Topical Musings
Our Sadhana
July 2019
(Continued from the previous issue...)
The Vedanta Kesari
50
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before that! Hence, we say that all through e shall present two facts to our history, activities which were conducive to readers. Putting these two facts spiritual growth were never primarily together, we will be able to economic in nature. As a result, the Indian appreciate the utmost relevance of Swamiji’s society came up with certain traditions, where prescription of Spiritual Sadhana for the certain groups of people were ‘taken care of’ modern age. economically, and they were left free to 1st fact: Spiritual Sadhana requires an perform these ‘special activities’. The rest of the activity (or a set of activities) that man can people in society engaged in economic perform over and over again, on a daily basis. activities, part of which sustained these 2nd fact: Never before in recorded Character groups of people too. Centuries human history have so many people is self-restraint. after centuries, this has been the been involved in economic Self-restraint is tradition. 1 And what was the activity on a daily basis, all self-direction. nature of the economic activity through the year! Self-direction is that these people engaged in? It How are these two facts concentration. was periodic, seasonal in most connected? Since society, in the past, Concentration when cases. Agriculture, hunting, could not engage man in any perfect is Samadhi. fishing, metal-working, trading, entertainment, warfare, etc. All these activity on a daily basis, all through the activities were never on a large-scale, and year, Rishis had to invent special activities hence were periodic only. Unless you engage in that could indeed engage man on such basis. sustained activity, day-after-day, for years That explains the evolution of Yajna, rituals, together, without any respite, that activity ritualistic Puja, ritualistic Mass, ritualistic cannot lead to spiritual growth. Spiritual community prayer, building temples, mosques, practice is not sporadic. cathedrals, seva to idols and images, japa, From the 18th century onwards, with the dhyana, nidhidhyasana, contemplation, etc. development of science and technology, a new Although this is true across cultures and age has dawned. The entire structure of religions of the world, it is more so with respect economic activity has changed. Innumerable to Indian society down the ages. people are participating in productive activity These activities were all special activities. all over the world, daily, year after year. Never What we mean is – these activities were never before has the common man had such primarily economic activities. Man has to sustained engagement with work! This is one survive from day to day. That is vital. Only when of the greatest contributions of the modern daily survival has been taken care of, man will age. be able to strive for his spiritual growth; not
