In Rigveda 5.44.15, Rishi Avatsara Kashyap।a offers a prayer to the Vishwadevas, describing how a person awakened in the light of knowledge naturally attracts sacred verses (Rucha-knowledge), melodic spiritual practices (sāma), and the blissful presence of the Divine (soma). This awakening is the foundation of true spiritual practice. Just as fire remains ever awake, so too must the seeker remain rooted in inner awareness. When the heart is awakened, wisdom, refined practices, and divine companionship flow naturally toward the seeker.
A question arises — what does it mean to be truly awake? In the Bhagavad Gita (2.69), Lord Krishna says:
What is night for most beings is wakefulness for the sage;
What is wakefulness for most beings is night for the sage.
"That which is night to all beings, therein the disciplined one is awake. And that which beings consider wakefulness, is night to the wise sage." This means that worldly indulgence is darkness to the wise, while inner awareness is true wakefulness.
Night symbolizes tamas — the quality of darkness, ignorance, laziness, attachment, and forgetfulness of the self. A person affected by tamas becomes inactive, loses discernment, lives in fear and anger, and forgets their true nature. Because of tamas, they lose interest in spiritual practice, service, and the pursuit of knowledge, while selfishness and ego begin to grow. This leads to a halt in their mental, social, and spiritual development. A person wandering in the darkness of ignorance becomes devoid of effort and purpose. They lose the courage to face life’s challenges, and sometimes, in deep despair, may even take the extreme step of ending their life
To dispel tamas, one must rise early, meditate, reflect, engage in service, and consciously choose the company of truth, wisdom, and spiritually awakened individuals — a practice that nourishes the soul, sharpens the intellect, dispels inner darkness, and enables one to make wise choices. For students, avoiding distractions like mobile phones and focusing on study is true discipline. Contemplating “Who am I?” is a gateway to self-realization. Through such conscious efforts, the inner darkness fades and the lamp of awareness is lit.
Awakening is the root of all spiritual practice. The seeker who lives with awareness naturally attracts wisdom and sacred sound. Such a seeker gains both worldly fulfillment and spiritual progress, ultimately experiencing eternal joy — not fleeting, but lasting. The Divine enters their life as a true companion, dwelling with them in the bond of sacred friendship.
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