Guest guest Posted August 20, 2008 Report Share Posted August 20, 2008 Hello , I would like to know the concept of a sadhaka (Spiritual Aspirant, a Seeker) according to various ancient Indian scriptures and texts like bhagavad gita and others. Thank you, Dev - Saritha Please review Gita Talk Guidelines before posting a question or responses at: /message/1535 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 23, 2008 Report Share Posted August 23, 2008 QUESTION: I would like to know the concept of a sadhaka (Spiritual Aspirant, a Seeker) according to various ancient Indian scriptures and texts like bhagavad gita and others. Thank you, Dev - Saritha Please review Gita Talk Guidelines before responding at: /message/1535 Hari Om Sadhak ( a spiritual aspirant) is that person in whom desire for liberation / freedom from pains and sorrows of worldly life has arisen, described in Scriptures as - Subheccha ( Auspicious desire) and he accepts/ resolves/decides as under. " I donot have to take any thing from the world, I have to give only " - by thinking and deciding on these lines a person becomes Sadhak. No body can become a sadhak if he believes that " body/world are mine and for me " -NEVER !. This is fundamental. A sadhak should also accept/assume that he is sadhak. When such an acceptance takes place in him, his striving becomes very fast. Then he can never do a prohibited action. A Karma yogi sadhak starts his journey by accepting ( changing his ego) that " I am Yogi " . ( Yoga here means-Equanimity) One who has decided to go on path of Jnana Yoga must accept/assume that " I am curious " . One who has decided to follow path of Bhakti Yoga, he should accept/assume that " I am devotee/ Bhakta " . That I am Sadhak or I am Bhakta or I am Yogi or I am Inquirer (Seeker of Truth) these are " bhav shariras " (sentimental/emotional bodies) not gross bodies. When you become sadhak, certain divine properties start manifesting in you, automatically, without making any efforts. Those properties are stated in Gita 16:1 to 16:3. Whether you have made progress and how much progress depends upon manifestation of aforesaid properties in you - which manifestation is effortless and automatic.. It is a very good topic to ponder. The aforesaid are illustrative not exhaustive views. Jai Shree Krishna Vyas N B -------------------------------- Shree Hari Ram Ram When Swamiji was once asked this question, who is a Sadhak (true seeker)? Swamiji's reply was - A sadhak is he who does not have any intentions of doing anything against his spiritual pursuit. Liking and desiring worldly pleasures and hoarding is doing things against one's spiritual pursuit. When a person desires enjoyment and hoarding and likes that which is against his spiritual pursuits, then inspite of doing much sadhana, he does not progress. As long as there is desire, aim and fondness for wealth, respect, high status, comforts, etc, till that time a man cannot be called a sadhak (true seeker, a spiritual aspirant). Inconsistent behavior is present in even ordinary men. Sometimes desiring God and divinity, other times attracted to the world; sometimes demonstrating good qualities and behavior, other times bad qualities and improper behavior, in this manner, one engages in inconsistence behavior, i.e. on one hand spiritual pursuits and at the same time indulging in things against one's spiritual aim. Some men have a predominance of spiritual aim, whereas others have predominance of behavior that goes against his spiritual aim. In reality, he who does not behave contrary to his spiritual aim and he who does not have the aim of worldly enjoyment and hoarding, and has the sole aim of only realizing God, Truth, he alone is eligible to be and is rightly called a Sadhak (a true seeker). With devotion Meera Das -------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 24, 2008 Report Share Posted August 24, 2008 QUESTION: I would like to know the concept of a sadhaka (Spiritual Aspirant, a Seeker) according to various ancient Indian scriptures and texts like bhagavad gita and others. Thank you, Dev - Saritha Please review Gita Talk Guidelines before responding at: /message/1535 NEW POSTING Hari Om A sadhak never ceases to do striving, he strives 24 hours a day , 7 days a week and 365/366 days a year. That is why he has to accept that I am sadhak. A firm acceptance effortlessly guarantees no prohibited actions from him. He has a godly self-respect which is - " Being a sadhak how I can do this thing? " regarding sins / prohibited actions. He invariably and in all the cases therefore renounces consumption of worldly pleasures. His job is to strive and strive only. One who is consumer of worldly pleasures is Bhogi, he is not a sadhak. He is rogi (sick) and not yogi (striver). For this reason, a sadhak stays clear away from worldly bhogs (pleasures) nor develops liking towards them. There can not be the rightful claim to liberation for a man, by say spiritual practice (striving/saadhna), knowledge and devotion done by him, without dispassion or indifference to worldly attachments. Sadhak must have strong will and determination. He must decide - come what may I shall not deviate from my sadhana. The first divine property which manifests in sadhak automatically is " abhayam " - fearlessness. As he progresses in striving more and more divine properties keep manifesting in him. A sadhak should never get dejected if he does not find in himself any divine property stated in Gita 16:1 to 3, he should instead wonder how it is not in him. There is a system of manifestation in him those properties- automatically, effortlessly. A sadhak deals at the outset itself with his ego/sense of doership. He either changes his ego ( Bhakti Yoga) , or purifies his ego (karma yoga) or eliminates his ego (jnana yoga) after in all cases accepting " I am sadhak " . It is a law that if Karta (ego- Jeeva sitting in ego) changes, the actions, intellect, mind , etc all change automatically. Jai Shree Krishna Vyas N B My Dear Friend Saadhak is Sri Krishna and individual has to only act in accordance with 'prerna' of Sri Krishna. Thus, individual is not a saadhak. This is stated in the Bhagwat Gita. There are so many subjects of study in the world but he/she realizes that world eventhough big, has insufficient supply of oxigen and living condition at time of the death. In a typical example of a boy in India who has fallen in 36 ft deep borewell, and we all are like that boy. The world is a concealed underground room and the exit hole is at the top. We have bigger sizes and attachments with possessions of the world, and can not be lifted up outside the room, and suffocate by breath and memory of hope, to die. We climb up, and whenever we look down, we fall. So this attachment or gravity does not let us go out of the limitation of nature. Sri Krishna is trying to pull all of us out from that hole on the top of the underground room, and as an aspirant, one should follow prerna of Sri Krihna who is saadhak trying to lift us out. Regards K G (krishna gopal) ================================================================== PREVIOUS POSTING Hari Om Sadhak ( a spiritual aspirant) is that person in whom desire for liberation / freedom from pains and sorrows of worldly life has arisen, described in Scriptures as - Subheccha ( Auspicious desire) and he accepts/ resolves/decides as under. " I donot have to take any thing from the world, I have to give only " - by thinking and deciding on these lines a person becomes Sadhak. No body can become a sadhak if he believes that " body/world are mine and for me " -NEVER !. This is fundamental. A sadhak should also accept/assume that he is sadhak. When such an acceptance takes place in him, his striving becomes very fast. Then he can never do a prohibited action. A Karma yogi sadhak starts his journey by accepting ( changing his ego) that " I am Yogi " . ( Yoga here means-Equanimity) One who has decided to go on path of Jnana Yoga must accept/assume that " I am curious " . One who has decided to follow path of Bhakti Yoga, he should accept/assume that " I am devotee/ Bhakta " . That I am Sadhak or I am Bhakta or I am Yogi or I am Inquirer (Seeker of Truth) these are " bhav shariras " (sentimental/emotional bodies) not gross bodies. When you become sadhak, certain divine properties start manifesting in you, automatically, without making any efforts. Those properties are stated in Gita 16:1 to 16:3. Whether you have made progress and how much progress depends upon manifestation of aforesaid properties in you - which manifestation is effortless and automatic.. It is a very good topic to ponder. The aforesaid are illustrative not exhaustive views. Jai Shree Krishna Vyas N B -------------------------------- Shree Hari Ram Ram When Swamiji was once asked this question, who is a Sadhak (true seeker)? Swamiji's reply was - A sadhak is he who does not have any intentions of doing anything against his spiritual pursuit. Liking and desiring worldly pleasures and hoarding is doing things against one's spiritual pursuit. When a person desires enjoyment and hoarding and likes that which is against his spiritual pursuits, then inspite of doing much sadhana, he does not progress. As long as there is desire, aim and fondness for wealth, respect, high status, comforts, etc, till that time a man cannot be called a sadhak (true seeker, a spiritual aspirant). Inconsistent behavior is present in even ordinary men. Sometimes desiring God and divinity, other times attracted to the world; sometimes demonstrating good qualities and behavior, other times bad qualities and improper behavior, in this manner, one engages in inconsistence behavior, i.e. on one hand spiritual pursuits and at the same time indulging in things against one's spiritual aim. Some men have a predominance of spiritual aim, whereas others have predominance of behavior that goes against his spiritual aim. In reality, he who does not behave contrary to his spiritual aim and he who does not have the aim of worldly enjoyment and hoarding, and has the sole aim of only realizing God, Truth, he alone is eligible to be and is rightly called a Sadhak (a true seeker). With devotion Meera Das -------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2008 Report Share Posted August 25, 2008 QUESTION: I would like to know the concept of a sadhaka (Spiritual Aspirant, a Seeker) according to various ancient Indian scriptures and texts like bhagavad gita and others. Thank you, Dev - Saritha Please review Gita Talk Guidelines before responding at: /message/1535 ------------------------------ NEW POSTING Hari Om A sadhak of Karma yoga decides and accepts that - " I will not 1) do bad to anybody, 2) understand anybody to be bad and 3) desire bad for anybody. " A real Karma yogi sadhak insists on not doing anything bad to anybody, rather than doing good. Sadhana (striving) of a Karma Yoga sadhak gets completed when this inner expression in him completely governs his actions by mind/speech and body. The direct impact of this determination is that he will either not do anything or he will do good only. He automatically then does his duties only. Being a sadhak even otherwise the question of his sinning does not arise. His above vrata (resolve/vow/swearing/acceptace/determination) - makes him " sarvabhoot hite rata " - a person who is continuously / unceasingly engaged in the welfare/service/interest of all jeevas. (Gita 12:4). A sadhak can become " sarva bhoot hite rata " , only by not doing bad to anybody. He cannot reach / do good to " everybody " unless he determines as above. Here his inner self expression / acceptance (bhava and reach) is limitless (aseem) and is reaching to all jeevas. It is not restricted to a handful - as when a sadhak decides to do good. A sadhak of karma yoga would never deviate from his aforesaid resolution/acceptance/ determination/vow ! - Come what May !! Hence a sadhak of karma yoga achieves perfection and gets equanimity (yoga) by not doing bad to anybody, not understanding anybody to be bad and not desiring bad for anybody. He then only can be said to be limitless and indulging into service and welfare of everyone. Of course - his acceptances/ decisions that I am Sadhak , I am yogi and I have to only give to this world, this world is not mine/for me etc as stated in my earlier responses on the subject - also help him immensely in his goal. Jai Shree Krishna Vyas N B ------------------------------ The present question ' Concept of Sadhaka according to scriptures like Bhagavad Gita ' The scriptures prescribed a series of Sadhanas to be followed by all seekers or Sadhakas. A person practicing these are called sadhak. The Seeker through the practice must become the sought. Each level of practice being called Yoga connects the Sadhaka and Sadhya - Yujyate, Sadhyate Saha Sadhakaha, Yasyasaha Yogaha. Bhagavad Gita suggested : Abhyaasayogayuktena chetasa naanyagaamina - He who with his mind desciplined in the practice of meditation attains the Divine Purusha. Abhaasa yogena tato maamichhaptum - seek to attain Me through the yoga of repeated practice. Abhaasenatu Kounteya vairaagyenacha gruhyate - the mind can be broughta under control by repeated practice of meditation and dispassion. Sanaih Sanaihruparamedbudhya - should attain tranquility through gradual practice. A Saadhak is one striving with such prescribed practices. " golianjaneyulu " ================================================================ PREVIOUS POSTING Hari Om A sadhak never ceases to do striving, he strives 24 hours a day , 7 days a week and 365/366 days a year. That is why he has to accept that I am sadhak. A firm acceptance effortlessly guarantees no prohibited actions from him. He has a godly self-respect which is - " Being a sadhak how I can do this thing? " regarding sins / prohibited actions. He invariably and in all the cases therefore renounces consumption of worldly pleasures. His job is to strive and strive only. One who is consumer of worldly pleasures is Bhogi, he is not a sadhak. He is rogi (sick) and not yogi (striver). For this reason, a sadhak stays clear away from worldly bhogs (pleasures) nor develops liking towards them. There can not be the rightful claim to liberation for a man, by say spiritual practice (striving/saadhna), knowledge and devotion done by him, without dispassion or indifference to worldly attachments. Sadhak must have strong will and determination. He must decide - come what may I shall not deviate from my sadhana. The first divine property which manifests in sadhak automatically is " abhayam " - fearlessness. As he progresses in striving more and more