Guest guest Posted October 8, 2006 Report Share Posted October 8, 2006 some words from Ramana Maharshi: A young man asked: I try to cultivate willpower, but do not succeed. How should I set about it? (No answer.) D. I came here three years ago and Sri Bhagavan said that willpower is necessary for strength of mind. Since then I have been wanting to cultivate it, but without success. (No answer.) D. During these years, I have had four or five reverses. They upset me considerably. There is always the fear of failure haunting my attempts. This results in lack of faith in myself, which certainly foredooms my efforts to failure. Nothing, in fact, succeeds like success; and also nothing foils one's attempts like failure. Hence my question. (No answer.) D. Is not willpower necessary for success? It should ensure success and also rule out failure. (No answer.) D. I try to gain willpower. After these years, I find myself only where I began. There is no progress. (No answer.) D. What are the means for gaining willpower? M. Your idea of willpower is success insured. Willpower should be understood to be the strength of mind which makes it capable of meeting success or failure with equanimity. It is not synonymous with certain success. Why should one's attempts always be attended by success? Success breeds arrogance and man's spiritual progress is thus arrested. Failure, on the other hand, is beneficial, inasmuch as it opens his eyes to his limitations and prepares him to surrender himself. Self-surrender is synonymous with eternal happiness. Therefore, one should try to gain equipoise of mind under all circumstances. That is willpower. Again, success and failure are the results of prarabdha (past actions, currently bearing fruit) and not of willpower. A man may be doing only good and noble actions and yet prove a failure. Another may do otherwise and yet be uniformly successful. This does not mean that willpower is present in the one and not in the other. D. Is it not said in the book Truth Revealed (Ulladu Narpadu) that the world is a product of the mind? M. Yes. D. Does it not follow that the mind grown strong brings the world under control? M. The mind in its external activities gives rise to the world. Such activities fritter away the strength of the mind. Its strength lies in being confined to itself with the external activities arrested. D. There is an idiot who cannot count up to ten. His mind certainly does not operate as does that of a thinker. Is the former a better man than the latter? M. Who says he is an idiot? Your mind in its wandering says so. D. Is willpower gained by divesting oneself of thoughts? M. Rather by confining oneself to a single thought[ like a mantra ]. Ultimately, this will also disappear, leaving Pure Consciousness behind. Concentration helps one to it. D. So then, it is gained by directing the mind and concentrating it. The personality has nothing to do with it. M. Personality is the root-cause of external activities. It must sink for gaining the highest good. Amma Bless! Ammachi, "n2amma" <a1driane wrote: > > I was invited to a seminar today by a spiritual woman talking on > poverty. I did not feel drawn to attend after researching it. Her > basic premise is that poverty is due to our inability to forgive > ourselves. I went bankrupt a couple of years ago. I have much peace > over my past and with family, etc. Things are great in that way > overall for me. I just felt that Amma has Her own designs on what is > best for me. I also believe that once you find your guru, that you > need not worry. She will take care of everything that you need in your > life. > > Conversely, that would mean that all wealthy people HAVE forgiven > themselves and are in a good place? We know that is not necessarily > true either. And there are people in poverty who are spiritually rich. > > any thoughts on this? > > in Amma, > adriane > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 8, 2006 Report Share Posted October 8, 2006 This was very interesting. In reflection, once you have your guru, for me Amma, then you need not worry. Amma has told me simply to have the courage to face all things in my life-not to worry. She further stated, Worry does not help anything. And also, as stated, to simply face all things with equanamity-the good and the bad. I was once very prosperous and now, even with effort, not quite so prosperous at all. But now I realize that this does not really matter. I am most fortunate and rich in many ways that mean even more. My sons are healthy, my mother still around and I have a roof over our heads, heat, food and time to meditate in spite of 2 jobs. I am learning over and over to realize my many blessings through the grace of my beloved Amma. Adriane Ammachi, "amarnath" <anatol_zinc wrote: > > some words from Ramana Maharshi: > > A young man asked: I try to cultivate willpower, but do not succeed. > How should I set about it? > (No answer.) > D. I came here three years ago and Sri Bhagavan said that willpower > is necessary for strength of mind. Since then I have been wanting to > cultivate it, but without success. > (No answer.) > D. During these years, I have had four or five reverses. They upset > me considerably. There is always the fear of failure haunting my > attempts. This results in lack of faith in myself, which certainly > foredooms my efforts to failure. Nothing, in fact, succeeds like > success; and also nothing foils one's attempts like failure. Hence > my question. > (No answer.) > D. Is not willpower necessary for success? It should ensure success > and also rule out failure. > (No answer.) > D. I try to gain willpower. After these years, I find myself only > where I began. There is no progress. > (No answer.) > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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