2. Awakening of Spiritual Aspiration

Progress, on the spiritual path of achieving God, can be made only by such an inquisitive aspirant who faithfully follows the great vows like being patient, steadfastness in dualities like happiness and miseries (adversities & prosperities), truth, non-violence, celibacy etc. This path is very difficult for others.

In order to make spiritual progress, the worshipper has to identi­fy his own various beliefs, complexes and resolutions one by one with the help of inspiration from holy persons as well as inner sight. The various beliefs are required to be tested on the scale of experience. Then only the beliefs and complexes - which are false and full of errors - gets weakened, flexibility is obtained and the mind gets concentrated in true knowledge.

The worshipper proceeds, gradually, towards achieving the aim by gaining a continuous momentum, right from material intel­lect to minutely deep wisdom, a mean type of conduct to applica­tion of Panchvartman (the five morals of life) explained by God-realized saints; as well as in the knowledge, deed (Karma) and worship (Upasana) related to (Parmatma) the Supreme Lord.

According to Lord Swaminarayan, who has said in 'Vachanamrit', a person can make a rapid progress towards absolution (salvation) from worldly bindings as well as towards resultant aim of achieving God, if he considers every next moment as the end of life.

The best remedy for not allowing the sensual desire to develop in mind is to always keep oneself busy in God pleasing activities like human-welfare services. Simultaneously, one should always continue the efforts to ful­fil the great aim of achieving God.

A person keeps on becoming pure and impure from time to time the whole day. A person , who appears as good as a deity in the morning, can become an evil in the evening. A person becomes impure when he gets tempted by adverse knowledge and deeds, and becomes pure by true knowldege, deeds and worship (Upasana). Focussing this fact in mind, a worshipper should always keep on testing and improving oneself consciously. If this process is carried on continually, one can definitely achieve one’s aim.

To prove life worthy, it is necessary for a worshipper to be very alert by watchful discrimination in matters like: what to see and what not to see, what to hear and what not to hear, what to eat and what not to eat, what to speak and what not to speak, what to know and what not to know. These are the meals for the vari­ous organs of the body. If pure meals are provided to the organs by thorough understanding and awareness, the inner being becomes totally pure. Such an inner being only can be fit for concentration in the form of God.

Various types of good and bad events occur daily in this world. A good or bad impression is developed in a person’s mind due to them. A worshipper must be always ready to see how these events influence him. Does any weakness prevail in his aim of achieving God? Due to any circumstance, some event may create any ill-effect on the inner being. In this case, it is the duty of the worshipper to make efforts to remove it off and continue the efforts till that ill-effect is not eradicated.

The worshipper should follow the direction and orders of the God-realized Muktas by all means until he experiences the divine bliss of the Supreme Lord. This is of utmost necessity or else there is a possibility that the worshipper may get distracted from his goal and attain descent.

The worshipper at an initial stage may think, "What will be left with me if I give up all the happiness and enjoyment related to this world? On one hand I have given up the worldly happiness whereas the experience of the spiritual bliss of the Supreme Lord (Parmatma) has not started yet. Nothing will be left with me now, I shall be deprived of everything." At this time, when such a rubbish impotent thought is developed, one should think that the joy of demolishing the sensual wishes is gained due to getting relieved of the temptation and attachment towards mundane pleasures. A virtuous joy is also created in the mind, which is far better than the biggest happiness on this world.

A new seeker must perform deeds in the form of virtuous activities though less in proportion, but he must do them. The reason is: the deeds of welfare, performed remaining detached of sensual pleas­ures and without any personal interest, prove to be very helpful on the path of achieving God . Such deeds give rise to virtuous sensations as the impressions of past deeds are rubbed off. This lays the foundation for uniting with God.

Nobody can become a real worshipper without performing the deeds of welfare - which are God pleasing. We are graced by God, for no reasons, with His blessings in the form of knowledge of truth, worship (Upasana), devotion (Bhakti) etc.. Similarly, it is our pious duty to perform unselfish, benevolent activities for the sake of welfare and upliftment of others. Hence, the truthful knowledge and worship (Upasana) of the divine form of Supreme God are protected and maintained in this world. Hence the divine grace and blessings are showered on the worshipper by God.

Attitudes like forgetting one’s duties, lethargy in work, negligence in work due to carelessness, not considering small mis­takes seriously etc. indicate the irresponsibility, lack of interest and inertness of the worshipper and prove to be hurdles in the spiritual practice.

The seeker, who performs his duties ethically and sincerely, who performs his duties faithfully with a sense that these duties are entrusted by God, not only succeeds from the point of view of worldly achievements but also achieves success and prosperity on the spiritual path.

Every person seeks success and prosperi­ty for himself, one never seeks failure and downfall. Simi­larly if he seeks the same for others too and be helpful to them in that, then he becomes free of attachment, rancour and achieves progress, thereof.

It is necessary that the worshipper’s worldly dealings should be good and ethical. Due to this, the practical and social hindrances in the worship are lessened. At the same time nece­ssary social help is also obtained which is expected (in wor­ship) during progress in state of spiritual practice - Saddhana.

It is necessary to ruminate the experiences and achievements during the process of Sadhana. This becomes very useful in pouring a fresh breath to develop new hope and supply energy; when there is a setback in Sadhana and when there are moments of disappointment.

The progress of the worshipper, who is not prepared to put aside the substances related to the body and worldly attachments even once from his mind; is obstructed. This attachment should be demolished with full efforts by doing the study of Sankhya Yoga philosophy. On doing this continually, firmness is gained and one becomes victorious, finally.

Success is definitely achieved by the one who puts ardent ef­forts without getting disappointed or depressed; even after several failures in giving up the vices and accepting the vir­tues.

The real desire for salvation arises only when there is no other desire, except that of achieving God. There should be no other desires like achieving the worldly or celestial achievements.