by Swami Yatishwarananda

No spiritual practice is to be attempted by reading about it from books alone. We may, of course, read books by way of information, but we should know which ideas to take up and which ones to leave to themselves.

We may read about various kinds of spiritual practice, but we should not try to follow them without first knowing which ones are good for us. We may know of many approaches, and this may expand our mental outlook. But we should know which is the right approach for us. During the early stages in our spiritual life, which is usually a period of experiments, we should proceed slowly, noticing the physical and mental changes that take place in us and adjusting ourselves accordingly.

The right method followed by a wrong person brings about bad results. Hence the aspirant is expected to be properly qualified. But in modern times anyone may get any book, read about some practice, follow it, and also come to grief. Instructions always differ with individuals. One man's meat may be another man's poison. Each one must follow the law of his being, and adjust himself securely to his mental and physical environment. If the superstructure is built on the right foundation, it stands all right. Otherwise it tumbles down.

Generally it is not the truth that we love, but we just love ourselves in something. We are in love with an idea because it is our idea, not because it represents the Truth. And little knowledge is always most dangerous.

"God is known to him who really knows Him to be unknown. And He is unknown to him who thinks He is known" -- Kena Upanisad 2.3

To a true and steady devotee the Lord reveals His glory. And the devotee's task is to be in tune with the Divine, with the Infinite. And then the Lord manifests His glory to him. Just as man tries to approach God, God is ever ready to approach man.

An intellectual inquiry into the mysteries of nature made by scientists and philosophers cannot reveal the Truth. If you go on trying to find the root cause of things with your intellect you will find it to be an impossible task. A finer and subtler instrument is needed to cut through the phenomena and realize the Truth. It is really very funny -- all this phenomenal world including our body, thoughts and all. There is no sense, at least it so appears to us. What is the reason for the Formless assuming form? It all seems to be without rhyme or reason because it transcends reason. There is no explanation for this diversified and multiform play of Maya, and none has ever been able to explain it in terms of the relative. On the relative plane there is absolutely no explanation, whether you call it God's will as the Christian does, or God's lila or sport or play as the Hindu does. It can never be explained, but it can be transcended.

The only ultimate proof of everything is direct perception. If there is a God at all, He must be seen, He must be felt. Mere theorizing will never do. We have to believe in the words of those who have seen Him, we have to follow in their footsteps, and we must then verify their experiences in our own lives. Mere faith won't do, although it is necessary in the beginning.

And as Swami Vivekananda observes in the introduction to his "Raja-Yoga":

"If there has been one experience in this world in any particular branch of knowledge, it absolutely follows that experience has been possible millions of times before, and will be repeated eternally. The teachers of the science of Yoga, therefore, declare that religion is not only based upon the experience of ancient times, but that no man can be religious until he has the same perception himself."

This is the ideal of divine realization we must for ever hold on to.

Abhayas yoga teaches us to learn, contemplate and practice spirituality under the direction of Gitaji to achieve goal of Self-Realization. -- Swami Radhanandaji