Pujya Babuji Maharaj Birthday Celebrations 2006 Talks - Cooperation and its relevance in Sadhana by Sri Prabhakar Chintapalli

Dear brothers, sisters and Rev. guide Sri KC Narayana garu, my humble pranams to you all. This is another auspicious occasion we are utilizing to express our gratitude and love to the Master and share our knowledge gained through practical experience in a spirit of co-operation and harmony fully having the grace of the Master.

I would like to share and bring forth in this session my views on the aspect of ‘Cooperation’, its role and its practical application in our sadhana to ease/overcome the commonly come across difficulties. This discussion introduces the aspect of cooperation and its importance in spiritual pursuit, while referencing the existing material for asserting the same, followed by the stages of cooperation as understood by me along with some practical observations where cooperation helps significantly in our Sadhana. The intent of this article is to reinforce the understanding & clarity on co-operation and provide some practical hints that may be useful (help) to fellow practicants for better adherence to the meditational practices through cooperation with due importance.

Before proceeding on to the topic of cooperation, if we pause a little and consider the aspect of cooperation itself, it may be understood that in any activity or work the lack of cooperation sets in mainly due to:

1. Lack of clarity of the goal itself
2. Inability to relate the activity to ones own goal / objective
3. Lack of clarity of the task itself besides the benefits it brings in
4. Lack of self confidence
5. Lack of patience to carry out the activity
6. Fear of loosing ones own identity

This list may not be exhaustive but these items are of direct relevance to our spiritual Sadhana and hence worth considering for driving the cooperation in our Sadhana.

Importance of Cooperation in spiritual Pursuit:

When we speak of spiritual sadhana it is no different in required basic essentials for commitment and cooperation.

Some of the following quotes taken from different references stresses upon the role and importance of cooperation in spiritual pursuit.

Path of Grace:
Our Master asserts that through ‘pranahuti’ a capable trainer under His guidance can lead the aspirant through successive stages initially to liberation and if cooperation is fully available to Realisation.

In this statement it is to be noted that cooperation is a must on the part of an abhyasi and the extent of cooperation really determines the possibility of extent of approach.

Path to Perfection:
I am leaving a note for the future generation in my line of discipleship, which is to be taken down in bold letters and marked prominently: NOBODY IS TO BE BROUGHT TO HIGHER STATES WITHOUT BEING MADE DESERVING. IN CASE ONE IS INTENDED TO BE BROUGHT UP TO HIGHER STATES, LABOUR ON THE PART OF BOTH GUIDE AND DISCIPLE REMAINS INCUMBENT.

As it may be particularly noted, in the context of cooperation, from the above statement that co-operation from an abhyasi is certainly required to make oneself deserving for higher approaches. Again the last statement reiterates the need for labour on the part of a disciple for which cooperation is a must.

SDG:
How does the Master proceed? He introduces in the abhyasi the Pure State of Divinity, which he is having because this is his work. For the sake of help and cooperation he prescribes certain methods. The best one is meditation and he helps abhyasi in it also.

This statement is self explanatory when viewed from the angle of cooperation and its role.

Hence you may have observed from the above quotes that the need for individual cooperation is much stressed upon and an abhyasi must take every care to develop it.

Preliminary/elementary stage of cooperation (Regularity):

If we were to briefly look at the possible contributors, as stated above, for lack of cooperation and how they can be addressed: The first item highlights the importance of having a goal with its clarity, the lack of which will pull the individual in different directions without any concerted effort in any specific direction. In this case the amount of commitment and cooperation one would have would be limited to the scope of benefits (as understood by the individual) that task might bring in short term. Hence this can be addressed by having a firm goal with its clarity. The second item listed above namely inability to relate the task to goal generates disinterestedness thereby limiting the commitment to the task. This can be addressed by providing the clarity in understanding, provided the task is in tune with one's goal. Even the third item listed above can be addressed by way of providing the required clarity. The fourth item namely lack of self confidence can be tackled by way of associating oneself with an individual who has reached the goal and has the ability to guide us on the way, of course willingness and cooperation to that extent is required on the part of an individual. The fifth item being the patience, it is essential for us to understand the kind of spiritual transformation we are aiming at is not momentary but steady and gradual, which means the very methods that we adopt develop in us this quality of patience. Then comes the tough one which is fear or non-willingness to loose one’s own self, but luckily our goal being complete oneness with God, this shouldn't bother us much and we should express our complete cooperation to enable it to happen as much as possible being the sincere seekers of the goal. Thus it is clear that we can overcome these difficulties by applying an elementary level of viveka.

