Questions:In any field such as sports or study etc.,generally practice makes one perfect. But in spiritual practices...?

[Ravishankar.G]

Dear All,

In any field such as sports or study etc., generally practice makes one perfect. But in spiritual practices such as chanting the divine names of God, it seems like a never- ending practice and struggle. We do perceive any quick progress. Is there an easy way of reaching this goal of life and witnessing the results within a short period of time in spiritual practice?

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:

Let us take the example of three individuals--

One is a genius by birth. The second one is intelligent though nowhere near the genius and the last one is mentally challenged.

All three suffer from an ailment and need treatment.

The genius would find his remedy on his own with no or very minimal directive.

For the intelligent child, a little guidance is essential. Someone needs to show him the remedy and he takes the medicine, feels the improvement and is cured.

For the mentally challenged person who falls sick there is absolutely no possibility of him approaching a physician and seeking a remedy. In fact he is not even aware of that he is having an ailment. Naturally, if given treatment, he would not even be in a position to understand if he is making progress. So the care-giver needs to do everything for him.

This model can be applied in gauging spiritual progress too. The great mahatmas (Saints) are so fully tuned already and the urge in them to see God is so enormous that when they chant the divine name, they immediately see the progress and reach the goal, like the genius.

For the next category of spiritual aspirants, with appropriate guidance from the Guru and life-long effort, they do manage to reach the goal finally.

Then comes the third category into which majority of us fall, on account of the heavy load of vasanas (Past Conditioning), that we are carrying from previous births. We are like the mentally challenged person looking up to God/Guru's grace to do it for us completely. The load of vasanas is so heavy that we are not in a position to perceive the spiritual progress. All we have to do is chant patiently with faith and not lose hope just because we do not perceive instant progress.

When medicine is given it does its work without fail in everyone. The difference in feeling the progress depends on the level of urge to reach the goal. Let us have no doubt about the fact that when we chant the divine names, progress is being made all the time. It is just that we are unable to perceive it, as would a Mahatma or a great soul due to the variation in the degree of urge to attain God.

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Have you seen God?

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:

God has seen me.
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Regards & Chant the Maha Mantra:
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
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