Most
spiritual aspirants cannot have a significant progress due to tamas guna which
produces in them false perception and understanding, inertia, laziness and
resistance.
In
addition because of tamas they cannot estimate objectively their status; they
imagine that they have skills or qualities which of course they don't!
So
the main goal of all aspirants in the beginning of their spiritual journey is
to eliminate the tamas guna from their mind by self-discipline and
constant rigorous practice. It makes no sense to spend much time
in sitting meditation; it is only a waste of time. Other practices and
disciplines are more important in this first stage of the journey; Japa nama,
Kirtan, pranayama, various disciplines, Hatha yoga, svadhyaya, satsang,
devotional rituals, auto-observation and dissolution of the egoic tendencies
through prayer, EFT, mantra and other methods, and a lot of karma yoga are more
important.
Only
when the sattva guna predominates in the mind then meditation may be the
central practice in our daily program. But this is a matter of many years of
preparation, discipline and practice; and because this is a very demanding and
unpleasant process most leave at some point the spiritual sadhana or
spirituality becomes for them like a hobby.
Bhagavad
Gita says in the chapter 18 verse 37.
37.
That which is like poison at first but in the end like nectar—that pleasure is
declared to be Sattvic, born of the purity of one’s own mind due to
Self-realisation.
Usually
in the beginning sadhana is bitter and painful (how much depends on the strength
of our ego and the preparation of each one from past lives) because we have to
abandon our habits, our comforts and the sensual objects. Here when I speak
about sadhana I mean a systematic regular sadhana and I am referring to persons
that are dedicated to spiritual sadhana, not to those who do a little bit practice,
watch videos and attend some conferences and courses. The ego also resists and
creates in us emotions and moods of resentment, dissatisfaction, dislike
to do the practices, discouragement, laziness, boredom, despair, impatience,
fear etc. Moreover we have to experience all painful emotions that until now
our ego had repressed in the subconscious mind in order to avoid the suffering.
But
if we persist in our sadhana, gradually, the negative emotions will become
weaker and the mind pure and sattvic; due to the purity of mind and the
increase of sattva we will experience more and more peace, contentment,
plenitude and joy. We will be able to remain detached from the mental and
emotional movements and rest more in our essence. We will experience the
negative emotions as something in a distance, remaining centered in the inner
peace and the fullness of our own Self (Atman). Finally when we dissolve all
emotions, desires and the ego itself and realize our identity with Atman
or Consciousness we will live effortlessly and without a break the
peace and bliss eternal free from any kind of suffering, birth and death.
Peace, love, harmony