Self-Realization | How it can be achieved within ones life time
Self-Realization: achieving the unachievable state of god
realization within a life time
Before we dwell on the subject of Self Realization we need to
understand the real meaning of gaining self realization.
Nowadays so many self realization centres all over the world
like self realization fellowship in Seattle, self-realization
Boston, Atlanta self-realization and Mt. Washington Self
Realization claim to offer self realization. Before one starts
on the journey of self realization... the concept of self
realization must become absolutely clear.
Self realization is the process by which any human being can
realize his real self. And what does this real self mean? It
means that our soul (atman) within our body which is the real
self within every being (and for that matter every living being)
reaches the fag end of its cosmic life.
No further manifestations... this soul (atman) liberates forever
from the chain of manifestations. The dross having been
completely removed... our soul (atman within us) becomes free
forever. It shall not be required to manifest a body again.
Does this mean that the cosmic life cycle which every soul
(atman) was required to pass through after manifesting a maximum
of 8.4 million manifestations and an earthly journey of 96.4
million years has come to an end? Yes, it is so! And we can
safely say that one has realized his real self.
Here we need to understand the relationship between our real
self, the soul (atman) and the body taken by it. Unless this
relationship is absolutely clear we shall never be able to
understand the true meaning of self realization. The claim by
many that they have realized self is arbitrary as in the last
150 years only two persons have reached the level of self
realization.
Both Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Maharishi Ramana reached the
stage of self realization in their lifetime. They reached the
cosmic goal of their life... gained self realization before they
left their mortal frame.
Self realization is not easy to achieve! Why would God the
Almighty make the cosmic journey a long one and that too
consisting of 8.4 million manifestations? It is not a simple
joke. The process of self realization has to be understood in
totality before one proceeds on the path of self realization
within his lifetime and reaches the end.
The relationship between the soul (atman within us) and the body
taken by it can be explained as follows-
Let us take a block of gold ore weighing about hundred
kilograms. Let us presume it contains 1 kg of pure gold. Now
this 1 kg of pure gold is the soul (atman within us) which is
sandwiched between the dross (impurities) contained within the
ore.
This 1 kg of pure gold cannot on its own separate out from the
gold ore. It requires the requisite Machinery and the processing
to separate out 1 kg of pure gold from the 99 kg of impurities
contained within the ore.
Likewise every soul (atman within the body) requires a body to
work out its karma and remove the dross within. As the
manifestations continue... the journey of the soul which starts
with taking the body of an amoeba (single cell formation)
gradually evolves into higher manifestations... the multi-cell
formations.
As the soul (atman) proceeds on the journey of life for it to
gain self realization in the end... this multi-cell formation
further evolves into insect life. With passage of time and
passing of millions of years... this insect life further
evolutes into plant life.
This plant life in the last leg of its manifestation evolves
into animal life and finally takes the form of a human being.
Already 7.3 million manifestations have passed before reaching
the stage of a human being.
After having passed through such a long journey on the path of
evolution... In the present life if a human being indulges in
fulfilling wanton desires... it shall be made clear that such
indulgences shall never lead to self realization.
Indulgences and fulfilling of wanton desires is absolutely
contrary to proceeding on the path of self realization. It is
only after reaching the stage of human being can a soul liberate
itself forever from the cycle of birth and death... and finally
reach the stage of self realization... Never before!
How lucky a human being is! It is only as human beings can one
reach the stage of self realization. All the intermittent stages
of heaven (Swarga) and hell (Naraka) never lead to self
realization.
As clearly mentioned in the Hinduism Scriptures... even in the
stage of a human being there are about 11 million types of
manifestations. It is a long journey before one rarely reaches
the stage of self realization.
We must really understand that self realization is not a goal of
life... it is the end of the journey itself. After having
reached the stage of self realization... every self realized
soul has but to leave for the abode of God (Baikuntha as we call
it in Hinduism).
All man gods like Mahavira, Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ and
Prophet Mohammed gained self realization in their lifetime...
they cleared all the hurdles and reached the pinnacle of their
cosmic life. The life for them had come full circle. Beyond self
realization there is nothing left to be achieved in the whole of
Cosmos.
Call it self realization or enlightenment... the moment one
reaches this stage... there is nothing more which can be
achieved further. It is after self realization when one leaves
the mortal frame for ever... the process is known as having
achieved salvation (moksha in Hinduism).
In short simple steps I shall define how self realization can be
achieved by any human being...
Before we reach the stage of self realization we need to gain
absolute control over the senses and the mind. The control of
the senses and the mind can be established by practicing yoga in
the Shavasana pose and also Neti as practiced and advocated by
Maharishi Ramana.
The Shavasana pose in yoga and the process of Neti is a sure
shot path to gaining self realization within ones lifetime.
Slowly and steadily one reaches the stage of Nirvikalpa samadhi!
This is the stage when one comes face to face with God the
Almighty.
Having reached the stage of Nirvikalpa samadhi... gaining self
realization is not far! We also need to practice absolute
celibacy for a continuous period of 12 years minimum... this is
an absolute must!
Those who dare not practiced celibacy... must leave the desire
for ever gaining self realization within ones lifetime. It is
just not possible. Practice of celibacy and that too absolute...
Is a must! It has to be practiced at all costs.
Sexual indulgences have no place in the field of self
realization. We have to preserve our cosmic energies... the
monthly quota given to us by God failing which the awakening of
the kundalini can never occur. Sexuality and self realization
are absolutely contradictory.
Whatever was practiced by Acharya Rajneesh (nee Osho) was in
total contradiction to the established practice of gaining self
realization. Practicing sex and yoga is a taboo... if we ever
need to reach the stage of self realization in this life... we
have to stop our indulgence in sexual practices altogether.
The awakening of the kundalini carries with it the absolute
guarantee of one having reached the stage of self realization.
It is only after the kundalini is fully awakened does one reach
the stage of self realization. The full-bloom has to occur...
there is no escape whatsoever!
For the awakening of the kundalini... preserving and transmuting
the cosmic energies to creative uses is a must. This monthly
quota of cosmic energy available to every man and woman is the
grace of God available to every human being. Why criticize God?
I again repeat that practice of absolute celibacy on the path of
self realization is the most difficult part one shall encounter.
And unless the kundalini energy is fully awakened... one can
never hope to reach the stage of self realization ever.
I started in search of God when I was 11 years of age...
proceeding on the uncharted territory of spirituality was
sometimes very scary. None to guide... it took me almost 25
years before I gained self realization at the age of 37.
It was the most glorious moment of my life as the life itself
had come full circle... everything contained in the Cosmos...
every scripture belonging to every religion was now like ABCD to
me. Reaching the stage of self realization just cannot be
expressed in words. Self realization has to be experienced.
Having reached the stage of self realization... God has forbid
me to earn money other than fulfilling my basic needs. I have
maintained my body until the time I am able to disseminate those
pearls of wisdom which I have gained with the grace of God on
the path of self realization!
God has been graceful to me all throughout... imparting the
sacred wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita to the world community
through the medium of Internet is the present aim of my life.
The doctrine of the Bhagavad Gita imparted by Lord Sri Krishna
to Arjuna in the battlefield of Kurukshetra contains those
pearls of wisdom knowing which every human being becomes
entitled to gaining self realization within ones lifetime!