73 - Spiritual Evolution | Swami Tattwamayananda

-7th chapter: verses 19, 20, 21<br />-The lecture was given by Swami Tattwamayananda on March 5, 2020.<br />-19th verse: “The highest stage in spiritual evolution is to realize that there is one supreme reality that pervades the entire universe and that the same reality is present in all of us. Such exalted spiritual seekers, who see everything as an expression of Vasudeva, are rare.”<br />-This highest stage is the natural culmination of our spiritual evolution. To reach this highest stage, we may have to go through many life cycles of evolution. We have to accumulate enough positive samskaras through spiritual practices. Eventually, we will reach this destination.<br />-Vasudeva is the name of a Hindu deity. In this verse, it means the one who lives in all jivas, and who is all-pervading. At the highest stage, we feel God’s presence in all our interactions - even when we are not in the temple or not reading a holy book.<br />-In the Bhagavata Purana, there is a dialog between King Nimi and the Nava Yogis. In answer to the King’s question: “Who is an ideal devotee of God?”, one of the sages gives the following answer: “The one who sees in all beings the presence of God, and who sees the presence of all beings in God.“<br />-20th verse: “Those who do not have the highest spiritual knowledge, they follow certain rituals, and turn to deities, impelled by their desires and their own innate nature.”<br />-In early stages of evolution, we turn to God compelled by our needs and desires. Because we lack the highest spiritual knowledge, we conceptualize our own ideas of God, without realizing that Vasudeva is the ultimate goal – the desires color our idea of God, and we look upon God as an agency that comes to our rescue.<br />-When our prayers are answered, our conviction that God is a reality becomes deeper. Then we begin our further evolution.<br />-If we turn to transcendental reality with evil desires, the same evil desires get stronger. This is why it is important to practice yamas and niyamas before undertaking in