Sarve Janaah Sukhino Bhavanthu
  
   SiteMap
  
  
  
  
Sree Satyanaaraayana Swamy Vratham DVD/VCD Available
  Tirupathi Tour

SELF DEVELOPMENT

Free Will

The man must learn to separate himself from the vehicles in which he desires, thinks and acts, to know them as part of the Not-self, as material external to the life. Thus the energy that went out to the objects in the lower desires becomes the higher desire, guided by the mind, and is prepared to be transmuted in 'will.'

As the lower mind emerges into the higher, and the higher into that which is wisdom, the aspect of pure 'will' emerges as the power of spirit self-determined, self-ruled, in perfect harmony with the supreme will, and therefore free. Then only all bounds are broken and the spirit is unconstrained by anything outside him. Then and then alone can the 'will' be said to be free.

Have a cool and balanced Mind

He who is attempting to develop the 'will' should always try to keep a cool head. He should keep a balanced mind under all conditions. He will have to train or discipline the mind. It is worth practicing. Balance of mind is one of the vital characteristics of a developed Gnani or Yogi. That yogi who can keep a balanced mind at all times is really a strong and happy man. He will get sanguine success in all his undertakings. You may fail to maintain the balance in fifty attempts. But from the fifty-oneth endeavor you will gain strength of 'will.' You will slowly manifest balance of mind. You should no be discouraged in the beginning. Remember the story of 'Bruce and the spider.'  Bruce learnt from the spider. He failed seven times but succeeded in the war in his eight attempts.

Of a serious calamity occurs, your mind should not be upset. Just keep the mind cool and calm. Have presence of mind. Do not cry over spilt milk. Anyhow it has come to pass. You will have to face it with a cheerful countenance. Try to make the best of things. Remember the maxim: " what methods to tide over the difficulty. Keep always an unruffled mind. Do not be carried away by undue sentiments and building emotions. Control them. Reflect how the calamity or trouble or catastrophe has come. There is always scope for suitable, effective, easy methods to tide over the crisis or trying situation. Allow the turban to pass off when your head is on the point if being knocked down. This is sagacity. This is prudence. This is wisdom. Many obstacles and calamities can be obviated quite easily. Do not brood over failures, defects and mistakes. This will weaken your 'will.' Let the defects remain there. They will be removed quickly when the 'will' becomes purer and purer, stronger and stronger.

Just reflect for a while why you have failed in the attempt and try to be careful in the second attempt. Try to remove those factors that led to your failure in the previous attempt. Fortify yourself now. Be careful and vigilant. Be on the alert. Be active and nimble as the squirrel. You must be quick and at, the same time, effective and capable. You should not commit mistakes.

Have presence of Mind

Whenever you are in a dilemma or trying practical difficulty, never get discouraged. Never intelligent plans or schemes. Call forth all your latent energies or dormant faculties. When the house is on fire, how alert you are! How skillfully and promptly you act at that particular moment! You do not know wherefrom the energy and power are flowing at the time. You are fully concentrated; you contrive skilful methods then and there to save your property, as much as possible, and to save the lives of your kinsmen dwelling in the house. Marvelous actions you do. Then you say at your leisure, when the difficulty is over, that some mysterious power of God had worked through you.

Always cut the Gordian knot at once. Do not be wasting time. When once you have resolved a definite line of action, carry it out deliberation and consideration. Procrastination is the thief of time. A "Deerghasutri" (one who procrastinates) can never succeed in this life or in any of his undertakings.

"Procrastination is the thief of time" is a wise maxim.

Sings of growing Will

Unruffled state of mind, poise, cheerfulness inner strength, capacity to turn out difficult works success in all undertakings, power to influence people a magnetic and dynamic personality, magnetic aura on the face, sparkling eyes, steady gaze, powerful voice, a magnanimous gait, unyielding nature fearlessness, etc., are some of the signs or symptoms that indicates that one's 'will' is growing.

Becoming a Expert

You must become a Daksha (an expert)-refer chapter XII-I6-Gita, in deciding a line of action when you are in a dilemma in the twinkling of an eye that can bring sure and positive success. You must keep the instrument (Buddhi) very subtle and sharp. See how smart and adept the Kshatriya kings were in olden days during warfares! A commander-in-chief is expected to have this faculty to a remarkable degree. Sivaji and Napoleon had this virtue.

Develop Firmness and patience

Unwavering firmness and patience are needed to tide over critical situations and gain success. Dhriti and Dhairya (presence of mind), and Samata (balance of mind) develop the 'will' to a remarkable degree.

Have a definite aim in Life

The vast majority of persons, even the so-called educated people, have no definite aim in life. Hence they are drifted here and there like a log of wood on a restless ocean. They do not know what to do. Some students finish their B.A., and M.A., courses but they do not have the power of judgment to select any good avocation that is suitable to their temperament, that can bring them prosperity and success in life. They become lazy. They are unfit for adventurous enterprises or any speculative business, or any kind of activity that demands knack, pluck and skill.

They waste their time and finish their life's career in gloom, despair and sorrow. The energy is there. The intellect is there. But they have no definite aim or purpose. They have no ideal. They have no clear-cut programme of life. Hence one of you should clearly understand the aim of your life. Then you should chalk out the line of work that is congenial to your aim. You should work hard to realize the aim. You should have your own ideal and you should try every second to live up to the ideal. You can realize the ideal right now in this very second or after ten years by walking with faltering steps. It does not matter much. The ideal and aim must be there. Then you can develop your 'will.'

