Mar 2nd: The Three Stages of Sadhana

There are three different levels or stages from which Sadhana is pursued. These are also known as ORDERS OF REALITY. When Sadhana matures in each stage, a Sadhaka gets transitioned into the next stage of reality.

The three stages or orders of reality as follows:

First Order of Reality - A Sadhaka thinks that Eshwara is different from him or her. (If Sun is the god then I am the worshiper...different from Sun).

Here, all Mano-Vak-Kaya karmas done by a Sadhaka is offered to Eshwara and whose outcomes (postive or negative) taken as   ESHWARA PRASADAM. 

What are Mano-Vak-Kaya Karmas?

Simply, these are the karmas done by a Sadhaka using Manas (Mind), Vak (voice) and Kaya (Body) which are,  Chintana (Dhyanam), Japa and Pooja respectively. These are also called as Tri-Karanas. Let us see a little bit more about these below:

 Mana (Mind): Mana is the representative among rest of the Antahkaranas viz., Buddhi, Chittam & Ahankaram.

Here is a simple example to understand ANTAHKARANAS.

"I am passing by a sweet shop...How about I eat some Rasgullas (MANASU).   Wait a minute, last time when I had my blood work done, my sugar was high (CHITTAM/Storage). What a life is this, I can't even eat what I like (AHAM, EGO). I will shut my mouth now and move away from sweets or else I will have to face the consequences for high sugar (BUDDHI)".

Here the mind is the one which is recollecting (Chitam), using its intelligence (Buddhi) and undermining the Ego (Aham) to make a decision that is in the best interest of me. Hence rest of the ANTAHKARANAS depend on mind to make it happen for them.

 Vak (Voice):  It is the representative of all 5 Jnana Indriyas. How? Anything one experiences such as, Seeing, Feeling, Tasting, Hearing, is expressed only thru Vak. Isn't it? For example, when my finger burns (feeling) I scream (Vak) that my skin is burning. 

 Kaya (Body): The physical act of karma is only done thru body.

So, we often hear,  "one should do karmas with Tri Karana Suddhi". Now, we know from above as to why is that.           

2nd Order - Anta Eshwara Mayam, Andulo Nenoka(Jeevi) Bhagam (If Sun is Eshwara then I am the 'ray-Surya Kiranam) BHAVANA

  What ever I do is mere, "Eshwara Sankalpam. Nenu (Jeevudu) Nimitha Matrudanu". It means, "God is instrumental in making things happen, I am just a medium". In other words, instead of,  "I am doing...its just HAPPENING (Eshwara Sankalpam)". So, we're merely instruments through which Eshwara is making things happen.

3rd order (Highest) - Non-duality. There is only one, that is, pure consciousness

Here there is no DIFFERENCE between Sun and Sun Rays; nor  I, Eshwara and Universe. It's all one.  Hence, there is no TRIPUTI anymore. All the three elements of TRIPUTI becomes ONE.

As a side note, TRIPUTI consists of three elements:
     SADHAKA - The one who pursues.
     SADHANA - The act of pursuing.
     SADHYAM - The goal or final destination (I chose this as my website name)

The one who reaches this goal (Sadhyam) is called a Siddaha. For example, Ramana Maharshi, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Swami Sivananda and a lot others.

To better understand this here is a simple example. The waves in an ocean look different from the ocean but if you touch them it's only water. Likewise   although, we see the differences (VIKALPAMULU) in this world, the substance is the same, just PURE CONSCIOUSNESS.

  This is actually the essence of the highest MAHA VAKYAM of Vedas, "TATTVAMASI".

     TAT  - That

     TVAM - YOU

     ASI  - ARE    (YOU ARE THAT)

YOU'RE THAT, what? You're that Chaitanyam (Conciousness) that is the substance of everything in this world. So this Jeeva Koti (Living beings), world, Universe etc. are just like WAVES who appear differently but when you realize them it's all Chaitanyam (Pure Conciousness)...just like water.

Hence a Sadhaka's final goal is to realize that it is JUST PURE CONSCIOUSNESS. The act of realization is called as Sadhana.

Hari Om