Why spiritual effort?

Thought for the Day

Why should we persist in our spiritual efforts until we are successful?

It is indeed tragic to witness the downfall of the child of immortality, struggling in despair and distress. If only everyone examines these: “What are my qualifications? What is my position?” They can soon realise their downfall. Will a tiger, however hungry, eat popcorn or monkey nuts? Aim at the goal which your lineage entitles you; how can a parrot taste the sweetness of the mango if it pecks at the fruit of the cotton tree? Let your effort be in keeping with the dignity of the goal! Never slacken effort, whatever be the obstacle, however long the journey! Remember, the goal will be near you faster than the pace with which you are near the goal! God is as eager to save you as you are to be saved! God is prema. He is karuna (love and compassion) for all who flounder on the road! He is called Bhakta-abheesta-prada (He who grants the desires of His every devotee).

- Divine Discourse, Sep 07, 1966.

What do we witness?

We are children of immortality, and if we fall down, we don't know who we are and why we are struggling in despair and distress.

He tells us to examine these: "What are our qualifications?"

Why should we do this?

If we inquire in the nature of our real being, we will find that we are immortal beings. Therefore, we have to inquire and how do we do that?

We listen to his words, we think it over and that is how we get to the conclusion that it is not okay what we think we are when we struggle in despair and distress.

With other words, we have forgotten, who we really are. And how are we doing that to not forget it again?

Aim at the goal which your lineage entitles you; how can a parrot taste the sweetness of the mango if it pecks at the fruit of the cotton tree? Let your effort be in keeping with the dignity of the goal! Never slacken effort, whatever be the obstacle, however long the journey!

There is no giving up.

The motivation is the peace we get when we get there.

And he often tells us that we can be much closer to the goal then we think if we are regular in our Sadhana and we follow his words, we listen to him and we think it over and we don't imagine that we know it already.

Remember, the goal will be near you faster than the pace with which you are near the goal! God is as eager to save you as you are to be saved! God is prema. He is karuna (love and compassion) for all who flounder on the road! He is called Bhakta-abheesta-prada (He who grants the desires of His every devotee).

And he encourages every of our efforts in making us feel good about it and remind us that God is interested in helping us.

We have to listen to him and to inquire until it is done. There is no other way to convince our own intellect than in the realization that our own higher self is infinite being and not the body and no the mind.

😐 😃