2 ways to reach god - am I right?

[Viraja]

Am I right in saying that these are the 2 ways to reach god:

1. Practice various forms of yoga (hatha/ashtanga/kundalini, etc) to make the 'Kundalini' rise from Mooladhara and reach Sahasrara located at the brain, which makes a sadhaka (practitioner of spirituality) realize the supreme bliss/consciousness/nirvana.

2. Practice heart chakra meditation wherein the sadhaka can visualize a flame right in the center of his heart chakra and can merge his being/individual consciousness with the universal consciousness and experience bliss out of this merger.

If I am right, Mahavatar Babaji practiced the first method and Ramanlinga Adigalar, a Saivite saint, practiced the second.

Can someone clarify?

 

[Kapalika]

I would say there are many sadhanas probably more than one could ever learn about in a lifetime. They are all means to the same end.

If one of those two work for you then that's what works. If they are the proper way to do it traditionally, or who practiced what, I'm not learned enough to say. Chakra meditation and yoga isn't actually my own area of practice so I don't know so much about it. I can say though that meditation of some sort, I think, is essential to every path.

 

[DeviChaaya]

If the experience in the end is bliss what is the difference of how it is reached?

Satchidananda can only be experienced by that which is experienced and experience at once. This is a closed loop system. We become aware of our nature, dip in and dip out. If we are aware of this then it is bliss, if not than what is...?

The knowledge of satchidananda can only ever experienced.

 

[Viraja]

If the experience in the end is bliss what is the difference of how it is reached?

Satchidananda can only be experienced by that which is experienced and experience at once. This is a closed loop system. We become aware of our nature, dip in and dip out. If we are aware of this then it is bliss, if not than what is...?

The knowledge of satchidananda can only ever experienced.

I do agree. I am not a sadhaka who is practicing meditation at the moment. I am an enthusiast who is trying to glean scholarly information for an article I would like to write. It is about how various chakras of the body function. When the Kundalini supposedly reaches each of them, the sadhaka experiences different kinds of bliss. I want to document, after my research, what stage supposedly yields what type of bliss. And secondly although the end goal is the same, the means are different between the 2 methods stated in the OP. I would love to find out what steps are involved in each, in detail.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Aupmanyav]

I am not a 'sadhaka' of any kind (being an atheist), but Gods and Goddesses remain with me all my waking hours.
Fulfilment of 'dharma' is the way to reach Gods.

 

[Vinayaka]

Can someone clarify?

Vannakkam: In my view, schools vary on it, so there is no right or wrong answer. Asking for clarification in such a diverse faith as Hinduism is futile. What you'll get are many opinions.

(In my particular school, it is choice 1 alone.)

 

[Shantanu]

Am I right in saying that these are the 2 ways to reach god:

1. Practice various forms of yoga (hatha/ashtanga/kundalini, etc) to make the 'Kundalini' rise from Mooladhara and reach Sahasrara located at the brain, which makes a sadhaka (practitioner of spirituality) realize the supreme bliss/consciousness/nirvana.

2. Practice heart chakra meditation wherein the sadhaka can visualize a flame right in the center of his heart chakra and can merge his being/individual consciousness with the universal consciousness and experience bliss out of this merger.

If I am right, Mahavatar Babaji practiced the first method and Ramanlinga Adigalar, a Saivite saint, practiced the second.

Can someone clarify?

There is the yoga of surrender to God to reach God. It works and is a torturous way of life but with delightful returns.