July 23, 2013: Umanath asked, “Pujya Guruji, all this becomes much easier if children imbibe the right attitude and begin sadhana at a young age. Why don’t parents teach these truths to their children early in life ?”

Shri Nimishananda Guruji said, “Most of you are parents. You must answer that question. You can light one lamp from another. But if both of them are unlit, you need a third lamp to light them both. To begin with, parents have to be aware of their spiritual tradition as well as their own inner spirit called the soul or “self”. Then they can pass it on to their children. The children too, must have the seeds of spirituality within them. Otherwise they will be unable to imbibe this wisdom, though they are exposed to it. So spiritual children are born to evolved parents only if both the parents put spiritual diligence at the forefront in them.”

Umanath asked, “How can we prevent the senses from impeding our spiritual progress?”

Shri Nimishananda Guruji said, “In the bygone days, all sadhana started with the senses. The eyes were trained to see Divinity everywhere - in photographs, idols, temples, lamps, bells, the green fertile Earth below the feet and the vast blue heavens overhead. Hymns and chants fell upon one’s ears frequently. Everything that was put into the mouth was regarded as Prasad (consecrated food) and was eaten with reverence and gratitude. Sandal paste, fresh flowers, incense and aromatic herbs filled the air with their fragrance which divinised the sense of smell. Everything that one touched, including Mother Earth were regarded as manifestations of Divinity. The mind can also would be involved in this sadhana.

Associate everything that is perceived with Divinity. Look upon all women as the manifested forms of the Divine Mother. When you see a bull think of Lord Shiva. When you see a conch, bow to Lord Vishnu. When you see an elephant, salute Lord Ganesha. When you look at food, remember Goddess Annapoorneshwari (Parvathi). When you drink water or bathe, recall the nectarine purity of the river Ganga. When your senses and your mind are thus turned towards God and allowed to dwell there constantly, Divinity is revealed to you in all its glory. God is Egoless and responds instantaneously to your devout call. He is ever-present and ever accessible.”

This article is taken from the book Pratical Spirituality for Enriched Living by His Holiness Shri Shri Nimishananda Guruji

Source: The New Indian Express, DT. July 23, 2013.