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RAMAKRISHNA ANANDA

The Signs of Enlightenment

Sri Ramakrishna’s signs of a spiritually awakened person

It’s important to be aware of the different stages on the path to enlightenment. Is your nature more peaceful? Are you happy serving the Lord? Are you free of selfish motive? These are just a few of the qualities devotees acquire on the path to enlightenment. Find out where you are on the path to being spiritually awakened. Discover the hallmarks of spiritual enlightenment, interpreting them through the wisdom and experiences of Sri Ramakrishna.

Yoga Perspectives, Awakening, Enlightenment, Sri Ramakrishna

A Peaceful Nature

The first sign of knowledge, spiritual awareness, is a peaceful nature. In having surrendered your life to a Higher Power, having connected with God, having trust in the Lord, having been made whole — you don’t live against people and against the world. You live affirmatively, saying  yes to life, not, no, no, no. Peace is part of you. It’s natural to you, not just an occasional state.

  • The first sign of spiritual awareness is a peaceful nature. You don’t live against people and against things. You live affirmatively
  • The second sign of higher knowledge is the absence of egotism. One is free of selfish motive and fulfilled in God
  • The third sign of being enlightened is intense dispassion — being spiritually centered
  • One who is continually aware of Spirit and lives in the consciousness of Spirit is called a vijnani
  • Characteristics of a vijnani: guileless like a child, with no sense of bondage; sometimes inert, absorbed in Spirit; seeing everything is full of Spirit and not necessarily observing formal rituals; sometimes appearing mad and misunderstood by those around them
  • The story of Teresa of Avila is a good example of a person awakening to Spirit. Regrettably, her sister nuns couldn’t understand her

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Hear more about how Sri Ramakrishna says you can discover your true nature.

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