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Date Posted: 09:57:35 03/28/05 Mon
Author: Hairakhan - 21 Feb 2005
Subject: Spiritual Experiences

One should keep one's spiritual experiences secret. They should only be discussed with the Guru or teacher. There are several reasons for this.

Perhaps you have read before that if you happen to be in a room where someone is verbally abusing your Guru, that you should flee at once. Why? Though your faith in your Guru may be ironclad, the negativity and doubt of someone else can be like poision. Even so, if you post your experiences in a public forum, you open yourself to the negativity of those who, frustrated with their own practice (or lack or progress), seek to bring down others who practice, and thus progress well. You know the saying, "misery loves company."

Spiritual experiences are a sign from God that you are progressing. They are sacred. Only the Guru or acharya are qualified to interpret the significance of these experiences. Putting them out for open interpretation can have a deleterious effect on you. Keeping them secret will also help protect us from the ego.

As someone alluded to in an earlier post, although spiritual experiences can be important signposts helping to point the way, we must not mistake them for the goal. Sattvic experiences are still within the realm of maya. Some teachers have even advised ignoring them altogether. Some have many experiences as they progress, and others have few. I have even read of some yogis reaching God Realization without having any significant experiences. There are stories of Himalayan yogis who were unaware that the body had been dropped.

Lastly, do not make the mistake of judging your level of advancement based upon your experiences, or lack thereof. The truth is that you do not know where you are -- only God knows. Some attain full Realization at the time of death as a result of dedicated practice. And there are many who, even if they do reach the Goal, advance enough that they do not need to return to earth, but can satisfy the remainder of their karma in higher, astral planes. Do not think of any of this at all. Always remain God-centered.

"Do not think of the past or the future, only practice Kriya in the present." -- Sri Sri Shayama Charan Lahiri Mahasaya

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