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Spiritual aspiration religion

CHENNAI: Human intellect is not fully equipped to understand the workings of the Supreme Being that are mysterious and beyond reason. Much dedicated effort (Sadhana) is required in this path of God realisation that is full of many hurdles. This difficulty was constantly highlighted in Sri Ramakrishna’s teachings, and he would emphasise that one would become enlightened only when God chose to reveal Himself, pointed out Swami Vimurtananda in a lecture. A keen aspirant has to be sensitive to God’s presence and stay tuned to His compassion in the manner of skilled boatmen, who, ever being alert to the winds and the seas, especially when negotiating difficult bends, spread the sails when favourable weather prevails. Only then can we fix our minds on Him. When we begin to feel God’s grace, we also realise we lack nothing.

In this path, one needs tremendous perseverance and the grit to take risks similar to those who dive in the deep waters in search of pearls.

Unsuccessful diving attempts do not indicate that the sea is without pearls. Repeated efforts with the faith and hope of realising Him will lead one to the final goal.

A yogi’s hallmarks are humility and uprightness. Saint Tondaradipodi Azhwar’s life exemplifies the challenges that even the most devout have to face. He was righteous and devoted to God, but God subjected him to tough challenges. He slipped from his devout way of life when he got attracted to a woman.

There were further trials to be faced when he was accused of stealing the sacred vessel from the temple. But it was his Bhakti that saw him through these tests and God intervened on his behalf to establish his innocence.

When even such devout people have to face hurdles, ordinary beings have to be all the more alert and careful not to fall from moral values.

But in the case of spiritual trials, these failings are stepping stones to help each one of us dissolve the ego in us. The power of worldly attractions can be faced with the ideal of Bhakti. Then we learn to accept life’s good and bad effects with equanimity.

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