There is a story of one person who was found searching
for something at a spot which was lit by a lamp .
On being asked, he replied to state that he was searching
for his purse which he had lost. Further questioned as to whether he was sure if he had dropped it at the spot where he was
searching, he answered that he had actually dropped it elsewhere but chose to search at that particular spot because only
there, it was not dark!
The story, as above, is told by Swami Sukabodananda to illustrate the fact that most persons
seek for answers to their quests from various external sources, when the solution lies within themselves. This is akin to
a person running around for ghee when he has enough butter in his possession. Indeed, as in the case of butter, the human
mind too, which is possessed of the required powers, needs just those processes and refinement to obtain the end result!
Jesus
Christ pointed out, “The kingdom of God is within you” (The Bible: Luke – 17, 21). In a similar vein, an
ancient Tamil saint admonishes in these words – “O! Those unwise persons, who seek light from the heavens above,
see this within yourselves”.
True enough, external support and guidance such as rituals, visits to places of
worship and Gurus are necessary in one’s spiritual journey as means to the end just as crutches and external bandages
or even surgery may be necessary for the patient who has had fractures and injuries. Just as the patient progresses to that
stage of finally discarding these, the spiritual aspirant too has to transcend external supports to discover the jewel within,
which is the abode of all power, peace and light.
As in the case of the injured who is finally enabled to walk normally
through the medium of physiotherapy, exercises and medicines, the spiritual aspirant also has to involve himself through proven
techniques of obtaining spiritual strength. Exercises in right living, lifestyle and spiritual evolution through various physical
and mental exercises (sadhana) have been prescribed by various schools.
Bhagawad Gita refers to this as a process
of discarding passion, desire and anger (II 56 and V, 28). Such exercises for the body, mind and the spirit enable one to
discover light and divinity within. This is the state, described by Gita as that state of “joy within, comfort within
and light within” — antasukah, antararamah, antarjyoti (V, 24).
