Human Journey: For Peace and Happiness

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MR. SANT RAM (b. 1931) a prolific researcher and an established spiritual writer started his soul journey, when he came in contact with Swami Sharnanand Ji in year 1957. Since then he has been closely associated with him, learning path of journey. He did his post graduation in Economics from Punjab University. He worked as a specialist in statistics and demography with office of Registrar General India and has written several research papers and books on demography. This is his second book on spiritual enlightenment which will help layman to better understand journey of life.

While writing the foreword for the book "A Saint's Call to Mankind" on the teachings of Swami Sharnanandji Maharaj of of Manva Sewa Sangh, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishan, visiting Professor of Philosophy at Oxford, and later the President of the Indian Republic, referred to Berrand Russell's words that mankind is passing through a spiritual crisis. He pointed our the failure of mankind to adjust to the technical revolution, which was to liberate man from the servitude of nature, and provide immense opportunity for betterment. On the contrary, it had become a dreadful possibility for mass destruction. For saving ourselves from this possibility we have to turn to spiritual discipline.

Shrimad Bhagwat Gita enlightens us on the causes of human sufferings and advocates spiritual enlightenment by removing the mire of delusion. From time to time all saints have put forward the same philosophy. Even the Great Buddha emphasized the need of spiritual enlightenment by renouncing ignorance and delusion.

Swami Sharmanandji Maharaj, who was born in the nineteenth century, attained the spiritual path through his own experience of human sufferings. He provided spiritual enlightenment suitable to all circumstances, irrespective of caste, creed and religion.

He attracted many people for seeking spiritual guidance. His preachings were free for discussion, as he felt everyone had the right to accept or reject his views based on their own perceptions. He never discarded anyone, not even those who rejected his spiritual guidance, but was always unfailingly affectionate to all.

Once Swamiji thought of solitude, and the very thought made his circumstances congenial. A junior engineer who was in Etawah (U.P.) at that time, got prepared a cave hrough gram sabha on the banks of Chambal river in which Swamiji stayed from 1938-44.

Swamiji had no fear of death rather he faced death. He used to visit holy places, kedamath badrinath in Himalayans. Once returning back from these places he had hill diarrhoea. Despite the best-efforts of medical team he was approaching death and his disciples were unhappy. He was observing their anguish.

Upon reading an early draft I was charmed by Sant Ram's eloquent presentation of the philosophy of Swami Sharnanada in his book Spiritual Enlightenment. Westerners often think of the teaching of the Indian swamis' yogis, and enunciates as esoteric, dogmatic, and other-wordly. This book will gainsay that very incorrect impression, for it is practical, pragmatic, and tells the reader how to live victoriously in this world in which we are now living, not some other we have not yet experience. Our age is dominated by two bankrupt philosophies, Rationalism and Secular Humanism, neither of which gives us any hope for the betterment of humanity either as individuals or as a group. Both Sartre and Science have failed to rescue us from the physical and intellectual destruction of a century of war, offering only absurdity in lieu of hope. Spiritual Enlightenment is an antidote for the intellectual poison of spiritual ignorance in secular humanist world.

Swami Sharmanda who lost his eyesight in his youth, taught himself to see that which we cannot see without the inner vision he teaches us here. Aquinas taught that therefore must reveal the same message. Swami Shamanada, who could not study the scripture, learned from Nature by giving up every thing, so that he might be able to give us as his students and readers everything. He learned from his inner sight to see the bridge of Faith which we will never see with our natural eyes. He taught us that we can only experience the steady firmness this invisible bridge by stepping out upon it firmly beneath our feet, from whence can enter a life of true joy in service to others.

Like the Bhagawad Gita, Swami Sharmananda teaches us that while study, worship, and meditation are all useful disciplines for the soul the surest and most practical yoga or spiritual discipline is Bhakti-Yoga, the practice of devotion to God.

**Contents and Sample Pages**