Tekst źródłowy strony Dyskusja:Przyczyny braku rezultatów u liderów duchowych i ich uczniów

'''Reasons for the lack of results in spiritual leaders and their students (Udana-216)'''

(1) Every now and then, we hear the weeping and gnashing of teeth from many so-called self-proclaimed leaders of various supposedly miraculous types of “spiritual development”, “magic”, “individual secret messages”, “development courses”, or “spiritual teachings” (and it’s not only about the famous law of attraction). They cry that none of their methods work for them, that they have tried many methods on people, but people do not change; they remain the same, there are no expected changes for the better, neither in character nor in spiritual qualities, there are no miraculous or extraordinary phenomena, there are no adepts taken to heaven or ascended to paradise. Meanwhile, changing for the better, starting from the moral foundation of spiritual development, has always been inscribed in every process of spiritual development, in every solid workshop of teaching, practice and spiritual service - yes, these three basic components together. Many must immediately return to the most ignored moral guidelines and commandments of a given tradition, reflect on them and try to increase efforts to implement them.

(2) Well, they will continue to cry like crazy because, according to the teachings of both Western and Eastern masters, first, these miraculous methods must be practised on oneself, and this usually takes many years, and sometimes even decades. If someone has not practised anything themselves or achieved anything in the spiritual field, then there is usually no way to induce effects in other people with practices and techniques (if there are any effects, they are small and fickle). It is not enough to just copy the most interesting pieces from even dozens of development courses to declare oneself a spiritual leader of ‘something’. A true Spiritual Teacher not only practices what he teaches but also constantly practices and deepens the methods he leads or recommends to others. For an awakened spiritual Teacher, Master or Guide of Spiritual Life, there is no end to solid practice or deepening the teachings, practice or spiritual service. Otherwise, there is no such foundation; there is no power to transform people’s interior, and he will not develop the power to transform his students. Quite a lot of practice is needed to make an energetic effect, such that novices coming to the Teacher can undergo an internal transformation, transform themselves, reaching another, higher threshold of spiritual development.

(3) There is no reason to complain about the old methods of practice and yogic, Ayurvedic or tantric techniques - they all work perfectly, but they are hermetic - this is inaccessible to the profane, the ignorant, the fraudsters, the ignorant and the foolish. They must be practised on oneself much longer and more intensively than with the people one advises, teaches or guides. Even if someone prepares classes, spiritual training or individual spiritual work for a new adept - they must practice everything they offer and recommend very thoroughly. Otherwise, there will be no power of transformation; there will be no energy to cause a transformation of the mind, astral plane or changes in the physical plane, changes in the body or life of the adept. Unfortunately, many leaders of supposed spirituality learn a few meditation or energy techniques by heart and play them like a gramophone or a barrel organ. Unfortunately, this will not work, even if it is a more intensive relaxation exercise. A true leader passes on all the important teachings and leads meditations and chants. Spiritual development is not playing a tape recorder by various kinds of homegrown philosophers and quilters, specialists in authorial pseudo-development scams for naive and deceived souls. Spiritual development is a process in which the Leader, Yogi, Teacher or Master - above all, constantly practices and cultivates the journey along the Path of the Spirit in the correct way through the processes of practice! 

(4) In general, the rule of “triple knowledge” applies to all mystical, spiritual, magical, tantric works, all spiritual or yogic practices, including pranic-breathing exercises, mantras, meditations with light or colours, bows, mudras, yantras, mandalas, spiritual songs, kriya techniques, samapatti, etc. It is worth remembering that the hermeticity of practices also means the correctness of their practice, including the correctness of reciting mantras, performing meditation practices without modifications, etc. It is not enough to read from a book and do something there, compile something. Transformational practices are generally learned from a competent Teacher, Master, or Guru, always by the direct method, training, practising and learning in the presence of the Teacher, Master, or Guru. Only after some time the student, gaining skill in practice will, begin to be able to generate transformational powers that transform those who practice correctly. It’s not easy to turn into an esoteric angel; it’s not enough to read a little and start advising people and acting as a guide. One must practice a lot under the guidance of the Master of Spiritual Life - and the Master cannot be an astral spirit.

