The Right Procedure

“Just as oil is dormant and hidden within sesame seeds, ghee is hidden in yogurt, water is hidden in the aquifer and fire is dormant in wood, similarly the Supreme Lord is dormant in everyone’s heart. Anyone who searches for Him following the path of devotional service and austerity is surely able to see and obtain Him.”

tilesu tailam dadhaniva sarpir
apah srotahsu aranisu cagnih
evam atma”tmani grhyate’sau
satyenainam tapasa yo’nu pasyati

PURPORT BY SRI KRSNA BALARAM SWAMIJI

Just as one has to follow a definite procedure and perform the austerity of hard labor in order to extract the oil hidden in the seeds, ghee in the yogurt, water in the aquifer and fire from the wood similarly one has to perform devotional service (such as chanting, worshipping, studying of scriptures and taking sanctified food) and perform austerities to bring out the Supersoul from within to manifest before the eyes. Just as help of a machine and its operator are utilized to bring out the oil etc., similarly the mechanism of the unbroken chain of authentic disciplic succession and a scripturally authentic and spiritually qualified Spiritual Master’s help is required for a spiritual success. In other words no one can make any spiritual advancement independently.

[Svetasvatara Upanisad, Chapter 1, Text 15, KBS0042]