The Three Stages of Spiritual Progress: Difference between revisions

{{Quote box|width=360px|bgcolor=|align=left|quoted=1|salign=right|quote=Even though human beings may not be very highly evolved, there is the potential in them to attain the height of evolution. Those who utilize this potential are intelligent; but those who do not and live like animals will be born as even more inferior creatures in the next life. Animals have no intellect and therefore cannot work intellectually. Humans, however, are already endowed with intellect and the faculty of judgement. So if they do not act properly or fail to follow the path of spirituality, they are no better than animals. It is therefore the duty of every sádhaka to propagate dharma so that humans will not make this mistake but will follow the path of spirituality. This should be our inherent nature.|source=Shrii Shrii Anandamurti}}

Anandamurti starts the discourse by saying that during infancy children have no developed intellect and no one expects them to be responsible for their actions. A Vedic initiation occurs when children develop some maturity of mind; they are taught to pray for God to show them the right path. Anandamurti then explains that the next stage occurs when people are ready to receive their ''Ista mantra'' (a personal mantra that helps in identifying with the Supreme Self). This is Tantric initiation. In the next stage people must face a variety of obstacles. And they can no longer tolerate sin or injustice. Anandamurti goes on saying that such human beings eventually attain Godhood. Their actions become noble and benevolent and they keep evolving until they merge in [[Parama Purusa]].<ref name="AV4"/>