The study of spiritual books and the power of Satsang
by Nityananda Atman
The study of sacred or spiritual books is one of the
important spiritual practices during our spiritual journey.
In this essay I will mention in brief the benefits of
the spiritual reading in order to help you be more conscious about them. Knowing
what we really get by studying we are more inspired or motivated to do so and
the study becomes more effective
and efficient.
Of course the study is only a part of our daily
sadhana. We must include in the sadhana a variety of spiritual practices
appropriate to our maturity and our temperament. In our daily program we must
include practices for all aspects of our existence (body, mind, heart,
intellect, vital) in order to achieve an harmonious integral development.
First of all I would like to clarify which books I
consider as spiritual.
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| Ramakrishna |
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| Ramana Maharshi |
All the Sacred texts such as the Vedas, the Upanishads, the
New Testament, the Baghavad Gita etc. and all the words and books of the great
enlightened Masters such as Swami Sivananda, Mahavatar Babaji, Jesus Christ,
Adisankaracharya, Sri Ramana Maharshi, Paramahansa Ramakrishna, etc. belong to the first class.
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| Jesus Christ |
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| Swami Sivananda |
Then
follow all those books that have been written by sages, yogi or inspirited thinkers
and writers and they deal with subjects related to spiritual practices,
self-knowledge, psychology and the spiritual development in general.
The former are more important because are revelations
of the Universal Consciousness or the Divine truth. The Great enlightened Masters
are pure channels of the Divine Consciousness and forces. Their books or words
are Divine words expressed through them.
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| Mahavatar Babaji |
It is very important to study these books because
except the knowledge which we acquire from these books we are also connected
with the consciousness and the vibrations that are related with these texts and
their writer. When the mind is focused on something then it is connected with
it not only externally but also internally. An channel is formed between them and the mind absorbs the qualities and the vibrations of that specific
object.
Since the enlightened Masters are pure expressions of
the Divine Consciousness when we
read their texts we become connected with higher vibrations. It doesn’t matter
if we are not conscious of this process. These spiritual vibrations little
by little incorporate our mind and energy field. Gradually these Divine
energies transform us and make us vibrate in the same frequency.
I
want to mention here that Emoto Massaro has proved scientifically how the
vibrations of thoughts, prayers, feelings emotions and sounds affect the matter
and specially the water and transform it according to their nature. These
experiments prove also how the water in religious rituals by the power of
prayers become sacred water and the wine and bread in christian churces become
transformed to substunces with holly vibrations.
If
the vibrations of thoughts and feelingss of ordinary people can trasform the
matter how more easily can the vibrations of high spiritual beings transform the mind and energy field of the other beings? Keep in mind that the
mind and energy field by nature (they are subtle and mobile) can be more easily
transformed than the matter which is more inert, solid and dence.
This
operative law that enables us to be transformed and develop a nature similar to
the object or subject we are connected is the most important one and we must
take it seriously, because the effectiveness of all spiritual practices are
based on it.
Our mind and energy field is affected by the vibraions of objects and persons we come in contact. We are more affected from those that we have an intimate realasionship. For this reason we
have to be very carreful with what people and energies we come in contact
because as the positive or Divine vibrations can trasform us according to their
nature similarly the connection with negative, lower and daimonic vibrations
can affect us accordingly.
If
we want to follow the path of light we have to be very very carefull with our
relations. It is one of the most important factors we have to take seriously.
If you think that you are not affected from external influences, I answer this is not possible. This is mere ignorance and a play of ego. The ego utilize
everything to keep you in low vibrations and use your mind, body and energies
to satisfy its pleasures and pains. Ego likes very much to keep you in
suffering because low vibrations feed the energy field of ego and keep it
alive.
In
all traditions and especially in India
Satsang (meeting with realized Souls)
is considered as the most potent mean for self-transformation and
Self-realization. After our spiritual maturity the most important factor
is the presence of a great master. The enlightened masters radiate so powerfully Divine and sattvic vibrations that
can affect us miraculously. In their presence if we are mature enough is
possible to be awakened and realize our Divine nature.
The words of an enlightened master carry in
them the power to awaken us to truth. Of course is more powerful to be in the
presence of a master and listen him directly than to read his words in a book.
But his written words are also powerful and can awake us as his
living words do. I have heard that several people have been awakened by reading
the book of Sri Nisargadatta maharaj ‘I Am That’. I know also this by my own experience.
By studying spiritual books we are permeated by higher
spiritual vibrations that enable us to overcome our lower egoic nature and
experience the Divine vibrations.
