Yatamana
| Yatamana | |
|---|---|
| Description | First stage of human progress and spiritual development |
| Location in Sarkarverse |
 |
Yatamana (Roman Sanskrit: Yatamána) is the first stage of human progress and spiritual development. It is also called "the Stage of Perseverance".[1]
Etymology
The word "Yatamana" is derived from Saḿskrta root verb “yata” + suffix “shánac” and it means “one who is endeavouring”.[2]
Nature
According to Shrii Shrii Anandamurti, Yatamana is not only a mental effort, but it is a physical and spiritual effort as well. He told, any action that does not lead to to over-all well-being, should not be categorized as Yatamana.[2] A spiritual practitioner is moving towards the cherished goal in life, but, his journey is not peaceful always, rather it is a constant struggle against odds and immoralities. That's why a sadhaka (spiritual practitioner) must be careful enough. Anandamurti compared the first stage of spiritual development with "moving a boat upstream" and told— "When it moves upstream, this amounts to nothing more than straining the muscles. It does not yield any benefit in the long run."[1]