Spiritual life needs training and orientation. It needs to be based on sound theoretical understanding as well as sincere and continuous practice. In ancient times, one received moral and ethical education from childhood. This early education in morality and ethics provided a firm foundation for a vibrant spiritual life in later years. However, things have changed. Nowadays, moral values receive less emphasis in our so-called educational systems. There is an urgent need for a rigorous training of the mind and intellect in morality and spirituality in contemporary times.
Acharya Shankara's Tattva Bodha is essential for a rigorous spiritual education. In terms of its size, the text of the Tattva Bodha is fairly compact. In its content, it is easy to comprehend. The beauty of the book is that all the basic as well as major concepts of Vedanta and yoga are explained in a sequence of simple questions and answers. Every fundamental question is raised and discussed. Vedanta is theory and yoga is practice. Together, Vedanta and yoga, theory and practice, bring inner evolution. Both theoretical knowledge and practical experience are essential. We will discuss theoretical knowledge; however, sincere practice of meditation is necessary to arrive at a first-hand experience of the real nature of the soul, which is eternal, pure consciousness, and bliss. The real answer to the Vedantic question "Who am I?" comes through the practice of yoga. Tattva Bodha discusses the fundamentals of Vedanta as well as yoga, and thus enables the formation of a robust spiritual life.
I first studied the Tattva Bodha with a sannyasin in Uttarkashi, in the Himalayas. He was knowledgeable, and our education often took place on the banks of the holy Ganga. I was then in my early twenties. As I pursued the theoretical study of the text, I also reflected on its deeper meanings in meditation. Reflection and meditation help to properly assimilate scriptural truth into life. Spiritual life is the art of steadfast living in truth, love, and reality.
God is supreme love. God's love is manifested in the entire creation, but out of ignorance we forget the presence of God. And slowly ego, emotion, and other negative qualities overpower us, God sends us divine masters to remind us of our inherent divine qualities, our spiritual nature, and to turn our mind toward God again. I bow to God; I bow to the masters who have helped in many different ways to train my mind to be refined and to remain engrossed in the state of super consciousness.
Education is not dependent only on books. It is better to live near one's teacher for some time, as it helps the student to learn. Observe the teacher closely. Also, let the teacher observe you. We learn a lot from mutual interaction. Therefore, the august company of the teacher, or even the company of good people, is essential in spiritual life. It is especially so in the beginning of the journey. When one grows up, there may not be the need for a teacher. One should have a humble and devoted attitude, and a sincere desire to learn and mend one's own life. We are to grow every moment with knowledge, love, and truth.
Life is an opportunity for inner transformation with right understanding, positive actions, and a prayerful attitude. We came alone to this world, and out of ignorance we got attached to many people and things. We forgot that we came empty-handed and one day we will have to leave the world with nothing. Even the body. with which we have become the most attached, will not come with us, in the same way our other possessions and attachments will stay too.
life. There is an interesting story that speaks of this bitter truth of A man died and when he realized it, he saw God coming closer with a suitcase in His hand.
God said, "All right son, it is time to go."
Surprised, the man responded, "Now? So soon? I had a lot of plans..."
God said, "I am sorry, but it is time to go."
"What do you have in that suitcase?" the man asked.
God answered, "Your belongings."
"My belongings? You mean my things, my clothes, my money?"
God answered, "Those things were never yours; they belonged to the earth."
Are they my memories?" the man asked.
God answered, "No. Those never belonged to you; they belonged to time."
"Are they my talents?"
God answered, "No. Those were never yours; they belonged to the circumstances."
"Are they my friends and family?"
God answered, "I am sorry, they were never yours; they belonged to the path you traveled."
Are they my wife and son?"
God answered, "No. They were never yours; they belonged to your heart."
"Then it must be my body."
God answered, "No. That was never yours; it belonged to the dust."
"Then surely it must be my soul."
God answered, "You are sadly mistaken. Your soul belongs to Me."
Full of fear and with tears in his eyes, the man took the suitcase from God's hand and opened it just to find out that the suitcase was empty. Heartbroken and with tears rolling down his cheeks the man asked, "I never had anything?"
God answered, "That is correct. You never owned anything."
"Then what was mine?" asked the man.
God replied, "Your moments. Every moment you lived was yours."
Be good in every moment. Do good in every moment. See good in every moment. Think good in every moment. Thank God for every moment. Be it. Live it. Feel it. Love it. Enjoy it.
Life is just a moment a moment that belongs to you. Material things and everything else that you fought for stay here on the earth. You cannot take anything.
To know who we are, it is essential to know who we are not. To know our real nature, it is equally necessary to know our false identity or identification with different things or different aspects of life. From childhood, out of ignorance, we identified ourselves with the body, mind, intellect, ego, gender, nationality, and so on. These identities help us in our everyday life in the world; we give our name, nationality, and other such information to others. However, these identities do not constitute our real identity. These are necessary, but inwardly we should know that whatever identification we give is not real; these identifications are meant just for a temporary play in this world. To know our real identity, we should know what we are not.
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