During our Sadhana, most of us (if not all) are faced with and go through similar set of obstacles (rather so felt difficulties) during the practice. In spite of these obstacles one should have primary willingness and cooperation to attend to meditational practices. This is what I would refer to as preliminary level / stage of cooperation. Many excuses are offered seeking deviations and dilution of these elementary preliminaries. We can satisfy our mind by several pleas. When we cannot carry out simple and easy basic requirements, it reflects on our inadequate and incomplete understanding of the System as such; our faith in spiritual upliftment itself becomes questionable. We need to make up our mind with a firm WILL, then we can easily undertake these simple acts with greater understanding, willingness and regularity. This is the role we must set for ourselves as a part of sadhana towards achieving the Goal and must implement it with faith, love and devotion. As we aim for naturalness, and regularity being the key word of Nature, we have to be regular in our sadhana in all aspects as a sign of cooperation. For example regularity in cleaning is a sign of cooperation with the Master who has dedicated Himself to the task of the spiritual uplift of the abhyasi.

Hence it is very essential for one to have clarity in purpose, perfect alignment of goal with activities and vice versa with determined WILL, for deriving proper motivation for the task.

With the intent of reflecting how cooperation can help bring in the regularity in practice, an attempt has been made below to highlight few most commonly sighted difficulties by practicants at various points of time in their sadhana, and the kind of cooperation to be exercised to overcome them.

Second Stage of Cooperation (To follow the methods AS IS):

In my opinion willingness is the forerunner of cooperation. Now, out of our own volition, we have all entered the gate of the Natural Path wherein “To acquire naturalness should be the main care of the abhyasi”, for that matter this is the goal we are all aspiring for. Although it sounds simple, to acquire naturalness cooperation from individual is of paramount importance without which the possibility of achieving the goal is far off if not impossible. In fact the ease of transformation is directly proportional to the extent of cooperation one has with the process. We are very fortunate to have the motivation we have, to practice the path. But yet times we do observe that our motivation levels vary (even fades out sometimes), in order for us to rejuvenate motivation it is absolutely essential that we check ourselves against the following and cooperate to reinforce some of the basic essentials, apart from others, such as:

• The intended goal and purpose
• Willingness to go through the process of transformation
• Self-confidence in our capacity and power to achieve success.
• Willingness (at heart) and adherence to meditational practices as prescribed
• Iron-will to follow the directions of the Master
• Adherence to Master’s commandments

As a result besides the required willingness the commitment for the task gets strengthened.

Having decided to attend to the daily practices regularly now comes the next stage of cooperation, which is to carry out the methods as prescribed by our Master. Here the extent of cooperation is directly proportional to the amount of Viveka we are developing/developed. Once we know how each meditational practice contributes toward the objective/goal then the commitment to follow the method AS IS gets strengthened. Then it becomes very essential for an individual to clearly understand the letter and spirit behind meditational practices. Here I may request the brethren to refer to available material for details on the procedure and purpose of each meditational practice.

The methods in our system of meditation are scientific in nature meaning they would yield the same result irrespective of who does it as long as the procedure is carried out as prescribed. Also the following message of the Master (delivered at Madras) further impresses on this aspect: “If you follow my system I assure the result. But if you follow your system and ask for the results that I promise you are asking for something for which I am not responsible”.
Hence as a sincere and serious seeker, we should by all means follow the methods AS IS. The following table is an attempt to capture some of the difficulties to follow the methods AS IS and the cooperation on the part of an abhyasi that might help ease/overcome the difficulty.

Reviewing the procedure of meditational practices periodically and checking for deviations, would help us ensuring the conformity. In addition to daily practices ones cooperation for adherence / commitment to attend Individual sittings and Satsangs is a necessity. These are the two occasions on which we receive the support from the system in the form of Pranahuti; we should cooperate with it and progress on the path. Also the individual sittings are the occasions for having a free, open and honest discussion with trainer seeking clarity and concern for change. The effect of Pranahuti along with our daily practices helps in development of a) determination and iron will to carry on with sadhana despite difficulties and reverses b) Positive WILL and right mental orientation c) Awareness of the goal in our heart at all times.

Third Stage of cooperation (cooperation in transformation):

This is the stage where we refer to the cooperation in tune with the transformation. Having been following the practices as prescribed regularly, now it is essential to exercise cooperation in tune with the transformation taking place, for enabling us or making us deserving for higher aspirations. Under this system all changes in one’s being are brought about in a most natural way through the process of Transmission. All that is demanded of us, if anything at all, is willingness to open ourselves for this great experiment in the divinisation of man. His consciousness is ever ready to enter our hearts and deliver us into the brighter world only if we show the willingness to accept Him.

