Vinay Raniga: As one of my spiritual teachers sat on a rock meditating in the middle of the mighty Ganges, the current swarmed around him. He noticed an eagle circling the sun. Within seconds the bird, with its herculean wingspan narrowed, nose-dived into the rapids to claim its prize: a feast of fish. The prey had no chance. If only it had been swimming deeper, hidden from the claws of fate.
Can we learn from this? We spiritual practitioners tend to immediately condemn the glitz and glamour that materialists strive for. Perceiving them as deluded, trapped or under illusion, it’s easy to denounce their lifestyle, without noticing our own superiority complex swelling within. A great con is to think that shaming others leads to our spiritual advancement. This helps no one. With this pride, we fail to realise we are aping the materialists’ striving for gross glamour. This happens subtly in the guise of spiritual progress, whether it be in our managerial activities, institutional positions or our outreach success. Dirt in a five-star hotel and dirt in a one-star hotel are of the same filthy nature regardless of the environment they are in. Similarly, all selfish activity done for one’s own gain is not spiritual, despite it being coated with a spiritual sheen.
Although managing, positions and outreach are vital in institutions, not necessarily are they indicators of spiritual vibrancy. The only way we can rid ourselves of this pride — and grow — is to learn from the fish’s mistake. Instead of swimming near the surface, the Gita teaches that sincerely diving deep in our core practices, with humility, tolerance and selflessness, will ensure progress. Meditating on mantras, gaining spiritual wisdom and forming loving relationships with fellow spiritualists allow us to avoid the claws of illusion that are quick to snatch us from our path.