divine properties keep manifesting in him. A sadhak should never get dejected if he does not find in himself any divine property stated in Gita 16:1 to 3, he should instead wonder how it is not in him. There is a system of manifestation in him those properties- automatically, effortlessly. A sadhak deals at the outset itself with his ego/sense of doership. He either changes his ego ( Bhakti Yoga) , or purifies his ego (karma yoga) or eliminates his ego (jnana yoga) after in all cases accepting " I am sadhak " . It is a law that if Karta (ego- Jeeva sitting in ego) changes, the actions, intellect, mind , etc all change automatically. Jai Shree Krishna Vyas N B My Dear Friend Saadhak is Sri Krishna and individual has to only act in accordance with 'prerna' of Sri Krishna. Thus, individual is not a saadhak. This is stated in the Bhagwat Gita. There are so many subjects of study in the world but he/she realizes that world eventhough big, has insufficient supply of oxigen and living condition at time of the death. In a typical example of a boy in India who has fallen in 36 ft deep borewell, and we all are like that boy. The world is a concealed underground room and the exit hole is at the top. We have bigger sizes and attachments with possessions of the world, and can not be lifted up outside the room, and suffocate by breath and memory of hope, to die. We climb up, and whenever we look down, we fall. So this attachment or gravity does not let us go out of the limitation of nature. Sri Krishna is trying to pull all of us out from that hole on the top of the underground room, and as an aspirant, one should follow prerna of Sri Krihna who is saadhak trying to lift us out. Regards K G (krishna gopal) ------------------------------ Hari Om Sadhak ( a spiritual aspirant) is that person in whom desire for liberation / freedom from pains and sorrows of worldly life has arisen, described in Scriptures as - Subheccha ( Auspicious desire) and he accepts/ resolves/decides as under. " I donot have to take any thing from the world, I have to give only " - by thinking and deciding on these lines a person becomes Sadhak. No body can become a sadhak if he believes that " body/world are mine and for me " -NEVER !. This is fundamental. A sadhak should also accept/assume that he is sadhak. When such an acceptance takes place in him, his striving becomes very fast. Then he can never do a prohibited action. A Karma yogi sadhak starts his journey by accepting ( changing his ego) that " I am Yogi " . ( Yoga here means-Equanimity) One who has decided to go on path of Jnana Yoga must accept/assume that " I am curious " . One who has decided to follow path of Bhakti Yoga, he should accept/assume that " I am devotee/ Bhakta " . That I am Sadhak or I am Bhakta or I am Yogi or I am Inquirer (Seeker of Truth) these are " bhav shariras " (sentimental/emotional bodies) not gross bodies. When you become sadhak, certain divine properties start manifesting in you, automatically, without making any efforts. Those properties are stated in Gita 16:1 to 16:3. Whether you have made progress and how much progress depends upon manifestation of aforesaid properties in you - which manifestation is effortless and automatic.. It is a very good topic to ponder. The aforesaid are illustrative not exhaustive views. Jai Shree Krishna Vyas N B -------------------------------- Shree Hari Ram Ram When Swamiji was once asked this question, who is a Sadhak (true seeker)? Swamiji's reply was - A sadhak is he who does not have any intentions of doing anything against his spiritual pursuit. Liking and desiring worldly pleasures and hoarding is doing things against one's spiritual pursuit. When a person desires enjoyment and hoarding and likes that which is against his spiritual pursuits, then inspite of doing much sadhana, he does not progress. As long as there is desire, aim and fondness for wealth, respect, high status, comforts, etc, till that time a man cannot be called a sadhak (true seeker, a spiritual aspirant). Inconsistent behavior is present in even ordinary men. Sometimes desiring God and divinity, other times attracted to the world; sometimes demonstrating good qualities and behavior, other times bad qualities and improper behavior, in this manner, one engages in inconsistence behavior, i.e. on one hand spiritual pursuits and at the same time indulging in things against one's spiritual aim. Some men have a predominance of spiritual aim, whereas others have predominance of behavior that goes against his spiritual aim. In reality, he who does not behave contrary to his spiritual aim and he who does not have the aim of worldly enjoyment and hoarding, and has the sole aim of only realizing God, Truth, he alone is eligible to be and is rightly called a Sadhak (a true seeker). With devotion Meera Das -------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 26, 2008 Report Share Posted August 26, 2008 QUESTION: I would like to know the concept of a sadhaka (Spiritual Aspirant, a Seeker) according to various ancient Indian scriptures and texts like bhagavad gita and others. Thank you, Dev - Saritha Please review Gita Talk Guidelines before responding at: /message/1535 ------------------------------ NEW POSTING 'Sadhak' is 'Seeker of Truth'. There are three main paths advised in greatest of our scriptures 'Gitaji'. These are Gyan Yog, Karma Yog and Bhakti Yog. Depending upon the individual nature, a sadhak may choose to follow any of these paths. All will ultimately lead to same goal. It would be highly improper to suggest that you should choose this or that path. You should please read Gitaji (with commentaries), slowly and carefully (no rapid reading, please). This will help you clarify what path suits you best. Most important aspect of sadhak is his desire to achieve God. The duration depends on the intensity of this desire. No body in the universe can say how much time it can take. Please embark upon this path keeping in mind that there is no 'quick fix' and that it will take time (Janam janam muni jatan karahin). Please be patient and do not leave it mid way. One more thing I would like to point out is that we must make effort to realise God in our current life time. We know that time of death is not known. Hence we should loose no time.. This fear of death nearing helps in our path to move quickly ( " Binu Bhaya hoya na Preet " - Ram Charit Manas). Always remember that death is knocking at our door. Best of Luck A.H.Dalmia ----------------------- Namasthe all. This is my humble opinion. In Bhagavadgita, Arjuna asks Lord Krishna : who and how does a real yogi /sanyasi act/walk/talk/behave in this world. Lord answers : A yogi or a shadha is the one is is equanimous in all the pairs of opposites that he encounters in life. The pairs of opposites are at three levels of our own understanding. hot and cold at physical level, pain and pleasure at mind level, honor and dishonor at the intellectual level. A yogi does not waver from his inner peace irrespective of whatever the extreme pairs of opposites he goes through. He just surrenders everything as a work of God and this enormous faith about 'everything happpens because of God or or Supreme divinity' leads this sage/yogi to be equanimous in all situations. Also, the term 'sanyasi' means not the one who is unmarried or wears the certain colored clothing (saffron or white), but is the one who is always exploring / inquiring on that 'Supreme' or 'Brahman' 'wholly rooted' and 'exploring of Brahman.' Regards, Bharathi ----------------------- Hari Om A sadhak of Jnana Yoga takes the vrata ( vow / determination / resolve / acceptance) - not to form affinity / attachment with any body / anything . The form of each one of us is " separate " / " unattached " - asang ( Brihad Upanishad- 4:3:15). One is not able to experience this separateness, this natual unattachment, because we consider perishable things -for me and mine. The departmant of Self is separate (sentient) and department of transitory, momentary worldly things is separate (inert). They are as different as are day and night. In fact attachment/union with inert and those worldly things which come into contact only for going away - is the root cause of our entanglement into birth death cycle (Gita 13:21) Therefore a sadhak of Jnana Yoga follows this vrata/acceptance/ determination that - " I am not body at any point of time and I have no relationship/connection of any type whatsoever with any body/ anything " . Jai Shree Krishna Vyas N B ========================================================= PREVIOUS POSTING Hari Om A sadhak of Karma yoga decides and accepts that - " I will not 1) do bad to anybody, 2) understand anybody to be bad and 3) desire bad for anybody. " A real Karma yogi sadhak insists on not doing anything bad to anybody, rather than doing good. Sadhana (striving) of a Karma Yoga sadhak gets completed when this inner expression in him completely governs his actions by mind/speech and body. The direct impact of this determination is that he will either not do anything or he will do good only. He automatically then does his duties only. Being a sadhak even otherwise the question of his sinning does not arise. His above vrata (resolve/vow/swearing/acceptace/determination) - makes him " sarvabhoot hite rata " - a person who is continuously / unceasingly engaged in the welfare/service/interest of all jeevas. (Gita 12:4). A sadhak can become " sarva bhoot hite rata " , only by not doing bad to anybody. He cannot reach / do good to " everybody " unless he determines as above. Here his inner self expression / acceptance (bhava and reach) is limitless (aseem) and is reaching to all jeevas. It is not restricted to a handful - as when a sadhak decides to do good. A sadhak of karma yoga would never deviate from his aforesaid resolution/acceptance/ determination/vow ! - Come what May !! Hence a sadhak of karma yoga achieves perfection and gets equanimity (yoga) by not doing bad to anybody, not understanding anybody to be bad and not desiring bad for anybody. He then only can be said to be limitless and indulging into service and welfare of everyone. Of course - his acceptances/ decisions that I am Sadhak , I am yogi and I have to only give to this world, this world is not mine/for me etc as stated in my earlier responses on the subject - also help him immensely in his goal. Jai Shree Krishna Vyas N B ------------------------------ The present question ' Concept of Sadhaka according to scriptures like Bhagavad Gita ' The scriptures prescribed a series of Sadhanas to be followed by all seekers or Sadhakas. A person practicing these are called sadhak. The Seeker through the practice must become the sought. Each level of practice being called Yoga connects the Sadhaka and Sadhya - Yujyate, Sadhyate Saha Sadhakaha, Yasyasaha Yogaha. Bhagavad Gita suggested : Abhyaasayogayuktena chetasa naanyagaamina - He who with his mind desciplined in the practice of meditation attains the Divine Purusha. Abhaasa yogena tato maamichhaptum - seek to attain Me through the yoga of repeated practice. Abhaasenatu Kounteya vairaagyenacha gruhyate - the mind can be broughta under control by repeated practice of meditation and dispassion. Sanaih Sanaihruparamedbudhya - should attain tranquility through gradual practice. A Saadhak is one striving with such prescribed practices. " golianjaneyulu " ---------------------------- Hari Om A sadhak never ceases to do striving, he strives 24 hours a day , 7 days a week and 365/366 days a year. That is why he has to accept that I am sadhak. A firm acceptance effortlessly guarantees no prohibited actions from him. He has a godly self-respect which is - " Being a sadhak how I can do this thing? " regarding sins / prohibited actions. He invariably and in all the cases therefore renounces consumption of worldly pleasures. His job is to strive and strive only. One who is consumer of worldly pleasures is Bhogi, he is not a sadhak. He is rogi (sick) and not yogi (striver). For this reason, a sadhak stays clear away from worldly bhogs (pleasures) nor develops liking towards them. There can not be the rightful claim to liberation for a man, by say spiritual practice (striving/saadhna), knowledge and devotion done by him, without dispassion or indifference to worldly attachments. Sadhak must have strong will and determination. He must decide - come what may I shall not deviate from my sadhana. The first divine property which manifests in sadhak automatically is " abhayam " - fearlessness. As he progresses in striving more and more divine properties keep manifesting in him. A sadhak should never get dejected if he does not find in himself any divine property stated in Gita 16:1 to 3, he should instead wonder how it is not in him. There is a system of manifestation in him those properties- automatically, effortlessly. A sadhak deals at the outset itself with his ego/sense of doership. He either changes his ego ( Bhakti Yoga) , or purifies his ego (karma yoga) or eliminates his ego (jnana yoga) after in all cases accepting " I am sadhak " . It is a law that if Karta (ego- Jeeva sitting in ego) changes, the actions, intellect, mind , etc all change automatically. Jai Shree Krishna Vyas N B My Dear Friend Saadhak is Sri Krishna and individual has to only act in accordance with 'prerna' of Sri Krishna. Thus, individual is not a saadhak. This is stated in the Bhagwat Gita. There are so many subjects of study in the world but he/she realizes that world eventhough big, has insufficient supply of oxigen and living condition at time of the death. In a typical example of a boy in India who has fallen in 36 ft deep borewell, and we all are like that boy. The world is a concealed underground room and the exit hole is at the top. We have bigger sizes and attachments with possessions of the world, and can not be lifted up outside the room, and suffocate by breath and memory of hope, to die. We climb up, and whenever we look down, we fall. So this attachment or gravity does not let us go out of the limitation of nature. Sri Krishna is trying to pull all of us out from that hole on the top of the underground room, and as an aspirant, one should follow prerna of Sri Krihna who is saadhak trying to lift us out. Regards K G (krishna gopal) ------------------------------ Hari Om Sadhak ( a spiritual aspirant) is that person in whom desire for liberation / freedom from pains and sorrows of worldly life has arisen, described in Scriptures as - Subheccha ( Auspicious desire) and he accepts/ resolves/decides as under. " I donot have to take any thing from the world, I have to give only " - by thinking and