Daily Inspiration
SRUTI - PAM's Encyclopedia
W
WAITING | WAKE UP (AWAKEN) | WARNING | WARP AND WOOF | WAYS AND MEANS | | WEAKNESS | WILL | WISDOM | WISH | WONDER | WORKSHOP | WORRY / WORRIES | WORLD IS UNREAL | WORSHIP | WORSHIP OF GODS AND DEITIES | WRITING BOOKS | WRONG METHODS | WRONG PRACTICES |
WAITING
Waiting is also a sort of intense remembrance which is greatly beneficial to spirituality. A poet too has written 'The delight which I have found in waiting for the beloved I could not have in the meeting'. (SS-271)
WAKE UP (AWAKEN)
We have been taking a crude view of everything, corresponding with the baser inclinations of the mind. Every thing has gone on growing denser and grosser to our view. The heart and the brain being influenced thereby began to contact the same defect. Covering after covering began to set in obscuring Reality from view. This will go on till accidentally a time may come when a gush of Reality having blown into the heart may cause an awakening within. It is then that man comes to a proper understanding of the real values and feels induced to resort to mending his disturbed state. (SS-461,462)
It is owing to my profound attachment with humanity that I lay down the feelings of my heart to be bubbled up into the hearts of my fellow-beings, the very part and parcel of my own being, in order to make every heart over-flooded with peace and bliss. My heart remains connected with you all, here and elsewhere, giving impulse in unbroken silence to affect the hearts naturally in due course. But it is for every living soul to wake up to his spiritual needs for the realisation of the Ultimate. (SDG-113).
WARNING
It is a matter of pity that I find all my warnings going unheeded; a few seem to be trying to develop that amount of capability in themselves. The whole atmosphere is surcharged with the strongest Divine force. Can liberation ever be so easy and cheap? It is definitely the time when everyone should give his entire attention to it, setting aside all other things and feelings. I do not thereby mean to induce you to give up your worldly living, discarding everything including your responsibilities and obligations, but only to give yourself upto your Master in a spirit of surrender, availing of the time as best you can. (SS-73,74)
WARP AND WOOF
A happy disposition is a state which percolates its effect upon the lower layers and purifies them. This is a state which may aptly be taken as that next to the Divine. Fixing our thought on it, means taking into account that which is our final goal. In other words, we begin from the point beyond which remains but That alone. This is the warp and woof which has been inter woven by Nature Itself. We may call it as a material aspect of Nature, though materiality be only for the name's sake, which reveals the nature of the Real being. The word materiality is used for it only because after all it comes into the human conception. Possibly men may misunderstand it as a veil of Maya but that would not be correct. This is in fact the state which pervades the entire sphere of Maya.(IB-51)
WAYS AND MEANS
Adopt easy means for gaining the easy thing. Dogmas can do you no good. It is only the practical thing that can weave your Destiny, under the guidance of one who has measured the Distance, and has discovered the original source. (SDG-99)
God is simple and extremely subtle. In order to realise this subtlest Being, we must take up means which are equally fine and subtle. The difficulty arises only when intricate methods are applied for the solution of this very simple problem. In other words they apply huge cranes for picking up a small sewing needle.(SDG-116,117)
The way which leads to the Almighty is one and one alone. The method to reach Him will always be the one which is perpendicular. If you have regard for this carefully, there can only be one such perpendicular. Divinity is a play, and Divine the way! That is the thing which attracts the persons getting into the wave of the ocean which is foaming and disturbing. It becomes the duty of the Master to breathe in the Real Essence. For this Master is thoroughly needed. This is for your thinking. The problem cannot be solved without taking the Real and the Essence from the Master. I have not come across any such person except my Master who was my all and all! I think I am not mistaken because I put all things in the right channel. (SDG-59)
Meditation on the simple, pure and Ultimate alone can save man in his crisis. This surely makes him more and more simple, bringing him closer and closer to the Original Home. As you think, so you become. (SDG-52)
The goal of life can easily be achieved if we are sincerely devoted to it having in mind the idea of the great Master all through. (SS-141)
WEAKNESS
It is really surprising that some people consider themselves to be too weak for practice, while actually they are not so. An ordinary man has within him the same power and the same soul-force as a saint has. The only difference between them is that the sage has torn off the covering round his soul while the other is just like a silk worm in the cocoon. If one resolves firmly to throw off these coverings, no power on earth can stop him. (SS-63)
