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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!!!
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