Always Be Aware of the Highest Truth

The sadhaka (spiritual aspirant) should always seek the truthful and joyful; he must avoid all thoughts of the sad and the depressing. Depression, doubt, conceit—these are harmful to the spiritual aspirant. When his devotion is well established, even if these appear, they can be easily discarded. Until then, they will only harm his sadhana (spiritual effort). Above all, it is best that the sadhaka should, under all circumstances, be joyful, smiling and enthusiastic. Even more than bhakti (devotion) and jnana (knowledge), this pure attitude is desirable. Those who have acquired it deserve to reach the goal first. This quality of joy at all times is the fruit of good done in past births. When a person is ever worried, depressed, or doubting, he can never attain bliss. The first task of a sadhaka is the cultivation of enthusiasm; through that enthusiasm, he can derive any variety of ananda (bliss). …The sadhaka should never get inflated when praised; he should never get deflated when blamed. He must be a spiritual lion, regardless of either. He must analyze and correct his faults; this is most important.

Prema Vahini, p. 83

For Maya (unreal)- constituted beings, there are two Maya-gates; the appetite for sex and the appetite of the tongue. These two have to be conquered by every man; so long as they persist, they cause sorrow. All worldly desires are comprehended by these two; so, only those who have mastered these two can be said to have successfully waded through the world. These are the causes of all sins; and, sin is the manure on which Maya thrives. Really speaking, this Maya-prapancha or world has to serve only the purpose of just sustaining the body. Those aspiring for Liberation have to subdue the senses. “Food for guarding the body, dress to ward off the cold.” If Man, however gets immersed in these pursuits, he will forget the purpose for which he has come and the goal of all activity and holy endeavor. Instead, whatever activity a person may be engaged in, he must, as automatically as he takes in breath, be contemplating on these lines and should always be aware of this: “I am born to serve God and to realize my true Self”. All acts—wearing, eating, walking, studying, serving, moving—should be performed in the belief that they take one into the PRESENCE. Everything should be done in a spirit of dedication to the Lord.

Prema Vahini, p. 72

One should not change the name that one has loved and cherished and selected for smarana (remembrance). Concentration is impossible if the name is changed every few days. The mind will not attain one-pointedness. All sadhana has this one-pointedness as its ultimate aim, so avoid constant adoption and rejection of names and forms of the Lord; one single name must be used throughout for japam (repetition of the name) and dhyanam (meditation).

Prema Vahini, p. 84