You have to plod on and scale many hills. You cannot climb the Everest in one jump.
There is no jumping on the spiritual path.
Self-realization is not like a six-year post-graduate course. It is the result of
intense protracted Sadhana.
There is no short-cut in the spiritual path. There is no royal road to the kingdom of
immortal bliss. There is no half-measure in the divine path. Strict, hard discipline is
wanted. Then alone you can conquer Maya. Only then can you control the mind.
Saints and Yogins will never think that they have controlled the mind. Only the deluded
Sadhaka (Spiritual aspirant) will imagine he has controlled the mind and
get a terrible downfall.
It is the very nature of life, mind, and Prakriti (Nature) to be constantly in motion. When there is the
idea in the mind that the highest goal is yet to be achieved, you will always move towards
it. If you imagine that you have got to the top, you will anyhow have to move, and that
movement will be downward. You will have a downfall.
Aspire for higher realization till
the breath ceases in the nostril.
Spiritual progress is slow, as the spiritual Sadhana is difficult and laborious. It is
like the spiral. In the beginning, great striving is needed. Gradually, the circle becomes
smaller and smaller. So also, the striving becomes less and less. The aspirant gains
spiritual strength slowly. He marches faster and faster. Finally, he does not go by
furlongs after furlongs. He proceeds by mile after mile. He gallops and gallops.
Therefore, be patient; be persevering; be steady.
OBSTACLES TO SPIRITUAL PROGRESS
Sometimes the aspirant gets stuck up. He cannot proceed further in his path. Sometimes
he is side-tracked through Siddhis (psychic powers). He loses his way and walks in some other direction. He
misses the goal.
Sometimes he is assailed by temptations and various oppositions.
Sometimes he gets false contentment. He thinks he has reached his goal and stops all
Sadhana. Sometimes he is careless, lazy, indolent. He cannot do any Sadhana. Therefore, be
eternally vigilant, like the captain of a ship, like the surgeon in the operation theatre.
The spiritual path is full of hurdles. If you conquer one obstacle, another obstacle is
ready to manifest.
If you control the sense of taste, another sense (Indriya) is simply waiting to assault you with
redoubled force and vigour.
If you remove greed, anger is waiting to hurl you down. If you
drive egoism through one door, it enters through another door.
Great patience,
perseverance, vigilance, and undaunted strength are needed.
Be frim, steady, and steadfast. People will mock at you; be silent. People will insult
you; be silent. People will spread evil rumours about you; be silent.
Stick to the
spiritual path. Do not swerve. Seek the truth wherever it may lead you to, and whatever be
the cost and sacrifice.