Day 46. Search - 5

              

  Greatest service is to share with others the joys of living

All in this world are in continuous search for one thing or other. Spiritual pursuit/search  also calls for intense tapas or sadhana mostly in secluded places. Definitely, the tapas cannot be done in air-conditioned comforts of some of the modern ashrams.I saw two videos recently  on life led in caves by aspirants/swamis/yogis.

 1. First one was from Chitrakoot hills where a young sanyasi, below 30 years or so, had taken couple of sadhus to his Kutir which is located in the midst of a forest and at an elevated place.

The kutir consists of two small rooms, both 10x8 size. One is level to the ground, the other is an underground cave  linked to the outer room.

The cave  full of mud around/outside and he stated that the cave remains cool under all climates. There is no electricity, but some solar energy backed lights were seen, no water connection or any other facility like washroom etc.

He stated that he goes down to the river every day for morning ablutions and carry some water for drinking etc. for the day’s use..

Remaining time he is engaged in spiritual sadhana, alone, secluded without any type of noise, disturbance or interference.

His face and body language showed great cheer and he said during the Chaturmas, he spent some 68 days inside the cave, except for going to the river once a day.The mere seeing of the video, inspired me to think about the life he is leading and also the possible benefits.

(Naturally, my mind also yeanrs for such a retreat, though it will not be physically possible to withstand  that type of life/strain at this or any age earlier. But the thinking itself is uplifting for me)

We are living in a society full of noise, construction, blaring of horns, mobile ringing (even inside temples), loudspeakers etc. for most of the waking hours,  hence what is real peace is not known. That is the tragedy of the time.

2. The second one was from Gokarn, Karnataka. The cave was on a rocky hill. One Australian and a Thai person were trying to locate the same and their interaction later with a swami inside was shown in detail. Here also the Cave was much under the hill- sans electricity, water facility etc. and it was totally peaceful. Living in such secluded places will be challenging. but the result also will be spiritually wholesome. Hence it is stated that walking on the spiritual path is like walking on a razor’s edge. It is not easy and definitely not for weaklings.

(I remember doing Vipassana meditation training way back in 1989, where there was provision to go and meditate in manmade caves at the venue where also it was totally peaceful).

What I wish to highlight from the said videos is that one will have to take up such retreats if real spiritual progress is to be achieved. 

Mere wishing and perennially discussing and debating or mere reading/ listening will not fetch much progress. 

One should self -check about the efforts put in before measuring the results on the spiritual path.

Be happy. Be safe.

10.30 AM