Visiting sacred places
There are similar transformative influences on us when
we visit sacred places and places where lived enlightened masters or did
tapashya there great yogis
I refer here some very highly vibrated places in which I had the fortune to do sadhana for some time: Delfi in Greece, Ashram of
Swami Sivananda in Rishikesh, Ashram of Haidakahn Babaji near Haldwani, Ashram
of Sri Ramana Maharshi in Tiruvanamalai.
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| Ashram of Haidakahn Babaji |
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| Ashram
of Sri Ramana Maharshi |
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| Delfi in Greece |
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| Ashram of
Swami Sivananda in Rishikesh |
Let’s see now some the benefits of the study of
spiritual books.
Through study,
we can be inspired and do our daily practices with more zeal, steadiness and
determination. Reading is particularly important in the first years of sadhana when
it is very easy to lose our courage and our orientation regarding spiritual
life as far as our mind is impure and we are strongly attached to worldly life.
The spiritual
books always will remind us of our goal and will give us the courage to
continue our journey towards freedom. We can take courage and strength by
reading the lives of saints and sages, how they have passed their difficulties
and adversities with patience and perseverance and they remained firm in their
practice until they achieved Self-realization.
If case we
haven't the opportunity to stay for a long time with a Master, to have his
guidance and practice with the help of his spiritual vibrations, the study of
spiritual books assumes even greater importance. We can be connected with the master’s
vibration and consciousness by reading his words and meditating on them.
By studying
spiritual books, we develop positive sattvic thinking, we get the right
knowledge, a better understanding of the various aspects of spiritual life. The
daily study and the reflection on the ideas of the sages feed the mind with
sattvic thoughts and vibrations and also help us replace the erroneous beliefs
and concepts we have about spirituality, God and practices
We can also
find in the books very useful practical hints regarding specific practices we
want to improve as well as about the obstacles we meet in our journey and means
to overcome them.
Given that the
desires are strong, the sensual life very seductive and that we carry in our
subconscious habits and conditioning that bound us with this material world, it
is very easy to forget our way towards the Divine. Consequently, we need
something to daily remind us of the real purpose of life. Spiritual books can
help us a lot in this indeed.
The study can
help us also to be more conscious of ourselves within. It can help us gather
our attention from the external objects (pratyahara) and remain focused on the
readings and simultaneously, to be more conscious of what happens in mind and
heart.
The spiritual
vibrations that we absorb through reading can help us maintain a sattvic mental
state. Sattva makes the mind one-pointed, clear, calm, sharp and thus we can
more easily be self-aware and observe our mental and emotional
states.
Reading
spiritual books can be also a practice to develop concentration; especially in
the beginning where we are not capable to concentrate for a long time on a
single point. The study of Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads and other sacred texts
with deep concentration is considered as Savikalpa Samadhi. Sri Ramana Maharshi
also said that reading the Ribhu Gita with deep concentration is a kind of
Savikalpa Samadhi.
The study of
spiritual books can help us develop two of the most important qualifications
necessary to walk successfully on the spiritual path, discernment and
dispassion. Without discernment and dispassion, nobody can succeed in this
endeavour towards Self-realization. Without discernment and dispassion realization
is simply not possible.
Finally, by
studying spiritual books we can confirm what we already know about
self-knowledge and yoga from our own experience. This increases our faith and
self-confidence which are very important qualifications to march on the
spiritual path.
Let’s see now
some negative states related to the study.
If we read a
lot of spiritual books without understanding what they say we can be confused.
We can be also become attached and greedy to acquire intellectual knowledge
without putting this knowledge into practice. Thus, the ego of vanity and pride can be developed than to be
reduced. Moreover, the ego can use the study as an excuse to avoid
practicing.
If we are alert
and vigilant we can discover all these egoic games relative to the study of
spiritual books and by appropriate means to eliminate them.
It is necessary
to be sincere and always remember that everything we do including spiritual
study it is done to achieve the elimination of our ego and not to make it
stronger.
We have always
to remember that the final goal is to realize truth which is beyond knowledge
and theories. Knowledge and theories belong to the sphere of mind however,
Truth is beyond the mind.
Until to
realize the Truth we have to utilize wisely the mind and also the knowledge we
acquire. These are the tools that help us realize the truth. Everything in our
life and sadhana has its place. Everything in its place is beneficial out of
its place is harmful or even disastrous. As fire, for example, can cook the
food but can also destroy our house, forests and cities, similarly, any other
thing can be used positively or negatively.
Finally, I want
to remind you that your life itself is the book which you have to study deeply
and extract the essence which is hidden in it, viz. to realize your eternal
Self as Satchitananda (Existence-Consciousness-Bliss).
