Path of Spiritual Wisdom – Yoga Vashisht Ramayan

Path of spiritual wisdom requires renunciation (त्याग) and Shiv ji is Acharya of path of spiritual wisdom.

1. Slightest desire for sensual pleasure is hindrance in spiritual wisdom and enlightenment.
2. Sensual pleasure of sense organs should be diverted in driving enjoyment in almighty.
3. Think of the bliss of enlightenment or attaining spiritual wisdom again and again. Thinking of almighty constantly will reduce desires for sensual pleasure.

By following the path of Spiritual Wisdom, Gyani experiences that body and jivatma, both are different. Gyani does not have attachment to anything or anybody. He does not accumulate things. His birth is for tapas. By tapas, one gets purified.

Role of Satsang:
To attain spiritual wisdom, satsang is necessary. Hence, satsang should be every day. It purifies manas (मन). Saints always remember-meditate on the almighty.
 
Yoga vashisht Ramayan has explained seven stages / roles of wisdom viz.

Great desire of auspiciousness (शुभेच्छा), Positive investigation (सुविचारणा), Tanumanasa (तनुमानसा), Sattvapatti (सत्वापत्ति), Dissociation (असंसक्ति), Pdarthbhavini (पदार्थभाविनी) and Turiga (तुर्यगा).  These are explained as follows:
 

1. Great desire of auspiciousness – For the well-being of self, great desire of vision of jivatma. For this purpose, one goes in the refuge of enlightened guru and as per his guidance; he studies scriptures, reflects and develops great desire of vision of jivatma.
2. Positive investigation – to investigate the instructions of enlightened guru and contemplation of the scriptures on moksha.
3. Tanumanasa – By listening, meditating and practicing, detachment towards sensual pleasures and Savikalp Samadhi, one attains spiritual ability to receive subtleness. The mental ability of subtleness is Tanu (minute, thin) Manas (मन) a (mental, spiritual). 
4. Sattvapatti – By attaining the first three stages, the unconquerable experience of unconquerable Brahman and soul, that is, Brahm Swaroopaikatattva is the fourth role of Satvatti.
5. Dissociation – By practicing Savikalp Samadhi, the state of mind in which it is unconnected with the activities of ignorance (avidya).
6. Pdarthbhavini – the firm detachment of substances.
7. Turiga - The four stages / roles viz. Sattvapatti, Asansakti, Pdarthbhavini and Turiga are called Brahmavid, Brahmavidwar, Brahmavidvariyan and Brahmavidarishta respectively. When the person is free from Sattvapatti, Asansakti and Pdarthbhavini, it is Turiga. In Turiga, the person experiences parmatma as Self and undivided.

 
The first three roles in the seven roles are “instruments or means excellence” (साधनकोटि) and the remaining four are “wisdom excellence” (ज्ञानकोटि). During first three stages, one need to meditate over Brahman with attributes i.e. personal god. Reaching to fifth stage, the chord between body and consciousness (jivatma) starts breaking and one starts experiencing jivatma. At this stage, one dissociates more and more from body presence. 
 
The great Saints of Spiritual Wisdom:

1. Shukdev ji – Shukdev ji son of sage Vyasa, was the great sage who preached Shrimad Bhagavad Mahapurana to Raja Parikshit. Once, Shukdev ji and Narada ji went to royal assembly of Raja Janaka. Both were celibates, wise and great. Raja janaka could not decide between the two, who is better. Then Rani Sunayna decided to examine them. Rani Sunayna called both and asked to sit on a swing. Later, she came fully adorned and sat between them. Narada ji being celibate since childhood became hesitant. He shifted little away. But Shukdev ji remained unperturbed and without any feeling. Rani Sunayna decided Shukdev ji is better. One who has no differentiation between male and female, he sees almighty in all. Till differentiation between male and female remains, sexual desire persists. It is easier to be celibate but difficult to have divine wisdom.
2. Rishabhdev – Rishabhdev was incarnation of spiritual wisdom. He gave sermons that the human life is not for pleasure but for tapasya (asceticism). He used to roam around naked, eat while standing such as cattle’s eat. If somebody beat him, he believed that body is beaten as body and jivatma are different.
3. Sri Ramana Maharishi - He was born on December 30, 1879 in Tiruchuli, Tamil Nadu, India and died on April 14, 1950. At age 16, he had a "death-experience". He was suddenly overcome by the feeling that he was about to die. He lay down on the floor, made his body stiff, and held his breath. He said to himself, "but I am still alive." In a flood of spiritual awareness he realized he was the Self and he became spontaneously self-realized. Six weeks later he ran away to the holy hill of Arunachala. Main teachings of Sri Ramana Mahrishi are as under:
4. To attain that natural happiness one must know oneself. For that, Self-Enquiry, ‘Who am I?’ is the chief means.
5. Existence or Consciousness is the only reality. Consciousness plus waking we call waking. Consciousness plus sleep we call sleep. Consciousness plus dream, we call dream.
6. Where there is not the slightest trace of the ego, there is the Self.
7. If you enquire ‘Who am I?’ the mind will return to its source. By intense enquiry, the desires and tendencies comes to rest around “I” thought. Then, “I” thought will disappear and self-awareness appears. When 'I'-thought never rises again, it is Self-realization or liberation.
8. Complete surrender is another name for jnana or liberation.
9. The Gyani does not think he is the body. He does not even see the body. He sees only the Self in the body.