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Ah...is time for self reflection again.

I was lost again....until I came across an article which reminded me something important that I've forgotten....

"One must be in light to know the darkness. Similarly, we must be established in Spiritual Wisdom to know the ignorance. Under the spell of ignorance, however, we have adorned ourselves with the subtle robes of false ego, false concepts and false conditionings. Until they are removed, we will be unable to experience the Supreme Truth within. Accordingly, the scriptures urge us to jump into the fire of Self-knowledge . This fire will burn our all material bondage! "

"To remain established in Self-knowledge is (liberation). When this state of Wisdom is disturbed or agitated by distraction, there arises the sense of false ego, creating material bondage. This leads to the following question: How can one ascend to the state of Spiritual Wisdom? The scriptures reveal to us various steps for its attainment. These steps can be lumped in the following headings:
Pure yearning for wisdom
Self-inquiry
Gaining Mental subtlety
Abiding in truth
Total detachment
Cessation of the perception of duality
Going beyond all of this

"Death of the contending mind (or false ego) is the birth of Spiritual Wisdom. Therefore, without the preparation of the instinctive mind, it is impossible to apprehend the Truth. Described in the revealed scriptures is the process of Spiritual Realization for all seekers of the Truth. Therefore, the foregoing steps for Spiritual Realization as revealed in the scriptures are not for judging others, but to test ourselves!!"

1)Pure Yearning For Wisdom:
As the saying goes: "We are what we think". If our heart is filled with pure yearning or intention for attaining Wisdom, it will manifest. If we are uninterested, it will not happen. It's that simple. This is the first step. The mind will always do what it is trained to do. Our body is like a chariot, and the mind is the driver. For example, if one tells this mind to take him to a Spiritual Assembly, it will take him there. On the other hand, if one asks this driver to take him to a liquor house, he will end up in a liquor bar or pub!

"As is the aspiration, so is the rewards
As is your awareness, so is your way
As you think, so you become
That desire, to which the mind is attached, becomes manifest at the end"

"Therefore, with pure wish or intention, we must yearn for freedom from false ego and material bondage. Otherwise, mental delusion is guaranteed! The way to conquering the bondage is through conquering of the mind with the sword of dispassion. The feeling of dispassion towards the material entanglement leads one to meditation , loving kindness, selfless service, Self-inquiry, diligent study of the scriptures, Spiritual Company within and without, and so on. In turn, these Spiritual practices inspire us to mend our ways and worldly perceptions to bring about the real transformation within"

2)SELF INQUIRY

"Upon engaging the mind in Self-inquiry, it begins to attain Inner Purity. Which, in turn, helps our mind to become aware of its own crookedness, falsehood, perversions, weaknesses, evil-mindedness, stubbornness, inappropriate behavior, prejudices, ill-feelings, false concepts, selfishness, etc. As a result, one exerts self-efforts to eradicate undesirable qualities and resolves to live a pious life."

3) Gaining Mental Subtlety

"With the sincere practice of the preceding two steps, one develops dispassion for material attachment. As a result, the mind becomes subtle and transparent. Without gaining such Intuitive Balance of the mind, we will render ourselves Spiritually blind in this world."

"without the intuitional realization, they can not see Buddha/ or God (whoever you believe in), the embodiment of love. Emotional attachment to worldly objects clouds our given faculty of (discriminating intellect). To the contrary, the practice of dispassion makes this divine quality shine forth in all its glory. With Viveka, man is able to discriminate between the right and wrong or eternal (permanent) and the ephemeral (impermanent). This subtle sense of discrimination helps one to know the difference between (truth and falsehood). Thus, a person with discrimination knows that the Absolute Reality alone is eternal and that everything else in this material world is temporary. With this subtle thinking, one will not hesitate to forego worldly nonsense.

"I obtained this precious human life as a reward for my past good actions, but without discriminating wisdom, it is wasted in vain."

4)Abiding In Truth
"When all these three are well practiced, the seeker naturally turns away from the sense pleasures. With such natural turning away from the object of senses comes mind's natural dwelling in the Truth: Unconditioned Awareness. The so called impurity or contamination of the mind is nothing but its attachment to sense pleasures. "

"Slowly but surely, with the sincere Spiritual practice, worldly desires and fear become weaker, and begin to loose grip over the mind. As a result, the mind willingly begins to contemplate on the Divine Name within, and the devotee starts seeing the glimpses of the Spiritual Reality. " -reaching one ultimate bliss state of mind.

5)Total Detachment
"The intensity of non-attachment increases with each step. With the practice of these four steps arises the total detachment (complete control of mind). And, with the detachment from the falsehood arises the conviction of the True Nature of the Absolute Truth. In other words, detachment from Maya (untruth) constitutes attachment to Supreme Reality (Truth). "

6)Cessation Of The Perception Of Duality
"With the mastery over these five steps comes the cessation of the perception of duality and diversity within and without. In other words, the distinctions between the thoughts of inner (latent memories) and outer world of objects cease to be. Then one abides and rejoices in the True Nature of one's own real Self. This is the direct Spiritual Experience. "

"Falsehood has vanished, duality has been erased, and they are totally overflowing with Truth"

"After cessation of duality, only the Pure Consciousness remains. All other supports, divisions, or diversities vanish. The spontaneous, natural and unbroken Knowledge of the Self shines forth. This is the state of Jeevanmukta; living liberated while incarnated in this body. This is the Transcendental state, where the perception of the pluralistic world is no more active. "

Hope everyone the very best in their roots of cultivation to become a better human being in this life time, to put a meaning to our lives, with more compassion.
Best wishes,
With great metta,
mei chin.