Journey to the next spiritual level

There are many ways to look at spiritual progress and that is one way - outlining some clear parameters based on our perceived self-identity. After a lifetime of experience with some genuine masters, I can tell you, a master can know exactly where you are at - but it may be from a yet, more microscopic perspective. My Guruji had explained that the spiritual journey is actually called “yatra” or journey of the soul. Little information is out there as it is not readily available in books. What was previously written about the chakras has been greatly expanded on by Guruji’s further discoveries in this field.

There are many spiritual centers within us, more than what we have known. The soul is residing at one of these spiritual points in the heart. It is stuck there, so to speak, due to all our solidified “impressions” called Sanskaras. Our unique collection of Sanskaras gets impressed upon the soul, which forms our individual identity - each one of us being unique in our collection of these stored life experiences or impressions/Sanskaras.

In order for us to arrive at our original state, all these points need to be thoroughly cleaned of the impressions. After enough cleaning is done, the yatra or journey of the soul begins, started by the Master or trainer.

The soul is made to leave its place at point 1 and move through the successive points all the way to the highest. Each of these points or chakras is like a universe unto itself. Guruji, would take people for a “tour” of each point so that all its qualities would be experienced. The soul expands a bit in each point and then the master moves us to the next point. There are 13 spiritual points leading to the very back of the head, which is the origin or Ultimate base of creation. Guruji had said, just to traverse the first 4 points by ones self-effort would take something like thousand years of effort.

This is why it starts to get difficult to understand where you are at spiritually. Lets say you have walked across half of the desert. From where you are you cannot judge your own position - however, someone looking from a satellite or plane - a higher perspective, can know it. However, it is very easy to experience many spiritual states and conditions and yet still be at this first point and I know this will be surprising to some and maybe even disappointing as some of these states seem very advanced.

The point of liberation is at point 6, which some refer to as the third eye in the forehead. It is possible to meditate on this point and feel that you have attained something. It can generate light and feelings of power or energy. However, this is like standing in the sunlight - you feel its effects but it does not mean you have journeyed to the sun. Imagine a 100 story building and your goal is to get to the penthouse. The doors open on the 2nd floor and you are in a totally amazing new dimension. You think, “Oh my, I never thought the penthouse could be so endless and beautiful.” What you don’t realize is that its just the 2nd floor.

I find this happens quite often - someone will have an experience and think they have arrived at the destination and they discontinue further efforts. This is why a capable guide who has crossed all the points is essential - they will not let you get stuck along the way. They will take you to the penthouse suite before you know what happened! Now from what I have learned thus far (and unlearned) it is very hard for us to assess where we are at on your own. Each point is interconnected - the lower ones are connected to some of the higher ones.

I will share my own experience. Back in early eighties, I reached a point in my journey where I felt I could easily clean the Sanskaras (impressions) from each point. Each day I was able to go from point to point very clearly and experience the conditions at each stage. This was very exciting! I wrote to the Master of this good news on how I was able to do this and (in my mind) must be approaching the goal at light speed! Well, I received a quick and brief letter back, “Dear brother, please pay no attention to the points in the head. It is only a reflection.”

Therefore, my reading was incorrect and it was many years later that these other stages were taken up with the Master’s guidance. Spiritual practice really starts in the true sense at the spiritual level of 35%. By this we mean, when one truly seeks spiritual growth and practices Spirituality on a daily basis, according to the basic principles of Spirituality. One of the criteria of spiritual growth is going beyond sectarian spiritual practice (that is belonging to any one religion) and taking up progressively higher and subtle spiritual practice.

For example, a person previously worshipping God through the medium of his body – ritualistic worship, moves on to a higher and subtler medium, that is worshiping God mentally. An example of this is doing the spiritual practice of chanting the Name of God. Here are a few examples that explain the difference in attitude towards spiritual practice.

At the 20% spiritual level, there is very little or no spiritual practice. If people go to places of worship it is merely out of force of habit or as a pastime.

At the 30% spiritual level, there would be a general interest in going to a place of pilgrimage or worshipping God in a ritualistic manner.

At the 40% spiritual level one would have a keen interest in obtaining spiritual knowledge and putting it into practice. They would spend a fair amount of their free time in spiritual pursuits.

At the 50% spiritual level one generally goes beyond their own religion to pure Spirituality. One’s primary focus in life is to grow spiritually rather than indulging in any worldly attachments and achievements.

Accordingly, the majority of their time is spent in practising Spirituality irrespective of their life’s situation, that is, whether they are businessmen, housewives etc. It does not automatically follow that those at 50% spiritual level give up material or worldly life or profession, only that, the focus shifts from one of achieving worldly progress to that of achieving spiritual progress. So the person, who previously cared very much about what he earned and what others thought of him, now would be more interested in what God thinks about him. Jay Shri Krishna