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Source: The Hindu (http://www.the-hindu.com)

 

Self-effort essential to realise God

 

CHENNAI, MAY 29. Human life is one of temptation for sense-

pleasures but birth as a human being is meant for realising God

which puts an end to rebirths. Very few people develop a taste

for spiritual life by overcoming worldly distractions, and among

them, only a rare one succeeds in realising the spiritual goal.

But, this should not deter one from making a beginning in this

life. Any spiritual practice followed sincerely will never be in

vain.

 

The lives and teachings of saints, especially those who lived in

recent times, can inspire and guide a spiritual aspirant. Swami

Sivananda was one such man of God, whose spiritual stature and

life of dedicated service to the causes he held dear, benefited

many who came under his influence. Trained as a medical doctor he

had a natural urge to serve people in all possible ways

especially the destitute and the suffering. Even after he

renounced the world and realised the Self after performing

intense meditation, his instinct for service never deserted him

and he wanted everyone to realise the eternal bliss of the Self

which he had attained.

 

It was this compassion for others which translated into the

Ashram he set up in Rishikesh to provide succour, both physical

and spiritual, to those who sought him. He did not teach anything

new which is not there in the scriptural texts. But he made them

appear simple and effective to suit this modern age. His

teachings centred on the necessity to serve others with love and

meditate regularly to stay tuned to the spiritual goal.

 

Swami Sivananda says, ``The way of the enlightened sage is

sinless. The way to liberation or freedom, of perfect happiness

and peace is through perfect purity of mind and heart, of every

act, of character and life, through self-restraint and control of

mind, and through regular meditation on the pure, self-luminous,

indivisible, all-pervading Atman.''

 

In his discourse, Swami Vimalananda said that only by the grace

of a Guru like Swami Sivananda did the knowledge of the Self

result in a spiritual aspirant. The Bhagavad Gita also reiterates

how to benefit from a preceptor, ``Understand the true nature of

the knowledge by approaching illumined souls. If you prostrate at

their feet, render service to them and question them with an open

mind and guileless heart, those wise seers of truth will instruct

you in that knowledge.''

 

Though the Guru's grace is necessary for the disciple he cannot

expect a miracle to happen without making any effort on his part.

The Guru cannot be a substitute for the Sadhana (spiritual

practice) of an aspirant.

 

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