It is necessary for a new initiate in the world of Sadhanas not to
be frustrated or lose hope by the initial failures. This is a wonderful
article for the new
Sadhaks which they shall find really heartening and encouraging.
All Sadhanas and spiritual practices have a particular sequence
and process. Till all rules are not followed success in Sadhanas remains
doubtful. Sometimes success remains elusive to a Sadhak even after hard
work. This could be due to the bad Karmas of one's past lives,
Sometimes we also see evil and corrupt individuals earning
respect, fame and wealth in life. On the other hand those devoted to the
Lord are seen suffering from pain and sorrow. Following are some
interesting facts reading which a person could learn low to neutralise
past bad Karmas and earn success in Sadhanas.
1. Health
The biggest obstacle to success in any field is bad health. A person
can successfully accomplish Sadhanas only when he is perfectly healthy
and free from diseases. It is almost impossible to attain to success in
Sadhanas through the medium of an unhealthy body. Hence one should be
punctual in sleeping, rising, eating etc so that the body could be
always fit. Natural healthy food, regular exercise and Yogic postures or
Asans go a long way in keeping the body healthy.
2. Food
The second obstacle is unhygienic food that not only corrupts the
health rather also gives rise to worry and mental disturbance. This is
why our ancient texts stress so much on the purity of the food one
consumes. There is a saying in the texts -
Jaisa Ann Vaisa Mann!
The food one eats determines the purity of one's thoughts. The
type of food that one consumes definitely has an effect on one's
thoughts. mind, actions. There are said to be three categories of food
according to the ancient texts - First category consists of sour, spicy,
hot food which is called
Raajasi. The second category consists of stale food, leftovers, meat and wine called
Taamsik food. The third category consists of food obtained through pure means, which is neither too spicy nor too hot. It is called
Saatvik. It is this type of food that one should eat.
Eating Taamsik and Raajsik food leads to lust, anger, greed,
infatuation, arrogance and jealousy. It leads to loss of physical and
mental health. Thus a Sadhak could deviate from path of Sadhanas. So
one should eat pure and less food.
3. Doubts
The third obstacle on the path of Sadhanas is doubt. When the Guru
directs a new person on the path of Sadhanas success is not attained at
the very first go.
For example suppose a Sadhak is engaged in an eleven day Sadhana
and even by the fourth or fifth day he has no divine experience, then he
might be plagued by doubts. Suppose one is doing a Lakshmi Sadhana then
during the period of Sadhana the expenses might shoot up. But if one
persists and completes the Sadhana then without doubt the Goddess of
wealth is pleased and blesses one with financial success. One's stars
might have planned a poverty ridden life for the individual and
accomplishing Sadhana for wealth would mean fighting against Nature.
This struggle could result in a sudden rise in spendings in the
beginning. And naturally some Sadhaks might start to doubt the efficacy
of the Mantra and the Sadhanas. They might become doubtful whether Gods
and Goddesses are actually there or they would ever appear before them.
There might be doubts whether t
he Sadhana is correct or the Yantra being used is actually Mantra
energised. They start to think that if the Sadhana or Mantra were
efficacious then the result would have manifested.Because success has
not accrued there must be something wrong with the Sadhana or maybe the
Guru has guided us wrong. Doubts start to assail their minds and as a
result the Sadhak gives up the Sadhana even before he begins it. And
even if they do accomplish the Sadhana they do it filled with doubts due
to which they are not able to succeed.
Lord Krishna has said in Bhagwat Gita -
Ashraddhyaa Hutam Dattam Tapastaptam Kritam Cha Yat. Asadityuchyate Paarth Na Cha Tatpretya No Iha.
i.e. Havan or
Yagna, charity,
Tapa and Sadhanas accomplished without faith and devotion are but useless and they bring no rewards.
Devotion and faith are the biggest assets of a Sadhak. He should
have faith in the Guru, in the Mantra, Yantra, gods, goddesses and
deities. A real Sadhak should accomplish all Sadhanas determinedly like
Lord Buddha.
Ihaasane Shushkayatu Me Shareeram Tvagasthimaansaam Pralayanch Yaatu.
Apraapya Bodham Bahukalp Durlabham Nevaasnaat Kaaymanashchlishyate.
i.e. Lord Buddha had pledged when doing
Tapa - My body
might perish, my skin might shrivel and the bones might crumble but I
will not get up from this Sadhana seat till I have had total
realisation.
A Sadhak should have such a determination so that he could make
actual progress in his Sadhanas. More he progresses more he realises
that Sadhanas are not imaginary but real.
4. Sadguru
Sadguru does not mean some human being. Sadguru is an entity who can
bestow real knowledge, who can make one rise high in life, who can
bestow totality in life, who can direct one to right path.