deciding on these lines a person becomes Sadhak. No body can become a sadhak if he believes that " body/world are mine and for me " -NEVER !. This is fundamental. A sadhak should also accept/assume that he is sadhak. When such an acceptance takes place in him, his striving becomes very fast. Then he can never do a prohibited action. A Karma yogi sadhak starts his journey by accepting ( changing his ego) that " I am Yogi " . ( Yoga here means-Equanimity) One who has decided to go on path of Jnana Yoga must accept/assume that " I am curious " . One who has decided to follow path of Bhakti Yoga, he should accept/assume that " I am devotee/ Bhakta " . That I am Sadhak or I am Bhakta or I am Yogi or I am Inquirer (Seeker of Truth) these are " bhav shariras " (sentimental/emotional bodies) not gross bodies. When you become sadhak, certain divine properties start manifesting in you, automatically, without making any efforts. Those properties are stated in Gita 16:1 to 16:3. Whether you have made progress and how much progress depends upon manifestation of aforesaid properties in you - which manifestation is effortless and automatic.. It is a very good topic to ponder. The aforesaid are illustrative not exhaustive views. Jai Shree Krishna Vyas N B -------------------------------- Shree Hari Ram Ram When Swamiji was once asked this question, who is a Sadhak (true seeker)? Swamiji's reply was - A sadhak is he who does not have any intentions of doing anything against his spiritual pursuit. Liking and desiring worldly pleasures and hoarding is doing things against one's spiritual pursuit. When a person desires enjoyment and hoarding and likes that which is against his spiritual pursuits, then inspite of doing much sadhana, he does not progress. As long as there is desire, aim and fondness for wealth, respect, high status, comforts, etc, till that time a man cannot be called a sadhak (true seeker, a spiritual aspirant). Inconsistent behavior is present in even ordinary men. Sometimes desiring God and divinity, other times attracted to the world; sometimes demonstrating good qualities and behavior, other times bad qualities and improper behavior, in this manner, one engages in inconsistence behavior, i.e. on one hand spiritual pursuits and at the same time indulging in things against one's spiritual aim. Some men have a predominance of spiritual aim, whereas others have predominance of behavior that goes against his spiritual aim. In reality, he who does not behave contrary to his spiritual aim and he who does not have the aim of worldly enjoyment and hoarding, and has the sole aim of only realizing God, Truth, he alone is eligible to be and is rightly called a Sadhak (a true seeker). With devotion Meera Das -------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 27, 2008 Report Share Posted August 27, 2008 QUESTION: I would like to know the concept of a sadhaka (Spiritual Aspirant, a Seeker) according to various ancient Indian scriptures and texts like bhagavad gita and others. Thank you, Dev - Saritha Please review Gita Talk Guidelines before responding at: /message/1535 --------------------------- NEW POSTING Hari Om We quite often say that by intense desire , the realisation becomes faster for sadhak. Question here is how to develop that intensity. That status of fish without water? Sadhak when he is given divine properties by the God starts feeling His presence around Him. He should therefore reciprocate advent of these properties in him by not getting proudy of it and acknowledge by mind, speech and conduct , by bhavas (inner expression) , the " kripa " of God. That increases intensity of desire. Moreover, when ever he makes an error in sadhana (striving) , the minutest error, there arises in him automatically a remorse feeling, an intense anxiety( udaasi) as to why he conducted in an improper manner. Such anxiety does not so forcefully arise in non- sadhaks. Sadhak must make use of such bouts of anxieties arising within him- by profoundly remembering God- at that particular time- at that point the wax is in melt form.. That increases the intensity of desire for Him. That eradicates his bad karmas very fast. Many times when sadhak is involved in worldly duties fully, suddenly he remembers something related with Paramatma, some divine song, some verse of Gita, some devotee of God ( it is our direct experience). At that point Sadhak must become happy and presume that God has remembered him and if at that point of time he profoundly engages himself mentally in chanting His name etc , his desire to get Him increases manifold. That increases his love for God. Sadhak must develop a habit of seeing the hand of God in every happening/incidence around him. If he tries that very soon he will decipher out the divine hand everywhere. That makes him progress much faster and love Him more. When sadhak becomes bit careless, immediately God sends unfavourable circumstances before him. When he gets very threatened , by adversity, again God sends favourable circumstances to him. This process keeps continuing.( This process is not that frequent in non- sadhaks) Sadhak therefore should see God's hand in all circumstances and remain enthused and optimistic always- that also helps him attain Equanimity faster. Jai Shree Krishna Vyas N B ------------------------------ Jai. Shree Krishna Goswami Tulsidasji Maharaaj said in Ramayana- Bigree Janam Anek ki , sudhare ab hi aaj " Hohi " Raam ko naam japi, Tulsi taji kusamaj Your bad karmas ( of millions and trillions of light years) will come to an end " RIGHT NOW- AT THIS VERY MOMENT " if you chant the name of Rama BY FIRST BECOMING OF HIM and by renouncing bad company ! You can " Hohi " - become of Paramatma only when you decide/resolve - " Mere to Girdhar Gopal, Doosaro na koi " (Only God is mine, nothing else is mine) and you can renounce bad company only when you believe in the words of Gitaji, Saints etc. Was Goswamiji joking? No ! ! He meant it. Right now! Instant. What about Krishna using the word " kshipram " - again humor? No ! Taat Shree (Swamiji Ramsukhdasji Maharaj) also says so. Why we should not believe them? Why we should not believe God Himself, Saints, Gita, Ramayan ?? Sadhak must always be optimistic. He should not allow even a shadow of doubt in his striving. He must have confidence that he will get Him- right in this life, many times over. Then his Sadhana will be fast, focussed and productive. Why should he adopt a path which delays him? Never. The Gitaji made Arjuna realise Him within hours. Arjuna heard Gita only once. You can read 1000 times ! Have confidence. Focus yourself! Quick fix - even that takes time , once you are determined ! ! You shall achieve your goal , only if you think you can. Start the journey with confidence ! Always !!! Rajendra J Bohra Narayana Narayana --------------------------- Jai Hanuman Bhayyaji/ Bahenji All sadhana which you make is cumbersome only till you tolerate the delay. If you are not tolerating the delay- it is like push the electric button here , the illumination is there. That is the minimum- maximum is as you want. There was a muni ( sadhak) who was doing tapasya for a long long time. Narada once passed through him. He asked Narada - Sir When I shall realise Paramatma. Pls ask Him and reply me. Narada said Ok. Narada went to Naraina . He asked Naraina about that Sadhak. Naraina said after as many kalpas ( aeons) as are leaves in the tree under which he is meditating. Narada returned and told him so. After Narada left, Sadhak started dancing - " I will surely get God , I will surely get God " And instantly. God appeared before him. Understood Bhaiyyaji / Bahenji? Jee Jee Shashikala ============================================================ PREVIOUS POSTING 'Sadhak' is 'Seeker of Truth'. There are three main paths advised in greatest of our scriptures 'Gitaji'. These are Gyan Yog, Karma Yog and Bhakti Yog. Depending upon the individual nature, a sadhak may choose to follow any of these paths. All will ultimately lead to same goal. It would be highly improper to suggest that you should choose this or that path. You should please read Gitaji (with commentaries), slowly and carefully (no rapid reading, please). This will help you clarify what path suits you best. Most important aspect of sadhak is his desire to achieve God. The duration depends on the intensity of this desire. No body in the universe can say how much time it can take. Please embark upon this path keeping in mind that there is no 'quick fix' and that it will take time (Janam janam muni jatan karahin). Please be patient and do not leave it mid way. One more thing I would like to point out is that we must make effort to realise God in our current life time. We know that time of death is not known. Hence we should loose no time.. This fear of death nearing helps in our path to move quickly ( " Binu Bhaya hoya na Preet " - Ram Charit Manas). Always remember that death is knocking at our door. Best of Luck A.H.Dalmia ----------------------- Namasthe all. This is my humble opinion. In Bhagavadgita, Arjuna asks Lord Krishna : who and how does a real yogi /sanyasi act/walk/talk/behave in this world. Lord answers : A yogi or a shadha is the one is is equanimous in all the pairs of opposites that he encounters in life. The pairs of opposites are at three levels of our own understanding. hot and cold at physical level, pain and pleasure at mind level, honor and dishonor at the intellectual level. A yogi does not waver from his inner peace irrespective of whatever the extreme pairs of opposites he goes through. He just surrenders everything as a work of God and this enormous faith about 'everything happpens because of God or or Supreme divinity' leads this sage/yogi to be equanimous in all situations. Also, the term 'sanyasi' means not the one who is unmarried or wears the certain colored clothing (saffron or white), but is the one who is always exploring / inquiring on that 'Supreme' or 'Brahman' 'wholly rooted' and 'exploring of Brahman.' Regards, Bharathi ----------------------- Hari Om A sadhak of Jnana Yoga takes the vrata ( vow / determination / resolve / acceptance) - not to form affinity / attachment with any body / anything . The form of each one of us is " separate " / " unattached " - asang ( Brihad Upanishad- 4:3:15). One is not able to experience this separateness, this natual unattachment, because we consider perishable things -for me and mine. The departmant of Self is separate (sentient) and department of transitory, momentary worldly things is separate (inert). They are as different as are day and night. In fact attachment/union with inert and those worldly things which come into contact only for going away - is the root cause of our entanglement into birth death cycle (Gita 13:21) Therefore a sadhak of Jnana Yoga follows this vrata/acceptance/ determination that - " I am not body at any point of time and I have no relationship/connection of any type whatsoever with any body/ anything " . Jai Shree Krishna Vyas N B ========================================================= Hari Om A sadhak of Karma yoga decides and accepts that - " I will not 1) do bad to anybody, 2) understand anybody to be bad and 3) desire bad for anybody. " A real Karma yogi sadhak insists on not doing anything bad to anybody, rather than doing good. Sadhana (striving) of a Karma Yoga sadhak gets completed when this inner expression in him completely governs his actions by mind/speech and body. The direct impact of this determination is that he will either not do anything or he will do good only. He automatically then does his duties only. Being a sadhak even otherwise the question of his sinning does not arise. His above vrata (resolve/vow/swearing/acceptace/determination) - makes him " sarvabhoot hite rata " - a person who is continuously / unceasingly engaged in the welfare/service/interest of all jeevas. (Gita 12:4). A sadhak can become " sarva bhoot hite rata " , only by not doing bad to anybody. He cannot reach / do good to " everybody " unless he determines as above. Here his inner self expression / acceptance (bhava and reach) is limitless (aseem) and is reaching to all jeevas. It is not restricted to a handful - as when a sadhak decides to do good. A sadhak of karma yoga would never deviate from his aforesaid resolution/acceptance/ determination/vow ! - Come what May !! Hence a sadhak of karma yoga achieves perfection and gets equanimity (yoga) by not doing bad to anybody, not understanding anybody to be bad and not desiring bad for anybody. He then only can be said to be limitless and indulging into service and welfare of everyone. Of course - his acceptances/ decisions that I am Sadhak , I am yogi and I have to only give to this world, this world is not mine/for me etc as stated in my earlier responses on the subject - also help him immensely in his goal. Jai Shree Krishna Vyas N B ------------------------------ The present question ' Concept of Sadhaka according to scriptures like Bhagavad Gita ' The scriptures prescribed a series of Sadhanas to be followed by all seekers or Sadhakas. A person practicing these are called sadhak. The Seeker through the practice must become the sought. Each level of practice being called Yoga connects the Sadhaka and Sadhya - Yujyate, Sadhyate Saha Sadhakaha, Yasyasaha Yogaha. Bhagavad Gita suggested : Abhyaasayogayuktena chetasa naanyagaamina - He who with his mind desciplined in the practice of meditation attains the Divine Purusha. Abhaasa yogena tato maamichhaptum - seek to attain Me through the yoga of repeated practice. Abhaasenatu Kounteya vairaagyenacha gruhyate - the mind can be broughta under control by repeated practice of meditation and dispassion. Sanaih Sanaihruparamedbudhya - should attain tranquility through gradual practice. A Saadhak is one striving with such prescribed practices. " golianjaneyulu " ---------------------------- Hari Om A sadhak never ceases to do striving, he strives 24 hours a day , 7 days a week and 365/366 days a year. That is why he has to accept that I am sadhak. A firm acceptance effortlessly guarantees no prohibited actions from him. He has a godly self-respect which is - " Being a sadhak how I can do this thing? " regarding sins / prohibited actions. He invariably and in all the cases therefore renounces consumption of worldly pleasures. His job is to strive and strive only. One who is consumer of worldly pleasures is Bhogi, he is not a sadhak. He is rogi (sick) and not yogi (striver). For this reason, a sadhak stays clear away from worldly bhogs (pleasures) nor develops liking towards them. There can not be the rightful claim to