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Spiritual perfection follows ethical perfection. Where
there is dharma (righteousness) there is adhyatma (spirituality), and
where there is adhyatma there is bound to be true dharma. If there is
adhyatma, but true dharma is lacking, then the adhyatma is imperfect and
incomplete. These truths must be very clearly understood and grasped.
They should be made the basis of our spiritual life. Dharma is the foundation,
sadhana is the structure, adhyatma is the completion. Even if the structure
is complete but no roof has been put on it, no one can live in it. Adhyatma
then is that which completes, but both the structure of sadhana as well
as the completing roof of adhyatma can only be raised upon the foundation
of dharma.
No one is perfect in this created phenomenal world, but all have the potential
for perfection. Life is a means for rising beyond imperfection into a
state of perfection. That is why life has been given. Sadhana is the scientific
system for attaining that perfection. An unripe fruit in a garden is imperfect;
it is neither sweet nor satisfying. One cannot enjoy it because it is
imperfect. An unripe fruit has to utilise all of nature around it in order
to gradually rise above its state of imperfection and become a juicy,
ripe fruit that gives joy to all. So, the whole process is a gradual transformation
from imperfection to perfection, from incompleteness to completeness,
from a defective human nature into a beautiful, all perfect and divine
nature. The potential for this transformation is within each human individual.
God dwells in all beings, but all beings cannot become aware of His indwelling
divinity. It is only given to man who can think, reason and expand his
understanding of himself. To this unique being alone is open the ability
to recognise his mission and engage in purposeful endeavour to become
perfect.
One of the unfailing touchstones of a truly spiritual life is, "What
is my sadhana doing to me?" Quite apart from its connection with
God or our eternal Reality, spiritual life has also to be tested upon
the basis of your relationship to God's creation. As you proceed in your
spiritual life, are you becoming more and more compassionate towards God's
creatures? Are you becoming a more truthful person in your dealings, are
you becoming more a person of sublime and pure thoughts and actions; is
this taking place? Is the unripeness of an imperfect human nature gradually
giving place to maturity, to a ripeness of spiritual nature? Is it ultimately
moving towards perfection in a divine manner? Day by day one should test
oneself: "What is my sadhana doing to me? What process is taking
place within me, within my mind, heart and in my approach to life?"
This is the touchstone: are you becoming a better neighbour to your neighbour;
are you becoming a better disciple to your guru, a better seeker to other
fellow seekers? Are you becoming a positive, creative factor of inspiration
and adoration in your contemporary human society? It is very important
that you keep a tab on what is happening to you, because they say that
sadhana is a sort of alchemy where base metal is turned to gold. That
alchemy must take place within your personality; any authentic sadhana
must inevitably bring about this inner transformation. In spiritual life,
this inner process of becoming transformed must invariably follow all
sadhana that is rightly engaged in, that is correctly oriented, that is
being done with an in-depth understanding of what it is supposed to do
to one's life and personality. This here-and-now inner transformation
is as equally important as the ultimate goal of God-realisation. I want
to say that it is even more important. If it is not taking place, you
will have to wait long, because there is something blocking the needed
inner transformation.
Sadhana makes a person a good person-a truthful, tolerant, compassionate
person. Sadhana creates a person of noble character, pure conduct and
holy life. Thus it becomes the gradual process of the ascent of the spirit
towards God-consciousness. Imperfection is not to be kept forever. Though
we may be born imperfect, it is not to be tolerated or maintained. That
is the meaning of life, the value of life.
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