Q : Dear Guruji, My question is that, I read one book "ABCD" by an author named XYZ. The book explains the method of watching the mind and reducing its turbulence. I have got some benefit out that also. I was surprised that why I could not get this from reading vedic books and doing sadhanas I was following.
In this book he says that before he became a spiritual teacher he was a person suffering from severe depression. One day when he got up in the morning his suffering was so high that he felt that he cannot get along any more in this world. But all of a sudden he fell unconscious and he got up just like an enlightened person. He explains that he heard a sound saying do not resist any thing. Is enlightenment so easy? Does that happen like this?
A : Very few seekers precisely know that mind is the focus of all spiritual pursuits and saadhana. Calming, evenizing, purifying the mind, this is the one aim of spirituality, in fact, of all spiritual and religious disciplines and practices.
Unfortunately, people resort to many a ritual and ceremony, not knowing that mind is the one factor to be dealt with and purified. But our scriptures do emphasize that the real focus of all religio-spiritual and yogic exercises is restraining, calming or purifying the mind.
Here is a shloka from Krishna’s gospel to Uddhava,
One may read any number of books including the epics, if he misses the focus, he misses his goal and purpose also.
As for the experience of somebody you have quoted, I don’t have anything much to say. It is possible that one, because of the intensity of the mind gets into an unusual level of experience and it has some impact. That does not mean it is the be-all and end-all of spiritual life or human life. Maybe it will suffice for the time being.
I would like you not be to be enamoured of these transitory experiences or professions. Look for something deeper, the really great. You know what is the ultimate level of realization?
Sreemad Bhaagavatam 1.2.21
The knot of the heart is broken, all doubts dispelled, all bondages caused by the three-fold karma are completely attenuated. When these fruition in abundant measure, according to one’s own experiential satisfaction, the spiritual goal is realized. This is what you should aim at.
