India Reflections

Faith in the heart

I am happy to see hope, because it shows the existence of faith. Without faith, one cannot hope because, to my mind, hope is an attitude evolving out of the inner faith in the heart. And the way hope is exhibited is in one's ability to wait. It is nothing but faith which gives patience, and I am therefore always happy to see hope featuring in abhyasis' letters. May your faith grow and grow.

Taken from the book "The Spider's Web, Vol. 1", Chapter "Hope –The Foundation of Change",...

Attitude - change what can be changed

All that happens to us is for our benefit if it is rightly used. What we have got we cannot change. Can we change our bodies, or our nationality? Can we change the color of the skin? But there are many things that can be changed, such as the nature, behavior, habits, etc., and we should therefore try to change what can be changed and live with what cannot be changed. This is wisdom!

Taken from the book "The Spider's Web, Vol I.", Chapter "Hope-The Foundation of Change", pg. 88, by...

Afflictions - sorrows and miseries

The world is full of sorrows and miseries. Some are groaning under pain; a few are lamenting over the death of their dear ones; others feel worried by poverty, ill-health and afflictions. There may be only a few who seem to be favoured by fortune, but even they have their own troubles and worries.

Taken from the book "Complete Works of Ram Chandra Vol. 2.", Chapter "Afflictions", pg. 26, by Babuji Maharaj

Brooding

Constant brooding over our own afflictions increases our worries. Our attachment to them develops and we become rigidly entangled in their intricacies. This hampers our onward progress, and the chance of success becomes slight.

Taken from the book "Complete Works of Ram Chandra, Vol. 2", Chapter "Afflictions", pg. 32, by Babuji Maharaj

Ego

The word 'ego' is said to have been abused by all the present and past writers. The ego gives you strength for all the work. It points out to you that you have got the power to do a certain thing. But we identify ego with the body, instead of with the soul. It is the production of God, which you cannot annihilate. You should modify it. Suppose a man has got an immense fortune and he is proud of that. He commits no sin, because it does not do harm to anybody. What happens as a result of it is that...

Duty

Though it is undoubtedly a folly to think oneself too wise, it is a greater folly to think oneself too foolish or weak. We must try to dedicate ourselves, as we may be, to the remembrance of God, abiding by His commands, which are almost the same for every one. They comprise the essential features of one's normal duties.

Taken from the book "Complete Works of Ram Chandra, Vol. 2.", Chapter "Ambrosial Shower", pg. 321, by Babuji Maharaj

Mind - the heart

The heart is the field for the action of the mind. Mind is always as it is. It is the heart which, as the field of action of the mind, is to be set right.

Taken from the book "Complete Works of Ram Chandra, Vol. 2.", Chapter "Clarifications", pg. 188, by Babuji Maharaj

Concentration - prepare to meditate

When we want to learn to concentrate, we must be prepared to meditate first. Secondly, we must be prepared to have the faith and the courage to see what is shown to us – not to be disturbed by it, not to be attracted by the beauty that we see, not to be repelled by the ugliness that we may see. So concentration means the instant ability to draw the essence of anything upon which you apply your mind.

Taken from the book "The Principles of Sahaj Marg, Vol. 12", Chapter "Meditation...

Unbalanced Living

The average human being of today gives a great deal of thought and applies a great amount of energy to attain high levels of material welfare. In this endeavor the people of the industrially advanced nations have been significantly successful. But notwithstanding this, there is yet much unhappiness, discontent and misery pervading their lives. Why is this? My Master says that it is the result of unbalanced application of effort.

Taken from the book "The Principles of Sahaj Marg, Set...

Mind - two trends

Mind generally has two trends, the one directed towards the world or diversity and the other directed towards the Ultimate or Unity. There must be due adjustment in them. Excessive attention to either is a drawback. That is where an ordinary worldling differs from a true saint who can, at will, turn the downward tendencies of his mind upwards. That is not within the capacity of an ordinary man. A sage having fully entered into the state of Unity retraces his steps towards diversity.

Taken...