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I have a question. I have a desire to progress in my career but at the same time I want to spiritually progress and attain the ultimate goal i.e. self-realization and Moksha (liberation). I have a Guru and have taken Shaktipat Deeksha and I do practice meditation and following the teachings. But the more I read and understand, until and unless all desires are gone one cannot attain or near the ultimate goal. So I am not sure encouraging the desire to progress in my career is going to be a hurdle in reaching the ultimate spiritual goal. End of the day I live in this world and need to fulfill this karma apart from not forgetting the true purpose of life. Can you tell if my desire to progress in career & praying for the welfare of my family and friends (because that means I care which means I am attached) is a conflict to my ultimate goal?
Aadhya (Name changed), USA |
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In my view, there is nothing wrong in fulfilling desires. In fact some desires must be fulfilled before Sadhak can progress on the spiritual path. In fact God and Guru's grace will also help him/her in fulfilling those desires. At the same time Sadhak's duty is to try to stay away from the desires. Consistently remind himself that Desires are going to keep him away from the Divine. Because, by nature when one desire gets fulfilled it creates two new desires and that keeps the Jiva (individual body with soul) bound to Maya with attachment of desires.
About your specific questions: "encouraging the desire to progress in my career is going to be a hurdle in reaching the ultimate spiritual goal"
Any and every desire is hurdle in the path of God. Even wish of attaining Self-Realization is also a desire and that is a hurdle in the path. That does not mean a person can get rid of desires easily. Desires have to be either burnt (by Vairagya) or they must be fulfilled. Eventually machine that creates desires (mind) must be destroyed. But it’s a long term process. The only thing you should do is keep doing your daily Sadhana with all sincerity. Try to create Vairagya with Viveka and Guru-Krupa will take care of the rest. Slowly you will realize desires are poison and then God's grace will start fulfilling some of your Must-be-fulfilled desires as you burn remaining desires.
Your second question: "praying for the welfare of my family and friends (coz that means I care which means I am attached) is a conflict to my ultimate goal"
Not really. Safety and peace of your family will give you stability in your path. So you should continue to pray for welfare of your family and friends. Nothing wrong about it. If your family has a problem your mind will remain engaged and worried over the problem. So continue to pray for them. God will help you there too. Because he wants you to progress on the path, in fact he will help your family many times because your peace of mind is important for the Divine. So your prayers will be answered...many times in your journey to the divine. At the same time dont expect everyday miracles in their life. They are bound by their Karma and there is a limit to the extent to which God will change the Karma. You will see many miracles in the long term though.
These are extremely deep things a Sadhak need not worry about. Leave all your burdens to your Guru and God. They will show you the path. Your only duty is to continue your Daily Sadhana and continue to contemplate (observe, learn and apply). God is there to help. He will guide and protect you and your family when there is a genuine need to. Other than that daily Maya hurdles (desires) will continue that you need to overcome with Viveka (Sad-sat Viveka Buddhi)
Here is the key to success in spiritual world given by Swami Sivananda : "The desire to attain knowledge of the Self will dawn only in the person who is free from desires, who has a pure mind, and who is quite disgusted with this worldly life. Such a man only is competent to hear, meditate and attain Brahman, Jnana or knowledge of Brahman. When the knowledge of the Self dawns, ignorance, which is the seed for bondage and the cause of karma is totally eradicated and the aspirant attains immortality and eternal bliss. Without dispassion or non-attachment or indifference to sensual enjoyments no spiritual progress is possible."
Hope this helps.
Thank you.
Mahendra Joshi
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