Is the Climax of Devotion Attained in a Single Leap or Step-by-step?

(This question is part of a mahā satsaṅga or a great spiritual discussion between Swami and several devotees who had come from various places, seeking the clarification of their doubts.)

Q.Is it possible to attain the climax of devotion step by step or is it attained in one long jump as done by Shankara from childhood itself?

Swami replied:- Shankara is the human incarnation of God Shiva, who came down to this earth in a specific time of climax seriousness when almost all the souls became atheists. He acted as devotee to develop devotion in us. We shall not expect such long jump of devotion in us. We can only put efforts step by step to reach such climax of devotion. But, we shall reach the final step before this human life ends since there is no guarantee for the next human life as stated by Shankara Himself (Manushyatvam mumukshutvam...). We shall not believe that there are several human births in future. We shall not also believe that we can do something in this line in our old age. There is guarantee neither for our old age nor for our next human birth. Rebirth is there but, the rebirth to be human birth is not guaranteed. Hence, neither we shall be discouraged nor we shall sleep on this spiritual issue. It is such important and such serious issue and the climax of wonder is that nobody bothers about it. A person climbed a tree due to the fear of tiger on the ground, which is ready to kill him if he comes down! A serpent is coming down on the branch of tree to bite him! Meanwhile, a few honey drops are falling from the honey nest. The person is bothered neither about the tiger below nor about the upper serpent and is enjoying by swallowing the falling drops of nectar! This is the state of every human being in this Kali age.

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