In this edition of his exclusive series for iGlobal, the Founder of the world-renowned Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur (SRMD) spiritual organisation explains how contemplation, reflection and meditation are important practices for a spiritual aspirant. Therefore, more important than understanding them as concepts, it is crucial to experiment and thereby experience the truth.
Acceptance of one’s ignorance reduces one’s self-will, opinionated-ness and insistence. With this, one can accurately listen to and reflect upon the teachings of the enlightened ones. The subject reflected upon becomes a firm conviction and one progresses towards meditation.
Reflecting upon the Master’s words brings firm conviction in what the truth is. Now, connecting with that truth and abiding in it is meditation. Living according to the truth accepted, oneness with the truth is meditation.
Transforming life as per the truth received from listening and understanding may take some time. Body and mind may create hurdles. But, where the truth is understood correctly, the efforts will continue; they will not stop. In every activity, you will see a connection with the supreme truth. Thus, what entered as a mere thought transforms into oneness – this is meditation.
Why is there No Experience?
Having studied and reflected on the scriptures since a long time, why is self-realisation not being attained? Having clearly understood the nature of the self, why is there no identification with it? Having seen it as one’s duty and wishing for it, why is transformation not seen? Why is there no focus on the permanent substance? Why is there attraction for the non-self? Thus, the seeker reflects on the reasons for the failure of scriptural studies and seeks a solution.
First, it is imperative to clarify that intelligence is used in two ways – thinking and experimenting. Unless used for experimenting, it will not yield the correct understanding of the fundamentals. Mere intellectual thinking to attain the path of liberation will not bring success. For an earnest seeker, the importance is of experimentation. Leaving aside worldly objects and activities, listening about the self shows one’s interest in the truth. But for those intent upon experiencing the self, this is not enough. The stress is on experimenting.
Self-awareness does not come from mere thinking. It comes when the self is accepted as ‘me,’ because in thinking, the self is still the object, while in experiencing, the self is the subject. Hence, one must put effort into experiencing one’s existence.
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Concept and Experience
Those studying scriptures without the practise of inwardness do not attain self-realisation and their concepts about spirituality remain mere imagination. To understand that happiness is in the self and to experience it in oneself are two different things. The goal of every soul is to attain happiness. So, wherever he experiences it, his tendencies run in that direction. Only when he gets glimpses of the self does his attitude about happiness in the non-self truly change. That is, his tendencies turn towards the bliss of the self.
Informative knowledge alone does not bring success. Until an intense yearning for experience arises, intellectual understanding may feel enough and bring mental contentment, but, there is no urge for the bliss of the self. Not knowing the nature of happiness experientially, one does not feel the intense suffering even when it is present. If felt, the suffering and false contentment cannot last. One will inevitably and naturally work to alleviate the suffering, and then knowledge turns to transformation. So, one should introspect and reflect on why one indulges in feelings and objects that cannot give happiness and are impermanent. Desire has pain in the form of restlessness. ‘Fulfilment of desire gives happiness’ - unless this understanding changes, real happiness will remain elusive. The seeker applies all his strength to change this belief.
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Observing the Inner World
He who fears discomfort is desirous of comfort. He who fears humiliation is desirous of fame. Having likes and dislikes for the non-self does not allow him to retire from the tendencies that arise. Due to the auspicious and inauspicious feelings nurtured in the past, one is destined to experience association and separation in the external world. These feelings bring sorrow. So, the thoughtful one seeks the means to destroy them. Without such a vision, one stays occupied with trying to change the circumstances.
Any activity without a goal is useless. Because outer activities keep one extrovert, and since it is not beneficial for the welfare of the soul, they must be given up. But at the stage of aspiration for liberation, the focus has not yet turned inward and hence one must, with a purpose, study the scriptures, listen to satsang, reflect on the teachings, etc.
The seeker lives with the purpose of self-realisation. So, he is always alert and checks for any likes and dislikes that arise in the mind. Checking his inner world reduces the intensity of his passions. It then creates the pre-stage for self-realisation. Delusion subsides and knowledge becomes pure, mature, and profound. Self-awareness arises and the liking and interest for it grows, making it easier to grasp the self.
Even with scriptural study, but without such worthiness, one’s extrovert inclination remains strong. His delusion is powerful, and though intelligent, his knowledge is gross. Hence, he is unaware and incapable of checking and catching his passions. Interest in the non-self is a hindrance.
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Checking Tendencies
The one seeking self-realisation gets worried on seeing his life ebbing away without him attaining it. He needs to check the following:
• How much do I aspire for favourable circumstances? Having gotten them, do I see any affection, enthusiasm, interest? How much and why do I fear and worry about the possibility of getting unfavourable circumstances? Upon getting them, do I feel disturbed?
• How have I concluded that the world is unreal and worthless? How much value have I invested in it?
• Do I experience restlessness due to not being able to attain the path?
• Having listened to the teachings, how much do I remember and stay aware of them? Till when?
• Do I feel disgust towards others upon seeing their flaws? Do I dislike those who point at my shortcomings or do I see them as my benefactors?
• Having been in the Sadguru’s refuge, has the inner quest begun? And, how is my intensity?
The Practice of Self-awareness
The power of discernment weakens if the seeker continues to indulge in whatever his destiny presents with interest and attachment. Then, even if he wishes to recognise the self as different from the non-self, he is incapacitated. Progress is possible only if he lives through his destiny with awareness and with investing least interest. Reading etc. are all external activities. Recognising the self as separate from the non-self is an internal process, dependent on self-effort and independent of outer circumstances. Therefore, one should give up extroverted inclination and practice inwardness.
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Those eager to practice self-awareness should, in every situation, observe the self as pure consciousness, separate from the feelings of likes, dislikes etc. In this way, as the practise deepens, the experience of identifying oneself as pure consciousness occurs. ‘My inherent nature is pure consciousness’ – such a feeling gives rise to the efforts of inwardness and one attains direct experience of the self which is beyond the senses.
Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji, an enlightened master and an ardent devotee of Shrimad Rajchandraji, is the founder of Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur (SRMD) – a spiritual organisation with 206 centres across six continents advancing the path of Lord Mahavir. In June 2025, he will be in the UK for a series of life-transforming discourses.
*Info: SRMD UK
