The four stages of spiritual evolution was mentioned by T.Rajarathinam, in a discourse.
There are said to be four stages in spiritual evolution.
- The first is to do with rituals.
- The second is to do with the recitation of mantras.
- The third involves yoga.
- The fourth is the most evolved stage of jnana.
A fruit begins its journey as a bud. The bud blooms into a
flower, which then becomes an unripe fruit and ripens later.
Likewise, ritualistic worship is like a bud. Worship through
mantras is like a flower. Yoga is the unripe fruit, and the ultimate stage of
jnana is the ripe fruit.