If you happen to trace out any weakness in yourself please think it to be mine and be bold and go on with your practice. The responsibility shall thus be shifted to me and you shall be relieved of its effect. This is quite easy to do. Do it and watch the results. (SS-64) Even God does not help weak persons. He alone is weak who lack self confidence. (SS-361)
Do not give way to weakness. Man possesses everything of Nature but he does not take it into account. A man must keep his eye fixed upon the object, and so it must be in respect of health which is quite essential for the success of the pursuit. (SS-70)
WILL
Most of the brothers and sisters assembled here today have, in some way or the other, a lurking desire in their minds to achieve God or the Ultimate. When one has got a mind and a strong sincere desire to reach the state of Realisation, he will surely get the means to take him to the state of Realisation. The maxim goes 'Where there is a will there is a way '. (SDG-54)
By meditation we make a will in our heart covering thereby the surroundings around the heart region. (ERY-30)
So please give up dwelling upon the false notion that you cannot reach the goal.(SS-63,64)
Be bold enough to make up your mind for anything. Step in with a strong will and your success shall be sure. You think your worldly responsibilities to be a hindrance on your path, but that is a grossly mistaken notion. We have to go along taking both the sides together i.e. the worldly and the Divine, side by side. My master was an ideal in this respect, and I am also following in his footsteps.(SS-79)
When we start practising, and are in quest of our ultimate goal, we fix upon that which seems helpful to us in our pursuit. We consequently begin to imagine that everything depends upon God's will, so that we may remain connected with it. It gradually develops into closeness and attachment, which in true sense, means the beginning of layavastha or merging. For that we practise love, devotion and all other means conducive to our purpose. We can as well say that (SS-327,328)
The cause of the action was that the Real Thing, along with that Will (of creating the world), got mixed up with the will of self to create the world. Now, the thought of multiplicity (that is, the creation of Srishti) is the reverse of oneness, or these two things are opposite to one another in a way. In other words, this other thing which is said to have been made out of the effect of the Will is grosser than its Original. But both these things came so closely joined together that these jointly accelerated the thought - the thought of the Creation of srishti; and similarly their action was also similar to that which happens by the union of fire and water.(SS-369,370)
Generally people go hesitatingly towards God, thinking themselves to be too incapable and weak to achieve the Real thing. A powerful will made at the very first step and maintained all through, shall never fail to achieve complete success. Half the distance is crossed if a man enters the field with a firm mind.Our firm will enables us, automatically to draw in power from unknown sources, for the accomplishment of the task. A firm will supplemented by an ever-increasing impatience or yearning to achieve the object will enhance the force of our effort and we shall thereby remain in constant touch with the same Real thing, catching every hint conducive to our spiritual well being and progress. (DR-37,38)
Will is the only instrument to help us on our onward march. (SS-134)
We can as well say that our free will extends so far as our limited sphere goes, and God's will extends as far as His unlimited sphere goes. We cannot profess our will to be the same as that of God until we shatter our limitations and bondages. This is our real pursuit, and we do it in order to secure merging with Reality. This topic is dealt with in another book 'Towards Infinity.In it I have explained how, after losing his individuality, a man can become identical with Brahma. The relation between God's and man's will may be expressed in the way that when we look to the former (that is God's will) the greater thing begins to attract the lesser thing. We begin to dwell in a state of non-duality when we become one with Him, the Absolute, after shattering all our limitations. But we start from duality, and after marching on finally come to non-duality automatically. (SS-328)
One on the path of spirituality should necessarily be as light in mind and spirit as possible. He should be free from even the weight of the feeling of what he is after. This is in fact the real secret of a strong will. In such a case, whatever thought gets settled in shall have its action. Permanency in this state is an attainment of a higher order. (SS-360)
Will is connected with the mental plane because you begin to act mentally, thinking of the goal in view, and this continues till the end. It goes on getting new life in every region. It acts quickly to the extent it is pure and becomes free from doubts. That is, its potency goes on increasing. Now, its actions are effective in any of the worldly spheres called Mahamaya. Afterwards it is turned into the pure original form, a jewel indeed. Reaching this level,, it becomes very easy for a man to transport any one from one spiritual plane to the other within no time. (SS-90,91)
