Going on a pilgrimage is not enough to bring about a complete change in life, thinking or behaviour, says Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj ji, till you tap into your soul potential
It is a common belief in Indian culture that pilgrimage or tirtha as they call in Hindi is a great religious endeavour, is essential for the true devotees of God and that it helps soul in liberation from the past sins. Many devout people undertake pilgrimages to holy places hoping that the visit will fill them with inner power or cleanse them of their sins. Even the old and infirm undergo hardships to visit such places, many of which are in areas that are hard to access even in good weather.
The original purpose of pilgrimage is to live in spiritually refined and sacred environment of the places where great rishis and saints had performed long-term sadhanas to awaken divine sentiments. That’s one reason why on a pilgrimage, most people abstain from certain foods and sensual indulgences.
People who go on a pilgrimage have a desire to get some religious experience from which they hope to benefit either in terms of getting rid of their sins or finding more peace or having other wishes fulfilled. But rarely does it bring about a permanent change in their life or in their way of thinking or behaviour. And this is a fact that no one would completely deny, because once they are back from the pilgrimage, people resume their old ways of living and any uplifting or elevated experience that they have had on pilgrimage, remains just a temporary experience that may, at the most, be cherished by them all their life. Thus, it does not elevate their consciousness because they fail to understand a fact that such kind of transformation takes place only in the soul and cannot be brought about by a physical exercise of going on a pilgrimage. We must understand that a subtle transformation requires spiritual effort, and for that the soul has to travel to the holiest of abodes which is called the soul world — which is the home of all souls as well as the Supreme Soul. It is a region of eternal peace and purity from where all souls come down to this planet to play their roles in this world. The practice by which the soul journeys to that abode is called Rajyoga. One must understand that the soul itself does not travel there, but goes there by a thought, by remembering that abode and its Father, the Supreme Soul, who lives there. When the soul establishes this link of love with its home and Father, the qualities of peace, purity, love and power begin to flow into it. This unique experience nourishes the soul, empowers it and cleanses it of all the impurities that it has acquired by coming under negative influences of this world. This journey, when performed even for a short while daily, gradually makes the soul strong enough to resist all that is harmful to its well-being. It also gets rid of vices that give it sorrow. It is then able to go through life in a state of peace and happiness, enriching itself and others with positivity. Remember, this journey does not require any money, prior bookings, other material resources or physical strain. In fact, it can be performed in the comfort of one’s home, any time one likes and for as long as one wants. And above all, at the end of it, one does not return exhausted but refreshed. So what are you waiting forIJ let’s embark on this wonderful journey of self-transformation and get empowered from within.