Spiritual practices
By Swamy Goutamananda

Courtesy The Hindu

Spiritual life cannot be divorced from daily life as only a few can renounce the world to totally dedicate themselves to the goal of liberation. But human birth is a rare opportunity which should not be frittered away in materialistic pursuits and hence saints have given guidelines for the benefit of householders who wish to orient their lives to the spiritual goal and pursue it with determination.
Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was a saint who was especially concerned about the spiritual progress of his devotees who were householders. He advised them to take to chanting the Divine name and singing His glory and relate to the Lord as the Father of creation. Such an outlook forges a relationship with God without distancing oneself from Him. In course of time this will elevate the mind without succumbing to worldly distractions and sorrows. He also emphasised the importance of seeking solitude now and then so that the mind is not always disturbed by worldly thoughts. The other practices he recommended are contemplation on God within, which is essential to develop introversion of mind, and seeking the company of the devout people and saints, which is a sure way to insulate the mind from worldly disruptions.
When a devotee expressed his doubt whether it would be possible to follow these practices in family life, he replied that it was feasible because once a person started enjoying subtler joys his mind would not run after sensory pleasures. This is akin to one whose taste for food has become so refined that he will not settle for anything but the best. With regular practice the conviction that there cannot be true happiness without spiritual life will get strengthened. He also outlined how one should conduct oneself in family life: discharge all duties but keep the mind attuned to God; serve parents and take care of children always remembering that they are all not yours as all worldly relationships are only because of the body, and one’s relationship with God alone is eternal. All relationships are meaningful only at the level of the Self (Atman), and if this is kept in mind then it will be possible to overcome attachment to one’s kith and kin.