liberation for a man, by say spiritual practice (striving/saadhna), knowledge and devotion done by him, without dispassion or indifference to worldly attachments. Sadhak must have strong will and determination. He must decide - come what may I shall not deviate from my sadhana. The first divine property which manifests in sadhak automatically is " abhayam " - fearlessness. As he progresses in striving more and more divine properties keep manifesting in him. A sadhak should never get dejected if he does not find in himself any divine property stated in Gita 16:1 to 3, he should instead wonder how it is not in him. There is a system of manifestation in him those properties- automatically, effortlessly. A sadhak deals at the outset itself with his ego/sense of doership. He either changes his ego ( Bhakti Yoga) , or purifies his ego (karma yoga) or eliminates his ego (jnana yoga) after in all cases accepting " I am sadhak " . It is a law that if Karta (ego- Jeeva sitting in ego) changes, the actions, intellect, mind , etc all change automatically. Jai Shree Krishna Vyas N B My Dear Friend Saadhak is Sri Krishna and individual has to only act in accordance with 'prerna' of Sri Krishna. Thus, individual is not a saadhak. This is stated in the Bhagwat Gita. There are so many subjects of study in the world but he/she realizes that world eventhough big, has insufficient supply of oxigen and living condition at time of the death. In a typical example of a boy in India who has fallen in 36 ft deep borewell, and we all are like that boy. The world is a concealed underground room and the exit hole is at the top. We have bigger sizes and attachments with possessions of the world, and can not be lifted up outside the room, and suffocate by breath and memory of hope, to die. We climb up, and whenever we look down, we fall. So this attachment or gravity does not let us go out of the limitation of nature. Sri Krishna is trying to pull all of us out from that hole on the top of the underground room, and as an aspirant, one should follow prerna of Sri Krihna who is saadhak trying to lift us out. Regards K G (krishna gopal) ------------------------------ Hari Om Sadhak ( a spiritual aspirant) is that person in whom desire for liberation / freedom from pains and sorrows of worldly life has arisen, described in Scriptures as - Subheccha ( Auspicious desire) and he accepts/ resolves/decides as under. " I donot have to take any thing from the world, I have to give only " - by thinking and deciding on these lines a person becomes Sadhak. No body can become a sadhak if he believes that " body/world are mine and for me " -NEVER !. This is fundamental. A sadhak should also accept/assume that he is sadhak. When such an acceptance takes place in him, his striving becomes very fast. Then he can never do a prohibited action. A Karma yogi sadhak starts his journey by accepting ( changing his ego) that " I am Yogi " . ( Yoga here means-Equanimity) One who has decided to go on path of Jnana Yoga must accept/assume that " I am curious " . One who has decided to follow path of Bhakti Yoga, he should accept/assume that " I am devotee/ Bhakta " . That I am Sadhak or I am Bhakta or I am Yogi or I am Inquirer (Seeker of Truth) these are " bhav shariras " (sentimental/emotional bodies) not gross bodies. When you become sadhak, certain divine properties start manifesting in you, automatically, without making any efforts. Those properties are stated in Gita 16:1 to 16:3. Whether you have made progress and how much progress depends upon manifestation of aforesaid properties in you - which manifestation is effortless and automatic.. It is a very good topic to ponder. The aforesaid are illustrative not exhaustive views. Jai Shree Krishna Vyas N B -------------------------------- Shree Hari Ram Ram When Swamiji was once asked this question, who is a Sadhak (true seeker)? Swamiji's reply was - A sadhak is he who does not have any intentions of doing anything against his spiritual pursuit. Liking and desiring worldly pleasures and hoarding is doing things against one's spiritual pursuit. When a person desires enjoyment and hoarding and likes that which is against his spiritual pursuits, then inspite of doing much sadhana, he does not progress. As long as there is desire, aim and fondness for wealth, respect, high status, comforts, etc, till that time a man cannot be called a sadhak (true seeker, a spiritual aspirant). Inconsistent behavior is present in even ordinary men. Sometimes desiring God and divinity, other times attracted to the world; sometimes demonstrating good qualities and behavior, other times bad qualities and improper behavior, in this manner, one engages in inconsistence behavior, i.e. on one hand spiritual pursuits and at the same time indulging in things against one's spiritual aim. Some men have a predominance of spiritual aim, whereas others have predominance of behavior that goes against his spiritual aim. In reality, he who does not behave contrary to his spiritual aim and he who does not have the aim of worldly enjoyment and hoarding, and has the sole aim of only realizing God, Truth, he alone is eligible to be and is rightly called a Sadhak (a true seeker). With devotion Meera Das -------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 27, 2008 Report Share Posted August 27, 2008 QUESTION: I would like to know the concept of a sadhaka (Spiritual Aspirant, a Seeker) according to various ancient Indian scriptures and texts like bhagavad gita and others. Thank you, Dev - Saritha Please review Gita Talk Guidelines before responding at: /message/1535 --------------------------- NEW POSTING Jai Hanuman There is one idiom in Hindi- Bhaiyyaji/ Bahenjee ! It says, Jee " Rota jaye , mare ki khabar lekar aaye " One who leaves the home crying ( doubtful) , returns back to the home with a news that some one has died. Jee Hence sadhaks should never allow pessimism reg God Realisation in them.- Bhaiyyaji / Bahenjee ! Did not you observe Bhaiyya that there is no question of practice there ?. Actionless Bahenji - actionless ! What practice ! What time ! What methods ! ! ! Where is milk, where is butter, where is ghee? Nothing Bhaiyya nothing. No shanaih shanaih at all - Dada , nothing ! Simply call ! Call !! Hey Naath I am yours ! ! Hey Naath main apko bhoolun nahin !! ( O Lord I am yours. O lord I should not forget you) Nothing else is needed Bhaiyya , nothing else is needed. Leave these high fundas, Jee - these rhetorics, these inteligentias - simply leave them Bhaiyya, Leave them Jee. Be simple. Be child like, Jee ! Accept Papa as your own Jee ! Daddy is called - " Bhaavgrahi Janardan " - (He accepts inner expressions only).. If you feel it may take janam janam ( lives and lives) - you are gone Bhaiyyaji - in that case it will really take janam janam. ROTA JAYE, MARE KI KHABAR LAYE ! ! What is the value of practice in the regime of Papa ? ( Tulsi kitane mar gaye de de tan ko traas - Says Tulsidasji - Alas How many have died empty handed by giving pains to the body?) Jaago Bahiyya Jaago. ( Wake up , Wake Up) Baba - just be enthusiastic.. Don't even think that by action/ practice you can get Papa . He is your Baap ( father) Bhaiyya - your Baap ! ! What kind of practice/ abhyaas/ study/actions/ methods / systems can be required by a child to slip into the lap of his mummy? Why he should be fearing death? Non sense ! You are his child only- nothing more than child. Child is more productive and effective than you , Maharaaj ! Child Understands. He doesn't argue. He just calls his Mother and mother comes running. Just slip into the loving arms of Papa- no conditions, no qualifications, no capability, no ability, no practice, no knowledge, no qualification, no power, nothing Bhaiyya/ Bahenjee Nothing - Only Right - I am Yours . Hey Naath - I am yours ! ! Bhaiyyaji/ Bahenji -lag jaao-simply start. Don't think it is at all time consuming or delaying ! Badhe chalo bahaduron badhe chalo ( Move forward - O brave people, move forward) Just do not allow any negativism. There is no loss on the way, there is no labour at all. There is only happiness there- no requisites at all. Namaste Jee Jee Jee Shashikala ============================================================ PREVIOUS POSTING Hari Om We quite often say that by intense desire , the realisation becomes faster for sadhak. Question here is how to develop that intensity. That status of fish without water? Sadhak when he is given divine properties by the God starts feeling His presence around Him. He should therefore reciprocate advent of these properties in him by not getting proudy of it and acknowledge by mind, speech and conduct , by bhavas (inner expression) , the " kripa " of God. That increases intensity of desire. Moreover, when ever he makes an error in sadhana (striving) , the minutest error, there arises in him automatically a remorse feeling, an intense anxiety( udaasi) as to why he conducted in an improper manner. Such anxiety does not so forcefully arise in non- sadhaks. Sadhak must make use of such bouts of anxieties arising within him- by profoundly remembering God- at that particular time- at that point the wax is in melt form.. That increases the intensity of desire for Him. That eradicates his bad karmas very fast. Many times when sadhak is involved in worldly duties fully, suddenly he remembers something related with Paramatma, some divine song, some verse of Gita, some devotee of God ( it is our direct experience). At that point Sadhak must become happy and presume that God has remembered him and if at that point of time he profoundly engages himself mentally in chanting His name etc , his desire to get Him increases manifold. That increases his love for God. Sadhak must develop a habit of seeing the hand of God in every happening/incidence around him. If he tries that very soon he will decipher out the divine hand everywhere. That makes him progress much faster and love Him more. When sadhak becomes bit careless, immediately God sends unfavourable circumstances before him. When he gets very threatened , by adversity, again God sends favourable circumstances to him. This process keeps continuing.( This process is not that frequent in non- sadhaks) Sadhak therefore should see God's hand in all circumstances and remain enthused and optimistic always- that also helps him attain Equanimity faster. Jai Shree Krishna Vyas N B ------------------------------ Jai. Shree Krishna Goswami Tulsidasji Maharaaj said in Ramayana- Bigree Janam Anek ki , sudhare ab hi aaj " Hohi " Raam ko naam japi, Tulsi taji kusamaj Your bad karmas ( of millions and trillions of light years) will come to an end " RIGHT NOW- AT THIS VERY MOMENT " if you chant the name of Rama BY FIRST BECOMING OF HIM and by renouncing bad company ! You can " Hohi " - become of Paramatma only when you decide/resolve - " Mere to Girdhar Gopal, Doosaro na koi " (Only God is mine, nothing else is mine) and you can renounce bad company only when you believe in the words of Gitaji, Saints etc. Was Goswamiji joking? No ! ! He meant it. Right now! Instant. What about Krishna using the word " kshipram " - again humor? No ! Taat Shree (Swamiji Ramsukhdasji Maharaj) also says so. Why we should not believe them? Why we should not believe God Himself, Saints, Gita, Ramayan ?? Sadhak must always be optimistic. He should not allow even a shadow of doubt in his striving. He must have confidence that he will get Him- right in this life, many times over. Then his Sadhana will be fast, focussed and productive. Why should he adopt a path which delays him? Never. The Gitaji made Arjuna realise Him within hours. Arjuna heard Gita only once. You can read 1000 times ! Have confidence. Focus yourself! Quick fix - even that takes time , once you are determined ! ! You shall achieve your goal , only if you think you can. Start the journey with confidence ! Always !!! Rajendra J Bohra Narayana Narayana --------------------------- Jai Hanuman Bhayyaji/ Bahenji All sadhana which you make is cumbersome only till you tolerate the delay. If you are not tolerating the delay- it is like push the electric button here , the illumination is there. That is the minimum- maximum is as you want. There was a muni ( sadhak) who was doing tapasya for a long long time. Narada once passed through him. He asked Narada - Sir When I shall realise Paramatma. Pls ask Him and reply me. Narada said Ok. Narada went to Naraina . He asked Naraina about that Sadhak. Naraina said after as many kalpas ( aeons) as are leaves in the tree under which he is meditating. Narada returned and told him so. After Narada left, Sadhak started dancing - " I will surely get God , I will surely get God " And instantly. God appeared before him. Understood Bhaiyyaji / Bahenji? Jee Jee Shashikala -------------------------------- 'Sadhak' is 'Seeker of Truth'. There are three main paths advised in greatest of our scriptures 'Gitaji'. These are Gyan Yog, Karma Yog and Bhakti Yog. Depending upon the individual nature, a sadhak may choose to follow any of these paths. All will ultimately lead to same goal. It would be highly improper to suggest that you should choose this or that path. You should please read Gitaji (with commentaries), slowly and carefully (no rapid reading, please). This will help you clarify what path suits you best. Most important aspect of sadhak is his desire to achieve God. The duration depends on the intensity of this desire. No body in the universe can say how much time it can take. Please embark upon this path keeping in mind that there is no 'quick fix' and that it will take time (Janam janam muni jatan karahin). Please be patient and do not leave it mid way. One more thing I would like to point out is that we must make effort to realise God in our current life time. We know that time of death is not known. Hence we should loose no time.. This fear of death nearing helps in our path to move quickly ( " Binu Bhaya hoya na Preet " - Ram Charit Manas). Always remember that death is knocking at our door. Best of Luck A.H.Dalmia ----------------------- Namasthe all. This is my humble opinion. In Bhagavadgita, Arjuna asks Lord Krishna : who and how does a real yogi /sanyasi act/walk/talk/behave in this world. Lord answers : A yogi or a shadha is the one is is equanimous in all the pairs of opposites that he encounters in life. The pairs of opposites are at three levels of our own understanding. hot and cold at physical level, pain and pleasure at mind level, honor and dishonor at the intellectual level. A yogi does not waver from his inner peace irrespective of whatever the extreme pairs of opposites he goes through. He