The latest issue of Tapavon Prasad magazine has a wonderful article on the Four Stages
of Spiritual growth in an individual as explained by Gurudev Chinmayananda in
his speech in Chennai (Madras) way back in 1963. I am capturing below the brief definitions
of the four stages, though I would suggest all to read through the entire
article in Tapovan Prasad which has detailed
explanations with examples on each.
1. Tad buddhayah
(तद बुद्धयः) - Intellectual Comprehension: This is the first stage where the individual
hears (Sravanam) or reads (Swadhyaya) about the preliminary concepts
of the Vedanta and other Higher ideals explained in our Srutis (Vedas,
Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita). and tries to understand the philosophies
intellectually. Even to get interested and read/hear on these the great goals
of existence and the possibility of a perfect living needs a certain level of
growth and maturity that comes only after the evolution of many lives.
2. Tad Atmanah (तद
आत्मनः) – Assmiliation : The
concepts understood intellectually should then be assimilated intellectually to
know the deeper meaning and appreciate their significance. This is done through regular contemplation (mananam) and meditation (dhayanam). Once it is assimilated, it
becomes part of the individual’s thought process and that’s called Tad Atmanah.
3. Tannishthah (तन्निष्टः)
– Trying to live the values: The ideals
understood and assimilated in the first two stages are then put to practice as
much as possible, whenever it is conducive and where the environment is not too
much against it. However it is still a
stage of compromise. The individual has
the interest and vasanas to practice them as much as possible, but cannot
enforce them into practice in an environment of opposition.
4.
Tat Parayanah (तत्
परायणः) - Integration of Values in the Personality: This is the final stage where the highest
ideals as espoused by the scriptures are deeply ingrained into the personality
of the individual to such an extent that it reflects in all their activities.
Such a person is constantly dedicated to the ideal and live it in spite of the
opposition around them.
Though the above stages are enumerated in
terms of the Vedantic knowledge, this is applicable for all knowledge, principles
and theories. There are many examples of
Mahatmas (Great personalities) in the history who have achieved the fourth
stage and beyond, such as Buddha, Jesus Christ, Adi Shankara etc. all the way
to Mahatma Gandhi and our Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda.
Hari Om.