Who is a Self Realized Person?

Kriya Yoga originated from God, and through His, Incarnations is revitalized. And passed onto His children, all the people, from time to time. It is through Lord Krishna in the Vedic age of Dvapara, this Yoga was taught to Arjuna, the warrior, householder disciple, and others. After a lapse of nearly 5000 years, Kriya Yoga was again revitalized by the Immortal Incarnation Babaji. Also through Yogiraj Shyama Charan Lahiri Mahasaya and through many of his disciples. It is quite logical to think that after variable periods of time, God will come as incarnations to sort out the chaos and confusion, from time to time. It is nobody’s monopoly to teach spirituality or Yoga of any type. God never gives a contract to any individual or corporation to teach religion or spirituality or Yoga.

What are the qualities of a God Realized or Self Realized person?

I am not using the word “Master”, because it is misleading. Nobody is a Master or a slave. We may use the word “Teacher” or “Guide” instead. The term “Guru-Disciple Tradition“ has been sanctioned by the Vedas and Upanishads, But “Guru Cult” should be discouraged as it is misused and misunderstood. This should be discouraged as it is misused and misunderstood. This cultism is also detrimental to spiritual growth and God Realization. The following, describing some of the qualities of a Self Realized person, is quoted from the Holy Bhagavad Gita,

श्रीभगवानुवाच |
प्रजहाति यदा कामान्सर्वान्पार्थ मनोगतान् |
आत्मन्येवात्मना तुष्ट: स्थितप्रज्ञस्तदोच्यते || 55||
shrī bhagavan uvacha
prajahati yada kaman sarvan partha mano-gatan
atmany-evatmana tushtah sthita-prajnas tadochyate

THE BHAGAVAD GITA CH2, V55

English Translation:  

A Self Realized person should be free from all types of cravings and is content, which is not dependent on any external factors. He is fully aware of the Reality (Spirit) and relativity of The Creation called Maya

दु:खेष्वनुद्विग्नमना: सुखेषु विगतस्पृह: |
वीतरागभयक्रोध: स्थितधीर्मुनिरुच्यते ||
duhkheshv-anudvigna-manah sukheshu vigata-sprihaḥ
vīta-rāga-bhaya-krodhaḥ sthita-dhīr munir uchyate

THE BHAGAVAD GITA CH2, V56

English Translation :

The spiritual person of stable wisdom is not disturbed by sufferings, pleasures don’t impress him too much. He has no biological ego problems,  has no fear and no anger.

य: सर्वत्रानभिस्नेहस्तत्तत्प्राप्य शुभाशुभम् |
नाभिनन्दति न द्वेष्टि तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ||
yah sarvatranabhisnehas tat tat prapya shubhashubham
nabhinandati na dveshti tasya prajna pratishthita

THE BHAGAVAD GITA CH2, V57

English Translation :

The Self Realized person of stable Wisdom has no fads (whims), no special likes or dislikes, no inner attachment or aversion. He is not flamboyant nor has emotional liability.

यदा संहरते चायं कूर्मोऽङ्गानीव सर्वश: |
इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ||
yadā sanharate chāyaṁ kūrmo ’ṅgānīva sarvaśhaḥ
indriyāṇīndriyārthebhyas tasya prajñā pratiṣhṭhitā

THE BHAGAVAD GITA CH2, V58

English Translation : 

He doesn’t become sad or depressed. At will, he can project his mind and senses out among the material worlds. He also withdraws his mind and senses into their source, The Inner Manifested, The Absolute, Soul, or God Oneness.

विषया विनिवर्तन्ते निराहारस्य देहिन: |
रसवर्जं रसोऽप्यस्य परं दृष्ट्वा निवर्तते ||
viṣhayā vinivartante nirāhārasya dehinaḥ
rasa-varjaṁ raso ’pyasya paraṁ dṛiṣhṭvā nivartate

THE BHAGAVAD GITA CH2, V59

English Translation :

The conduct and activities of the Self Realized person, no more influenced or motivated by achievements of material or so-called spiritual experience or success or Siddhis. The relativity of the biological existence can’t influence him in any way.

यततो ह्यपि कौन्तेय पुरुषस्य विपश्चित: |
इन्द्रियाणि प्रमाथीनि हरन्ति प्रसभं मन: ||
yatato hyapi kaunteya puruṣhasya vipaśhchitaḥ
indriyāṇi pramāthīni haranti prasabhaṁ manaḥ

THE BHAGAVAD GITA CH2, V60

English Translation:

The mind is so strong that it can disturb the spirituality of a so-called Great Master if there is no alertness about the subtle power of the senses. However great the achievements of a great person or Master or Guru might be, he has to be humble and with love. He should constantly think of God only. He should feel God’s Presence in every person, in every creature. But it is being seen that the lure of name, fame, ambitions, greed for money, disturbs the mind and senses of the many so-called Masters. This aspect brings them down spiritually when the material achievements might be increasing.

Duties of a Spiritual Seeker

For this reason, when the sincere devotee of God, seeking spiritual excellence, should practice Kriya yoga daily and study the Bhagavad Gita daily. They should not be misled or impressed by the slogan that “Guru is God”. God can’t be replaced by anything or anybody, however, exalted one claims to be. We should exercise our conscience and avoid evil or negative thought, speech or action. We should fix our priorities and do our duties to the best of our abilities, thinking of God only. We should remember God is the only Guru. God has no special representative. Every person is God’s own appearance. In the Svetasvatara Upanishad, it is mentioned:

त्वं स्त्री त्वं पुमानसि
त्वं कुमार उत वा कुमारी
त्वं जीर्णो दण्डेन वञ्चसि
त्वं जातो भवसि विश्वतोमुखः
tvam stri tvam puman asi
tvam kumara uta va kumari
tvam jirno dandena vancasi
tvam jato bhavasi vishvatomukhah

English Translation:

O, Lord God, it is You only appearing as the male and the female. It is You, who appears as the boy or the girl. It is You, who appears as the disabled old man. You are born in all forms and everywhere. Please remember God is your own soul. You are to work out your destiny, spiritual or otherwise. Teachers can guide you only. Please enjoy the Blessings of God.

May God and Guru Bless, Guide, Protect and Inspire each one of us and the Whole Universe.

With Love and Best Wishes,
Paramahansa Atmananda Ji