just surrenders everything as a work of God and this enormous faith about 'everything happpens because of God or or Supreme divinity' leads this sage/yogi to be equanimous in all situations. Also, the term 'sanyasi' means not the one who is unmarried or wears the certain colored clothing (saffron or white), but is the one who is always exploring / inquiring on that 'Supreme' or 'Brahman' 'wholly rooted' and 'exploring of Brahman.' Regards, Bharathi ----------------------- Hari Om A sadhak of Jnana Yoga takes the vrata ( vow / determination / resolve / acceptance) - not to form affinity / attachment with any body / anything . The form of each one of us is " separate " / " unattached " - asang ( Brihad Upanishad- 4:3:15). One is not able to experience this separateness, this natual unattachment, because we consider perishable things -for me and mine. The departmant of Self is separate (sentient) and department of transitory, momentary worldly things is separate (inert). They are as different as are day and night. In fact attachment/union with inert and those worldly things which come into contact only for going away - is the root cause of our entanglement into birth death cycle (Gita 13:21) Therefore a sadhak of Jnana Yoga follows this vrata/acceptance/ determination that - " I am not body at any point of time and I have no relationship/connection of any type whatsoever with any body/ anything " . Jai Shree Krishna Vyas N B ========================================================= Hari Om A sadhak of Karma yoga decides and accepts that - " I will not 1) do bad to anybody, 2) understand anybody to be bad and 3) desire bad for anybody. " A real Karma yogi sadhak insists on not doing anything bad to anybody, rather than doing good. Sadhana (striving) of a Karma Yoga sadhak gets completed when this inner expression in him completely governs his actions by mind/speech and body. The direct impact of this determination is that he will either not do anything or he will do good only. He automatically then does his duties only. Being a sadhak even otherwise the question of his sinning does not arise. His above vrata (resolve/vow/swearing/acceptace/determination) - makes him " sarvabhoot hite rata " - a person who is continuously / unceasingly engaged in the welfare/service/interest of all jeevas. (Gita 12:4). A sadhak can become " sarva bhoot hite rata " , only by not doing bad to anybody. He cannot reach / do good to " everybody " unless he determines as above. Here his inner self expression / acceptance (bhava and reach) is limitless (aseem) and is reaching to all jeevas. It is not restricted to a handful - as when a sadhak decides to do good. A sadhak of karma yoga would never deviate from his aforesaid resolution/acceptance/ determination/vow ! - Come what May !! Hence a sadhak of karma yoga achieves perfection and gets equanimity (yoga) by not doing bad to anybody, not understanding anybody to be bad and not desiring bad for anybody. He then only can be said to be limitless and indulging into service and welfare of everyone. Of course - his acceptances/ decisions that I am Sadhak , I am yogi and I have to only give to this world, this world is not mine/for me etc as stated in my earlier responses on the subject - also help him immensely in his goal. Jai Shree Krishna Vyas N B ------------------------------ The present question ' Concept of Sadhaka according to scriptures like Bhagavad Gita ' The scriptures prescribed a series of Sadhanas to be followed by all seekers or Sadhakas. A person practicing these are called sadhak. The Seeker through the practice must become the sought. Each level of practice being called Yoga connects the Sadhaka and Sadhya - Yujyate, Sadhyate Saha Sadhakaha, Yasyasaha Yogaha. Bhagavad Gita suggested : Abhyaasayogayuktena chetasa naanyagaamina - He who with his mind desciplined in the practice of meditation attains the Divine Purusha. Abhaasa yogena tato maamichhaptum - seek to attain Me through the yoga of repeated practice. Abhaasenatu Kounteya vairaagyenacha gruhyate - the mind can be broughta under control by repeated practice of meditation and dispassion. Sanaih Sanaihruparamedbudhya - should attain tranquility through gradual practice. A Saadhak is one striving with such prescribed practices. " golianjaneyulu " ---------------------------- Hari Om A sadhak never ceases to do striving, he strives 24 hours a day , 7 days a week and 365/366 days a year. That is why he has to accept that I am sadhak. A firm acceptance effortlessly guarantees no prohibited actions from him. He has a godly self-respect which is - " Being a sadhak how I can do this thing? " regarding sins / prohibited actions. He invariably and in all the cases therefore renounces consumption of worldly pleasures. His job is to strive and strive only. One who is consumer of worldly pleasures is Bhogi, he is not a sadhak. He is rogi (sick) and not yogi (striver). For this reason, a sadhak stays clear away from worldly bhogs (pleasures) nor develops liking towards them. There can not be the rightful claim to liberation for a man, by say spiritual practice (striving/saadhna), knowledge and devotion done by him, without dispassion or indifference to worldly attachments. Sadhak must have strong will and determination. He must decide - come what may I shall not deviate from my sadhana. The first divine property which manifests in sadhak automatically is " abhayam " - fearlessness. As he progresses in striving more and more divine properties keep manifesting in him. A sadhak should never get dejected if he does not find in himself any divine property stated in Gita 16:1 to 3, he should instead wonder how it is not in him. There is a system of manifestation in him those properties- automatically, effortlessly. A sadhak deals at the outset itself with his ego/sense of doership. He either changes his ego ( Bhakti Yoga) , or purifies his ego (karma yoga) or eliminates his ego (jnana yoga) after in all cases accepting " I am sadhak " . It is a law that if Karta (ego- Jeeva sitting in ego) changes, the actions, intellect, mind , etc all change automatically. Jai Shree Krishna Vyas N B My Dear Friend Saadhak is Sri Krishna and individual has to only act in accordance with 'prerna' of Sri Krishna. Thus, individual is not a saadhak. This is stated in the Bhagwat Gita. There are so many subjects of study in the world but he/she realizes that world eventhough big, has insufficient supply of oxigen and living condition at time of the death. In a typical example of a boy in India who has fallen in 36 ft deep borewell, and we all are like that boy. The world is a concealed underground room and the exit hole is at the top. We have bigger sizes and attachments with possessions of the world, and can not be lifted up outside the room, and suffocate by breath and memory of hope, to die. We climb up, and whenever we look down, we fall. So this attachment or gravity does not let us go out of the limitation of nature. Sri Krishna is trying to pull all of us out from that hole on the top of the underground room, and as an aspirant, one should follow prerna of Sri Krihna who is saadhak trying to lift us out. Regards K G (krishna gopal) ------------------------------ Hari Om Sadhak ( a spiritual aspirant) is that person in whom desire for liberation / freedom from pains and sorrows of worldly life has arisen, described in Scriptures as - Subheccha ( Auspicious desire) and he accepts/ resolves/decides as under. " I donot have to take any thing from the world, I have to give only " - by thinking and deciding on these lines a person becomes Sadhak. No body can become a sadhak if he believes that " body/world are mine and for me " -NEVER !. This is fundamental. A sadhak should also accept/assume that he is sadhak. When such an acceptance takes place in him, his striving becomes very fast. Then he can never do a prohibited action. A Karma yogi sadhak starts his journey by accepting ( changing his ego) that " I am Yogi " . ( Yoga here means-Equanimity) One who has decided to go on path of Jnana Yoga must accept/assume that " I am curious " . One who has decided to follow path of Bhakti Yoga, he should accept/assume that " I am devotee/ Bhakta " . That I am Sadhak or I am Bhakta or I am Yogi or I am Inquirer (Seeker of Truth) these are " bhav shariras " (sentimental/emotional bodies) not gross bodies. When you become sadhak, certain divine properties start manifesting in you, automatically, without making any efforts. Those properties are stated in Gita 16:1 to 16:3. Whether you have made progress and how much progress depends upon manifestation of aforesaid properties in you - which manifestation is effortless and automatic.. It is a very good topic to ponder. The aforesaid are illustrative not exhaustive views. Jai Shree Krishna Vyas N B -------------------------------- Shree Hari Ram Ram When Swamiji was once asked this question, who is a Sadhak (true seeker)? Swamiji's reply was - A sadhak is he who does not have any intentions of doing anything against his spiritual pursuit. Liking and desiring worldly pleasures and hoarding is doing things against one's spiritual pursuit. When a person desires enjoyment and hoarding and likes that which is against his spiritual pursuits, then inspite of doing much sadhana, he does not progress. As long as there is desire, aim and fondness for wealth, respect, high status, comforts, etc, till that time a man cannot be called a sadhak (true seeker, a spiritual aspirant). Inconsistent behavior is present in even ordinary men. Sometimes desiring God and divinity, other times attracted to the world; sometimes demonstrating good qualities and behavior, other times bad qualities and improper behavior, in this manner, one engages in inconsistence behavior, i.e. on one hand spiritual pursuits and at the same time indulging in things against one's spiritual aim. Some men have a predominance of spiritual aim, whereas others have predominance of behavior that goes against his spiritual aim. In reality, he who does not behave contrary to his spiritual aim and he who does not have the aim of worldly enjoyment and hoarding, and has the sole aim of only realizing God, Truth, he alone is eligible to be and is rightly called a Sadhak (a true seeker). With devotion Meera Das -------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 28, 2008 Report Share Posted August 28, 2008 QUESTION: I would like to know the concept of a sadhaka (Spiritual Aspirant, a Seeker) according to various ancient Indian scriptures and texts like bhagavad gita and others. Thank you, Dev - Saritha Please review Gita Talk Guidelines before responding at: /message/1535 --------------------------- NEW POSTING Sadhana means practicing something to its perfection tenaciously pursuing its associated target with an undeterred resolution till attaining the target to one's satisfaction. A sadhaka is one who performs it without loosing sight of the target even for a moment not allowing oneself to lax in the course or digress from the path for achieving the intended target. Pscychologically, an individual enters such a resolve when one feels suffocated being deprived of freedom and contenment in life. I other words, any sadhana is always an attempt to overcome a hurdle, a journey toward freedom and contenment. Who is not in a pursuit of freedom and happiness; then, who can be not a Sadhaka in this life?! Every one is … in one's own perspective to one's own limits. However, one should not loose one's attention to the fact that sadhana is an act to attain something that we think we do not have! Farther one is from the target, harder one's sadhana needs to be. Deeper one's separation from the target, stronger one's sadhana would become. In other words, one who yarns for freedom and contentment more would be entangled in more laborious and intense sadhana. One who feels more constrained and deprived of happiness would yarn for the same more. This is true irrespective of whether it is one's professional quest or spiritual pursuit. Then, what is wrong with the sadhana practiced naturally by everyone? One might wonder. There is no question of right or wrong here – the question is whether one attained the intended goal for sure or not. If one has not, one is back to square one – swarmed by the furstration of discontentment and dejection of constraints, probably in much more intensity. We have put (and are putting) all our efforts over our life span(s) intensifying the sense of deprival of freedom and happiness in an exponential fashion in the name of seeking the same. We have applied so much energy into winding our life to tune it to our whims and fancies developing preferences, habits and instincts – these are often called vasanas in our scriptures – that corrupt our efforts further procreating themselves in multitude as we spend days of our lives. Spirituality is to make one's sadhana fool-proof – to remove all the factors that hinder, halt, mislead and break one's journey toward the freedom and the contentment. Respects. Naga Narayana ============================================================ PREVIOUS POSTING Jai Hanuman There is one idiom in Hindi- Bhaiyyaji/ Bahenjee ! It says, Jee " Rota jaye , mare ki khabar lekar aaye " One who leaves the home crying ( doubtful) , returns back to the home with a news that some one has died. Jee Hence sadhaks should never allow pessimism reg God Realisation in them.