Today is World Book Day. This day is also celebrated as International Day of the Book by UNESCO to promote reading, publishing, and copyright. This day gives us the opportunity to honor the role of books in our life. In this article, we shall explore the benefits of reading spiritual scriptures and understand how we can do justice to these great works of wisdom.
Pandit Todarmal, is a celebrated Jain litterateur of the 18th century, famous for his work titled ‘Moksha Marg Prakashika - the way to Moksha.’
He used to put his heart and soul into writing, starting his daily writing at the break of the dawn and stopping only late at night. He remained aloof from worldly ways and was lost to the taste of delicacies his mother would prepare. He dedicated himself entirely to his literary work.
One day, at dinner, he asked his mother, “Mother, looks like you forgot to add salt to the food today?” His mother smiled, “Well, it looks like you have finally completed writing!” He was astonished. He asked, “You’re right, mother. But how do you know?” She said, “My dear, I haven’t been adding salt to your food for the last six months, and it's only today that you realized it. You were so engrossed in your work. When you sensed the lack of salt, I knew you must have finished your book, that your thoughts could wander to such mundane topics as the taste of food!”
Many writers dedicate themselves to creating high quality literature, but do readers do justice to their extensive efforts? One can find guidance on almost all the aspects of life in scriptures like the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the Gita, the Guru Granth Sahib, the Quran, the Bible, etc. Even today, these scriptures teach us the value of human virtues. The Almighty teaches human virtues through various channels, but most people seldom understand the message.
After attaining Self-realization, some great souls expressed their wisdom through written words. Their literary works hold the possibility of salvation, holistic evolution, and world peace. So, it’s no less than an art to know how to read these scriptures. One can bring the essential teachings of scriptures to life only when one learns the fine art of reading and digesting these sublime works.
Why should we read spiritual scriptures?
There are several types of books. Some books are good just for a glance, some deserve a detailed reading, but Spiritual books command respect to be read, contemplated upon, and implemented in life. That’s because they not only change the state of one’s life but also give it a direction.
Let us understand the five main benefits of reading spiritual literature.
1.Awakening within
A person was printing a letter that he had typed on a computer. When he reviewed the print, he noticed an error. He had wrongly typed 'Log' instead of 'Long'. So, he picked up a pen and corrected it on the printed copy. He then took another print. He corrected the error again on the second copy and then took yet another print. He was baffled to see that the error was still present on the third print. He again marked the correction on the printed page and took one more print. Finally, a person, who knew how computers work, told him, “If you want to correct it once and for all, correct it in the document you’ve typed on the computer, not on the printed copy.”
People are just as similar; they think it’s not me who needs to change; it’s the others. Reading spiritual literature makes one realize that one has to introspect one’s thoughts and strengthen one’s character more than trying to correct situations in the outside world. The most important benefit of reading the scriptures is their power to transform the reader’s heart and mindset. These scriptures can awaken one from the within.
2.Developing qualities
Just as physical exercises benefit the body, reading is beneficial for the intellect. It is not only an exercise for the intellect but also helps develops its faculties and qualities. Spiritual scriptures guide us and instill qualities like willpower, effective decision-making, the power of concentration, and consistency. Almost all spiritual scriptures point us to the inner state of tranquility.
While reading scriptures like the Ramayana or Mahabharata, we can feel these epics being played out within and around us. Every character from these scriptures is present around us or perhaps even within us. The deceitful demons have changed their appearance to lurk around everywhere. Estranged relationships, depression, boredom, jealousy, hatred, anxiety, and stress are the demons that harass humankind. On the other hand, these scriptures train us to defeat these demons and fill our lives with love, happiness, and peace, thereby helping us attain the ultimate purpose of life.
In a nutshell, Spiritual scriptures enhance love, happiness, peace, prosperity, servitude, agility, devotion, and the art of expression.
3.Being receptive to nature's indications
During their challenging times, many may have experienced that they hit a solution to their problem while reading a quote or maxim from a scripture. Spiritual scriptures serve as harbingers of solutions. A famous quote says, ‘Books are a window to the world; we receive indications from nature through books.’ Spiritual books offer the ultimate solutions to challenges that life throws at us.
