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The Four Stages of Human Progress | |
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Speaker | Shrii Shrii Anandamurti |
Date | 1978 November 7 |
Time | Morning |
Place | Kolkata, India |
Topic | Four steps toward perfection |
Included in | Ananda Vacanamrtam Part 4 |
Location in Sarkarverse |
The Four Stages of Human Progress is a discourse given by Shrii Shrii Anandamurti in Kolkata, India. The discourse was delivered on the morning of 1978 November7. This discourse is the fifteenth chapter of Ananda Vacanamrtam Part 4.[1]
Synopsis
By building a road one does not advance along the path of progress – one will have to move along the road. So humans must progress in the psychic realm. And in the process of movement, they will reach a stage when the mind becomes non-existent. It is the human mind which performs spiritual practice. Unless and until the mind reaches that final supreme point, human beings will remain imperfect.
Anandamurti starts the discourse by explaining a shloka from the Bhagavad Giita:
Ye yathá máḿ prapadyante taḿstathaeva bhajámyaham;
Mama vartmánuvarttante manusyáh pártha sarvashah.
Krsna says that According to one's inner desire they will receive, but this is very tricky because for example a woman may desire to have adorn herself with jewelry and as a result get reborn as a peacock. Anandamurti then explains that the attainment of Parama Purusa depends on a person's desires. In fact it would be best not to ask for anything while keeping in mind that the Supreme father knows what's best for us. Devotion can be divided into categories, Static, Rajasic and Satvic. Someone may be of a less selfish nature and only ask to be liberated in her old age, but since her desire was for liberation and not for Parama Purusha, she will not be able to attain Him. The highest type of devotion is called Ragatmika Bhakti where the devotee only wants to give joy to the Lord, regardless of whether she herself receives joy in the process. Anandamurti goes on saying that consciously or unconsciously everyone is moving along the same path, so it is wise of human beings to abbreviate the radius between them and their Lord.[1]
References
Preceded by Tantra Is Sádhaná, Sádhaná Is Tantra |
Ananda Vacanamrtam Part 4 With: The Four Stages of Human Progress |
Succeeded by Ye Yathá Máḿ Prapadyante |