Spiritual Progress

What is spiritual growth and how do we measure it? Am I growing? Why don’t I feel any difference in life? What is the point of practicing meditation if I still experience anxiety, irritation, restlessness, etc.

Progress is not the absence of problems or conflict. Every little discomfort pushes us to react immediately, if we react, we often find ourselves in trouble. Words spoken out of anxiety or anger create a series of consequences. And if we don’t respond, people feel ignored and offended. There is a strange discomfort eating us all the time.

When we begin to practice meditation, we are slowing down from inside. It is a great progress in itself. As we become more observant we develop a sense of certainty in each moment, “When to remain silent, and when to speak, choosing our words carefully. Even if we react out of our restlessness, we do so with awareness. Self-judgment diminishes, and when we do so, we observe it instead of being consumed by it. It is a beautiful experience. Things still bother us, but their impact fades more quickly- like a mark on the sand, compared to the lasting imprints on the rock they once were. 

We learn to tolerate ourselves – our restlessness, our discomfort -without rushing to escape it. It might sound strange to you but it happens naturally as we remain persistent in our practice. We perform our daily chores slowly, staying with our pain. It is not easy. Yet, we stay in it without trying hard to distract ourselves.  Suddenly, it vanishes. How does this happen? The answer is complex, but I’ll try to explain. It’s a combination of many things – our conscious efforts, awareness of our inner state, unwavering dedication to kriya practice- techniques tailored to our complex thought process. It also involves our ability to live with and tolerate our thoughts. Above all our deep desire to know ourselves at any cost fuels this transformation. Practicing mediation like no other option.

Over time, we learn to react with inner certainty, precision, and focus, conserving our energy. This inner work feels rewarding, bringing a great sense of achievement and happiness. We feel stronger than ever before. This is the purpose of life, and it makes it worth living.