Very few people realise the true purpose of human birth. Undoubtedly, the sole purpose of human birth is to realise the self or attain Nirvana in other words. But more often than not, most people get involved in materialism that this world has to offer. A lot of people tread on the spiritual path, but again get stuck at certain stages of spirituality.
Aatma sadhana (self-realisation) or worship of aatma can broadly be classified into four steps: (1) Sthulatma (gross form of worship), (2) Sukshma Aatma (subtle form of worship), (3) Bhavatma (meditative state) and (4) Bhavateetatama (transcendental state). The description of these four steps is as follows:
Sthulatma: This is external worship and in this form idols, pictures, fire, yantra (the divine geometrical drawing), etc., are worshipped and godly praises, mantra chanting, singing of divine songs, prayers, service, rituals, aarti, etc., are performed.
This is the most common form of worship among people and in most of the religions. This external form of gross worship generally bestows external and gross form of result such as wealth, house, prosperity, name, fame, etc. It also binds us to the cycle of karma as we often get entangled and attached to the worldly objects.
Sukshma Aatma: This is internal worship and all the forms of external worship are worshipped internally, i.e. by visualising the form of God or form of worship in the mind and by mentally chanting God’s name, mantra, etc.
This is higher level of worship as we are closer to the worshipped object or God (as God resides within us and not outside in idols, fire or in pictures). External worship is to help us connect with internal reality. It acts as a medium to invoke our divine feeling.
Bhavatma: It is the pure form of worship of the supreme divine being, the consciousness or God. Here we meditate on the formless consciousness, the empty space or the self. This meditation helps us become one with the universal consciousness. It is that consciousness which is the creator, sustainer and destroyer of all the worlds and universes.
Bhavateetatama: This is the state where one is permanently established in the universal consciousness, the divine being or the pure self. In this state, one identifies with the formless consciousness and not with the physical body, mind or soul. The effort to meditate also stops in this state, as it becomes a natural state of being.
This state is also called as sahaj samadhi, the ultimate union with divine reality. This is the result of the third meditative step and equals complete enlightenment, self-realisation and God realisation. This is the state of complete freedom and bliss. One gets liberated from all bondages and breaks the cycle of birth, death and rebirth.
