Guest guest Report post Posted March 27, 2010 > WHEN THE SOUL TAKES FLIGHT > > Purification through Action > > > > Placing a person in an environment where sattva (a pure > condition) is active and assigning work such as in a Temple > or an Ashram affects one through mere association with the > qualities inherent in doing work for God, even if it is only > something like cleaning the place of worship or the pots and > pans or picking flowers. The first phase of transformation > away from the dullness of the tamasic mind can begin with > these actions. When working for the benefit of a place that > promotes higher life, one becomes acutely aware of one's own > disinterest, negligence, laziness, and disregard for the > work, and through grace a sense of shame emerges. > > > > By placing someone in a Godly environment and having them > do work solely for God, the higher power takes away the > ego's power of avarana. The veil is removed and now the > dull, distasteful and shameful qualities of tamas are seen > face to face. Also through this divine association, this > powerful form of satsanga, the mind and heart are invested > with a determined desire to rise out of heedlessness. > > > > An awareness and recognition of the intoxicating addiction > to heedlessness is also brought to light together with a > resolve to strive for true spiritual growth. Thus the > all-knowing God begins by infusing into us the will to > change and seek a pure life. > > > > " The quality of soul that makes it possible for man to > rise to spirit life is purity...that which one wills to do, > he has the power to do. Knowledge of that power is faith; > and when faith moves, the soul begins its flight. " [1] ( > > > > The Path of Ascent > > > > We have begun; we have made a start. In the truest sense we > have now set our hands to the plow. In the entire Srimad > Bhagavatam Sri Krishna reveals the quintessence of His > teaching in one statement: > > " Shake free of sloth, and merge your mind within Me. " [2] > > > Though we might believe that only a simple start has been > made, the shaking free of slothful heedlessness is declared > by God to be half the battle. > > > > We have recognized that there is a fog that clouds our > vision, and obstacles (restlessness and slothfulness), that > literally obscure the manifestation of the light of the Self > in our consciousness. > > > > Regardless of whatever label we choose to call this > effort, whether it be deemed purification, removal of > defilement, awakening, being in oneness or even becoming > still, it should be known that Bhagavan said it is " effort > that instills purity " and stressed that without it the > goal of vichara (enquiry) will not be reached. > > In direct reference to this Sri Muruganar heard the > following profound statement from Bhagavan and recorded it > that our doubts might be cleared: > > > > " Know that the wondrous jnana vichara is only for those > who have attained purity of mind by softening and melting > within. Without this softening and melting away of the mind, > brought about by thinking of the feet of the Lord, the > attachment to the " I " that adheres to the body will not > cease to be. " [3] > [2] Srimad Bhagavatam, S.S. Cohen, > Sri Ramanashramam 2007, Book Eleven, Uddhava Gita. > > > ) [3] Padamalai, Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi > Recorded by Muruganar, Avadhuta Foundation 2004, p. 186. > (Reference to Sri Ramana Jnana Bodham, vol. 7, verse 340). > > > > > > > > > > > > > > © 2010 www spiritual-teaching com > > > > > This email was sent by www > spiritual-teaching com, Arunachala, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil > Nadu 606603, using Express Email Marketing. > > Express Email Marketing supports > permission-based email marketing. You can change your > preferences (http://app.expressemailmarketing.com/survey.aspx?id=70719 & sid=101949548 & campaig\ nId=537597 & SFID=70611) > or (http://app.expressemailmarketing.com/.aspx?id=70719 & sid=101949548 & ca\ mpaignId=537597) > from this mailing list at any time. > Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
