Om-Tat-Sat; ‘Daata’ is in my remembrance!

Of so many unanswered questions in our life, perhaps one question, is there a God? And if yes, how can we find Him? How can we realize Him? Is there a way? Is there a way that we can follow? Is there a path which we can walk on to find Him? Does He have an address we can go to?

The answer to the first question is obvious, that yes, there is God. He exists. Actually, He is the only one that exists. And if that is true, what can we do to realise Him? If something is there, if something is present, if something is in existence, then there should be a way to reach there, and there should not be any doubt about that.

But do we know the path? Do we know the address? Can we travel towards that? Are we prepared?

We have to answer all these questions ourselves. And then see how we can reach there. In various beliefs, there are broadly three ways.

One is Karm Yoga – Nishkam Karm Yoga – Steadfastness in Action.  The second one is Bhakti Yoga – Devotion – Steadfastness in Devotion. And, the third one is Sankhya Yoga – Gyan Yoga – Steadfastness in Knowledge.

Now, which path is the right path? Is Steadfastness in Action the right path? Or Steadfastness in Devotion is the right path? Can we realise Him through this path or that path? Or these two paths may not lead there, and you need to follow Steadfastness in Knowledge?

The answer to the question is easy but difficult. In my view, Steadfastness in Devotion is inherent in Steadfastness in Action. How can you perform a selfless Action without Devotion? So, Devotion is inherent in selfless Action. Similarly, can you have Devotion and still cannot perform selfless Action? Perhaps, yes. So, Steadfastness in Action may not necessarily be inherent in Steadfastness in Devotion.

Are you a devotee? Many people would say, yes. Do you do Nishkam Karm Yoga? Do you do Akarm? Nishkam Karm Yoga or Akarm is the action that you perform but is not performed – and then it becomes self-less Action. Akarm is the Action performed without any desire for any fruits from that Action, and that is Nishkam Karm Yoga.

My view is that you can have Devotion for many reasons on a different basis. The Devotion can be because of fear of something or because of your desire to gain something in life or even your next birth, for example, and that is not selfless Action, that is not Akarm. In fact, that is not even Devotion in its true sense, and therefore, if that is not Devotion, Steadfastness in Action cannot come, can never come.

So, what should we practice first? Should we practice Nishkam Karam Yoga First and then become a devotee, and then become involved in complete Devotion?

Is that possible?

And that’s why I said that the answer to the question is easy but difficult. You are all different individuals but you all are part of ‘One’, and therefore, you all are one. It’s exactly the same thing.  It’s easy to find yourself as an individual but is difficult to find yourself as one and that is what the teachings of Dwij belief system are – strongly believing, not just understanding, but strongly believing in ‘Oneness’ and in connection which binds us together.

Now, let us look at whether Steadfastness in Devotion automatically follows Steadfastness in Action.

Okay. Let us say that you decide today that you would be performing Akarm by strictly following Nishkam Karm Yoga. So, let us say, Steadfastness in Action is the beginning of your spiritual journey. Will Steadfastness in Devotion follow? Perhaps, yes. Isn’t it? Doesn’t it make logical sense that Steadfastness in Action will increase Devotion? Therefore, Devotion is inherent in selfless Action, and may not necessarily be the other way around.    

Vedas consist of three parts – rights, meditation and enlightenment.  And in conformity with Vedas, Geeta also consists of three parts in 18 Chapters. The first 6 chapters are on Steadfastness in Action. The middle part, the next 6 chapters, are about Steadfastness in Devotion. The last 6 chapters are on Steadfastness in Knowledge. So, Steadfastness in Action and Steadfastness in Knowledge are discussed separately. Steadfastness in Action and Steadfastness in Knowledge cannot be combined together due to their extreme opposition. Therefore, Steadfastness in Devotion is discussed in the middle.   

And, I think, that is the right sequence. With only Devotion, you may not lead to Steadfastness in Action. because Devotion can be based on understanding and beliefs – that yes, there is God; yes, we need to follow Him; yes, we need to go there; yes, we need to have realisation; yes, we need to meet Him. But that can be superficial. That understanding may just be at the level of understanding and beliefs only, and may not be based on real knowledge and conviction.

So, in my view, to get that real Knowledge, practising Steadfastness in Action should be the first step. You start performing Akarm. Perform actions which are not actions – actions without any desire for any fruits from them. How is that true? Yes, that is very much true. If you do not have any desire for any fruits from your actions, they become Akarm – Nishkam Karm. And, you don’t get involved in that.

Keep observing and analysing your actions whether they are truly Akarm. Watch them carefully if there was any desire for fruits for performing them. And if you keep practising and following this practice slowly, slowly, slowly, slowly – Devotion will come automatically, it will fall in place for you automatically. Devotion is inherent in Steadfastness in Action. And, when Steadfastness in Action, and Steadfastness in Devotion are at the level where they should be, there will be an automatic flow of Knowledge for you. And, mind it, that Devotion is also inherent in Knowledge and, therefore, cannot be separated from either the self-less Action or Knowledge.

However, you can also start your journey with Devotion, as most people do, and as our society and upbringing has taught us, and you may achieve a stage of complete Devotion. There have been people who have been compete devotees, and if that happens then your actions performed can also be Akarm – no actions. But realizing that stage in Devotion is perhaps not that easy. Getting into that level of Devotion is not easy. It is not a systematic process in my view for most people.

I tell you that if you have Knowledge, not just the understanding; if you have the conviction not just the belief; in His existence, then Steadfastness in Action can also follow Steadfastness in Devotion. But getting to that level of Devotion is no less than a complete meditative stage and, therefore, not easy. For most people, I would say, try practicing Steadfastness in Action first, perform an action which is not an action – an action without any desire for any kind of fruits from that action, and will you see that slowly-slowly your Devotion will start increasing. Slowly- slowly Steadfastness in Devotion will start falling in place for you. And then emerges Knowledge – Gyan. As Devotion is inherent in Action and Knowledge, it removes all obstacles and doubts. And, when all obstacles and doubts are removed, you start realising the truth. When I say that you start realising the truth, I simply mean that you start realizing His existence, and that  is the beginning and that is what we believe, we follow, in Dwij belief system.

I invite you all to change yourself by becoming a Dwij, to get reborn in this life, consciously, by knowingly yourself, by taking an informed decision, by making an informed choice.

I wish you very-very good luck in your spiritual journey.

Om-Tat-Sat;

…Param Dwij