What is required for spiritual growth of man is only an Iron will. If one resolves firmly to throw off the coverings, no power on earth can stop him. When it is there, the goal is just in sight. If you have these two things there can be absolutely no chance of failure. A powerful will once made is enough for the sure attainment of the Real. Half the distance is crossed when a man enters the field with a firm will. Nothing can then stand in his way. Be firm like a rock and success is sure to dawn by itself. Faith in the guide of course counts for much. (SS-63,64)
WISDOM
If any one was to question him as to whether the sermon he preached was the one based on his personal experience or on experience of others which he had borrowed from books, he would only say 'whatever it might be it is after all the very wisdom'. Some people went even so far as to presume that mere acceptance of the transitory nature of the material world and the infinite character of the Divine is all that wisdom implies. Can the hunger of a man be ever appeased by preaching to him that bread can satisfy the hunger? Certainly not. But still these pseudo religious leader feel greatly exalted to think that they had preached a grand sermon and that they were real gyanis (knowers of true knowledge). This is exactly like a man who enacts the role of a king on the stage and goes about afterwards thinking himself to be a king in the real sense. Can he ever command the same honour and influence as a real king would? Let a person assume himself whatever he wills, but that will always be far from Reality and it will not be difficult to judge at sight the real worth and the level of approach of such vain preachers. They may, however, silence others by the logical display of their scholarly knowledge but still the Reality at the bottom seldom remains unrevealed. May God have mercy on those who are in the hands of such imposters who keep themselves confined only to book.
The real wisdom not being the concern of such person they pretend to preach and lead people on the path which they themselves have never traversed. Living is not for them to bother about, forbearance is a foreign word to them, toleration is against the code of their so-called saintly conduct. Acceptance of personal service from others is their birth-right while to serve others in the same way is below their exalted dignity. To them Divine knowledge is quite exclusive of all these most common rules of etiquette and good conduct. In their view wisdom is only an academic current meant for the fickle-minded masses, their only job being to divert it towards them.
This is all the greatness of their saintly personality. Now to awaken the various states of the real wisdom in the Abhyasis mind is not their concern at all. To understand the mysteries of the granthis (knots) or to attain layavastha (merging) and to unfold and master the different states of enlightenment is all beyond their conception. Neither do they themselves know anything about it nor would they condescend to learn it from anyone and accept his guidance in the matter. This vanity and egotism have entirely ruined the spirit and thus the real merit is lost though the outward form still remains in tact. Everything assumed a crude state. The significance of yoga was lost and mere parrot like recitations were taken to be all needed for the purpose. This began to be preached all round as the highest mark of perfection. Thus, they not only remained blind to Reality but also incapable of even imitating it in its outer ways through their external practices. On the contrary, adverse thoughts began to settle down in their minds and they began to teach the same to others. If they turned towards devotion (Bhakti) they began to display playful show of human qualities, and if they leaned towards knowledge (Gyan) their wantenness was revealed in its true colours. They squeezed out only that which their garment was drenched with. In short, the people inherited the very defects which existed in those teachers.(PG-Preface)
For that I expect every one to put his best efforts.I may also assure you that the attainments you make during the period of my physical existence will be of value to you after I am gone. But if you neglect it now, dwelling in the idea that you shall have it by developing attachment with me even after I am gone from this material world, it may then be a hard nut to crack.( SS-262)
Though there shall definitely be one in my place after me to give you all spiritual uplift just as I do, yet it shall be a source of greatest pleasure to me to see you at the highest pitch of progress in my very lifetime. (SS-241)
For every grain of knowledge the wisdom required must be at least ten times greater. If that much of wisdom is there, the goal shall definitely be in our view and we shall be inspired more and more to proceed on into the sphere of Reality.(SS-38)
Abhyasis should imitate with wisdom the good things or good actions of the preceptors. (SS-101)
