If you are a seeker in your late teens or early 20’s, you are blessed to have landed on the right page.
Owing to our circumstances or just as a natural tendency, some of us have a strong urge for spiritual seeking at a tender age. When all peers are studying books of the curriculum, novels and comics, we are pulled towards the wisdom of Bhagavadgita, Upanishads, Ramayan, etc. When our classmates and friends are busy with sports and making merry, we are visualising our future journey to the Himalayas and attempting to perfect yogic postures. Sitting at home in the evenings and weekends, we are trying to make sense of scriptures, browsing through endless discourses of Gurus, hoping to find our answers. We are drawn to exploring several spiritual institutes and pray that our parents allow us to go on retreats or for satsang and darshan of great Gurus.
This phase is not always easy since it can cause frictions at home as well as create difficulty in concentrating on studies. However, the urge from within is so strong to grow spiritually and gain dharmic knowledge, that all else seems futile, and this builds up frustration.
In such a situation, it is only a Guru who can guide us and show us the path of dharma, protecting us from any deviation or downfall. Let us learn from the advice given Pujayapad Puri Shankaracharyaji, as below.
Pujyapad points out that youth who are strongly attracted to Bhagavan & knowledge often tend to visit various babas/gurus & read several texts/granthas. While their goal maybe good, too much wandering of this type can cause harm.
Bhajan or remembering the name of Bhagavan (japa) must be done but at the same time responsibilities as per social expectations, vedas & shastras, must be taken care of. Youth must focus must be on taking care of parents, making a career & becoming independent, plus living a life of high integrity and wisdom.
Steps for young seekers to pursue the path of dharma:
1. 75 min of bhajan (japa) daily – We can sit for 15min sessions 5 times a day: as soon as we wake up (without mala), after a bath and daily puja, at noon, at sunset and then, before sleeping. If we are busy with work or studies, we can combine a few of these sessions. The resolve of such a daily sadhana must be taken with the prayer to Bhagavan requesting Him to fill our lives with the strength and power to benefit ourselves and others.
2. Recite the Ram Raksha Stotram every day. You can purchase your own copy from Gita Press.
3. Fulfil the responsibilities you have & try to become independent.
4. Do not pursue all types of babas since their influence may deviate you from your path. This includes traditional gurus/acharyas.
5. No need to read too many spiritual books/granthas. Read only Gyaneshwari Gita for svadhyaya or self-study.
6. Keep contact with a few genuine saints who wish for your welfare and visit them once in a while.
7. Get your sacred thread ceremony done in the right method (if you belong to a varna where this is applicable).
8. Marry on time & establish a good household.
9. Take care of your parents.
Puri Shankaracharyaji has observed that those who have a strong urge to seek early in life, later regret that they lost the prime of their lives in such a pursuit. As they grow older, they often stop taking the name of Bhagavan entirely.
Hence, it is important to be alert, balanced & try to follow the above guidance, to protect ones path of dharma & move forward on the path of devotion.
Wishing young seekers the very best on their journey!