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Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre U.K.
Bourne End, London
Magazine Vedanta September-October 2004

Editorial

 

Purity

Purity is an essential condition of spiritual life. Purity is the very bed-rock of spirituality; without it none can advance in the spiritual path.
It is impurity which obstructs our vision of God. Impurity arises from ignorance. Ignorance gives rise to egoism; we forget our real nature and identify ourselves with non-self i.e., the body and mind. The ego gives rise to attachment and aversion; it is because of the ego we have intense clinging to life.
What is purity? That which dispels delusion and reveals our real nature to us is purity. Purity manifests in thought, speech and deeds. As we go on practising spiritual disciplines our mind becomes pure (Satvik), and like a clean mirror starts reflecting the divine. This reflection of the divine further intensifies our longing for God-realisation.
As the mind becomes purer it makes us aware of impure thoughts, desires, motives etc, and also shows us the way out.
"Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God."

Swami Dayatmananda