Resolves

[Guest guest]

The spiritual path is thorny, precipitous and rugged. Temptations

will assail you. Your will, sometimes, will become weak. Sometimes,

there will be downfall or a backward pull by the dark Asuric

antagonistic forces. In order to strengthen your will and resist the

unfavourable currents, you will have to make, again and again, fresh

resolves. This will help you to ascend the ladder of Yoga, vigorously

and quickly. Here are some resolves. Stick to them tenaciously. Watch

the mind carefully and keep a daily spiritual record.

 

1. I must get up at 4 a.m. today for practising meditation. (I will

have an alarm time-piece).

 

2. I will certainly observe Brahmacharya for a month.

 

3. I will, at any cost, speak the truth today.

 

4. I will not speak harsh or vulgar words today.

 

5. I will do 21,600 (200 Mala) Japa this Sunday.

 

6. I will observe complete Mouna this Sunday.

 

7. I will live on milk and fruits this Ekadasi.

 

8. I will finish the study of the whole of Gita on this Sunday

(Svadhyaya) and write my Ishta Mantra or Guru Mantra for 2 hours.

 

9. I will spend one-tenth of my income on charity this month.

 

10. I will take only three things today-dhall and bread in the noon

and milk at night.

 

11. I will not use shoes and bed-stead today.

 

12. I will not become angry today.

 

I will give up night meals and do 10 Malas of Japa if I break any of

my resolves.

 

When you make these resolves, stand before the Lord's picture with

folded hands and pray devoutly for His grace and mercy. You will

doubtless get immense strength to carry out these resolves.

 

Even if you fail in your attempt, do not be discouraged. Every

failure is a stepping-stone for success. Make a fresh resolve again

with more firm and fiery determination. You are bound to succeed.

Conquest over one weakness will give you additional strength and will-

force to get over another weakness or defect. The baby tries to walk,

gets up and falls down. Again it makes another attempt. Eventually it

walks steadily. Even so, you will have to fall down and get up, again

and again, when you walk in the spiritual path. In the long run, you

will steadily climb up to the summit of the hill of Yoga and reach

the pinnacle of Nirvikalpa Samadhi.

 

May the Lord give you strength of will to carry out your resolves!

 

(Source: Essence of Yoga by Sri Swami Sivananda)