What are the most important things in spiritual life?

In Patañjali's Yoga Sutra, we find:

अभ्यासवैराग्याअभ्यां तन्निरोध:
abhyāsa-vairāgya-ābhyāṁ tan-nirodhaḥ

"Through yearning and renunciation, the mind can be stopped (i.e samādhi can be attained)"

And in the Bhagavad Gita 6:35, we find:

श्रीभगवानुवाच |
असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलम्
|अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते || 35||

śhrī bhagavān uvācha:
asanśhayaṁ mahā-bāho mano durnigrahaṁ chalam
abhyāsena tu kaunteya vairāgyeṇa cha gṛihyate

The Lord said:
"Undoubtedly, O mighty armed one, the mind is difficult to control and restless but by practice (I.e intense yearning) and by detachment, it can be controlled, O son of Kunti."

And all throughout the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, we find the Master emphatically stressing this point over and over: through yearning and renunciation, God can be attained!

Perhaps this point is the very essence of practice, the very heart of spiritual life? Having discussed what yearning and renunciation really mean, let's now talk about how to cultivate these!

As such, at our last online gathering of 2024, we discussed the two most important things in spiritual life: yearning for realization of the Infinite + renunciation for the finite and then rattled off a few different ways to cultivate that including but not limited to:

Visiting sacred places like temples and nature which are associated to great spiritual masters (yatra)

Spending time with spiritual people or at least with spiritual ideas through books and media (sadhu-sangha)

Finding a guru and learning under them (parampara)

Consistency in spiritual practice

Pacing so as not to burn out

Ample time in solitude to practice and integrate.

A moderate, simple and ethical life. (Yama/niyama or acāra)

For more detailed instructions for how to perform Kālī pūjā, watch this playlist: https://www.patreon.com/collection/233799

Lectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and Friday 10am PST and again Friday at 6pm PST.
Use this link and I will see you there:
https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815

For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:
https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnish

To get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

Support the show

Lectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and again at Friday 11am PST
Use this link and I will see you there:
https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815

For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:
https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnish

To get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

Consistency is King - GSD Leveling Up