Parampujya Panditji MaharajSadhan , Sept 200501/02/22
Most people in the world remain completely engrossed in their worldly affairs. They do not even think about spiritual matters or the Almighty, resulting in an entire life lived without meaningful spiritual progress. Therefore, one should consider oneself very fortunate when a desire for spiritual upliftment arises in one’s mind. Such inspiration can stem only from the Almighty’s grace and benevolence. 
It is certain that unless we have a burning desire for spiritual upliftment , no practice or process will work for us. Reading or listening to discourses or hymns describing the Lords grace, discussing and thinking about the Almighty, as well as constantly keeping him in our prayers, are all ways that help us ignite the desire to get closer to him. These are useful at the initiation of any practice which aims at spiritual upliftment.
That day will undoubtedly come for everyone when a desire to unite with the supreme power will arise, and that would mark the beginning of the journey to seek him. It is also certain that whoever will start seeking him will eventually find him. But one cannot predict when that fortunate moment will arrive for someone. It could happen in one day or take many years, spread over several lifetimes. In the eyes of the Almighty, birth and death are insignificant events. In this long journey that the soul undertakes, birth and death are just like day and night in a travelers life.
Let us think about a student’s life. They relish good food, wear trendy clothes,  enjoy their friends’ company, and also help their parents when that is required of them. While they do all this, they are always simultaneously engaged in educating themselves in a school or college, and fulfill their primary responsibility of being a student. A practitioner should live in the world in a similar way. While performing and engaging in their worldly duties as well as fulfilling their social obligations, they should always keep time aside to strive towards their primary objective of getting closer to the Almighty. The primary aim of one’s existence in this world should always be to seek proximity with the Almighty.
People often get distracted by the misconception that one will have to give up the world to achieve spiritual gains. Therefore, it is imperative to understand what exactly we need to relinquish. If you can get rid of the attachment you have to your money and wealth, you can greatly benefit society and the people around you by supporting charitable causes and helping the needy. The blessings of the people helped by your efforts will make you happier and more contented. Therefore, one needs to quit not the money and wealth, but one’s attachment to these. Nothing else in this world can impede our pursuit of the Almighty. It is only our attachment to material things that entrap and hinder our progress.
Love your spouse and your kids. Try to instill noble thoughts in them, so that their lives can become peaceful. Treating your spouse with respect and fairness increases happiness and harmony in one’s married life. If you consider everyone in your family as a gift from God, and behave appropriately with them, your family life will not be an impediment, but instead become supportive in your spiritual pursuits.
The pursuit of God is essential and should be the primary aim of one’s life. If you think that everything will go right for you while you pursue this path of spiritual progress, then you are mistaken. The entire world is his creation. Your entire journey, the happiness and sorrows, the joys of togetherness, and the pain of parting, are all his unalterable arrangements. It is all his vision, not yours. But you can feel confident that he will show you the way when the time comes.
Contrary to the general perception, it is not very difficult to gain proximity to the Almighty, because he is the most abundant in this world. He permeates and exists in everything that we see around us. Air is in such abundance in this world that not even the tiniest space is devoid of it. Yet we cannot see it. The supreme power that is the Almighty is similar, but many times more subtle than air. Even though it is present everywhere, it is not visible or experienced easily. We have to dwell deep within ourselves and attain a completely quiescent state to experience his presence.
When you experience the Almighty’s presence, you will realize for yourself that he is not separate from this world. Just like snow and water are the same entity but appear different, the material world and the supreme consciousness appear different but are also inseparable . You will see the same superpower in everything that surrounds you, and realize that only his power makes everything happen in this world. He is beyond speech, beyond action, beyond one’s mind and one’s thoughts. That is why the path that leads to him extends beyond all these.
The supreme consciousness is unchangeable (nirvikar); the soul is devoid of all thought (nirvichar) and is blemishless (nirlep). The physical body (that is composed of the five elements), the internal and external senses, the mind, the intellect, the thoughts, the wisdom, and the knowledge, are all maladies that conceal the soul and the supreme consciousness. When you rise above them, you will get to see the place where the Lord resides. To get here, you will not have to go to any special location, and neither will you have to perfect rigorous practices and techniques. You will have to dwell inside yourself. Instead of looking for him in the outside world, you will have to find him within yourself. The descent of saints on this earth from time to time and the goal of Satsang (the company of truth and goodness) is to guide you in this direction so that you can realize your goal. The accumulated good deeds over multiple lifetimes result in one getting inspired to connect with Satsang and gain proximity to the Almighty. You should consider yourself highly fortunate that such divine inspiration has come your way.