The Identity and the Goal

A genuine spiritualist is never impressed by material accomplishments of anyone. Of course, the spiritualist does not despise or envy material accomplishments, just that they are irrelevant for him. They are just ordinary, no matter how extraordinary they are in the eyes of the general public.

Instead a spiritualist is impressed by genuine spiritual advancement of others. He considers such persons extraordinary irrespective of their material aspects like wealth, education, beauty, fame, power, skills, and so on.

Spiritual advancement means recognizing that the body is temporary and the soul is eternal. Due to the influence of ignorance, the soul identifies with the body and things related with it. Then the soul thinks in terms of I and Mine, even though nothing around him, including his body, is under his control. It thinks that to live the way he wants is the best way of life. Due to the influence of ego, it does not think that there can be higher truths than he can currently perceive by his limited senses. And he is proud of this attitude.

The spiritualist tries to reduce his identification with things related to the body. Of course he continues to do his duties responsibly and maintain affectionate relationships with people of this world, but he cultivates the conviction that he is not of this world of temporariness.

The soul belongs to a realm of eternal bliss and knowledge and to attain that realm is the goal of the genuine spiritualist.

https://www.vedabase.com/en/bg/2/69

yā niśā sarva-bhūtānāṁ
tasyāṁ jāgarti saṁyamī
yasyāṁ jāgrati bhūtāni
sā niśā paśyato muneḥ

Translation: 

What is night for all beings is the time of awakening for the self-controlled; and the time of awakening for all beings is night for the introspective sage.

The Happier of the Two; Enjoyment and Satisfaction

Those who think that there is nothing beyond their current lifetime, try to enjoy to the fullest with their senses. They are always striving to make arrangements for enjoying using their senses, because, after all, they believe, there is just one lifetime, live it fully! Eat, drink, enjoy!

On the other hand, those who believe that life is eternal and can perceive the current body as a temporary and troublesome dress for the soul, try to mould their life around spiritual principles. They strive to train their mind to be satisfied with minimum sensual dependencies by engaging it in joyful and satisfying spiritual activities. Note that spiritual activities also engage the senses fully, without being fundamentally dependent on them for enjoyment. Since the senses and body are temporary, what's the point in depending on them direly?

One kind seeks enjoyment, and the other seeks satisfaction. Assuming that both attain what they seek, who will be happier?

https://www.vedabase.com/en/bg/10/9

mac-cittā mad-gata-prāṇā
bodhayantaḥ parasparam
kathayantaś ca māṁ nityaṁ
tuṣyanti ca ramanti ca

Translation: 

The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted to My service, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me.

The Keys of Introspection / The Beginning

One takes interest in things beyond ordinary sense perception only when one realizes that there is no intrinsic value in the unlimited manifestations of the combinations of tangible elements - no value, because they are all temporary.

Only the keys of introspection open the doors to such contemplation. Of course, the journey of enlightenment doesn't end here; there are still many more egoistic barriers to destroy and cross before we accept and harmonize ourselves with the eternal truths. But still, the beginning is always an important milestone, for there is no end before a beginning.

https://www.vedabase.com/en/bg/5/22

ye hi saṁsparśa-jā bhogā
duḥkha-yonaya eva te
ādy-antavantaḥ kaunteya
na teṣu ramate budhaḥ

Translation: 

An intelligent person does not take part in the sources of misery, which are due to contact with the material senses. O son of Kuntī, such pleasures have a beginning and an end, and so the wise man does not delight in them.

The Illusion of Being in Control

Unless we strive for lofty ideals and goals in our lives, that requires a life of one-pointed focus and dedication, controlling the mind and senses does not seem necessary. Moreover, unless we subject our mind and senses to rules and regulations in the form of dos and donts, we remain convinced that our mind and senses are under our control.

Thus, those who think that their mind and senses are under control are pitifully unaware of their powerlessness against their own mind, and even more pitifully unaware of sublime ideals and goals that require one to control the mind by following a disciplined life of rules and regulations.

The Bhagavad Gita repeatedly points out these facts. Following verses are just two examples:

https://www.vedabase.com/en/bg/2/60
The senses are so strong and impetuous, O Arjuna, that they forcibly carry away the mind even of a man of discrimination who is endeavoring to control them.

https://www.vedabase.com/en/bg/2/64
But a person free from all attachment and aversion and able to control his senses through regulative principles of freedom can obtain the complete mercy of the Lord.

Happy New Year? (2017)

The new year celebrations all over the world are characterized by heightened sinful activities - unrestricted drinking, cruel meat eating, wanton sexual promiscuity, and so on. The whole world becomes a night club and everyone becomes at least a little bit more sinful. Many people sin for the first time in their life at a new year party thrown by veterans.

Where is the question of a Happy New Year? Sin is the root cause of all misery.

Wishing the whole world a Sinless New Year.

Potence

Which religion you follow is not important. What is important is whether your love for God and faith in his mercy, both apparent and inconceivable, is exhibited in every aspect of your life. That is the essence of true religion. A system of religion is potent to the degree it can take the practitioner to this stage of God consciousness.

https://www.vedabase.com/en/sb/1/2/6

sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo
 yato bhaktir adhokṣaje
ahaituky apratihatā
 yayātmā suprasīdati

Translation: 

The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self.