REALISING SPIRIT AS SPIRIT (Sep )
By Swamiji
Summary
In "Realising Spirit as Spirit" (September 2019), Swamiji emphasizes that true religion involves realizing Spirit as Spirit, not as matter. He critiques the human tendency to idealize the real, particularly the inclination to perceive Spirit through material or doctrinal frameworks. While Christianity often relies on belief in doctrines like the salvation through Jesus Christ, Hinduism prioritizes direct spiritual experience over dogma. Swamiji argues that historical or religious figures, such as Moses or Christ, offer no inherent salvation; instead, their stories serve as inspiration to encourage individuals to experience religion personally. He asserts that Spirit, being eternal and unchanging, cannot be reduced to matter, and true spiritual realization transcends physical or sensory limitations. Swamiji highlights the challenge of guiding the majority of people, who are entrenched in sensory perception, toward worshipping Spirit as Spirit. He acknowledges that most cannot grasp abstract spiritual ideals and require tangible practices, such as rituals or breathing exercises, to engage with the divine. This materialization of worship, while necessary for many, contrasts with the higher ideal of spiritual realization. A correspondence between Swamiji and Mary Hale, conducted through poems, underscores the theme of transcending illusion, with Swamiji affirming that only the eternal, unchanging God is real, while the material world is a fleeting dream. Ultimately, the text calls for strength and fearlessness in confronting life’s miseries, including death, as part of the spiritual journey.
Conclusion
The realization of Spirit as Spirit, rather than as matter, stands as the profound crux of spiritual practice, challenging humanity’s innate tendency to conflate the eternal with the ephemeral. This distinction demands a shift from external rituals and dogmatic beliefs to an internal awakening, where the individual transcends the limitations of the physical and the illusory. Swamiji’s teachings emphasize that true religion lies not in adherence to doctrines or historical narratives but in direct personal experience of the changeless, eternal Spirit. This transformative realization dissolves fear, bondage, and the illusion of separateness, empowering individuals to embody strength and truth. By confronting the reality of Spirit as the ultimate essence, one transcends the cycle of materiality and mortality, embodying the timeless, unchanging self. The path is arduous, yet it is through this relentless self-realization that the true nature of existence—pure, infinite, and eternal—is unveiled.