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Cosmetic spirituality

It is very interesting to find every other person on spiritual path  now a days. At  the same time there is too much confusion. They are not experiencing the mental peace and stability expected out of the spiritual practice.

First thing first

When I start training dentists, I stress the importance of being a good human being to become a good professional. It holds true in the spiritual path too, but nobody gives importance to the first steps, 'Yama and Niyama' of the Eight limbs of Ashtanga yoga. It used to intrigue me how such people progress on their spiritual path. I have seen many dishonest persons who do rigorous meditation to reach 'Realization', but don't make any progress.

My doubt as to why they do so got clarified recently. When we discussed that telling truth and being honest are pre-requisites to get Realization, he told, 'No, I don't think so. Angulimal was a thief and murderer. Valmiki was a downtrodden person. But they did become great personalities, right?' I was shocked to hear this, but didn't have anything in response then.

During my meditation, I got the answer. There are two aspects: one, Angulimal and Valmiki did not project themselves as good human beings. They admitted they were doing sins, then stopped it completely and walked the path shown by Buddha and a sage.

Second, an ignorant person committing a sin is not the same as a learned person. A chandal and a Brahmin committing  murders will get very different karmic result, because the chandal doesn't know the implications of his karma whereas a Brahmin is fully aware of this. People on the spiritual path committing sins are going retrograde in their journey.

Thoughts, words and deeds

For a spiritual person, thoughts, words and deeds need to be in alignment. They can't afford to think something, talk contrary to that and do something exactly opposite. Sadly, this is very prevalent. Some gurus feed their disciples satwik food, then they will go out with friends to McDonald's. Supposedly enlightened persons announce they do free courses and before the course is over, the participants are forced to 'donate' amounts/ jewellery/ other valuables, which in many instances are higher than the amount that would have been a reasonable fee.

We can just satisfy ourselves with the reasoning that this is how it is in Kaliyuga.