Much praise has been sung of a naked sword although its function is to cut. Now, it requires the brain to use it, so that it may strike the enemy and not the friend or self(SS-361)
The wisdom of man is that he should make the unfavourable things favourable. In other words, we should try to succeed in converting the whole of the material force into spirituality: and it so happens in Sahaj Marg system, if we get a competent Master. All the fibres of our being become spiritualised, and Reality begins to radiate. I am preparing such souls that they may have the full benefit of my services. (SDG-135)
We are bound by 'Yes' or 'No', but we do not know where to apply 'Yes' or where to apply 'No' in the correct sense. This thing comes from the experience and experience comes from the experiment. (SDG- 55, 56)
Is it ever possible for a man to reach Calcutta by taking up just the opposite direction? Can a man ever become a selfless saint by submitting himself to the guidance of a self-seeking impostor? Can a man ever free himself from the bonds of attachment, prejudice and pride by following a self-conceited hypocrite inspired with the feeling of attachment with the worldly objects and of self-aggrandizement? We must never be led away by a mere outward glittering aspect of a thing but should go deep into it to discover reality at the bottom. (DR-82,83)
It is quite easy to pick up a needle from the ground by means of your fingers, but if you apply a crane for the purpose, it may well nigh be impossible. Exactly the same is the case with Realisation. (SDG-73)
A piece of cloth is prepared by the wisdom of the weaver. His hands are at work but he displays his wisdom by the movement of his hands. Wisdom has its own centre, but it works through the hand also. Similarly, when the idea of betterment is there, this is the sure sign of improvement. (SDG-103)
Much praise has been sung of a naked sword although its function is to cut. Now, it requires the brain to use it, so that it may strike the enemy and not the friend or self.(SS-361)
WISH
People expect God to accede to their wishes for greatest peace and comforts. If He does not, they begin to accuse Him of undeserved neglect towards them, and begin to ignore Him altogether. The result is they remain ever faced with discontentment and dejection, and peace of mind is out of question for them. But this very condition sometimes develops to form a base for the diversion of their thoughts towards God - in certain cases of course and creates in their mind faith in God. (SS-247)
I wish people to bring me the glad news of having secured their approach into the 17th circle in my own life time. But all this is in the hands of God. No worship, no practice, can ever help in going beyond this. Only the will of a teacher who has secured his approach upto this can help in proceeding on this journey. (SS-453)
I have retired from service and now I am henceforth a servant of the Lord whose service is alone really paying and rewarding. I wish you all to keep up the relationship of love linked up with Him. You also wish for the same and it is quite good. If fortunately this wish ever slips down to join with the original source, then there would be the end of every wish. This relationship is to be developed further and the practices are all meant only for that end. When our wishes are directed towards this mortal world, they are ruinous. When their flow is directed towards the other world they are sure to enliven us. You want my prayers for your steadiness ,which can reach you only through words,oral or written. But I wish to convey to you the jewel necklace of my heart studded with the pearls of the tearful eyes. May it create a tempest within you whereby the waves of the river verily return to the sea some day. (SS-179,180)
WONDER
When a child begins to wonder, really the process of thinking starts and he gets food for its expression by the parents. (SDG-37)
My view is that philosophy must start from 'wonder'. Under our system of sadhana, there comes a stage at which the feeling of wonder gets created in the abhyasi. I had remained in that condition for a number of years. With the introduction of this stage spirituality takes an entirely new turn. (SS-154)
Your thought is correct that man is, by nature, a philosopher; and there are proofs for it. Soon after a child is born, and he begins to see a little, a sort of wonder comes to him, which is the essence of all material and spiritual science. Some people indulge in enjoying the fruits while others start counting trees. But the basis of all these is wonder. The scientists get involved in the complexity of matter, and the seeker, leaving this, comes to that image of which all these are images. When we know the effect of Arsenic, we conclude that everything in which it is mingled becomes poison, or else we consider everything mixed with it as a poisonous thing. Now, this poison alone helps the things to become poisonous, because it is this very property of Arsenic which is impregnated in every fibre of the thing with which it is mingled. Energy is working in matter in the same way. This example will solve your question as to how the spirit is considered as the state of with all and without all. (SS-340,341)
