*Spiritual Endeavor Is Like climbing Mount Everest*

[Guest guest]

Dear Bhagavatas,

 

I was introduced to the metaphor *Spiritual Endeavor Is Like climbing Mount

Everest* not too long ago by a friend of mine. This metaphor often comes to my

mind whenever I am reading or contemplating about our siddantham. As a mode of

worship (to cleanse my vaasanaas); I thought, I would add colour to this

beautiful metaphor and share it with other bhagavatas. At the top of Mount

Everest is Vaikuntham, the place beyond hindrance, Krishna*s eternal Abode. Its

Dharmi (substratum) is Ananda and so is its Dharma (attribute).It*s dharma

(attribute) can partially manifest itself (make itself apparent) in the mind.

Experiencing the bliss of Vaikuntam cannot be described in perfection in the

finite realm. At best we can venture to describe an iota of its majesty via

metaphors.Most of us, except the blessed few (like our great Acharyas and the

Alwars), start at places far away from the base of the mountain. The distance

from the base is determined by our prarabdha Karma, but prog!

!

ress towards the base is determined concurrently by our Sankalpa (will) and

God*s Krpa (Compassion) and Audaarya (generosity.) Upon reaching the base we

get a partial manifestation of this dharma, of Vaikuntham, in our mind. The

manifestation expands with each upward step.The process of climbing from the

base to the first major camp site on the mountain (10000 feet or so) is the most

difficult; with each progressive step becoming more difficult than its immediate

predecessor. Obstacles that hinder upward progress are the Manas (center of

emotions), and the Ahamkaram (false sense of ownership and doership.) The Manas

is responsible for generating desire, lust, anger, jealousy, and so on, and the

Ahamkaram is responsible for generating a sense of haughtiness. The tools

available to overcome these obstacles are Sankalpa (will or buddhi, the center

where thoughts originate), and God*s Krpa and Audaarya. Arrival at the first

major camp site (performance of prapatti) guarantees!

!

our arrival at the summit, at the end of our present lifetime its

follows. God*s grace is always there, it is concurrent with our will. Further,

the point at which this partial manifestation of this dharma of Vaikuntam occurs

in our mind, is the point at which faith becomes conviction. It is the point at

which one gains a firm conviction that all mundane pleasures are transitory and

that eternal bliss is not an attribute of this finite realm. Having reached

this point, one must be vigilant, for the tendency of the Manas and the

Ahamkaram is to try cloud this partial manifestation. This is point at which

one must cultivate, Vairagya (Detachment), and Sattva (virtuousness) by seeking

the company other mountain climbers, and distancing themselves from non climbers

(those who have not reached the base, and therefore cannot relate to climbers),

who act as ammunition to the Manas and Ahamkaram.

 

Respectfully Yours,

Venkat

 

At present, as someone at the base, this is the best I have to offer. My

knowledge of Tamil, Sanskrit, and our siddhantham is negligible, at best.

However, I draw comfort from the fact that, both the English language and this

medium of communication have been appropriately christened (cleansed and

blessed) by those in this group, who are close to the first major base camp and

those who have reached it and are on their way to the summit.