All followers of God, seek salvation.
Salvation has many meanings. We want preservation from harm, ruin and loss. We want freedom from our sins and karma. We desire liberation of our spirit. We want redemption, and restoration for ourselves and earth. We want to salvage our environment and restore it to its pristine form.
What are we doing about it? I wrote about the five sacrifices we must try and perform daily. They are realistic and they work on us to reduce our samskaras (impressions) and realize that we all live on the same earth. So why are we being wasteful and destructive. We yearn for luxuries and have unrealistic expectations. Many of us do not think how some cosmetics are made. We want to look beautiful. How can one look beautiful on the tears of a blind beagle?
There are so many instances, and I am not the voice of doom, my dear ones. I am trying to follow the teachings of my Guru and his Guru, Swami Sivananda and enable you to think on the same page as them. To make these five practices a diurnal rhythm.
The 5 practises
Let us read from our sacred Scriptures. Let us reflect on what we have understood. We then can share it with others and this means not to proselytize but use it in actions. Be guided by the sacred words. Write them down, and be in good company of likeminded people. Attend satsang if possible. It is not difficult, make it a part of your life.
Let us light an oil lamp. Reflect on the flame. Think of the devas and meditate on the Goddess.
Let us reflect on our forefathers and ancestors. We are here because of them.
Let us take care of the needy and destitute. Social services and activity can be performed by us.
Respecting Bhu Devi, Mother Earth. Feeding all creatures and caring for nature.
Let me sum it up. We can perform these activities, recall our duties, and develop compassion and mercy which develops into cosmic love daily. We then become one with the universe.
Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower. – Hans Christian Anderson.
Well has it been said that man is the only animal that naturally looks upwards; every other animal looks down. That looking upwards and going upwards and seeking perfection are what is called salvation; and the sooner a man begins to go higher, the sooner he raises himself towards this idea of truth as salvation. – Swami Vivekananda
One last thing, how often do we thank our Gurus and the Ashrams which enable us to travel on the way to salvation.
Aim Hrim Klim
Photo by Arto Marttinen on Unsplash