WORKSHOP
The world is a living image of God in which his power is working all through. The huge workshop of Nature is fitted with all the necessary equipment needed for the work. The power is running from the Centre to keep the machines in motion. There is a separate set of machines for each type of work. The power is rolling on but without any awareness of its intention, purpose or events, giving out finally the prescribed results in a routine way. It does not mind any intrusion, obstruction or accident that might happen to come in the way from any outside cause, or by the effect of defective working of any of its parts. For efficient working of the machinery it is therefore essential that all its parts are in order and that none of them is loose or defective. For this there are subordinate functionaries at work in the capacity of maistries, supervisors and controllers. Their duty is to look to the proper regulation and adjustment of the activities of the individual parts. (SS-319,320)
WORRY / WORRIES
Usually worldly tangles are a cause of worry, but for the most part to those alone who attach undue importance to them. If a man turns his attention away from miseries and afflictions, their painful effect is considerably reduced. One must therefore make it his habit not to attach himself unduly to them. Then alone shall he be happy and contended under all circumstances. (SS-470,471)
None in the world is free from worries. The presence of afflictions is in fact a positive proof of the very existence of man. Worries are really the result of the unbalanced activity which had originally brought man into existence. This is the interplay of forces of Nature, causing expansion and contraction, by the effect of which layer after layer began to be formed. Now if one keeps his entire attention located on them thinking that thereby he may minimise their effect, it is almost impossible. Ages may be lost in the pursuit, not to speak of this one life; on the other hand, he will go on fabricating greater intricacies by his own actions. That is really the misutilisation of the powers bestowed on us by Nature. If we keep ourselves concerned with the clearing off of the limitations set up by the expansion and concentration of forces, our purpose may be rightly served. It is therefore necessary for us to start from the level where nature's forces begin to promote Consciousness in man. The reason why people are not able to undertake it is that they do not attach any importance to it, because they have no definite aim or purpose in view. An archer can never hit at the mark unless he fixes his keen attention on the object to be hit. (SS-466,467)
Life in family also brings worry and nervousness etc., in its trail. Worry is indeed reserved for humanity and not for animals. Really, that is a great Justice and favour for humanity from divinity. Why so? Because, it is a part of wisdom that takes a man to higher sphere. (SDG-30)
While describing the events of your life you have requested me not to read further if I have no leisure. In reply I may say that I do have enough leisure since I have attained leisure from my own self-creation. As such it is now wholly yours. The events you relate do normally happen in life, but when one arrives at the concluding phase all the past worries disappear in a moment. It is therefore advisable under all circumstances to have our attention directed towards the end or the goal. By God's grace you now seem to be inclined towards it. This must be strengthened further.(SS-74,75)
WORLD IS UNREAL
We have persistently been hearing that the world is like a dream and that we should take it to be so. These bookworms themselves have never been able to visualise it in that light, though the preachers have ever been emphasising it vigorously. As a matter of fact, it is an inner condition, which blooms automatically by the effect of the right practice when one reaches up to it. If we force our mind to accept it as such, it will be a mere hoax, far far away from Reality. It is in fact the condition of a particular place which a pilgrim on the path comes across during the course of his journey. If we harden this feeling through artificial means and thereby draw the conclusion that we have acquired knowledge and that we have actually realised the world as a dream it will be highly deceptive. The characteristic feature of the place is peace and our merging in it means that we have absorbed it fully. When we emerge out of it to attain identicality we gain full experience of the condition. In this state we feel a sort of freshness like that which a sun-stricken person would feel after a cool bath in the river in the hot summers.(PG-103,105)
The world is said to be unreal like a dream, and the learned teachers induce people to think like that. But a dream is never unreal to any one so long as he is in the dream. In the same way, so long as we are in this dreamland of the world it can never appear unreal to us. A dream appears unreal to us only when we are awake, or, in other words, we are off from it. Similarly the world can appear unreal to us only when we have gone beyond the sphere of physical consciousness. But this can never be attained by mere thinking, imagining, or by continuous repetition of the words like 'The world is unreal. 'Everything is Maya or illusion. Proper means are required for developing that condition.(SS-373,374)
