Remove Defects in Character
Egoistic individuals love to exercise authority over others. They see everything through glasses colored by the smoke of selfishness and self-love. “My words are true”; “My opinion is correct”; “My deeds are right”—Such attitude is very harmful for spiritual aspirants. Aspirants must look forward eagerly to any objective criticism, suggestion, or advice from any quarter. Also, they must minimize all discussions and argumentations as these breed a spirit of rivalry and lead one to angry reprisals and vengeful fighting. Do not struggle to earn the esteem of the world. Do not feel humiliated or angry when the world does not recognize you or your merits. Learn this first and foremost if you are after spiritual success. Do not become elated when praised, for therein lies a deadly trap, which might even lead you astray and endanger your progress.
–Dhyana Vahini, Ch 14
You must reform your mental traits and habits. Cultivate the habit of never causing pain to others. Try to understand others, sympathize with, and help them. Train yourself to take insult and criticism as decorations awarded to you. Be friendly with everyone, whatever be their nature or conduct. A joyous disposition is necessary for spiritual progress, but many things and situations deprive you of the atmosphere of joy. So, you must pray sincerely in order to be free from such obstacles. The recital or repetition of prayers (mantras) will be of great help.
–Dhyana Vahini, Ch 14
The udder of the cow contains milk in it. The milk has ghee (clarified butter) in it. But the ghee is not available to us as such. The milk has to be drawn, curdled, and churned to obtain the butter that, in turn, has to be clarified to produce the ghee. This when consumed gives strength. So, too, though God is omnipresent, He has to be discovered and cognized in order to experience the bliss. Like oil in mustard, butter in yogurt, water under the earth’s surface, and fire in timber, God though present in everything is not patent. God is in the body and the mind, but to become aware of Him spiritual effort is necessary. When that is undertaken, oneness with the Supreme within can be realized.
You will make quick progress on the spiritual path if you overcome the difficult obstacles of anger, pride, conceit, the tendency to look for faults in others, etc. These operate subconsciously, like the currents in the depths of the ocean. You must be vigilant not to lose your temper, be it even in small things, for that will hinder your progress. Anger is the parent of all wrong behavior, and it can turn any person into bad ways any moment and in any form. So first and foremost sublimate it by systematic effort. Welcome gladly anyone who points out your defects; be grateful to them. Never entertain hatred against them, for that is as bad as hating the good. You must love the “good” and discard the “bad”. Remember, the “bad” should not be hated but given up or avoided. Cultivate humility and love toward all; undesirable habits will then fall away from you.
-Dhyana Vahini, Ch 14
Conceit, jealousy, anger, pride, trickery, and fault-finding—all these are obstacles in the spiritual path. Even if these are not patently exhibited, the inner impulses urging one along these wrong directions are latent in the mind. When a room kept closed for a long time is opened and found dust-ridden and foul-smelling, it is cleaned and made habitable by elaborate sweeping and dusting. Similarly, the mind, too, must be cleansed by means of meditation. Spiritual aspirants must, by inward observation, examine the mind and its contents and condition. By proper disciplinary habits, the accumulated dirt should be removed little by little and systematically. Conceit, for example, is deep-rooted and unyielding. It may appear to be dry and dead for some time but will sprout again easily. In a passionate mind it puts forth many branches and spreads in all directions as soon as a chance arises. So a spiritual aspirant must be ever vigilant.
–Dhyana Vahini, Ch 14