Reading books can help us realize our flaws and overcome them. For example, if one is insensitive towards their physical health, some books emphasize the importance of physical fitness for attaining success in life. One, who is faced with difficult relationships, may find the key to bringing harmony in their relationships. One may become wise by learning about the real value of money and the importance of charity. Some may get pointers to overcome their anger, while some may understand how to be liberated from life’s sorrows.
4.Attaining true success through the power of contemplation
‘Just as diamonds remain worthless pieces of coal without cutting and polishing, great spiritual scriptures remain mere books without the power of contemplation.’ Contemplation is a habit that propels one to the summit of lasting success. A 'contemplation break' is thus advised while reading scriptures. Readers should contemplate what they have read thus far during this break.
How do you contemplate a spiritual scripture while you are reading it? Do you see the characters as symbols of the ways of life? Do they serve as analogies of the working of your mind? Or do you see it just as an imaginary story of miracles? If you implement the underlying message in your daily life, it can be said that you have read it in a true sense. Otherwise, such great works remain stories that you casually happened to read.
5.A door to emancipation
There are three kinds of readers.
The first kind read to forget. They are the ones who read scriptures to spend their spare time and leave it at that.
The second kind is the ones who read and bloat. Many read the scriptures only to show off what they know. Their ego gets bloated by thinking, “I read it all, and now I know it all.” You can hear them quoting lines from the scriptures but rarely implementing the teachings. They mistake information for knowledge.
The third kind of readers is those who read and immerse themselves. They are fully engrossed in reading. Some get so absorbed in the import of the scripture that they become one with the knowledge. It permeates their feelings, thoughts, speech, and actions. As a result, reading scriptures opens the doors of salvation for such readers.
Having understood the importance of reading spiritual scriptures, let us consider how to read them.
1.Read with conscious intent and direction
When one reads the scriptures without any intent or direction, it amounts to not reading it at all. Many people keep reading the Bhagavad Gita, the Quran, the Bible, Dasbodh for years, but there seems to be no significant transformation in their lives. That's because they haven't been clear about the purpose of reading these scriptures. We do not benefit if we are reading merely for the sake of reading or feeling good. So, it is important to re-affirm the intent of reading the scripture.
2.Prepare a plan and implement it
There are four types of books.
- Some books are meant for flicking through. You use your eyes.
- Some books are meant to be recited, meaning you read it aloud.
- Some books demand intellectual faculties in addition to eyes and speech. You read, and you also reflect on it.
- Some books are such that you use your eyesight, speech, and intellect while reading, plan how to implement the message in your life, and track your progress.
It would be best to use the fourth way while reading spiritual scriptures. Stop where you need to contemplate and write down what you have understood. Prepare an action plan during your contemplation if you want to break free from any negative disposition.
3.Read from the beginning and read till the end
Some people start reading from any random page of the book. As a result, they do not give full justice to the book. So, start reading right from the ‘How to read the book’ section. Some people are not interested in the book’s preface and might conclude that the book is not of much use. We cannot delve deep into the subject with this approach. Some books demand you to know about the references to specific points made in the book and the basic premise of the topic. Hence, a book should be read from the beginning, the preface, and following the stipulated order.
4.Create your own reference
Underline the parts you think are most important, thereby creating your own reference in doing so.
5.Reading more than once
The parts that you did not underline could also be important. So, don't put the book away after reading it just once. Read it several times to increase your level of understanding. When you read the book first, you may like an answer, but you may latch onto another while reading the next time. Every time you read the book, your level of awareness rises. You draw out newer answers each time. Otherwise, people stick to the answers they get the first time and regard them as the ultimate answers. So, read meticulously many times to unfold new aspects, new levels of depth in the subject.
Reading spiritual scriptures raises your spiritual quotient till you meet a true Guru. They can guide and lead you from darkness to light, from ignorance to knowledge, and from bondage to ultimate liberation.
~ An extract from a discourse delivered by Sirshree
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