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I have two questions:
Is it normal on the path of spiritual progress to lose interest in marital life, luxuries and view everything as vanity? I am a devotee of Swami Samarth, Sai Baba and Ganesh. In the past two years I have started to lose affinity for things that people and society consider absolutely essential (like a great career or wealth) or as a measure of one's status. I see vanity in all materialistic things.
I once received a mantra from a spiritual man for meditation. I do not have a Guru. The mantra was given to me by a spiritual person whom my family regularly consultes for life's problems. He is not the typical horoscope Jyotishi (Vedic Astrologer) but gives guidance after palpating one's Nadi. Although I do chant the mantra, would chanting a different mantra of a different deity cause harm to me or my spiritual progress?
Thank you.
Aniket (Name changed), India |
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Losing interest in marital life, luxuries is necessary qualification to attain Self-Realization or Moksha
You asked: ”Is it normal on the path of spiritual progress to lose interest in marital life, luxuries and view everything as vanity?”
Absolutely Wonderful! Yes, Yes and Yes. In fact this is what should happen when one is traveling on a spiritual path. Unfortunately many people say they are doing spirituality and God but their attachment towards all material things remains exactly same as it was years back. That is not a progress. So if you are losing interest in all material things (because of spirituality) that is absolutely wonderful progress. This is one of the strong signs that your spiritual efforts are going in the right direction.
Maya (grand illusion of mind) and attachment are the cause of our bondage that keeps us in a cycle of birth and death (miseries) away from the Bliss. Developing dispassion (losing interest in all material things) is a basic qualification in spirituality and necessity to break the bondage and eventually experience the Self-Realization or God or eternal Bliss.
Many people think having divine experiences is must for spiritual progress. That is not true. Losing interest in material life is the most desired outcome of the spiritual efforts. If one develops dispassion towards the material life without having divine experiences is better result than having spiritual experiences but not developing required dispassion. In short: developing “Dispassion” is the expected outcome of spiritual efforts, while getting “divine visions or experiences” is only the by-product. This is one of the major reasons I always suggest Sadhaks to ignore the experiences because they create misleading goal before the Sadhak (seeker or spiritual practitioner) .
Vairagya (dispassion), Viveka (wisdom) and Bhakti (devotion) are extremely powerful weapons that help dispel Maya that eventually leads one to Self-Realization. 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 disgusted with the worldly life. Increasing dispassion (or losing interest in material life) is indication that your mind is moving towards this essential purification. Simultaneously your desires should also start waning (it is a natural outcome of developing dispassion). Such a man only is competent to hear, meditate and attain Moksha or knowledge of Self (The Bliss).
If you have started to lose affinity for things that people and society consider absolutely essential then you should consider this as divine grace. This is a reward of your Bhakti (devotion) towards Shri Swami Samarth, Sai Baba and Ganesh. Not many are this fortunate. When your dispassion turns into full Vairagya various divine doors will start opening before you. (Please note: Vairagya does not mean leaving worldly life. You will still continue to do all your material things, but they will be with a feeling of duty rather than gross attachment.) This is the different between the ordinary deer and a divine one
Having reached up to this point you need to be careful in your future journey. Because the next phase is the most difficult and longest phase in the spiritual journey in my view, where you will be directly confronted with your mind and sub-conscious mind. Your mind has travelled ages with its Samskaras (Karma impressions) and the mind will try to revolt when you are developing further dispassion and detachment. Read the following to understand more – I am in a mess. Kriyas obstructed by unknown negative force. You also need to know the 4 Stages of Siddha Yoga. Even though it says it is about Siddha Yoga, it still applies to all the Yogas equally.
If your dispassion is because of your spiritual progress, then even the God is seeking you. At the same time you have yet to cross the ocean of mind before bliss settles in. Divine help will be there when you will need it. You will be protected - I know it is hard to believe but that is how it works!
Best of luck for your divine efforts!
Various spiritual efforts, Mantras complement each other
You asked: “Although I do chant the mantra, would chanting a different mantra of a different deity cause harm to me or my spiritual progress?”
Chanting of two mantras (mystic divine words formula) will NOT cause harm to your spiritual progress. They all are complimentary to each other.
You can respect and adore many Gurus, but follow practices of only one Guru
At the same time the rule for Gurus is different. If and when you get a Guru you should stick to one. Listening to various Gurus is excellent but you should follow practices of only one Guru. If you have many Gurus, you will be bewildered and be at a loss to know what to do. Stick to one Guru and follow his instructions. At the same time there are examples of people having more than one Guru. In fact, my Grand Guru P P Yogiraj Shree Gulavani Maharaj had two Gurus. To maintain devotion towards both the Gurus is a difficult task for Sadhak in the initial stages. His mind gest confused in two Gurus situation. It is like running after two rabbits. Only advanced Sadhak can maintain such a balance and equal devotion towards two Gurus.
Hope this helps.
Thank you.
Mahendra Joshi
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