- Bhaiyyaji / Bahenjee ! Did not you observe Bhaiyya that there is no question of practice there ?. Actionless Bahenji - actionless ! What practice ! What time ! What methods ! ! ! Where is milk, where is butter, where is ghee? Nothing Bhaiyya nothing. No shanaih shanaih at all - Dada , nothing ! Simply call ! Call !! Hey Naath I am yours ! ! Hey Naath main apko bhoolun nahin !! ( O Lord I am yours. O lord I should not forget you) Nothing else is needed Bhaiyya , nothing else is needed. Leave these high fundas, Jee - these rhetorics, these inteligentias - simply leave them Bhaiyya, Leave them Jee. Be simple. Be child like, Jee ! Accept Papa as your own Jee ! Daddy is called - " Bhaavgrahi Janardan " - (He accepts inner expressions only).. If you feel it may take janam janam ( lives and lives) - you are gone Bhaiyyaji - in that case it will really take janam janam. ROTA JAYE, MARE KI KHABAR LAYE ! ! What is the value of practice in the regime of Papa ? ( Tulsi kitane mar gaye de de tan ko traas - Says Tulsidasji - Alas How many have died empty handed by giving pains to the body?) Jaago Bahiyya Jaago. ( Wake up , Wake Up) Baba - just be enthusiastic.. Don't even think that by action/ practice you can get Papa . He is your Baap ( father) Bhaiyya - your Baap ! ! What kind of practice/ abhyaas/ study/actions/ methods / systems can be required by a child to slip into the lap of his mummy? Why he should be fearing death? Non sense ! You are his child only- nothing more than child. Child is more productive and effective than you , Maharaaj ! Child Understands. He doesn't argue. He just calls his Mother and mother comes running. Just slip into the loving arms of Papa- no conditions, no qualifications, no capability, no ability, no practice, no knowledge, no qualification, no power, nothing Bhaiyya/ Bahenjee Nothing - Only Right - I am Yours . Hey Naath - I am yours ! ! Bhaiyyaji/ Bahenji -lag jaao-simply start. Don't think it is at all time consuming or delaying ! Badhe chalo bahaduron badhe chalo ( Move forward - O brave people, move forward) Just do not allow any negativism. There is no loss on the way, there is no labour at all. There is only happiness there- no requisites at all. Namaste Jee Jee Jee Shashikala ------------------------------- Hari Om We quite often say that by intense desire , the realisation becomes faster for sadhak. Question here is how to develop that intensity. That status of fish without water? Sadhak when he is given divine properties by the God starts feeling His presence around Him. He should therefore reciprocate advent of these properties in him by not getting proudy of it and acknowledge by mind, speech and conduct , by bhavas (inner expression) , the " kripa " of God. That increases intensity of desire. Moreover, when ever he makes an error in sadhana (striving) , the minutest error, there arises in him automatically a remorse feeling, an intense anxiety( udaasi) as to why he conducted in an improper manner. Such anxiety does not so forcefully arise in non- sadhaks. Sadhak must make use of such bouts of anxieties arising within him- by profoundly remembering God- at that particular time- at that point the wax is in melt form.. That increases the intensity of desire for Him. That eradicates his bad karmas very fast. Many times when sadhak is involved in worldly duties fully, suddenly he remembers something related with Paramatma, some divine song, some verse of Gita, some devotee of God ( it is our direct experience). At that point Sadhak must become happy and presume that God has remembered him and if at that point of time he profoundly engages himself mentally in chanting His name etc , his desire to get Him increases manifold. That increases his love for God. Sadhak must develop a habit of seeing the hand of God in every happening/incidence around him. If he tries that very soon he will decipher out the divine hand everywhere. That makes him progress much faster and love Him more. When sadhak becomes bit careless, immediately God sends unfavourable circumstances before him. When he gets very threatened , by adversity, again God sends favourable circumstances to him. This process keeps continuing.( This process is not that frequent in non- sadhaks) Sadhak therefore should see God's hand in all circumstances and remain enthused and optimistic always- that also helps him attain Equanimity faster. Jai Shree Krishna Vyas N B ------------------------------ Jai. Shree Krishna Goswami Tulsidasji Maharaaj said in Ramayana- Bigree Janam Anek ki , sudhare ab hi aaj " Hohi " Raam ko naam japi, Tulsi taji kusamaj Your bad karmas ( of millions and trillions of light years) will come to an end " RIGHT NOW- AT THIS VERY MOMENT " if you chant the name of Rama BY FIRST BECOMING OF HIM and by renouncing bad company ! You can " Hohi " - become of Paramatma only when you decide/resolve - " Mere to Girdhar Gopal, Doosaro na koi " (Only God is mine, nothing else is mine) and you can renounce bad company only when you believe in the words of Gitaji, Saints etc. Was Goswamiji joking? No ! ! He meant it. Right now! Instant. What about Krishna using the word " kshipram " - again humor? No ! Taat Shree (Swamiji Ramsukhdasji Maharaj) also says so. Why we should not believe them? Why we should not believe God Himself, Saints, Gita, Ramayan ?? Sadhak must always be optimistic. He should not allow even a shadow of doubt in his striving. He must have confidence that he will get Him- right in this life, many times over. Then his Sadhana will be fast, focussed and productive. Why should he adopt a path which delays him? Never. The Gitaji made Arjuna realise Him within hours. Arjuna heard Gita only once. You can read 1000 times ! Have confidence. Focus yourself! Quick fix - even that takes time , once you are determined ! ! You shall achieve your goal , only if you think you can. Start the journey with confidence ! Always !!! Rajendra J Bohra Narayana Narayana --------------------------- Jai Hanuman Bhayyaji/ Bahenji All sadhana which you make is cumbersome only till you tolerate the delay. If you are not tolerating the delay- it is like push the electric button here , the illumination is there. That is the minimum- maximum is as you want. There was a muni ( sadhak) who was doing tapasya for a long long time. Narada once passed through him. He asked Narada - Sir When I shall realise Paramatma. Pls ask Him and reply me. Narada said Ok. Narada went to Naraina . He asked Naraina about that Sadhak. Naraina said after as many kalpas ( aeons) as are leaves in the tree under which he is meditating. Narada returned and told him so. After Narada left, Sadhak started dancing - " I will surely get God , I will surely get God " And instantly. God appeared before him. Understood Bhaiyyaji / Bahenji? Jee Jee Shashikala -------------------------------- 'Sadhak' is 'Seeker of Truth'. There are three main paths advised in greatest of our scriptures 'Gitaji'. These are Gyan Yog, Karma Yog and Bhakti Yog. Depending upon the individual nature, a sadhak may choose to follow any of these paths. All will ultimately lead to same goal. It would be highly improper to suggest that you should choose this or that path. You should please read Gitaji (with commentaries), slowly and carefully (no rapid reading, please). This will help you clarify what path suits you best. Most important aspect of sadhak is his desire to achieve God. The duration depends on the intensity of this desire. No body in the universe can say how much time it can take. Please embark upon this path keeping in mind that there is no 'quick fix' and that it will take time (Janam janam muni jatan karahin). Please be patient and do not leave it mid way. One more thing I would like to point out is that we must make effort to realise God in our current life time. We know that time of death is not known. Hence we should loose no time.. This fear of death nearing helps in our path to move quickly ( " Binu Bhaya hoya na Preet " - Ram Charit Manas). Always remember that death is knocking at our door. Best of Luck A.H.Dalmia ----------------------- Namasthe all. This is my humble opinion. In Bhagavadgita, Arjuna asks Lord Krishna : who and how does a real yogi /sanyasi act/walk/talk/behave in this world. Lord answers : A yogi or a shadha is the one is is equanimous in all the pairs of opposites that he encounters in life. The pairs of opposites are at three levels of our own understanding. hot and cold at physical level, pain and pleasure at mind level, honor and dishonor at the intellectual level. A yogi does not waver from his inner peace irrespective of whatever the extreme pairs of opposites he goes through. He just surrenders everything as a work of God and this enormous faith about 'everything happpens because of God or or Supreme divinity' leads this sage/yogi to be equanimous in all situations. Also, the term 'sanyasi' means not the one who is unmarried or wears the certain colored clothing (saffron or white), but is the one who is always exploring / inquiring on that 'Supreme' or 'Brahman' 'wholly rooted' and 'exploring of Brahman.' Regards, Bharathi ----------------------- Hari Om A sadhak of Jnana Yoga takes the vrata ( vow / determination / resolve / acceptance) - not to form affinity / attachment with any body / anything . The form of each one of us is " separate " / " unattached " - asang ( Brihad Upanishad- 4:3:15). One is not able to experience this separateness, this natual unattachment, because we consider perishable things -for me and mine. The departmant of Self is separate (sentient) and department of transitory, momentary worldly things is separate (inert). They are as different as are day and night. In fact attachment/union with inert and those worldly things which come into contact only for going away - is the root cause of our entanglement into birth death cycle (Gita 13:21) Therefore a sadhak of Jnana Yoga follows this vrata/acceptance/ determination that - " I am not body at any point of time and I have no relationship/connection of any type whatsoever with any body/ anything " . Jai Shree Krishna Vyas N B ========================================================= Hari Om A sadhak of Karma yoga decides and accepts that - " I will not 1) do bad to anybody, 2) understand anybody to be bad and 3) desire bad for anybody. " A real Karma yogi sadhak insists on not doing anything bad to anybody, rather than doing good. Sadhana (striving) of a Karma Yoga sadhak gets completed when this inner expression in him completely governs his actions by mind/speech and body. The direct impact of this determination is that he will either not do anything or he will do good only. He automatically then does his duties only. Being a sadhak even otherwise the question of his sinning does not arise. His above vrata (resolve/vow/swearing/acceptace/determination) - makes him " sarvabhoot hite rata " - a person who is continuously / unceasingly engaged in the welfare/service/interest of all jeevas. (Gita 12:4). A sadhak can become " sarva bhoot hite rata " , only by not doing bad to anybody. He cannot reach / do good to " everybody " unless he determines as above. Here his inner self expression / acceptance (bhava and reach) is limitless (aseem) and is reaching to all jeevas. It is not restricted to a handful - as when a sadhak decides to do good. A sadhak of karma yoga would never deviate from his aforesaid resolution/acceptance/ determination/vow ! - Come what May !! Hence a sadhak of karma yoga achieves perfection and gets equanimity (yoga) by not doing bad to anybody, not understanding anybody to be bad and not desiring bad for anybody. He then only can be said to be limitless and indulging into service and welfare of everyone. Of course - his acceptances/ decisions that I am Sadhak , I am yogi and I have to only give to this world, this world is not mine/for me etc as stated in my earlier responses on the subject - also help him immensely in his goal. Jai Shree Krishna Vyas N B ------------------------------ The present question ' Concept of Sadhaka according to scriptures like Bhagavad Gita ' The scriptures prescribed a series of Sadhanas to be followed by all seekers or Sadhakas. A person practicing these are called sadhak. The Seeker through the practice must become the sought. Each level of practice being called Yoga connects the Sadhaka and Sadhya - Yujyate, Sadhyate Saha Sadhakaha, Yasyasaha Yogaha. Bhagavad Gita suggested : Abhyaasayogayuktena chetasa naanyagaamina - He who with his mind desciplined in the practice of meditation attains the Divine Purusha. Abhaasa yogena tato maamichhaptum - seek to attain Me through the yoga of repeated practice. Abhaasenatu Kounteya vairaagyenacha gruhyate - the mind can be broughta under control by repeated practice of meditation and dispassion. Sanaih Sanaihruparamedbudhya - should attain tranquility through gradual practice. A Saadhak is one striving with such prescribed practices. " golianjaneyulu " ---------------------------- Hari Om A sadhak never ceases to do striving, he strives 24 hours a day , 7 days a week and 365/366 days a year. That is why he has to accept that I am sadhak. A firm acceptance effortlessly guarantees no prohibited actions from him. He has a godly self-respect which is - " Being a sadhak how I can do this thing? " regarding sins / prohibited actions. He invariably and in all the cases therefore renounces consumption of worldly pleasures. His job is to strive and strive only. One who is consumer of worldly pleasures is Bhogi, he is not a sadhak. He is rogi (sick) and not yogi (striver). For this reason, a sadhak stays clear away from worldly bhogs (pleasures) nor develops liking towards them. There can not be the rightful claim to liberation for a man, by say spiritual practice (striving/saadhna), knowledge and devotion done by him, without dispassion or indifference to worldly attachments. Sadhak must have strong will and determination. He must decide - come what may I shall not deviate from my sadhana. The first divine property which manifests in sadhak automatically is " abhayam " - fearlessness. As he progresses in striving more and more divine properties keep manifesting in him. A sadhak should never get dejected if he does not find in himself any divine property stated in Gita 16:1 to 3, he should instead wonder how it is not in him. There is a system of manifestation in him those properties- automatically, effortlessly. A sadhak deals at the outset itself with his ego/sense of doership. He either changes his ego ( Bhakti Yoga) , or purifies his ego (karma yoga) or eliminates his ego (jnana yoga) after in all cases accepting " I am sadhak " . It is a law that if Karta (ego- Jeeva sitting in ego) changes, the actions, intellect, mind , etc all change automatically. Jai Shree Krishna Vyas N B My Dear Friend Saadhak is Sri Krishna and individual has to only act in accordance with 'prerna' of Sri Krishna. Thus, individual is not a saadhak. This is stated in the Bhagwat Gita. There are so many subjects of study in the world but he/she realizes that world eventhough big, has insufficient supply of oxigen and living condition at time of the death. In a typical example of a boy in India who has fallen in 36 ft deep borewell, and we all are like that boy. The world is a concealed underground room and the exit hole is at the top. We have bigger sizes and attachments with possessions of the world, and can not be lifted up outside the room, and suffocate by breath and memory of hope, to die. We climb up, and whenever we look down, we fall. So this attachment or gravity does not let us go out of the limitation of nature. Sri Krishna is trying to pull all of us out from that hole on the top of the underground room, and as an aspirant, one should follow prerna of Sri Krihna who is saadhak trying to lift us out. Regards K G (krishna gopal) ------------------------------ Hari Om Sadhak ( a spiritual aspirant) is that person in whom desire for liberation / freedom from pains and sorrows of worldly life has arisen, described in Scriptures as - Subheccha ( Auspicious desire) and he accepts/ resolves/decides as under. " I donot have to take any thing from the world, I have to give only " - by thinking and deciding on these lines a person becomes Sadhak. No body can become a sadhak if he believes that " body/world are mine and for me " -NEVER !. This is fundamental. A sadhak should also accept/assume that he is sadhak. When such an acceptance takes place in him, his striving becomes very fast. Then he can never do a prohibited action. A Karma yogi sadhak starts his journey by accepting ( changing his ego) that " I am Yogi " . ( Yoga here means-Equanimity) One who has decided to go on path of Jnana Yoga must accept/assume that " I am curious " . One who has decided to follow path of Bhakti Yoga, he should accept/assume that " I am devotee/ Bhakta " . That I am Sadhak or I am Bhakta or I am Yogi or I am Inquirer (Seeker of Truth) these are " bhav shariras " (sentimental/emotional bodies) not gross bodies. When you become sadhak, certain divine properties start manifesting in you, automatically, without making any efforts. Those properties are stated in Gita 16:1 to 16:3. Whether you have made progress and how much progress depends upon manifestation of aforesaid properties in you - which manifestation is effortless and automatic.. It is a very good topic to ponder. The aforesaid are illustrative not exhaustive views. Jai Shree Krishna Vyas N B -------------------------------- Shree Hari Ram Ram When Swamiji was once asked this question, who is a Sadhak (true seeker)? Swamiji's reply was - A sadhak is he who does not have any intentions of doing anything against his spiritual pursuit. Liking and desiring worldly pleasures and hoarding is doing things against one's spiritual pursuit. When a person desires enjoyment and hoarding and likes that which is against his spiritual pursuits, then inspite of doing much sadhana, he does not progress. As long as there is desire, aim and fondness for wealth, respect, high status, comforts, etc, till that time a man cannot be called a sadhak (true seeker, a spiritual aspirant). Inconsistent behavior is present in even ordinary men. Sometimes desiring God and divinity, other times attracted to the world; sometimes demonstrating good qualities and behavior, other times bad qualities and improper behavior, in this manner, one engages in inconsistence behavior, i.e. on one hand spiritual pursuits and at the same time indulging in things against one's spiritual aim. Some men have a predominance of spiritual aim, whereas others have predominance of behavior that goes against his spiritual aim. In reality, he who does not behave contrary to his spiritual aim and he who does not have the aim of worldly enjoyment and hoarding, and has the sole aim of only realizing God, Truth, he alone is eligible to be and is rightly called a Sadhak (a true seeker). With devotion Meera Das -------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 29, 2008 Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 Re: Concept of a Sadhaka (Spiritual Aspirant) QUESTION: I would like to know the concept of a sadhaka (Spiritual Aspirant, a Seeker) according to various ancient Indian scriptures and texts like bhagavad gita and others. Thank you, Dev - Saritha Please review Gita Talk Guidelines before responding at: /message/1535 --------------------------- NEW POSTING … Why spirituality is required in our activities (Sadhana) ? … Note that there are two elements involved in corrupting one's activity: (1) the desire removing obectivity from the activity and (2) the ego inducing subjectivity into its perception. Until the desirer (ego) exists, desires cannot be eradicated. And, until the desires exist, the desirer cannot be eliminated. The duo is like the demons of lore – Vatapi and Ilavala. Vatapi (desire) has a special power of taking any form and can prop up instantly like a pheonyx from its burial at the beck and call of Ilavala (ego). The demons develop a special taste to devour the Bramhins, the spiritual seekers, for obvious reasons that they are seeking to get rid of the duo. An ordinary gullible Bramhin falls a prey to the demonic schemes of the two. Vatapi becomes a lamb. Ilavala cooks it deleciously serving the gullible Bramhins. As soon as the gullible Bramhins eat the delicacy, Ilavala calls out for his brother Vatapi. Vatapi comes to life slitting open the Bramhins stomach. The demons devour the carcass of the prey. One has to be as resilient, observant and resolute as Agastya Muni to appreciate the fundamental mechanism of the duo, to wield the power of digesting the desire Vatapi while burning the ego Ilavala to ashes simultaneously. A spiritual sadhaka's target is to attain the Agastya-hood – wholistic transcendence of one's weaknesses. Note that all our vasanas are nothing but accepted residual notions from our activities and interactions with this world. Two things need to be achieved here: 1. Yagnya: Reject residual notions from current activities. 2. Dana: Purge the existing residual notions as and when they crop up. To execute these effectively one has to appreciate (1) the illegitimacy of one's claim over such notions in the first place; (2) the close correlation between one's lack of freedom and happiness with these notions; and (3) the techniques of alienating such notions and eventually eradicating the same. Sadhana is a kind of unwinding effort to nullify the side effects of our day-to-day interactions with the worlds stored in our treasury of Vasanas while blocking the same entering the system at the same time. We have wound our lives in multi-directions, multi-planes and multi-domains. Any mistake in the unwinding process may cause much more severe winding! That is why, the wise seers of the lore caution us, " Kshurasya dhara nishita duratyaya " – spiritual seeking is like treading upon the razor edge; " Utthishthata! Jagrata!! Praapya varaannibodhata!!! " – Get up! Be alert!! Positively steady yourself in divine association!!! A Sadhaka is one who keeps these three rules laid out by Yama in Kathopanishad, wielding proactive, alert and cautious vigilence on one's own activities, emotions and attitudes purging the same from one's body, mind and soul perpetually. Sadhana is one's perpetual pursuit of not letting oneself becoming opaque to the inherent Freedom and Happiness within. Respects. Naga Narayana. ------------------------------ Dear sadaks, Bagavan said, " surrender to ME all karmas,be rightious and live Dharmic " . Real Sadak` s aim is to get liberated from this world, by shedding all desires. Sri Krishna while sitting by river Yamuna bank with Gopies who asked HIM whether they can feed saint Durvasa on the other side of the river. The river was over flowing. Gopies asked how to cross. Sr Krishna said to gopies, " Tell the river that krishna has no contact with any lady, the river will open and you gopies can give food to saint " . The gopies said to the river and the river opened to their surprise. They reached other side and gave different varieties of food to Saint. They asked Durvasa what now to say so that the river will again open for them to cross back. Saint said, " tell the river Durvasa has eaten only grass and river will open. The river did open and gopies were unable to understand the secret behind. Now sadaks contemplate on this. B.Sathyanarayan --------------------------- PREVIOUS POSTING Sadhana means practicing something to its perfection tenaciously pursuing its associated target with an undeterred resolution till attaining the target to one's satisfaction. A sadhaka is one who performs it without loosing sight of the target even for a moment not allowing oneself to lax in the course or digress from the path for achieving the intended target. Pscychologically, an individual enters such a resolve when one feels suffocated being deprived of freedom and contenment in life. I other words, any sadhana is always an attempt to overcome a hurdle, a journey toward freedom and contenment. Who is not in a pursuit of freedom and happiness; then, who can be not a Sadhaka in this life?! Every one is … in one's own perspective to one's own limits. However, one should not loose one's attention to the fact that sadhana is an act to attain something that we think we do not have! Farther one is from the target, harder one's sadhana needs to be. Deeper one's separation from the target, stronger one's sadhana would become. In other words, one who yarns for freedom and contentment more would be entangled in more laborious and intense sadhana. One who feels more constrained and deprived of happiness would yarn for the same more. This is true irrespective of whether it is one's professional quest or spiritual pursuit. Then, what is wrong with the sadhana practiced naturally by everyone? One might wonder. There is no question of right or wrong here – the question is whether one attained the intended goal for sure or not. If one has not, one is back to square one – swarmed by the furstration of discontentment and dejection of constraints, probably in much more intensity. We have put (and are putting) all our efforts over our life span(s) intensifying the sense of deprival of freedom and happiness in an exponential fashion in the name of seeking the same. We have applied so much energy into winding our life to tune it to our whims and fancies developing preferences, habits and instincts – these are often called vasanas in our scriptures – that corrupt our efforts further procreating themselves in multitude as we spend days of our lives. Spirituality is to make one's sadhana fool-proof – to remove all the factors that hinder, halt, mislead and break one's journey toward the freedom and the contentment. Respects. Naga Narayana Hari Om We quite often say that by intense desire , the realisation becomes faster for sadhak. Question here is how to develop that intensity. That status of fish without water? Sadhak when he is given divine properties by the God starts feeling His presence around Him. He should therefore reciprocate advent of these properties in him by not getting proudy of it and acknowledge by mind, speech and conduct , by bhavas (inner expression) , the " kripa " of God. That increases intensity of desire. Moreover, when ever he makes an error in sadhana (striving) , the minutest error, there arises in him automatically a remorse feeling, an intense anxiety( udaasi) as to why he conducted in an improper manner. Such anxiety does not so forcefully arise in non- sadhaks. Sadhak must make use of such bouts of anxieties arising within him- by profoundly remembering God- at that particular time- at that point the wax is in melt form.. That increases the intensity of desire for Him. That eradicates his bad karmas very fast. Many times when sadhak is involved in worldly duties fully, suddenly he remembers something related with Paramatma, some divine song, some verse of Gita, some devotee of God ( it is our direct experience). At that point Sadhak must become happy and presume that God has remembered him and if at that point of time he profoundly engages himself mentally in chanting His name etc , his desire to get Him increases manifold. That increases his love for God. Sadhak must develop a habit of seeing the hand of God in every happening/incidence around him. If he tries that very soon he will decipher out the divine hand everywhere. That makes him progress much faster and love Him more. When sadhak becomes bit careless, immediately God sends unfavourable circumstances before him. When he gets very threatened , by adversity, again God sends favourable circumstances to him. This process keeps continuing.( This process is not that frequent in non- sadhaks) Sadhak therefore should see God's hand in all circumstances and remain enthused and optimistic always- that also helps him attain Equanimity faster. Jai Shree Krishna Vyas N B ------------------------------ Jai Shree Krishna Goswami Tulsidasji Maharaaj said in Ramayana- Bigree Janam Anek ki , sudhare ab hi aaj " Hohi " Raam ko naam japi, Tulsi taji kusamaj Your bad karmas ( of millions and trillions of light years) will come to an end " RIGHT NOW- AT THIS VERY MOMENT " if you chant the name of Rama BY FIRST BECOMING OF HIM and by renouncing bad company ! You can " Hohi " - become of Paramatma only when you decide/resolve - " Mere to Girdhar Gopal, Doosaro na koi " (Only God is mine, nothing else is mine) and you can renounce bad company only when you believe in the words of Gitaji, Saints etc. Was Goswamiji joking? No ! ! He meant it. Right now! Instant. What about Krishna using the word " kshipram " - again humor? No ! Taat Shree (Swamiji Ramsukhdasji Maharaj) also says so. Why we should not believe them? Why we should not believe God Himself, Saints, Gita, Ramayan ?? Sadhak must always be optimistic. He should not allow even a shadow of doubt in his striving. He must have confidence that he will get Him- right in this life, many times over. Then his Sadhana will be fast, focussed and productive. Why should he adopt a path which delays him? Never. The Gitaji made Arjuna realise Him within hours. Arjuna heard Gita only once. You can read 1000 times ! Have confidence. Focus yourself! Quick fix - even that takes time , once you are determined ! ! You shall achieve your goal , only if you think you can. Start the journey with confidence ! Always !!! Rajendra J Bohra Narayana Narayana --------------------------- Jai Hanuman There is one idiom in Hindi- Bhaiyyaji/ Bahenjee ! It says, Jee " Rota jaye , mare ki khabar lekar aaye " One who leaves the home crying ( doubtful) , returns back to the home with a news that some one has died. Jee Hence sadhaks should never allow pessimism reg God Realisation in them.