Life post self-realisation

Enlightenment is an ongoing journey with various stages of awakening. After enlightenment, one realizes there's no self, no world, and no deities; only pure consciousness and the unmanifested brahman—the ultimate reality.

After a profound awakening, life progresses and individuals use various strategies to manage the surreal state while staying connected to their true self. This is why many spiritual gurus exist, forming various spiritual groups. The aim is to help preserve the discovered reality and believe that past spiritual practices and studying sacred texts can promote enlightenment. However, this often leads to a new identity illusion. Intense awakenings release energy and subtle knowledge, which some misuse for personal gain by showcasing themselves as sages, attracting followers, seeking media attention, commercializing their image, and relying on political figures for fame.

The wise opt for silence and maintain it throughout their lives. After gaining enlightenment, abundant time becomes available, occasionally accompanied by a surge of energy to engage in activities. The most profound activity is to contemplate truth, experience the state beyond death, and relish the continuous joy emanating from the heart. This involves allowing life to unfold naturally, remaining a witness, and refraining from identifying with life's actions and activities.

Recently, I met someone who questioned the need for physical activities after realizing our own divinity. I explained these activities belong to the waking state, which is temporarily real but ultimately unreal. She struggled to understand, and I didn't push it. Truth requires no persuasion; it stands out independently. Physical fitness, earning an honest living, enjoying life, music, movies, books, learning music, writing blogs, cooking, gardening, and dressing neatly are activities that do not create or reinforce identity.

Pursuing spiritual leadership and founding a place of worship with many followers can disconnect you from yourself. The world already has plenty of gurus, both real and fake. No more are needed. When I started writing this blog, I encountered both invitations and threats; however, I chose to disregard them. I'm just an ordinary human being with no high expectations for readers—if one person reads it, great; if not, that's fine too—I’ve done my part.

Importance of Money and Society in Spiritual Pursuit

A renowned master once declared, "You cannot serve two masters, God and money." This powerful metaphor illuminates the struggle individuals face in separating their desire for wealth from their spiritual devotion. Lord Buddha forsook all material possessions in his quest for enlightenment. In his era, countless followers emulated his path, abandoning their riches and familial duties to seek the same truth. This approach serves as a clear way to identify the presence of the ego by bringing it to the forefront, offering a stark contrast to other methods that allow the ego to remain hidden. In truth, the ego remains intact whether or not one gives up wealth, making it a superficial change that merely provides the illusion of ego destruction. 

Truth is always present and just needs detachment from thoughts. One can be wealthy, like King Janaka or Emperor Marcus Aurelius, yet remain fully detached from riches. The greatest masters have taught that ego is a soul’s attitude, determining its expression using free will. Honest work for a decent life is important, and one shouldn't shirk responsibilities for personal enlightenment. Truth exists within us and detachment from thoughts reveals it. We don't need to leave family or jobs; spiritual success can accompany material wealth. I remember once a meditator remarked, "Enlightenment's real test is living within family and society, not in a cave."

My Guru is an utmost wise and esteemed spiritual master. He once conveyed that money holds significant importance as we are interdependent in this world. Even for something as simple as acquiring a matchbox, we rely on money and society. We cannot live isolated from the world. He stated, "You need money to buy bus tickets to travel from the city to this meditation center."

Our Physical Body

When I once mentioned my intention to join a gym to improve my physical fitness, a friend who was driving at the time promptly dismissed the idea, suggesting it conflicted with spiritual pursuits. For a moment, I pondered whether there was any truth to his claim. Had he met my guru, he would have come to understand that true spirituality is about being honest. My friend embodies the common Indian belief that spirituality means wearing saffron, growing a beard, going on pilgrimages, giving up money, and wandering like a beggar. I can't expect more from such thinking.

Spirituality involves leading a righteous life, respecting the physical body as a gift, maintaining its cleanliness, wearing tidy clothing, and giving it proper care. At the beginning of my spiritual journey, the first master I met prescribed specific physical exercises for all new participants. These exercises were designed to ensure the uninterrupted flow of bio-magnetic energy and vital life force energy.

My interest leaned somewhat towards strength training, and I did not adhere strictly to the exercise recommendations of various masters. On one occasion, my guru invited a yoga teacher to our meditation class for an hour-long demonstration, which did not go as planned. I couldn't understand why, but I speculated it was due to the students' weak physiques, difficulty in sitting through prolonged meditation sessions, and a lack of proper diet.

We are pure consciousness; we are not merely our bodies, which appear within our consciousness. The entire waking state is like a dream constructed from our thoughts. However, there's nothing wrong with taking good care of our physical body. It's possible to develop a habit of keeping fit and strong by engaging in the type of exercise that suits one's inclinations.

The material world related to physical health is vast and complex; the more time you spend exploring it, the more you realize how little we actually know. My teacher used to say that we understand the best ways to live only after spending a significant portion of our lives. How true that is—he was a remarkable person.