From Theory to Practice-Part II

By Staff

Friday, July 31, 2009, 14:49

1)Faulty World-view: Most people think that if the 'world' is set right, all things will be in order. They do not realize that charity begins at home. They want to mend others and put them on the 'right path', often failing to see how much of it they themselves need. But as one grows in life, this simple truth becomes clear. A Sufi saint speaks of this cycle thus:

'I was a revolutionary when I was young, and all my prayers to God were: Lord, give me the energy to change the world. As I approached middle age and realized that half my life was gone without my changing a single soul, I changed my prayer to: "Lord, give me the grace to change all those who come in contact with me. Just my family and friends, and I shall be content."

Now that I am an old man and my days are numbered, my one prayer is: "Lord, give me the grace to change myself." If I had prayed for this right from the start, I should not have wasted my life.'
But it is easier said than practised. It requires a lifetime (as in the above case) or an equal measure of maturity of understanding to appreciate this truth.

2) Extrovert Mind: A restless mind fails to gauge its own needs and requirements. By definition, a restless mind is running outwards, to the objects of the senses. It wants to grab them. It seeks happiness from outside, and that makes it restless. One may have learnt instructions regarding spiritual life intellectually but unless mind is pure and free from restlessness, one cannot reap its benefits. One may speak of noble virtues but one's heart is elsewhere. 'They (meaning mere preachers)', says Sri Ramakrishna, 'are like vultures, which soar very high, but keep their gaze fixed on the charnel pit. What I mean is that these pundits are attached to the world, to "woman and gold."' (Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, p. 419) A training of mind, harnessing its outwardness to channels of inner life is essential for spiritual practices.

3)Unwillingness to Pay the Price: Practice involves sacrifice. No pains, no gains. Sri Ramakrishna would say if you want a 16-anna worth of cloth, you will have to pay 16 annas. In other words, one must be willing to undergo all the hardships involved in practising spiritual disciplines. One cannot practise spiritual disciplines by proxy either. Like eating or resting, spiritual practices too have to be taken up directly. We must bear in mind that in the realm of practice, the responsibility rests with us. It is we who have to practise and if it is we who wish to reap the results, it is we who have to pay the price. Willingness to sacrifice what is dear to us but obstructs our path—that is what paying the price means.

About the author

Swami Atmashraddananda

Swami Atmashraddhananda is a monk of the Ramakrishna Order and editor of The Vedanta Kesari from the year 2004 .

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