Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this Divinity within by controlling nature, external and internal. Do this either by work, or worship, or psychic control, or philosophy -- by one, or more, or all of these -- and be free. This is the whole of religion. Doctrines, or dogmas, or rituals, or books, or temples, or forms, are but secondary details. Swami Vivekananda, From Raja Yoga Significance of Swami Vivekanadas Message Just as his master, Sri Ramakrishna had affirmed that each of the worlds religious traditions offered true and valued paths for spiritual growth and realization, Swamiji held Vedanta as the foundation and uniting focus behind any spiritual effort. By applying the universal principles of Vedanta to ones own circumstance, one could become not only a better Christian, a better Jew, a better Hindu, and so forth, but a better person in every respect. Just as there is no one true religion which everyone must follow, neither is there one spiritual practice which is right for all. In the summary given above, Swami Vivekananda tells us we may use our natural tendencies to reach the Goal. He refers to what is called The Four Yogas, four broad highways of spiritual practice which address our need for physical activity (Karma Yoga), emotional expression (Bhakti Yoga), inquiry or knowledge (Jnana Yoga), and mental control (Raja Yoga).
Posted on: Fri, 22 Aug 2014 03:02:29 +0000
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