- Bhaiyyaji / Bahenjee ! Did not you observe Bhaiyya that there is no question of practice there ?. Actionless Bahenji - actionless ! What practice ! What time ! What methods ! ! ! Where is milk, where is butter, where is ghee? Nothing Bhaiyya nothing. No shanaih shanaih at all - Dada , nothing ! Simply call ! Call !! Hey Naath I am yours ! ! Hey Naath main apko bhoolun nahin !! ( O Lord I am yours. O lord I should not forget you) Nothing else is needed Bhaiyya , nothing else is needed. Leave these high fundas, Jee - these rhetorics, these inteligentias - simply leave them Bhaiyya, Leave them Jee. Be simple. Be child like, Jee ! Accept Papa as your own Jee ! Daddy is called - " Bhaavgrahi Janardan " - (He accepts inner expressions only).. If you feel it may take janam janam ( lives and lives) - you are gone Bhaiyyaji - in that case it will really take janam janam. ROTA JAYE, MARE KI KHABAR LAYE ! ! What is the value of practice in the regime of Papa ? ( Tulsi kitane mar gaye de de tan ko traas - Says Tulsidasji - Alas How many have died empty handed by giving pains to the body?) Jaago Bahiyya Jaago. ( Wake up , Wake Up) Baba - just be enthusiastic.. Don't even think that by action/ practice you can get Papa . He is your Baap ( father) Bhaiyya - your Baap ! ! What kind of practice/ abhyaas/ study/actions/ methods / systems can be required by a child to slip into the lap of his mummy? Why he should be fearing death? Non sense ! You are his child only- nothing more than child. Child is more productive and effective than you , Maharaaj ! Child Understands. He doesn't argue. He just calls his Mother and mother comes running. Just slip into the loving arms of Papa- no conditions, no qualifications, no capability, no ability, no practice, no knowledge, no qualification, no power, nothing Bhaiyya/ Bahenjee Nothing - Only Right - I am Yours . Hey Naath - I am yours ! ! Bhaiyyaji/ Bahenji -lag jaao-simply start. Don't think it is at all time consuming or delaying ! Badhe chalo bahaduron badhe chalo ( Move forward - O brave people, move forward) Just do not allow any negativism. There is no loss on the way, there is no labour at all. There is only happiness there- no requisites at all. Namaste Jee Jee Jee Shashikala --------------------------- Jai Hanuman Bhayyaji/ Bahenji All sadhana which you make is cumbersome only till you tolerate the delay. If you are not tolerating the delay- it is like push the electric button here , the illumination is there. That is the minimum- maximum is as you want. There was a muni ( sadhak) who was doing tapasya for a long long time. Narada once passed through him. He asked Narada - Sir When I shall realise Paramatma. Pls ask Him and reply me. Narada said Ok. Narada went to Naraina . He asked Naraina about that Sadhak. Naraina said after as many kalpas ( aeons) as are leaves in the tree under which he is meditating. Narada returned and told him so. After Narada left, Sadhak started dancing - " I will surely get God , I will surely get God " And instantly. God appeared before him. Understood Bhaiyyaji / Bahenji? Jee Jee Shashikala -------------------------------- 'Sadhak' is 'Seeker of Truth'. There are three main paths advised in greatest of our scriptures 'Gitaji'. These are Gyan Yog, Karma Yog and Bhakti Yog. Depending upon the individual nature, a sadhak may choose to follow any of these paths. All will ultimately lead to same goal. It would be highly improper to suggest that you should choose this or that path. You should please read Gitaji (with commentaries), slowly and carefully (no rapid reading, please). This will help you clarify what path suits you best. Most important aspect of sadhak is his desire to achieve God. The duration depends on the intensity of this desire. No body in the universe can say how much time it can take. Please embark upon this path keeping in mind that there is no 'quick fix' and that it will take time (Janam janam muni jatan karahin). Please be patient and do not leave it mid way. One more thing I would like to point out is that we must make effort to realise God in our current life time. We know that time of death is not known. Hence we should loose no time.. This fear of death nearing helps in our path to move quickly ( " Binu Bhaya hoya na Preet " - Ram Charit Manas). Always remember that death is knocking at our door. Best of Luck A.H.Dalmia ----------------------- Namasthe all. This is my humble opinion. In Bhagavadgita, Arjuna asks Lord Krishna : who and how does a real yogi /sanyasi act/walk/talk/behave in this world. Lord answers : A yogi or a shadha is the one is is equanimous in all the pairs of opposites that he encounters in life. The pairs of opposites are at three levels of our own understanding. hot and cold at physical level, pain and pleasure at mind level, honor and dishonor at the intellectual level. A yogi does not waver from his inner peace irrespective of whatever the extreme pairs of opposites he goes through. He just surrenders everything as a work of God and this enormous faith about 'everything happpens because of God or or Supreme divinity' leads this sage/yogi to be equanimous in all situations. Also, the term 'sanyasi' means not the one who is unmarried or wears the certain colored clothing (saffron or white), but is the one who is always exploring / inquiring on that 'Supreme' or 'Brahman' 'wholly rooted' and 'exploring of Brahman.' Regards, Bharathi ----------------------- Hari Om A sadhak of Jnana Yoga takes the vrata ( vow / determination / resolve / acceptance) - not to form affinity / attachment with any body / anything . The form of each one of us is " separate " / " unattached " - asang ( Brihad Upanishad- 4:3:15). One is not able to experience this separateness, this natual unattachment, because we consider perishable things -for me and mine. The departmant of Self is separate (sentient) and department of transitory, momentary worldly things is separate (inert). They are as different as are day and night. In fact attachment/union with inert and those worldly things which come into contact only for going away - is the root cause of our entanglement into birth death cycle (Gita 13:21) Therefore a sadhak of Jnana Yoga follows this vrata/acceptance/ determination that - " I am not body at any point of time and I have no relationship/connection of any type whatsoever with any body/ anything " . Jai Shree Krishna Vyas N B ========================================================= Hari Om A sadhak of Karma yoga decides and accepts that - " I will not 1) do bad to anybody, 2) understand anybody to be bad and 3) desire bad for anybody. " A real Karma yogi sadhak insists on not doing anything bad to anybody, rather than doing good. Sadhana (striving) of a Karma Yoga sadhak gets completed when this inner expression in him completely governs his actions by mind/speech and body. The direct impact of this determination is that he will either not do anything or he will do good only. He automatically then does his duties only. Being a sadhak even otherwise the question of his sinning does not arise. His above vrata (resolve/vow/swearing/acceptace/determination) - makes him " sarvabhoot hite rata " - a person who is continuously / unceasingly engaged in the welfare/service/interest of all jeevas. (Gita 12:4). A sadhak can become " sarva bhoot hite rata " , only by not doing bad to anybody. He cannot reach / do good to " everybody " unless he determines as above. Here his inner self expression / acceptance (bhava and reach) is limitless (aseem) and is reaching to all jeevas. It is not restricted to a handful - as when a sadhak decides to do good. A sadhak of karma yoga would never deviate from his aforesaid resolution/acceptance/ determination/vow ! - Come what May !! Hence a sadhak of karma yoga achieves perfection and gets equanimity (yoga) by not doing bad to anybody, not understanding anybody to be bad and not desiring bad for anybody. He then only can be said to be limitless and indulging into service and welfare of everyone. Of course - his acceptances/ decisions that I am Sadhak , I am yogi and I have to only give to this world, this world is not mine/for me etc as stated in my earlier responses on the subject - also help him immensely in his goal. Jai Shree Krishna Vyas N B ------------------------------ The present question ' Concept of Sadhaka according to scriptures like Bhagavad Gita ' The scriptures prescribed a series of Sadhanas to be followed by all seekers or Sadhakas. A person practicing these are called sadhak. The Seeker through the practice must become the sought. Each level of practice being called Yoga connects the Sadhaka and Sadhya - Yujyate, Sadhyate Saha Sadhakaha, Yasyasaha Yogaha. Bhagavad Gita suggested : Abhyaasayogayuktena chetasa naanyagaamina - He who with his mind desciplined in the practice of meditation attains the Divine Purusha. Abhaasa yogena tato maamichhaptum - seek to attain Me through the yoga of repeated practice. Abhaasenatu Kounteya vairaagyenacha gruhyate - the mind can be broughta under control by repeated practice of meditation and dispassion. Sanaih Sanaihruparamedbudhya - should attain tranquility through gradual practice. A Saadhak is one striving with such prescribed practices. " golianjaneyulu " ---------------------------- Hari Om A sadhak never ceases to do striving, he strives 24 hours a day , 7 days a week and 365/366 days a year. That is why he has to accept that I am sadhak. A firm acceptance effortlessly guarantees no prohibited actions from him. He has a godly self-respect which is - " Being a sadhak how I can do this thing? " regarding sins / prohibited actions. He invariably and in all the cases therefore renounces consumption of worldly pleasures. His job is to strive and strive only. One who is consumer of worldly pleasures is Bhogi, he is not a sadhak. He is rogi (sick) and not yogi (striver). For this reason, a sadhak stays clear away from worldly bhogs (pleasures) nor develops liking towards them. There can not be the rightful claim to liberation for a man, by say spiritual practice (striving/saadhna), knowledge and devotion done by him, without dispassion or indifference to worldly attachments. Sadhak must have strong will and determination. He must decide - come what may I shall not deviate from my sadhana. The first divine property which manifests in sadhak automatically is " abhayam " - fearlessness. As he progresses in striving more and more divine properties keep manifesting in him. A sadhak should never get dejected if he does not find in himself any divine property stated in Gita 16:1 to 3, he should instead wonder how it is not in him. There is a system of manifestation in him those properties- automatically, effortlessly. A sadhak deals at the outset itself with his ego/sense of doership. He either changes his ego ( Bhakti Yoga) , or purifies his ego (karma yoga) or eliminates his ego (jnana yoga) after in all cases accepting " I am sadhak " . It is a law that if Karta (ego- Jeeva sitting in ego) changes, the actions, intellect, mind , etc all change automatically. Jai Shree Krishna Vyas N B My Dear Friend Saadhak is Sri Krishna and individual has to only act in accordance with 'prerna' of Sri Krishna. Thus, individual is not a saadhak. This is stated in the Bhagwat Gita. There are so many subjects of study in the world but he/she realizes that world eventhough big, has insufficient supply of oxigen and living condition at time of the death. In a typical example of a boy in India who has fallen in 36 ft deep borewell, and we all are like that boy. The world is a concealed underground room and the exit hole is at the top. We have bigger sizes and attachments with possessions of the world, and can not be lifted up outside the room, and suffocate by breath and memory of hope, to die. We climb up, and whenever we look down, we fall. So this attachment or gravity does not let us go out of the limitation of nature. Sri Krishna is trying to pull all of us out from that hole on the top of the underground room, and as an aspirant, one should follow prerna of Sri Krihna who is saadhak trying to lift us out. Regards K G (krishna gopal) ------------------------------ Hari Om Sadhak ( a spiritual aspirant) is that person in whom desire for liberation / freedom from pains and sorrows of worldly life has arisen, described in Scriptures as - Subheccha ( Auspicious desire) and he accepts/ resolves/decides as under. " I donot have to take any thing from the world, I have to give only " - by thinking and deciding on these lines a person becomes Sadhak. No body can become a sadhak if he believes that " body/world are mine and for me " -NEVER !. This is fundamental. A sadhak should also accept/assume that he is sadhak. When such an acceptance takes place in him, his striving becomes very fast. Then he can never do a prohibited action. A Karma yogi sadhak starts his journey by accepting ( changing his ego) that " I am Yogi " . ( Yoga here means-Equanimity) One who has decided to go on path of Jnana Yoga must accept/assume that " I am curious " . One who has decided to follow path of Bhakti Yoga, he should accept/assume that " I am devotee/ Bhakta " . That I am Sadhak or I am Bhakta or I am Yogi or I am Inquirer (Seeker of Truth) these are " bhav shariras " (sentimental/emotional bodies) not gross bodies. When you become sadhak, certain divine properties start manifesting in you, automatically, without making any efforts. Those properties are stated in Gita 16:1 to 16:3. Whether you have made progress and how much progress depends upon manifestation of aforesaid properties in you - which manifestation is effortless and automatic.. It is a very good topic to ponder. The aforesaid are illustrative not exhaustive views. Jai Shree Krishna Vyas N B -------------------------------- Shree Hari Ram Ram When Swamiji was once asked this question, who is a Sadhak (true seeker)? Swamiji's reply was - A sadhak is he who does not have any intentions of doing anything against his spiritual pursuit. Liking and desiring worldly pleasures and hoarding is doing things against one's spiritual pursuit. When a person desires enjoyment and hoarding and likes that which is against his spiritual pursuits, then inspite of doing much sadhana, he does not progress. As long as there is desire, aim and fondness for wealth, respect, high status, comforts, etc, till that time a man cannot be called a sadhak (true seeker, a spiritual aspirant). Inconsistent behavior is present in even ordinary men. Sometimes desiring God and divinity, other times attracted to the world; sometimes demonstrating good qualities and behavior, other times bad qualities and improper behavior, in this manner, one engages in inconsistence behavior, i.e. on one hand spiritual pursuits and at the same time indulging in things against one's spiritual aim. Some men have a predominance of spiritual aim, whereas others have predominance of behavior that goes against his spiritual aim. In reality, he who does not behave contrary to his spiritual aim and he who does not have the aim of worldly enjoyment and hoarding, and has the sole aim of only realizing God, Truth, he alone is eligible to be and is rightly called a Sadhak (a true seeker). With devotion Meera Das -------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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