IMPORTANCE OF ANUSTHAN ( COMMENCEMENT OF AN UNDERTAKING, અનુષ્ઠાન ) (1)

Next few blogs will express Pujya Shree Mota's views on ANUSTHAN. The process and it's importance are expressed in a form of letter to a sadhak. This is a translation from the book Jivan darshan ( જીવન દર્શન ) edition 3, pages 88--95.

                                                ---------------------------------------------


Trichinapalli,
9-2-43.

For the novice it becomes much easier to master any subject or field, if he finds a good hearted and knowledgeable mentor to learn from. When businessman trains his family member in business, he does not keep him in any one routine work, but gives him the opportunity to learn new and exciting work. He may not give this opportunity to other workers, who may be with him for a long time. These workers may be smart and experienced, but they may not get the opportunity for advancement as they do not have a mentor who will teach them with definite purpose of advancement. Students are taught by a  teacher and parents teach their children with definite purpose and direction. When looking around, you will find that everybody gets the needed knowledge and skills from somebody. They have to undergo the process of learning. During this process one does not give much importance to god or bad experiences, since his own interest lies in learning from the mentor at that time.

This process of learning is just as relevent in spirituality as in ordinary life and society. If you can establish increased contact and relationship ( even to a small degree in the begining ) with a person in whom your mind, intelligence and psyche, have faith and trust, you will notice sublimation of your view points, activity and inclinations, over a period of time. You learn new and cxciting things. Just as a family member gets the opportunity to learn smallest detail and also doing business in millions from the owner, the novice in spirituality ( જીજ્ઞાસુ ) gets the needed boost and opportunity, if he linke his life with saint's, and establishes contact from heart to heart. The progress is much faster then.

Anusthan is the begining of the process to merge one's heart with the heart of a saint.
              
                                                                                                                             ( continued )

Pujya Shree Mota
Jivan darshan ( જીવન દર્શન )
Edition 3; page 88- 89.