When we begin to physically take a walk and travel the spiritual path and journey, the experiences that we come across as lessons to us make us, mold us, and refine us further. From AN INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF RAMALINGA SWAMI by Dr. C. Srinivasan, published by Ilakkia Nilayam, Tiruchi, 1968 (Srinivasan), we read what Ramalinga Adigal says of the various stages of spiritual experiences that one shall encounter.
In the beginning, we lead a mundane life without even a thought of our transient nature. We are conscious of the world and external objects and enjoy gross things. This is the phase of Sariyai.
Taking a step into Kriyai, we seek to see the Lord, and the untiring search for God begins. We feel inseparable from God and begin to enjoy subtle things.
Taking up Yoga, there is only God; neither dreams nor desires. Our soul becomes temporarily one with Brahman and enjoys bliss.
When we come to the Shiva Jnana Nilai, or state of Siva's Gnanam, lust and the veil covering the soul for generations are shed one after the other. The soul is cleansed by Arutperunjhoti. Spontaneous impulses of love for God are felt and bring on an absolute union with Brahman. One enjoys the grace of the Lord and is in a state of ecstasy. Shackles are removed by Arutperunjhoti. Heavenly experiences come by. Above this stage, God becomes unmanifested. One shall taste God, the glory of Arutperunjhoti. Self-realization of the soul appears as an atom as brilliant as the sun. The soul is charged with divine grace. The aspirant realizes the greatness of God's grace and his smallness. It culminates in Self-realization or Atma Tarisanam. He then perceives God in the form of light. The soul is saturated with compassion and love. He experiences divine life (Uyir Anubhavam). He attains a purified body or golden body (Sutha Degam), although the extent of achievement is dependent on the grace of Arutperunjhoti. He sees divinity in all creatures. He sees God in the form he is ready to receive. He enjoys supreme grace (Arul Anubhavam).
The higher stages are heavenly stages and beyond human perception, where the mind fails to conceive, and all senses cease to function. He gains Uyir Anubavam in Sudha Degam, a transformation to the pure body, where love is incarnate. He sees the universality of love in all fellow beings and oneness in life. He sees the divine in all life forms. He sees the smallness of one and the greatness of God. The descent of divinity comes as a spontaneous gush in him. Supreme grace prepares him for the next stage.
The body transforms into the Pranava Deham or body of grace, merges with Arutperunjhoti, and conquers death.
There are still higher stages that Ramalinga Adigal hesitates to express.
Then we remember what was said about self-realization or Atma Sakshatkar in a video in an earlier post about the need for knowledge to the hard work of practice and guidance, all the way to the final test of discernment and the question put to us, "Where on this path does your own journey begin?"
We cannot possibly walk together on this path from the beginning to the end. Many leave the path somewhere along the way, while many others shall come to join us at any point in time. I have come to realize these words, which merely appeared as words back then, after having the experience of watching people come and go. My time too might be up anytime, and I might have to leave abruptly. Have I completed my mission here? Have I fulfilled my purpose in coming here? Only my guru and god Agathiyar can tell me.