On the Path of Gradual Development
(Translated Version of Kramabikasher Pathe)
A Few Words to the Readers
We'll introduce briefly about the different stages of human-beings and those of the actions (karma) for the benefit of the readers. If you apply the knowledge, we explained in the book, in analyzing the character of your friends etc., then you'll realize, what we've discussed in this book about the human-beings, their character and particularities of their activity (karma) in five different stages, namely Ganesha, Surya, Vishnu, Shiva, and Shakti, are true to the minute details. The knowledge of the researcher about any science cannot advance much; unless he/she applies that in his/her field-work. Readers should remember that science is not any work of literature, or any kind of doctrine, even any kind of faith. Thus, anybody, who applies science in his/her field-work more, will have a better exposition of it.
The first place of application of the psychological science is your own character. First, you should attempt to see which character is more similar to your own character. Afterwards, you should see whose character fits the particularities of character of which stage in everybody around - father, mother, brothers, sisters, relatives, friends, teachers, leaders, guru, disciples, students etc. After some effort for a few days (5-7 days), you'll see that the characters of different people match up with the traits of different stages. This will sharpen your own intellect (buddhi) and the power of judgment. If you've a higher goal, then your character too will move towards betterment. Those, who ponder over the nation and the society, should attempt to understand the articles and the lectures of the journalists and the leaders using this science. Soon, they'll be able to understand the depth of the knowledge and experience of different people about the political and social affairs. If you can learn to judge by assigning different persons in different stages, you'll surely be able to perceive precisely the aim of activities of different people and its impact on society. First, one must try to perceive thought process of one's own self; then one can go for that of one's friends and then for the mass-leaders. After trying this for two to three months, an intelligent person will be so experienced in his/her knowledge about the political and social affairs that he/she will easily grasp the consequence of any particular action.
Those, who ushered a new era in this world, were persons with thorough understanding about the directions of different actions. Those, who can not predict the form of an action after a while, can never be able to direct society towards development. If these types of persons are the leaders of a society, the sufferings of that society will snowball definitely. In this volume, we've indicated enough about the implications of various stages of actions (karma) towards the development of the society.
In the very first chapter of the volume, it has been stated that the goal of human life is atman and the goals of activities (karma) and knowledge (jñana) need to be supportive of that. In this chapter, every single karmi has been advised to move forward based on the divine endowments like tejah (spirited opposition towards the asuras), fearlessness (abhaya), and renunciation (tyaga).
In the second chapter, the characteristics of the people possessing the traits of the character of Ganesha have been presented. The people from this stage are anti-injustice, self-abnegating, fond of war, broad minded, slightly adamant. These men possess integrity of character, endurance, patriotism, devotion towards justice and material sciences, courage. They talk firmly and never believe anything in blind faith. In the path of advanced development, this character is the best. People from this stage are more in common among the judges, overseers, engineers, scientists, archeologists, youth leaders. They are tough hearted.
We have talked about the people of Surya Character, in the third chapter. They are loving, amiable, calculating, talented, famous, theist, emotional. When torn between two opposing views, they try to please both the sides. They crave for ideal more than the goal. The development of this stage among women is really advanced one. The women with a development of this stage tend to be philanthropist. Any affectionate woman has development of this stage. These kinds of people are more abundant among teachers, professors, advocates, physicians, diplomats, preachers, orators, journalists, priests, singers, poets, ones running charity missions, ones following the path of Vaishnava dharma, supporters of non-violence, railways workers, government clerks, astrologers.
In fourth chapter, we have focused on the persons of Vishnu character. They are grossly divided into three categories - 1) the āsurik Vishnu, 2) the Vishnu with divine endowments (daivi sampada) and 3) the under-developed Vishnu.
The persons from category (1) and (2) are commanding, extremely intelligent, reserved and crafty in nature. They possess different things in their minds and words as well as in words and actions. They are usually suspecting by nature, but mostly none can realize that. They possess organizational skills. They are hedonist and not at all idealist.
An āsurik Vishnu is ruthless, oppressor, persecutor, and opportunist.
Vishnu with divine endowments is merciful, benefactor of the society, donator, broad-minded.
The persons from category (1) and (2) are abundant among the kings, landlords, governors, representatives of the monarchs, detectives, police officials, merchants etc.
The underdeveloped Vishnu (3) is not any stage of development. The persons from lower Shiva or Surya stage acquire the characters of Vishnu for greed, or bad company or encouragement from the āsurik administration. They are very mean in their character and most harmful for the society - brazenly, liar, flatterer, extremely selfish. The criminals like thieves and dacoits are from this stage. Among the lower rank police, there are plenty of people from this kind. The beggars, asking alms playing tricks with their organs or with clever jugglery of words are often from this stage of development. These people earn a lot of money by begging and amass a good amount.
In the fifth chapter, the character of men from the Shiva stage has been analyzed. These types of men are divided into two categories - 1) Lower development of Shiva and 2) Higher development of Shiva.
Both kinds of men are fond of natural life. They want to live in fields, under the tree, in the bank of a river, near a forest. They are fond of simple lives and simple dresses. They are satisfied with the least. They don't think much about the future.
They persons with development of lower Shiva stage believe in simple dharma - often worshipper (upasak) of a lower spirit (preta). They are not at all intelligent. People with this stage of development are in plenty among porters, laborers, guards, binders, orderlies, cooks, ones selling tea, ones earning bread by conducting pujā, small inn-keepers, press compositors, maintainers of horses, cleaners, drivers of ox-carts etc.
The higher Shiva stages of development can be found only among the recluse (tyagi) people, yogis, sādhakas (devoted worshipper), tapasyis, and rishis (seers). They are content with jñanas of all kinds. They are more intelligent than ones from Ganesha, Surya, and Vishnu stage. But, they discount the endowments of these stages. In the path of development, everybody possesses an inclination towards tapasyā. Those persons, whose inclination towards tapasyā is genuine, devote themselves in forests and jungles, in mountains for long years. This kind of genuinely devoted persons towards tapasyā should be known as development of higher Shiva. [If one equates a great person possessing realization of Surya stage with that from the higher Shiva development, then it'll be a grave mistake in judgment. There are enormous differences between their developments, characters and aims of actions (karma).]
In the sixth chapter, the development of Shakti stage has been discussed. Many of the great ancient seers (maharshi) and rajarshis (One who is a king and a seer as well) had this stage of development. The greatest being of this stage is Sri Krishna. Those, who deliberate about politics, should read this chapter again and again. Both the sixth and the seventh chapters are part of discussion about the purushottam.
In the seventh chapter, we've explained about the power of mantras. In this chapter, the mysteries (tattva) of the creation have been elaborated. The men of action (karmi) can also grasp very well the science of action (karma-tattva), once they understand the science of creation. If the devoted worshippers (sādhaka) and the men of action (karmi) can attain the character of Ganesha, it'll invigorate them to advance towards the Shakti stage surmounting the stages of Surya, Vishnu and Shiva.