba for who knows how long. Have we reached our goal? Forget the goal, have we seen any sign post which indicates that we are any closer?How we measure our spiritual progress and motivate ourselves to reach the destination (if there is one)?Jai Sai Ram,Yati

April 4, 2010

AUM SAI RAM

My humble pranams at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan.

Dear Saibandhu Yati Bhattarai,

Loving Sai Ram.

Kindly see below some lines written regarding " How we measure our spiritual progress and motivate ourselves to reach the destination( if there is one). Also I am trying to give some tips or direction for your question whether there is any destination? Definitely there is destination for every one to tread and reach. We undertake journey by train, bus, air after knowing the destination to reach. If there is no destination, there is no need to to travel. There is a spiritual destination also. After trusting ourselves that there is a spiritual destination, let us proceed.

What do we do if there is a worldly journey to be undertaken? There are some steps involved .

1. We get the route-map.(2) Decide which route to follow; Train,Bus,Taxi or Plane.(3) Decide the date of journey and the total time required for the journey.(4). Arrange for Money (5) Pack up the necessary clothes and other miscellaneous items.(5) Finally say bye to family and start journey.

The above is the minimum preparatory activities we undertake for the worldly journey. As we pass each station, we know the progress of of our journey.

Somewhat similar is the preparative activities required for our SPIRITUAL JOURNEY.

(1).Our destination is our original home, that is GOD.(2) There are various routes and any one suitable to our taste can be chosen. (A) Karma Route( Karma yoga) or Yoga of Action. (B) Bhakthi/Devotional route ( Bhakthi Yoga). © Jnana /wisdom Route(Jnana Yoga). (3) In spirituality the journey date is the same date when we come to know that we have a permanent home away from the temporary home and our real Parent reside there and the journey starts immediately.(4 & 5) This no.4 in worldly journey for spiritual journey we may consider that we take only the minimum luggage necessary for the spiritual journey. And that equivalent to no.5 in w.j. for s.j. doesn't mean to leave the family, but to keep the attachment with family,friends relatives etc. to the barest minimum.

(A) Karma Marga:- This marga or path or yoga is applicable to most of the people. Because for the lively hood every one has to work for food,cloth and shelter. While working,if one follows the path of Righteousness ,it is as good as practicing spirituality.

As per your query, in this yoga one can know whether he/she is progressing by carefully paying attention to the following which are like checklist.They are,

If he/she has gradual change in their attitude towards their work from selfishness to selflessness, it indicates progress.

Initially one works only expecting monetary benefit, promotion, good name,recognition etc. As this attitude converts to performing work as worship, duty as devotion to the best of one's capacity without expecting any benefits in return, know that there is progress in spirituality

When the sadhaka has the attitude to surrender all the works and their fruits done by him/her to God without desiring any fruits, know that there is good spiritual progress.

When sadhaka has the attitude to render ego less service to his/her fellow beings, know that there is spiritual progress.

(B) Bhakthi Path.:-this path the sadhaka worships personal god in the form of idol or picture and sings devotional songs. Initially the sadhaka wishes that his singing of devotional songs should be appreciated by others and would conduct puja or yajna to get benefit from them. Gradually the attitudes changes and the sadhaka does puja or yajna for the welfare of others, the sadhaka sings devotional songs from the depth of heart only for the Love of God and don't desire that his/her singing be recognised as one of the best; Sadhaka craves that only God should be pleased by his/her devotion and singing of Bhajan. Sadhaka installs the form of God inside the heart also and worships the God in the heart as well outside. The sadhaka gets the joy,ecstasy and Bliss from such worship. When this happens, know that there is good progress.

© Jnana path:--------In this path the sadhaka delves into the enquiry of ATMAN in him/her. The sadhaka tries to understand by analysing that HE/SHE is not the body, mind, intellect, chitha,ego and is the ever BLISSFUL ATMAN. The sadhaka feels great Love and Compassion towards all the creation of God. When this happens, know that there is good progress in the spirituality.

There are different yardstick to measure progress in the spirituality. What has been written are very small only. In fact the sadhaka feels that in his heart if there is spiritual progress. No one need to tell it.

With good wishes.

Sai Ram.

-Ranganatha. Rao

On Fri, Apr 2, 2010 at 11:32 PM, Yati Bhattarai <yatibaba wrote:

Deal All,1. Kids go school, learn every day. They know more today than yesterday. We can measure that by asking questions.2. Athletes practice everyday. They play better today after practice than yesterday without practice.

3. Weightwatchers go to gym and go on diet. Every week, they can see that weight is going down.4. Bodybuilders go to gym. Their muscles are more tone today than yesterday.5. We all go to work every day. We feel more comfortable everyday as time goes by.

6. Surgeons do operations. They become more comfortable after doing few surgeries.7. Artists give performance. They become more comfortable with stage and their performance as time goes by.All those and much more examples are visible evidence of things that are working and we can measure them.

How, we measure our Spiritual Progress? Please do not talk about the abstract and also do not quote something that you are not convinced 100% yourself.Lot of us here have heard or known or following Sai Baba for who knows how long.

Have we reached our goal? Forget the goal, have we seen any sign post which indicates that we are any closer?How we measure our spiritual progress and motivate ourselves to reach the destination (if there is one)?

Jai Sai Ram,Yati