Three steps towards Enlightenment

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Three steps towards Enlightenment

 

 

 

"O Fire! The one who kindles you in his house (heart); or the one who gives food

(victuals) to them that desire it; Increase their provisions (i.e. wealth, so

that he may be able contribute more and more). O You the mighty one! And the one

that you send forth in battle (against vices) with his chariot; may he obtain

(divine) wealth (wisdom, virtues)." Rig-veda 1-71-6

 

 

 

The Vedic word used in this hymn for "house" is "dama(s)" which is very

identical to the Latin term "domus", which means the same (= house) and from

which the English term "dome" has been derived. According to the Spiritual

Interpretation of the Vedas the word "house" would mean "the heart" (a heart

which is fully under our control), in which one needs to kindle "Light" by

constantly meditating upon it. How is this practiced? First, one kindles the

fire on his altar in the Censer, then worships it as a symbol to the Supreme

Light. Then by performing the Vedic rituals of Yajna (Havana = Fire ceremony) he

tries to meditate upon the Light residing in his heart. He tries to focus his

mind on that Light (Dhaaranaa, the 6th limb of Ashtaanga Yoga) and then

meditates upon it (Dhyaana = the seventh limb of Ashtaanga Yoga), and then

eventually he becomes one (Samaadhi = the eighth limb of Ashtaanga Yoga) with

his object of meditation, the Light. He is enlightened then. Such a contemplator

is

the first type of the 3 persons that have been mentioned. This person is in the

final stage of Self-realization. He has taken the 3rd and the last step of the

Devayaana path (the path of the Divinities, the path of Light) that leads to

immortality and emancipation from all troubles.

 

The second type of the 3 persons mentioned here is a person who is benevolent,

he is a philanthropist. He gives to everybody whatever that person needs and

whatever he can give. He serves the humanity and animals alike. He tries to see

the presence of that Light in every creature and thus loves all and serves all.

This person has taken the second step and is in the second stage of

Self-realization. This is a very very essential step towards Enlightenment. Only

by taking this second step a person can burn all the bad Karmas that hold him

back in darkness, ignorance and mortality.

 

The Holy Prophet Paraashara, the son of Shakti, beseeches the Lord of Fire (The

Supreme Consciousness manifested in the form of fire or light) to grant all

provisions to such a person, so that he can serve all humans and creatures

endlessly.

 

This is a central idea to Vedism that money has not been given to us for our own

sake, for our enjoyments, once we have satisfied our daily needs, money should

be used for others, it should be used to obtain the long-lasting joy of

philanthropy. All money that has been given to us above our own daily needs

belongs to others. Then comes the golden rule, the more you give, the more is

given to you.

 

Then there is the first type of these 3 persons. This is an aspirant, who is

working hard to overcome his internal enemies, anger, lust, hatred etc. He has

waged a battle against all vices existing in his heart, so that virtues can

takeover the place occupied by vices, and then eventually so that the Light of

Wisdom can be kindled in his heart. This body is our chariot, which has been

given to us to wage this battle against darkness, ignorance and our inherent

vices. We become the soldiers of Light, as mentioned by the Essene monks in the

Dead See Scrolls from Qumran (Judaea).

 

The metaphor becomes very clear when we consult the Katha Upanishad, "The

Charioteer is the soul, the body is the chariot, the intellect is the

chariot-driver, the mind is the rein and our senses are our horses."

 

Such a person obtains wisdom. But he has to fight for it and really work hard

for it. This is the first stage and first step toward Self-realization. And this

is also the most essential step, since the rest of the steps just follow this

one. This is the first grand step taken towards Enlightenment or Heaven.

 

So the sequence is as follows – fight vices, serve, and be enlightened!

 

Love you all,

 

Siddhartha Krishna

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Namaste.

 

Blessed be Siddharthaji for this very enlightening post of ultimate

reassurance.

 

PraNAms.

 

Madathil Nair

______________

 

advaitin, Siddhartha Krishna

<vedabhakta> wrote:

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> Three steps towards Enlightenment

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> "O Fire! The one who kindles you in his house (heart); or the one

who gives food (victuals) to them that desire it; Increase their

provisions (i.e. wealth, so that he may be able contribute more and

more). O You the mighty one! And the one that you send forth in

battle (against vices) with his chariot; may he obtain (divine)

wealth (wisdom, virtues)." Rig-veda 1-71-6

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