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Modus Operandi
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To illustrate how our life actions in our spiritual journey take final shape, our attention is drawn to the process by which a potter gives a final shape to an earthen pot. In an earthen pot, the lump of clay is 'Upādāna', the potter is the doer (Karta) and the instruments are 'Nimitta'. The lump of clay has to pass through different shapes before it assumes the final shape of a pot. Applying this analogy to the shaping of spiritual life, our 'self' or 'Atman' is both the Kartā and Upādāna because it combines in itself the qualities of a motivating force and the substratum which undergoes changes and the external objects are 'Nimittas'. If the 'Self', while coming into contact with worldly objects, allows itself to be influenced by them, it assumes the character of these objects and shapes itself accordingly. If it allows itself to be influenced by anger, it looks angry; if by greed, it looks greedy; if by proud, it looks proudy. But if it allows itself to be influenced by the thoughts and writings of spiritual leaders, it looks spiritualised, noble and benedictory. Thus the upward progress of the soul depends much upon the quality of the 'Nimitta' which is permitted to influence it. Just as a lump of clay takes different shapes before attaining the final shape of a pot, the self also takes different shapes before attaining the ultimate stage of 'Nirvana'. It is a common place truth that one is always influenced by the company he keeps. "Ilika bhramari jata dhyāyanti bhramari yatha", means 'just as a new born insect becomes a bee by contemplating on the bee itself'. That is why all the saints of different schools in India have put special emphasis on Satsanga, i. c., the company of saintly persons; studying and contemplating on the path shown by the great seers, constantly repeating the names and attributes of the great souls who have moved on earth, contemplating the virtues which have made them great, discussing and analysing the great doctrines handed over to us by them through selfless love for humanity. These are the surest ways to be
1. "इलिका भ्रमरी जाता ध्यायन्ति भ्रमरी यथा" ।
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