While making decisions, how can we know whether we are in touch with the Supersoul?
Podcast:
When can someone say they are in touch with the Paramatma (Supersoul)? When is someone truly Paramatma-samahitah (established in the Supersoul)?
The answer is: only when they are following their spiritual authority very purely. Personally, I find it difficult to judge who is truly in touch with the Paramatma and who is not.
If an authority claims that a subordinate is not in touch with the Paramatma, then I ask—what proof does the authority have that they themselves are in touch with the Paramatma? On what basis is such a claim made?
It is much better to focus instead on the principle of anukūlesu saṅkalpaḥ pratikūlesu varjanam—accepting what is favorable and avoiding what is unfavorable. Rather than worrying about the source of an idea, we can focus more on its effect: where is it taking us?
We might not always know exactly where an idea is leading, but by trying it out for a few days, or by understanding our own nature, we can assess what will strengthen us and what will drain us.
Is an idea necessarily coming from Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, from the Paramatma, or from our spiritual master? Maybe yes, maybe no. I don’t try to enter that zone of speculation. Even if my spiritual authority instructs me, I wouldn’t automatically assume it is the direct instruction of the Paramatma. It may simply be a direct instruction from the spiritual master, which we respect and seriously consider.
Ultimately, however, we are responsible for our own spiritual progress. We have to pilot our own spiritual journey.
We can have candid discussions with our spiritual authorities, like Dhruva Maharaj had with Narada Muni. Through such dialogue, we arrive at a form of instruction that is workable for us. Otherwise, we risk making our lives miserable by trying to follow something we think is from the Supersoul, but which causes distress or unhappiness.
We must balance who we want to become—or who we essentially are—with who we presently are. This means that even if a certain instruction is good in principle, if in practice it is taking too much toll on us, we may need to soften, nuance, or balance it with something else, so that we can sustain ourselves on the journey and be nourished.
Some instructions are like lifting heavy weights—they help us build spiritual muscles. But if we lift heavy weights, we also need an adequate diet. What is that diet? Some say chanting and hearing are enough. Maybe for some it is, but for me right now, that may not give sufficient strength.
I may need to read specific books, memorize shlokas, or listen to particular kinds of deep content. If the nourishment I receive is not enough to support the weight I’m lifting—if I’m not getting enough spiritual “diet”—then I may need to reduce the weight (the intensity of the instruction).
So, often the instructions we try to follow are heavy. If we don’t balance them with nourishment, it’s unsustainable.
Overall, let’s not get too caught up in questions like: Am I Paramatma-samahitah? or Is my spiritual authority Paramatma-samahitah?
Instead, let’s focus on how best we can grow spiritually by carefully considering what is favorable and unfavorable for both the essential self—the Atma—and the present embodied self—the Atma in a particular body and mind with its unique nature.