This inspirational dialogue happened when Dr. S.I.Tulaev, Russian Indologist, had an interview with Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swamigal, popularly known as Kanchi Paramacharya.
Dr. S.I.Tulaev: A man has no temple or church and does not heed to any dogmas. But he always thinks good and does good throughout his life? Could you kindly tell me, Sir, whether such a man has any salvation at the end of his life?
Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swamigal – Yes…. Don’t think that I am giving you this answer after seeing the modern standards of life. No. This is said in our ancient scriptures themselves.
There are many aspirants.
The Agnostics, those who enquire into the nature of God and by using their own brain come to the conclusion that there is no God.
Secondly, Buddhists, or the Sunyavadins, who believe in non-existence.
Thirdly, Jains, who believe in suffering by putting their body to various austerities, vratas.
Fourthly, Saivaites, Vaishnavites and others who believe in a personal God and spend their life in devotion.
Lastly, Advaitins who believe the entire world, the cosmic reality, is the apparent manifestation of one and the same ultimate reality.
All these aspirants are near the truth. The difference between them lies in their proximity to God. Step by Step these five aspirants are nearer the reality.
If one enquired into the nature of God by using one’s own mind, whatever be the conclusion arrived at, even if it is a total rejection of God, such an aspirant is far higher than the idler who never worries about the search after truth. This is not my saying but is said in our scriptures.
1 comments:
Namaste,
Thank you for giving solution to a practical question in spirituality.
Even in Gita (16th or 17th Chapter) Arjun asks the same question. If a person does not know or follow the scriptures but has faith in God and works for good cause, then does he advance in spirituality?
Chapters 16 & 17 gives the barometer of one's spiritual progress.
Lord answers that the progress depends upon the kind of faith a person has (tamsic, rajasic, satvik).
Since we cannot see this gunas directly, so we have to see karma (action). A person does the karma or acts according to his shradha. Shradha can be rajasic, tamsic or satvik. Action is the grossest form of desire and vice versa. (Sanskar = Vasana = Ichha = Guna). All our actions are triggered by the mind (which is nothing but the continuous flow of thoughts), then to materialize them (i.e. to fulfill the desire), mind takes the help of body via prana.
If our actions are triggered by Satva Guna, then we can have spiritual progress - Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa.
So by looking at the actions of a person, a wise man can understand his nature, his spiritual progress. Spiritual Progress depends upon shradha.
Spirituality is a way of living life. It is 100% practical. Shastras are the collections of experience of innumerable saints from time immemorial. Our superstitions, lake of application, parroting Gita and other scriptures have made us cowards and people do not want to advance in spirituality and tries to find a verse which suits their line of thinking.
Ashtavakra Gita also says (jaisi mati, vaisi gati). It all depends upon the mind (mindset) of a person.
AUM
Sujal
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