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Mystic Mantra: Four stages of atma sadhana

Sukshma atma is internal worship and all the forms of external worship are done internally

There are four stages of atma sadhana (self-realisation or enlightenment): Sthul atma (gross form of worship), sukshma atma (subtle form of worship), bhava atma (meditative state) and bhavateeta atma (transcendental state)

  • Sthul atma involves external worship of God and in this form idols, pictures, yantra (the divine geometrical drawing) etc are worshipped and godly praises, mantra chanting, singing divine songs, prayers, service, rituals, aarti etc are performed. This is the most common form of worship and is followed by most religions. This external form of gross worship generally bestows external and gross form of results such as wealth, house, prosperity, name, fame etc. But on the downside, it also binds us to the cycle of karma as we often get entangled and attached to worldly objects. Hence, it is advisable that we move on to the next stage of enlightenment.

  • Sukshma atma is internal worship and all the forms of external worship are done internally, i.e. by visualising the form of God or form of worship in the mind and by mentally chanting God’s name, mantra etc. This is higher level of worship as we are closer to the worshipped object or God (as God resides within us and not outside in idols or fire or in pictures). External worship helps us get connected with the internal reality. It acts as a medium to invoke the divine feeling.

  • Bhava atma is the pure form of worship of the Supreme Divine Being, the consciousness or God. Here we meditate on formless consciousness, the empty space or the self. This meditation helps us to become one with “Universal Consciousness”. It is that consciousness which is the creator, sustainer and destroyer of all the worlds and universes.

  • Bhavateeta atma is the state where one is permanently established in Universal Consciousness, the Divine Being or the Pure Self. One identifies oneself with formless consciousness and not with the physical body, mind or the soul. The effort to meditate stops in this state, as it becomes a natural state of being. This is the result of the third meditative step and equals complete enlightenment, self-realisation and, above all, God realisation. This is the state of complete freedom and bliss. One gets liberated from all bondages and breaks the cycle of birth, death and rebirth.

Sadhguru Rameshji is a modern age spiritual guru and founder of Poorna Ananda, a centre for spiritual evolution and joyful living. Visit www.poornaananda.org

( Source : dc )
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