The importance of studying spiritual books
by Atman Nityananda /Blog – Gr
The study of spiritual books is one of the most important forms of exercise in our entire spiritual path. In this article I will briefly list what the study of spiritual books offers us so that we can become more conscious of what we can gain through study and reflection on the ideas we study.
Study is of course just a part of spiritual practice and is not a substitute for other practices and meditation. Spiritual practice should include various other exercises, techniques, methods suitable for a complete development of our being on all levels (body, vital energy, heart, mind, intellect).
First of all, I would like to clarify what I consider to be spiritual books. All sacred texts such as the Vedas, the Upanishads, the New Testament, the Bhakavat Gita, etc. and all the words or books by great enlightened spiritual masters like Swami Sivananda, Jesus Christ, Mahavatar Babaji, Sri Ramana Maharshi, Paramahansa Yogananda, Sri Aurobindo, Nisargadatta etc. are the ones that have the first place.
Then there are all those written by saints or yogis, awakened ones, and then inspired thinkers and writers, which deal with spiritual practice, self-knowledge and spiritual growth in general.
Although all are helpful from various points of view, as we read books by enlightened masters who are one with the truth we connect with higher vibrations and, although we may not realize it, they permeate us and slowly change our energy field and mind. Also, if a seeker is spiritually mature, he or she can awaken through the inspiring words of the master..
The words of an enlightened one have the power to awaken us to the truth. Their power is greatest when we hear them from the teacher himself, but they also have power when we read them.
As I mentioned earlier, through study we get higher vibrations which help us to overcome our lower nature and also help us to experience divine sattvic vibrations. The same happens when we come in contact with enlightened people or when we are in sacred places such as Delphi i nGreece and the Acropolis of Athens, but also spiritual centers where spiritual masters lived and imbued them with their energy, such as the ashram of Swami Sivananda in Rishikesh India, the Hairakhan Visva Mahadam the ashram of Hairakhan Babaji near the city of Haldwani in northeast India and the ashram of Sri Ramana Maharshi in Tiruvanamalai in the village of the same name in southern India.
Let us now look at the benefits of studying spiritual books.
Study inspires us and our zeal for spiritual practice is energized. Especially in the early years, when the ego is very strong in us and the attachments and identifications with life are many and strong, we easily lose heart and become disoriented.
Books remind us of our purpose and will give us courage by seeing how others have gone through similar processes and how they have finally managed to overcome difficulties and reach self-realization. Especially if we do not have the opportunity to be around a great teacher or an advanced student, the study of books becomes even more important.
Through study we create positive’sattvic thoughts and perceptions and better understand the various aspects of spiritual life and practice. These are necessary to do our spiritual practice effectively.
We can find useful practical ideas either about a practice we want to improve or about obstacles and difficulties we face.
By reading spiritual books we remember our purpose. Life too easily absorbs us and makes us forget the goals we have set about our inner growth. We need someone or something to remind us over and over again. Daily book study is one way to help us with this.
Studying and constantly meditating on the same ideas we read in books feeds the mind with sattvic luminous thoughts which gradually replace the old wrong ideas and beliefs which are the cause of suffering and living in a low level of vibration.
Study is also a way to be more self-aware. It helps us to take our attention away from external objects and impressions and remain focused on what we are reading, but at the same time we be aware of the silents presence of consciousness within. As I said before the positive vibrations we get from reading help us to have a better inner state and this help us maintain contact with inner silence.
So self-awareness and self-observation become much easier when we study with concentration than when we are in the world. Of course, this also requires conscious effort on our part until it gradually develops and becomes natural and spondaneous.
Studying spiritual books is a way of somehow replacing satsang* ( Satsang – Meetings for Truth) with enlightened ones. Since ancient times especially in the East the presence of a teacher has been the most important factor for spiritual enlightenment. After our own spiritual maturity the most important factor is the presence of an Enlightened master.
Study can also be a practice of concentration and meditation. Particularly in the early days when we have neither the ability nor the patience to remain concentrated in one point for a long time, study can help us develop the ability to concentrate. If we enter deep concentration we can also enter a state of meditation. Deep absorption while reading holy books such as for example the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads etc. is considered as savikalpa samadhi.
Through study and reflection we can develop discrimination and detachment, two abilities which are the basis on which all spiritual practice is based. Without discernment and detachment there is no possibility of advancing on the spiritual path.
Finally, through study you can confirm what you already know from personal experience. This is how your faith and confidence increases.
Now let’s look at some negative situations associated with study.
Gaining a lot of knowledge can develop the ego of pride within us. It can also create attachment to acquiring knowledge and we can become greedy for knowledge.
Moreover our ego may use study to avoid doing the other practices like, meditation, introspection, mantra, dissolution of ego etc.
But if we are vigilant we will eventually discover that our ego plays ego games with study and knowledge.
What is required is that we should always be honest and remember that whatever we do is to dissolve the ego and not to fatten it. To remember that our ultimate goal is to realize the Truth which is beyond knowledge and theories.
Knowledge and theories belong to the realm of the mind and Truth is beyond the mind. But until we reach liberation we have to make proper use of knowledge and mind which is the tool that helps us reach the Truth.
There will come a time when we will abandon study and devote ourselves fully to meditation. This will come naturally through our progress and our ‘need’ to be in a constant meditative state and to experience more and more deeply and continuously the peace and bliss of our true nature.
In conclusion, I want to point out that your own life is the book you have to study in depth and get the essence out of it, that is, to realize your own immortal Self as Being-Consciousness-Hoodedness (Sat-Cit-Ananda / Satchitananda).
Note
*satsang: read more about Satsang. Satsang Satsang – Meetings for Truth
The study of spiritual books helps us to feed ourselves with luminous ideas and vibrations and to develop self-awareness, that is, awareness of our true Self, the silent presence of Being.
🌺 Peace, Love, Harmony
atmannityanada 