Enlightenment is said to be the result of self-realization, the recognition of your true, inner self, atma, a recognition gained after years of intense spiritual practice. But some say this recognition can be gained instantly, like when you see yourself in a mirror. Are there any shortcuts to enlightenment?
0:00 Need for preparation and practice
10:36 Problem of Neo-Vedanta
15:56 Need for assimilation
The spiritual journey leading to enlightenment is an inner quest or exploration that's known as self-inquiry (atma vichara), a search to discover the nature of your true self, the inner divinity, atma. For that journey, the road map, so to speak, is the wisdom of the rishis, the sages of ancient India.
In India, this spiritual journey is often compared to a yatra, a pilgrimage to a distant temple. The temple metaphorically represents your body and mind, and the deity within it represents your true self, atma.
The journey of enlightenment will not be fruitful without appropriate spiritual practice, and that practice requires effort. Yet, some people seem to believe that little or no effort is needed if you take advantage of certain spiritual shortcuts. For example, here on KZfaq, you'll find many videos that promote various shortcuts to enlightenment - a special mantra, meditation technique (dhyana), initiation (diksha, deeksha), etc. The problem with all these alleged shortcuts is that enlightenment is impossible unless you are ready, fully prepared. No matter how powerful a mantra or meditation technique might be, unless you are ready, that technique will not be effective.
Sri Ramana Maharshi became enlightened when still in his teens. But he was an extraordinary person, a child prodigy or spiritual genius. But for most people, preparation (adhikaritvam) by means of spiritual practice (sadhana) like karma yoga, bhakti yoga, and meditation is crucial. If you are fully prepared, then even the highest teachings can quickly be understood. But if you're not prepared, those teachings will forever remain beyond your grasp, regardless of your intelligence and sincerity.
Traditional Advaita Vedanta emphasizes the need for preparation, but Neo-Advaita not only neglects the need for preparation, but it also neglects the unique methodology used in Advaita Vedanta. That methodology can lead you, step by step, to overcome identification with your body and mind and discover your true nature.
Traditional Advaita Vedanta also emphasizes the practice of nididhyasana, Vedantic contemplation. Nididhyasana is basically to contemplate or reflect on your true nature for the sake of removing habitual identification with your body and mind (deha vasana, abhimana, viparita bhavana). Figuratively speaking, nididhyasana is to see your true self reflected in the word-mirror of Vedanta.
The spiritual journey that leads to enlightenment has three main stages. The first is preparation. To become fully prepared for enlightenment, proper spiritual practice is needed (sadhana chatushtaya) The second stage is personal realization of your true nature as limitless consciousness, atma (atma sakshatkara, atma jnana, atma vidya). And the third stage is assimilation, the process of removing habitual false identification with your body and mind (nididhyasana).
Swami Tadatmananda is a traditionally-trained teacher of Advaita Vedanta, meditation, and Sanskrit. For more information, please see: www.arshabodha.org/