WORSHIP
My only object, and the main pursuit of life, has ever been the devoted worship of my Master and this continues from the beginning to end (i.e., till my present state). I took him into my heart as an object of worship and never took, nor do I take even now, anyone else into my view. May God keep up this feeling of mine for ever. I did not take in, any one but my Master, nor did I ever look to any other but him. It is, as a general rule, the primary duty of a true disciple and the only key to success. That is the only means which helps the removing of impurities from the heart and the overcoming of all obstructions on the path. It effects the unfoldment of the knots. It is in fact the real essence of all Sadhanas. One who has tasted it once, shall never part with it in life nor lean towards any other side. This is the unfailing process which our revered Master and all the sages of eminence had followed. As for myself the process went on within my heart by itself during all my routine of daily work and it permanently turned in to my habit. It was, in short, the very foundation of my life. It helped to get over all stages up to the present extent of my spiritual elevation. It is, therefore, on the basis of my life's experience that I strongly affirm that it is the only method which ensures unfailing results, and guarantees the fullest help and support of the Master. I wish you all to have a practical experience of its deep rooted effect. Those who want to adopt this method may ask for its details personally. (SDG-1,2)
It may not however be unfair to say that most of the ways of worship commonly followed by the masses are but forms of flattery in one way or the other. They are completely devoid of attachment, love or surrender. Obviously, all that they do is aimed more at pleasing themselves rather than at pleasing the gods they worship, and this being closely associated with the senses, is of course a base desire. In other words they remain all through entangled within their senses, and this they presume to be ananda - an absurd idea on the very face of it. For this reason, in spite of all their toilsome acting, they remain forever deprived of the bountiful grace of the Divine. (SS-61,62)
So far as my personal experience goes, I find in most of them a rock-like solidity firmly settled in their hearts. They are generally those who adhere rigidly to the worship of idols and images. In certain cases I have discovered peculiar types of folds and creases in their hearts, which are mostly due to the effect of wrong methods of meditation or concentration practised by them. (SS-72,73)
While so many of us worship God and offer prayer as a routine, it is only to please our senses. In this sphere mental enjoyment is there; sense enjoyment is there and they are caught up by so many enjoyments which forbids them from peeping further into the life meant for Realisation.(SS-22)
Similar is the case with the worship of God who is represented as physically similar to man, with the only difference that he is a superior being and has a bigger sphere in proportion to his bigness. But not taking up that topic at present, I confine myself to the subject proper.(SS-402)
I find people complaining that they do not find time for worship or meditation. But I feel, and everybody knows well, that they always get sufficient time for their illness, worries and physical needs. The reason is that all these things are of greater importance to them than the Divine duties. As a matter of fact a man can keep himself busy with divine thoughts every moment without offering any hindrance to his worldly activities. If one practises it so as to form his habit it becomes so easy and natural with him that he would not like to part with it even for a moment. I give you all a very helpful hint. Before taking up a certain work, think of Him for awhile in the sense that He himself is doing it. It is the simplest method and I should like you all to follow it in right earnest.(SS-468,469)
The majority of people you will find singing songs of devotion, shouting 'Jai, Jai'. Worshiping pictures and images ceremoniously is a hobby for them. To them, stories and illustrations are the means of bhakti, recitation of sacred books is worship; and discussions and discourses, the attainment of jnana.(SS-60)
WORSHIP OF GODS AND DEITIES
