Dear rashmi, Here is what the essence of the entire vedic knowledge that I came to know about partly by reading Autobiography of a yogi, partly by my own experiences and partly by listening to the saints say in their own words: In the initial stages of regaining the lost divinity (or we can say initial stages of finding GOD) , an individual sees the entire world as being disconnected and seperate from self. As one progresses towards with the aim of finding GOD, the inidvidual starts observind that there exists a universal power that is far more powerful than oneself and than any other individual. As the individual progresses further, one starts realizing that he/she is part of this universal power. This is the middle level stae of enlightment. As the person progresses even more, the person attains the higher stages where in, there is no difference between self and the all pervading universal power. This is the final stage. This final stage is called the mukti stage. Ofcourse, there are specific intermediary stages between these three stages, and specific names to these stages are given to these. Also, there are specific testable & verifiable criteria in the spiritual world, which is the best way true saints will use to evaluate anyones enlightment levels.
By the way, Swami Ramakrishna Paramahamsa says that, knowledge that is known by a person by a mere reading of books is good, and knowledge that is known by listening to someone who experienced what it means is better & the knowledge that is known by a person by SELF-EXPERIENCE IS THE BEST.
I think, we should all strive to know ALL PERVDING GOD or DiVINITY by getting spiritual experiences rather than just mere talk about it. This experiences can be in different ways, by means of devotion, by means of selfless service or work without expectation, by means of Yoga/meditation technics, by way of analysis e.t.c or a combination or by a combination of all of these depending on mood of ones own mind. Since the moood of the mind doesnot stay in one single state all the time, different types of methods of enlightment techniques were framed. GOD BLESS ALL.