When one has successfully finished his duties of a house-holder, when his sons are all fixed up in life, when the daughters are given in marriage, should devote the remaining years of his life in spiritual pursuits, study of religious literature and divine contemplation. Many people have no definite idea as to want they are going to do. After retirement from active service they take to some other avocation. They are still greedy. Till the end of life they count money and entertain thoughts of grand children and great grand children. Pitiable is the lot of these men indeed! Blessed is he who spends the whole time in study and meditation in a solitary place after retirement from service.

Eastern and Western modes of Culture

There is a gulf of difference between the Eastern culture of the Hindu sages and Rishis and the method of culture of Western occultists. The fundamental difference is that in the West, people train their will and memory for attaining material progress and worldly prosperity only. They have totally ignored the life beyond. This is their serious blunder indeed. Whereas the Yogis of indis do develop their will and memory for spiritual ends. Their goal is always Self-Realization. They exhibit psychic Siddhis to make their students clearly understand that there is higher super-sensual life in the Atma, which alone can be real Bliss and Immortality. They clearly impress on their students in unmistakable terms "Na karmana prajaya dhanena tyagenaeka amritatwa manusha – Not by actions, nor by progeny nor by riches but by renunciation alone one can attain Immortality." The real bliss is in the Bhuma or the Infinite or Unconditioned. There is no happiness in the perishable objects. Real, lasting peace is in the Absolute alone. The Absolute must be sought and understood. This one ringing note is blown in their ears daily.

Therefore the western occultists should not neglect the spiritual basis of all other cultures. One can have material prosperity to a certain extent. He should also develop the spiritual side. There should be a spiritual basis for all cultures and undertakings. This is important. If this side is ignored completely, then that culture is no culture at all. There should also be the practice of a little Tapas (austerity) along with the will culture.

Saunaka, a wise house holder, approached the sage Angiras and said: "O venerable sir, what is that supreme culture or culture of cultures by knowing which all other cultures are known?" Angiras replied: "It is Brahma Vidya or Para Vidya or the spiritual culture or the Science of the Self." All cultures are founded on the culture of the Self. I therefore draw the attention of Western culturists to this striking feature of Eastern culture. Then alone they will have roaring success and immeasurable joy. Some Hindu teachers completely ignore the material side and practise Tamasic Tapas. This is also unadvisable. This is condemned by Lord Krishna in the Gita. Extremes are always bad. A healthy combination is highly desirable. Chudalai and Jwaka had this happy combination. Tantrikas have Mukti and Bhukti.

Conclusion

Dear readers, I want to place before you another important point. I have hot such words as 'cannot',  'difficult,' 'impossible,' 'weakness,' etc., in my dictionary. Those who are attempting to develop their will-force should remove these words from their dictionary also. These are the expressions of a weakling or an effeminate person. 'These are the expressions of a timid woman. Become a lion, Become a spiritual hero. Become, a champion in the Adhyatmic field. By mere willing or chanting of OM, mountains can be crushed to powder. By mere willing, mountains should move. By mere willing oceans should recede. By mere willing all the waves of the ocean should subside. Lord Jesus did this and you also can do. Whatever one has achieved can also be attained by all if only they will. This is the grand law of nature. Mother Prakriti is unbiased. She looks up at- all her children with equal vision. Speak with dignity and force. Talk with emphasis in a noble manner.

Therefore never entertain in your mind these negative terms. Understand the glory, splendour and power of the Self, which is at the back of your mind, thought, will and memory. Understand the magnanimity and immortal nature of that hidden, inter-penetrating, indwelling Essence. Know that this Self is the storehouse for all knowledge, bliss, power, beauty, peace and joy. Feel that the sun, the moon and the stars and fire do' their respective functions at your command. Feel that the air move, rain showers, fire burns, rivers flow, sun shines, stars glitter, Indra, Agni and Yama do their respective functions at your building. Thou art the Glory of glories, Sun of suns, Light of lights, Holy of holies, Divinity of divinities, Devata of devatas, Emperor of emperors, and God of gods. Thou art Truth; Thou art Brahman; Thou art the imperishable, undecaying, undying Atman that pervades this whole universe. Assert your divine majesty. Recognise the Brahmic glory. Realise your freedom and Satchidananda nature, your centre, ideal, goal and heritage. Rest in that ocean of light, knowledge, Prema, peace, joy and bliss. Realise the significance of the great sentence. "Tat Twam Asi" (Thou art That) of the glorious Upanishads. OM! OM!! OM!!!

Previous  Next

Want Purohiths for performing

Want to perform Poojas click here
Vishnusahasranamam
Suprabhatam
Muhurat for any occasion
Ayurvedic Medicine
Garuda Puraanam
Kartika Puranum

About Us

Disclaimer

Feedback

Contact Us


Rituals | Muhurthams | Astrology | Panchangam | Vaasthu | Epics | Festivals | Ayurveda | Yoga | Pilgrimage 
Matrimonials | Sraadhas | Greetings | Materials | News | Encyclopedia | Magazine | India