Spiritual practice - Basic Principle 2

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2nd Basic Principle of spiritual practice

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Importance of these principles


The 2nd of six Basic Principles of spiritual practice

From many to one


The 2nd of six Basic Principles of spiritual practice

From many to one

The results of our efforts are much more powerful when we concentrate all our efforts on the one instead of the many.


Example of the wells

10 m

1 m

1 Well 10 Wells


Frequent flyer miles example

FreeFrom the perspective of getting a free ticket which is better?Accruing frequent flyer miles from various airlines or sticking to just one airline?


Answers to the examples

Digging a well of 10 meters deep is more likely to get water.

Accruing frequent flyer miles in one frequent flyer program is more likely to get you a free ticket faster.


Applying this principle

Let’s now apply this to the various generic paths to God and see how our perspective and actions would change.

Some generic Paths to God

• Path of Action (Karmayoga)

• Path of Knowledge (Dnyanyoga)

• Path of Devotion (Bhaktiyoga)

• Path of Chanting

• Path of Guru’s grace

2nd Basic Principle – Many to one


According to the various paths – Path of Action (Karmayoga)

Initial stage

Donations to various charities, devoting time and effort for various causes


According to the various paths – Path of Action (Karmayoga)

Initial stage

Donations to various charities, devoting time and effort for various causes

Later stage

Focusing on just one cause, that is most Righteous and that will be most effective for his spiritual growth

* Refer to SSRF website for definition of Righteousness

*


According to the various paths – Path of Knowledge (Dnyanyoga)

Initial stage

At a lower spiritual level a person would be studying various spiritual and religious texts


According to the various paths – Path of Knowledge (Dnyanyoga)

Initial stage

At a lower spiritual level a person would be studying various spiritual and religious texts

Later stage

Learns and practices from the book that has the most spiritual Truth in it


According to the various paths – Path of Devotion (Bhaktiyoga)

Initial stage

At a lower spiritual level a person visits many Holy places, reads many books of Holy verses

*

Most religions follow the Path of Devotion*


According to the various paths – Path of Devotion (Bhaktiyoga)

Initial stage

At a lower spiritual level a person visits many Holy places, reads many books of Holy verses

Later stage

Visiting one place of maximum spiritual purity and reading one book of Holy verses which helps to bring out the highest spiritual emotion and devotion

Most religions follow the Path of Devotion

*

*


According to the various paths – Path of Chanting

Initial stage

At a lower spiritual level a person chants various Names of God or the Names of various deities


According to the various paths – Path of Chanting

Initial stage

At a lower spiritual level a person chants various Names of God or the Names of various deities

Later stage

Later he focuses on chanting on one Name of God or the Name of the deity that is most conducive for his spiritual progress


According to the various paths – Path of Guru’s grace

Initial stageAt a lower spiritual level a person visits a number of Saints and follows guidance from various sources


According to the various paths – Path of Guru’s grace

Initial stageAt a lower spiritual level a person visits a number of Saints and follows guidance from various sources

Later stageLater the seeker focuses and is devoted to only one Guru (Spiritual Master)


How this principle applies in a seeker’s lifeTo begin with a person has a variety of interests and identities in his life.

Interests and activities

Entertainment

Job

Sport

Socialising

Personal time

HobbiesDining

Study and courses

Identities

Brother

Friend

Volunteer worker

Father

StudentSon

Member of a club or a group

Worker in a company


How this principle applies in a seeker’s life

SpiritualPractice


Entertainment

Job

Sport

Socialising

Personal time

HobbiesDining

Study and courses

Identities

Brother

Friend

Volunteer worker

Father

StudentSon


Worker in a company

But when he starts spiritual practice and starts experiencing its benefits his interest in various other activities slowly reduces



SpiritualPractice


Entertainment

Job

Sport

Socialising

Personal time

HobbiesDining

Study and courses

Identities

Brother

Friend

Volunteer worker

Father

StudentSon


Worker in a company

Later he begins to channelize all his efforts to achieving his spiritual goal. Slowly he begins to steer clear of activities that are not aligned to his spiritual goal.


How this principle applies in a seeker’s lifeIdentifies with only one identity

Brother

Friend

Volunteer worker

Father

StudentSon


Worker in a company

Executive

A disciple



God principle or the Soul in each of us

Subtle ability



Spiritual experience of the same God within and in others leads to spiritual love

Spiritual love

Spiritual love for humanity

Subtle ability

Love without expectationBased on the unchanging Soul


In summary

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If you are doing any form of spiritual practice please do reflect as to whether it embraces this second principle.

Are you going from many to one?