When the various paths are explained, they may look very different from each other; however, they all have the same scientific basis. The spiritual practices in all religions - whether selfless service, prayer, contemplation, study, or meditation - are emotional, intellectual, or physical techniques that aim at bringing about at least one solitary moment of perfect mental poise. Such a moment of poise is the moment of perfect mental illumination, the auspicious hour of self-discovery. The only way by which we can come to rediscover our equipoise as the eternal Self is to arrest, control, and win over the agitations of the mind.

How are the agitations arrested? When actions are undertaken without ego as humble expressions of love for the Lord, the reactions of those actions cannot reach the person, since the ego who suffers or enjoys such reactions is not available. With this attitude of egolessness toward all activity, the mind becomes increasingly purified. Such a purified mind gains concentration and single-pointedness and discovers in itself even greater reserves of discrimination. It learns to renounce all egocentric quests and all anxieties or cravings for the fruits of action. The Gita calls this attitude of mind renunciation, or sannyasa.

To the person who has come to live this renunciation of personal desires and who has developed a mind full to the brim with purity, contemplation is natural, as he or she is remembering the Infinite throughout each and every activity of the day. Such a life of constant prayer and of surrender to the Lord is urged by all the religions of the world. (Cont’d)