The Four Stages of Spiritual Practice Hidden in Rama’s Lineage
Question:
Sometimes it feels like I’ve understood something about spiritual knowledge, but at other times I’m completely caught up again in body-consciousness. How can I reduce this body-consciousness and keep spiritual awareness steady? Is there a process for that?
Answer:
That’s a very good question. When I started reading the Valmiki Ramayana, we discussed the point where it says that Rama was born in the house of King Dasharatha and Queen Kaushalya. Now, who is this Rama?
This Rama is called Suryavanshi Rama — from the Solar dynasty, Ikshvaku Vanshi, and Raghu Vanshi. We had discussed that earlier. These aren’t just genealogical ancestors like our grandfathers or great-grandfathers. These “ancestors” actually symbolize spiritual stages of practice (sādhanā).
So, why is Rama called Suryavanshi?
In the scriptures, the Sun (Surya) is also called Vishwan. To realize your true self, the first stage of practice is to become Vishwan — that is, free from desires and attachments. That’s the first step.
Then Rama is called Ikshvaku Vanshi. What does Ikshvaku mean? It means turning inward. The second stage of spiritual practice is to become inwardly focused. As long as we remain outward-looking — attached to the world, its attractions, its trends — we cannot be established in Self-awareness.
So the first step is freeing yourself from desires, the second is turning inward.
The third stage — Rama is Raghu Vanshi. Raghu means the ability to rise above small and difficult situations in life. Once knowledge begins to descend within, we can overcome life’s challenges more easily.
When you cross these three stages, you reach Dasharatha, the father of Rama. Dasharatha means a pure, sacred mind. Once your mind becomes pure and clean, Rama — the Self — is revealed within.
So your question — “I keep saying I am the soul, but how can I stay stable in that awareness?” — has its answer in these four steps of sādhanā as shown in the Ramayana:
Become free of desires (Suryavanshi – Vishwan).
Turn inward (Ikshvaku).
Learn to cross small difficulties (Raghu).
Purify your mind (Dasharatha).
Then Rama — Self-realization — will manifest naturally.
Before Self-awareness becomes steady, gather true knowledge. Study scriptures, listen to satsang, and absorb scattered knowledge so that you can face life’s situations with stability. Gradually, as your mind becomes purer, that awareness “I am the soul” will start staying within you naturally.
Because these teachings are given symbolically, they’re easy to remember — and by remembering these symbolic steps, we stay connected to the path of practice.
Follow-up Discussion:
Yes, it feels clear when we hear it, but in practice the mind keeps fluctuating.
Exactly. Before Rama’s descent, the mind’s state is Dasharatha — a pure mind. So check yourself: is your mind truly pure yet? If it is, then the moment someone tells you, “You are the soul,” your mind will grasp it and hold it.
But if the mind is still impure — caught in desires, attachments, criticism, and worldly thoughts — then even if you hear “You are the soul” a thousand times, it won’t stay. It might stay for a minute, or a day, then fade away.
Our mind right now is like the color black — it absorbs everything but is not yet white or pure. Once the mind becomes sattvic, the awareness of the soul will stay effortlessly.
The path of sādhanā continues until we can remain stable in that awareness all the time. Until then, we just keep listening, practicing detachment, and observing ourselves.
It’s not about remembering too many things — just remember that Rama’s “ancestors” represent spiritual stages. Until we pass through those stages, the awareness of the Self cannot stay.
I use this way of remembering — thinking of them as Rama’s ancestors — so I never forget. It becomes deeply settled within.
Yes, and if I remember these steps, then whenever I notice some disturbance in my mind, I’ll know which step I’ve missed and what I need to work on.
Exactly. Self-checking is the most important thing. No one else can do it for you. Others may praise or criticize, but only you truly know where you stand.
If you feel irritation, anger, or disappointment, look within — maybe there was an unfulfilled expectation. Every emotion points to something inside us that needs attention.
And yes, we’ll forget again and again — that’s natural. That’s why the finger should always point toward ourselves, not others. The moment we blame others, it means we’re avoiding our own responsibility.
Taking self-responsibility — accepting that “I am responsible for my state” — is the true beginning of spiritual maturity.