(5) Many different fundamental mistakes are possible, including omitting important instructions of the teachings, doing practices out of the context of a larger series of practical exercises (sadhanas), lack of real spiritual service rendered to a real living Teacher, Spiritual Master or the entire Lineage. The process of transformation, the process of inner transformation into a higher form of consciousness, requires going through three important aspects: the process of learning in which we digest and assimilate knowledge, the process of practising various purifying and elevating exercises, and the process of service, i.e. working for the Master and the Lineage. Śravana is learning, listening to the Teacher, and learning what the Master requires to be learned. Sadhana performs practices prescribed by the Teacher or Spiritual Master for ordinary daily cultivation. Sevana is spiritual service, the so-called spiritual devotion through active work for the Teacher or Spiritual Master and the Lineage for the Aśram. Many people think that if they come, listen and ‘mumble something’ – that’s enough, but the lack of a solid, longer period of Service to the Guru (Spiritual Guide, Master) or Lineage (Aśram) definitely excludes the possibility of spiritual progress.

(6) The so-called “spirituality for free” is particularly lame, as many people think that if you don’t have to work or pay, you can get away with it and get out of all these service issues. In fact, the one who pays has to work for it, and what he pays for learning or the opportunity to participate in meetings and spiritual practices - is his service work, the contribution of work, a kind of servant, a kind of spiritual service. The ideological attitude is also important - the mental attitude of spiritual devotion and dedication to the Teacher, Master, and Path, in the sense of the Lineage, Spiritual School or Ashram (Temple), but also important is the service work done for the Guru, Master, Guide of the Path or Spiritual Teacher (Aćarya) and Aśram or Lineage (Sampradaya). Many have studied and practised, even quite solidly, in one or even several Spiritual Schools, Aśrams, with many great Teachers, but they have not yet deigned to undertake spiritual service for such a Spiritual School, Aśram and Spiritual Master. Unfortunately, there is a complete lack of spiritual work, especially among those who are free, who want everything spiritual for free so much that they do not lift a finger when it is necessary to clean the classroom (dharma śalah) after a day of classes, vacuum, or help with organization or meals. Everyone who learns and practices should remember that they have obligations towards the Spiritual School, Aśram or Lineage, obligations towards the Master or Teacher. The most ignoring the issue of Spiritual Service are passive-dependent personalities, those who generally do not want to do anything, but also those who are convinced that everything is due to them from God and people since they feel the spirit and this wonderful meditative, prayerful or mantric mood so well.

(7) In particular, someone who wants to become a Spiritual Leader, Teacher, Guide of Spiritual Life, Spiritual Master, or Guru must focus more than other adepts over time on Spiritual Service because only a faithful Sevana cultivated over the years will be the “cherry on the cake” of mastering the instructions of the teachings and the path of practices. The higher powers do not support those who are so lazy that they do not want to work for someone who represents the world of Spirit and the Spiritual Path on this Earth. Such is the eternal law that the Power of Teaching and Transformation passes only to those who have served faithfully to the end, without doubt, and aversion, with humility, devotion, and even heartfelt adoration (bhakti). Working for the Master or Teacher, working for the Aśram or Lineage, has always been an essential part of the entire work leading to spiritual transformation and inheriting the subtle siddhi of the ability to transform human hearts and minds. Many people think that if they have taken fifty or a hundred different courses and have absorbed various teachings and practices – then they automatically become worthy of the position of a spiritual Leader, and others will transform under their guidance and grow spiritually towards the Highest Light, Truth, Love, towards the Great Spirit. Nothing more wrong and thoughtless could be invented in one’s ignorance. Not only must the teaching and practice be coherent, consolidated and integrated at every point, but also, based on teaching and practice, sincere and devoted spiritual service, work with great dedication, selfless work, not performed for the sake of position or appreciation of merits, but useful work for the Lineage of Transmission, Aśram, Guru, is necessary to reach the next threshold of initiation and inner transformation. The old law, however, always relevant, says that whoever has undertaken spiritual service, who has begun work in the service of the Guru or Aśram and abandoned it – all merits are completely erased and not even a meagre trace of them remains. Spiritual work, Sevana, is done as long as the Teacher or Master requires, not until we feel like it or get bored.

MHM/Udana no. 216 - © Swami Himalaya Rishi