I have another question I hope you will have time to answer:
How to know if you are making spiritual progress?
What does spiritual progress look like for a neophyte?
What’s the best way for a neophyte to continue making progress in their path back to Godhead?
Answer to the first question:
How to know if you are making spiritual progress?
The best method is very simple: take the qualities of the advanced devotees that are very clearly expressed in the scriptures and see if they match in your character and in your life.
Let’s take an example:
In the verse of Bhagavad-gita 18:42 we find the famous sloka “brahma-karma svabhava-jam”. Here we find a list of Brahminic qualities, therefore not necessarily of a suddha-bhakta, but in any case, qualities that all of us must develop. Take it one by one and see how many you have of them, in what quantity, and how much you are improving over time.
Obviously, the devotee must always ask his spiritual master how he is progressing, and he will tell him in a clear and simple way. Nobody can advance spiritually by himself.
Answer to the second question:
What does spiritual progress look like for a neophyte?
Back to the verse 18.42 of the Bhagavad-gita, samah, peaceful. If you are more and more mentally peaceful, and therefore peaceful in your acts, in your words and in your thoughts, then the quality of sama will be more and more evident to anyone who comes into contact with you.
Answer to the third question:
What’s the best way for a neophyte to continue making progress in their path back to Godhead?
Verse 4.34 of the Bhagavad-gita is especially important for any neophyte.
tad viddhi praṇipātena
paripraśnena sevayā
upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ
jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ
“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.”
tad viddhi praṇipātena, look for a spiritual master,
pariprasna, make questions,
seva, offer service, and
upadesa, take initiations.
Obviously, there are many other verses, but this is fundamental for beginners.
This is a section of the book “On a Silver Platter”.
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