Worship of gods and deities in various forms is a crude development of the same Sakar theory. Worship of every power of nature and even of mountains, rivers and trees is a further degradation of the same view. What a pity! Instead of worshipping the Master, we are worshipping the servants ignoring the Master entirely and we are not prepared to hear even a word against our set prejudices. The result is that today we find so many sects and creeds, each worshipping its own god or goddess in its own particular way. Evidently the goal before their eye is not even liberation but in most cases deliverance from some particular form of misery or some material gain. People are driven to such forms of worship either by the force of circumstances or through the faulty guidance of those who are themselves quite in dark in the matters of Self-realization. Lord Krishna has made it clear in the Gita that worship of gods may lead you at the most to their sphere only, which is a limited one and far below the point of liberation.They themselves have no capacity to go beyond. The approach of their devotees beyond this point is, therefore, out of question. Thus it is evident that these gods and deities are of no avail to us if we really aim at Reality. (DR-6,7)
Worship of Deities is too commonly prevalent among the Hindus. It is done with the object of material gain or safety of children. The female folk mostly adhere to it, because they give birth to, and bring up, children and hence their ties of affection grow stronger. Let them play their own part and we should attend to our own. (SS-44)
Mechanical form of worship, commonly adopted by those hankering after gods and goddesses to serve their worldly ends is also another absurdity. It is no worship at all. (DR-7)
Definitely the devas can never lead you up to sublimation which they themselves are lacking in. You have to end even your subtle existence, whereas by such means as referred to in the beginning you are strengthening your material existence all the more, which in other words means spiritual death. (SS-391,392)
WRITING BOOKS
There is no harm in writing books, but when super-Consciousness opens, it shall then really be a pleasure to write. (SS-429)
WRONG METHODS
If perchance we fall upon means which go on adding to our limitations and bondages, we shall definitely remain away from the vision of Reality - the Absolute. There may be methods to suit the temperament of particular individuals, but which may basically be wrong, or in other ways inefficient, and may serve as a toy for a child to play with, only to offer him a temporary lull, but which may lead him further to temptations for more and more enjoyment of pleasures and happiness. That may perhaps be the charm to induce him further on the path of happiness. But so long as he remains held up by the charm of it his progress gets frozen. He may well be compared to a frog in the well which thinks its own narrow sphere to be the whole universe. (SDG- 80)
WRONG PRACTICES
A man tamely and unquestioningly follows the instructions of one whom he has accepted as his Guru and practises as he is required by him to do. It is very difficult for him to ascertain whether he is being guided along the right path or not. This is a great problem before the people who are themselves quite ignorant in matters concerning realization. You will find numerous teachers of religion who will tell you not to eat garlic, onion or carrot and insist upon you to adopt Sadhanas and practices which have no real significance or a hundred other such triflings which will never lead you even a step nearer to reality. This is no training. Such teachers are really deceiving themselves as well as those whom they teach. (DR-64)
It leads us to constant mental worry and harassment. I know of a gentleman, prominent among the so-called Bhaktas, who professed that he had secured direct connection with the soul of Tulsidas, the author of the 'Ramayan, whom he had taken as his Guru. He went on for some time feeling exultant over his supposed achievement. Later on, a discord arose between him and his celestial Guru which soon developed into a bitter quarrel on account of which, as he used to say, he was constantly belaboured and harassed mentally with the result that his mental equilibrium was almost shattered and he felt extremely miserable. It was after two years of hard labour with him that he was cured of this evil. Then he was able to understand that it was all an illusion or self-deception and what he understood to be the inspiration from the soul of Tulsidas, was really the magic play of his own indisciplined mind. Since he has been relieved of that miserable state he now feels peace and tranquility restored to him.(DR-68,69)
While Some of the teachers of religion often insist upon the people to devote as many as eight hours a day to practise certain mechanical exercises in order to keep their mind occupied in Divine thoughts. I strongly condemn the type of training which enforces practices that tax the brain or overburden the mind. The natural result of such training is that mind finds no scope for expansion and consequently the power of realization grows dull. It is just like thrashing a boy in order to induce him to concentrate. Strenuous labour with long and tedious physical practices as commonly recommended by teachers in order to effect the moulding of mind or the cleaning of the Chakras, is consequently not of much avail. For this purpose (DR-70)
For this the learned teachers of religion mostly prescribe physical practices of body and mind, picked up from religious books. People often find it a hard task to follow them and thus they remain lingering on indefinitely in the beginning with no further progress (DR-71)