In my view this stage of cooperation is the toughest when compared to other two discussed above. This stage requires one to develop the necessary level of sensitivity to even understand the level of cooperation required from time to time. The development of sensitivity in turn linked with purity of mind, which is what needed to be paid attention to. Hence the efforts to develop purity & sensitivity along side would help the individual to sense the cooperation required at subtle levels. This stage also assumes development of certain virtues such as faith, love, devotion, sharing etc to a certain level. There are few areas one would need to put in a particular effort to tune oneself with the requirement of cooperation at this stage.

First and foremost of these is following the Commandments of the Master, as the crux of our System and its Principles are reflected in them. As a duty this would also reflect our ability and conformity to live up to expectations of the Master and serve as vehicle for developing sensitivity. To reiterate the need for practicing the commandments, I hereby quote a paragraph from Introduction to PAM book: “To consider that the practice of the Commandments is not all that essential because of the Transmission of the Master or because of the Grace of the Master ever flowing to us is not correct. We have to do our duty. These are commandments and therefore should be implemented.”

A perusal of the Ten Commandments would reveal that they require unflinching faith, strong will and firm determination followed by constant and regular meditational practices in their entirety on the part of the abhyasi to reach the goal. What is so spectacular of our System is the certainty of achieving the goal of Oneness with God with ever flowing Master's support PROVIDED an abhyasi makes himself deserving by love, devotion, sharing and sacrifice in addition to the adherence to the Ten Commandments. These are the practical aspects of our training under Raja Yoga of Sri Ram Chandra.

As the intensity of our sadhana grows and we discern the new vistas of higher consciousness, our confidence in the Master, in the System and on our own capability acquires newer, subtler and higher dimensions. This will not only enhance the degree of our practice but also accelerate the pace of progress significantly. The confidence that the goal is something that is accessible to us and that we are moving towards it develops. The best way to capture such changes in transformation as accurately as possible is to maintain the diary of recordings on a regular basis, which is the second aspect in this stage of cooperation. The chief purpose of the diary is that an abhyasi may remain attentive to his condition because he has to write about it. The practice of writing the diary is one of the best ways and means to develop the sensitivity progressively, which in turn helps in owning up the conditions given. “The record should be truthful. Write with openness without fear. Honestly record the feelings and personal experiences and the actual thoughts rather than interpretation”. Don’t try to rationalize and defend defects; don’t be resistant to see your dirty image in the mirror. The mere entry in diary will automatically draw the attention of the Master and speed up the process of rectification or purification. Failure to write diaries is basically an unwillingness to appear before the great Master in our present degraded condition. “Diary should reflect sum and substance of our sadhana.” The following quote further impresses upon the importance of diary writing:

“Every member of the Mission should maintain a notebook, in which these guiding principles (as mentioned above) be taken down; and one should go through it off and on to remove one’s shortcomings. There should be notes in the diary as to what could not be fulfilled, and wherein one’s shortcoming still persists”.

Seeking the necessary guidance from guide on a regular basis is the third aspect that will help one to get level of confidence and encouragement while providing the scope for required guidance. This is one of the invaluable services available in our institute, which directly helps a practicant to move in the right direction. One of the important aspects of this guidance, along with review of our diary periodically, is it brings a strong element of objectivity to the approach.

Role of Trainers in the context of cooperation:

In our system trainers have even greater responsibility in moulding themselves and therefore are requested to extend their cooperation in the following areas so that they improve their capability in spiritual work thereby helping many others on the path to reach higher planes of consciousness.

• Maintain purity at heart
• Develop capacity to observe which comes with sensitivity
• Stay connected and live in higher planes of consciousness
• Internalise the aspects of training, the trainers manual provided by the institute would serve as a good reference
• Maintain the records of the individuals who take assistance from you

Conclusion:

The Regulation of Mind is the job of the Master and not of the abhyasi himself where as cooperation is the job of an abhyasi. The cooperation on the part of an abhyasi plays a significant role in the process of transformation. It is to be noted that the stages of cooperation discussed are not sequential in nature; it is possible that a practicant moves between these stages from time to time. As a sincere seeker we should aspire and attempt to live and operate in third stage at a minimum as much as possible.

Following references used for preparing this talk:

1. Showers of Diving Grace
2. Path of Grace
3. Path to Perfection
4. Wisdom Unfurled