Excellence of Aspirants
Elation at profit, joy, and cheer; dejection at loss and misery—these are natural characteristics common to all mortals. What, then, is the excellence of aspirants? They should not forget the principle: Be vigilant and suffer the inevitable gladly. When difficulties and losses overwhelm you, do not lose heart and precipitate some action, but meditate calmly on how they came to be. Try to discover some simple means of overcoming or avoiding them, in an atmosphere of peace.
When the blow is directed to the head, see that the turban alone gets it—this is the mark of keen intelligence. Peace is essential for this sharpness of intellect. Haste and worry confuse the intelligence. Peace develops all the beneficial characteristics. Even farsightedness grows through peace, and, through that, obstacles and dangers can be anticipated and averted. Aspirants have to pay attention to some subtle points here. They have special problems, viz. their failings, mistakes, drawbacks, etc. The will power can be so purified and strengthened that these failings will never more be recollected. If thoughts run after the failings and begin to dwell on how they came about, when they came about, etc., the aspirants are prone to commit a few more.
Once they have been recognized as failings, why worry about their birth and ancestry? Instead, allow the mind to dwell on good things. Of what profit is it to spend time on things that are no longer necessary? Do not think of them anymore. The aspirant will find this attitude useful. If aspirants are unsuccessful in following one discipline, they have to seek and know the cause of their defeat. This analysis is necessary. They must then see that, in the second stage, the trait is not repeated. They should try their best to guard themselves against it. In such matters, one must be quick and active, like the squirrel. Agility and vigilance must be combined with sharpness of intelligence, too. All this can be earned only through peace.
Steady and undeviating earnestness is very important for avoiding and overcoming conflicts in the mind. One has to be calm and unruffled. Courage, wise counsel, and steadiness—these make the will power (icchashakti) strong and sturdy. Luster in the face, splendor in the eye, a determined look, a noble voice, large-hearted charity of feeling, unwavering goodness—these are the signposts of a developing and progressing will-force. A mind without agitations, a joyous and unblemished outlook—these are the marks of a person in whom peace has taken root.
~Prasanthi Vahini, Disc. 6
Siddhartha, who came to be known as Gautama Buddha, undertook various spiritual practices in order to realize his true Self. He studied the Vedas and sacred texts. He met many elderly wise men and tried to know the truth from them. But none of these practices could show him the path to Nirvana [perfect peace and happiness]. Ultimately, he realized that Nirvana lay in making use of the five senses of speech, touch, vision, taste, and smell in a sacred manner. He understood that japa [repeating the Lord’s name], dhyana [meditation], yoga [discipline], yajna [ritual sacrifice], etc., were mere physical activities. These spiritual practices are needed for those who are attached to the body. One who is attached to the Self need not undertake any of these practices. Buddha taught that Nirvana could be attained only by cultivating Samyak Drishti (sacred vision), Samyak Vak (sacred speech), Samyak Shravanam (sacred listening) Samyak Bhavam (sacred feeling), and Samyak Kriya (sacred action).
~Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 34, (2001)
