Narayanasramam

[Guest guest]

Value of Self Effort

 

It is not easy to describe spirituality and all definitions of the

term concur on the fact that it is the converse of all that is

material, temporal or worldly. The body would remain insentient but

for the animating force of the spirit within. This is a sign of the

spiritual component in us. Just as the effect of human effort is

manifest in the development of the human race, self effort plays a

very important role in enhancing the spiritual life of an individual,

pointed out Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha in a lecture.

 

The uniqueness of human beings is their ability to think, reflect and

act and only when these special faculties are realised to their full

potential does human existence become meaningful. Human birth is a

great opportunity to realise the spiritual quotient within and this is

possible with proper guidance from a knowledgeable preceptor and

steadfast endeavour on the part of the seeker.

 

In the Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna as a preceptor puts things in proper

perspective to a confused Arjuna who suddenly swerved from his prime

desire to wage a war on seeing his grandfather, preceptor and

relatives on the enemy camp, and began to question the propriety of

the issue. The Lord makes Arjuna understand the value of self effort,

and explains the higher truths of the scriptures in clear and simple

terms. Lord Krishna reinforces the truth of the Atma †" which is shown

as the immortal and undying component residing in each individual

endowed with a physical form and nature.

 

The knower of this truth understands the spiritual aspect in oneself

and of the perishable nature of all else including one's

body-mind-complex. The advice is for all mankind as well, to generate

the required self effort to transcend the doubts and confusions of

worldly pulls and aspire for the eternal goal of life. Human beings

have the strength to lift themselves to direct their lives in the

right path. Intelligence, sensory organs and the mind should work as

an integrated whole.

 

In the Yoga Vasishta, Sage Vasishta advises a disturbed young Lord

Rama on the value of Paurusha (self effort) and to cultivate it

through perseverance, endurance and ingenuity.