One needs to reflect on these facts because today there are very
few real, experienced and realised Sadgurus. There is no dearth of
people claiming to be Gurus. In every street you will find a Guru. But
most of them are just arrogant individuals who are only after wealth,
fame and physical pleasures. Without having accomplished any Sadhanas
they claim to be Yogis and some even call themselves God. In such a
crowd of pseudo Gurus it becomes very difficult for a common man to find
and choose a real master.
It is the greatest fortune for a disciple to find a Sadguru in
his life. A Guru is needed in life to guide the Sadhak onto the path of
Sadhanas, to help him overcome obstacles on the path of Sadhanas and to
instil divine energy into him in order to overcome problems. The Yogis
who are expert in the science of Tantra state that through Diksha
obtained from a Guru a Sadhak gains divinity and all his sins are
absolved.
Changing Gurus frequently also leads to problems in Sadhanas.
Although all Sadhanas lead to the same goal yet the paths are different.
Today you might start
Prannayam and tomorrow on advice of some other person you could take to
Hatth Yoga.
Third day you might even give up Yoga and start chanting some Mantra
and fourth day you might take to listening to divine discourses.
Wandering from one path to another or changing Gurus cannot help one
make progress.
Lord Krishna has said in Gita -
Tad Viddhi Prannipaaten Pariprashnen Sevayaa. Upadekshyanti Te Gyaanam Gyaaninas-tatvadarshin.
i.e. To gain real knowledge go to those who have realised
Supreme Element. By bowing before such Yogis, by serving them
selflessly, by asking them questions sincerely one can learn a lot.
These are means to please them and then they become willing to impart
true knowledge.But this knowledge can be gained only from a Sadguru.
5. Fame
One big obstacle for a Sadhak on the path of spiritualism is fame.
When people living around realise that a Sadhak has successfully
accomplished a particular Sadhana they become devoted towards him. They
start to give him regard through their words and gestures. The Sadhak
too is but a human being and he too likes to be respected and honoured.
When he gets these from the society he starts to crave for more and
more. As a result he forgets his aim of worshipping the Supreme and
joins the race of earning more fame and name. This results in loss of
Sadhana power. He loses his innocence, humility and becomes arrogant.
Purity of mind and heart is lost and one is filled with anger and false
pride. So a Sadhak should never reveal his powers to the society. One
must rise high in the spiritual world and not in the material world.
This is the real way to progress.
6. Celibacy
Another obstacle on path of spiritualism is sex. Until there is
enough energy in Sadhak's body he cannot succeed in Sadhanas. One needs
power of the physical body, mind, senses and soul and this energy is
conserved and boosted through
Brahmacharya or celibacy. Hence a
Sadhak should not indulge in excess sex. He should shun negative company
and not eat food that could delude the senses and lead to loss of
celibacy.
Even the married Sadhaks should observe celibacy as much as they
could, to preserve vital energy. More one restrains oneself more the
energy that builds up and faster one succeeds in Sadhanas.
Lord Hanuman remained a celibate throughout life and as a result
he had immense physical strength. He was brave, powerful and very
spiritual. He was most devoted to the Lord. He possessed all knowledge
and all divine powers called
Siddhis. It was due to these powers
that he could assume a giant form or become smaller than even a fly.
When crossing the ocean on his way to Lanka he assumed a huge form and
jumped over the ocean. And when entering Lanka in order to avoid being
detected he assumed a form smaller than a fly.
Bheeshma observed celibacy throughout life and as a result he was
blessed with the power that death would not come to him till he so
desired. Lord Parshuram who was invincible and who had defeated everyone
on earth had to face defeat after a battle of 23 days with Bheeshma.
This was the result of the celibate life Bheeshma led.
7. Wishes
The Sadhak who does not become free of material wishes has to face
many obstacles on the path of Sadhanas. Wishing and desiring leads to
anger, infatuation and greed and as a result the Sadhak loses his
balance of mind. Hence once should always keep the mind free of desires.
8. Criticising others
Finding faults in others is the biggest obstacle for a Sadhak. A
Sadhak should not waste his time in such activities and not worry what
others are doing. The Sadhak should always remain concentrated in his
own Sadhanas so that there is no time left for such useless activities.
Those who fall into habit of criticising others cannot progress
well in Sadhanas, for they are wasting a lot of their thought power in a
useless exercise. One should always remember the words of the great
saint Kabeer -
Buraa Jo Dekhan Mein Chalaa, Buraa Na Miliyaa Koy. Jo Dil Khojaa Aapanaa, Mujhasaa Buraa Na Koy.
i.e. When I started to look for bad qualities in others I ultimately realised that there is no more bad person than me.
Remember that if you point one finger at others in accusation
three fingers shall be pointing towards you. What I mean to say is that
before accusing others even once evaluate your own self at least thrice.
One should look at one's own thoughts and try to remove one's faults
instead of finding the same in others.
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