Guest guest Posted August 1, 2004 Report Share Posted August 1, 2004 Here is something I found on the Divine Life Society Website - an article from Sri Swami Sivananda. Was it you Steve that had asked our Swamiji a while ago how he would gauge a person's progress ..? Here is something to think about. Jai Maa ! Jai Swamiji ! ==================================================== Here is an infallible barometer to find out the degree of your spiritual progress. How would you feel, if: Your clean hands or best clothes are stained. You stumbled down or commit a blunder and are laughed at. You are hurt accidentally or stung by an insect or scorpion. You suffer from illness or pain. You do not succeed in your efforts. You do not get a thing that you want, or find that some thing you possess is missing. You are kept waiting for a long time by some other person. You are insulted or abused for no reason. Others fail in their duties towards you. You suffer a loss or bereavement. If none of these can disturb your peace of mind and you are indifferent to them, you have won the struggle and achieved 50% self control. God sends trials and troubles to strengthen your character: Greet them and test yourself. Swami Sivananda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 1, 2004 Report Share Posted August 1, 2004 really good. he's talking about aggravations. he brings down the terms like non-attachment etc. into real life. waiting in line. having a belly ache. being hot and sweaty. your favorite thing breaks, even if it is a holy item. enduring some social awkwardness or embarassment, insulted, etc. i am far off from this. and he says success is 50% of self-control. i must be at 0-25%. if at first you don't succeed, twy, twy again. steve , "Latha Nanda" <lathananda> wrote: > Here is something I found on the Divine Life Society Website - an > article from Sri Swami Sivananda. Was it you Steve that had asked > our Swamiji a while ago how he would gauge a person's progress ..? > Here is something to think about. > Jai Maa ! > Jai Swamiji ! > > ==================================================== > Here is an infallible barometer to find out the degree of your > spiritual progress. How would you feel, if: > > Your clean hands or best clothes are stained. > You stumbled down or commit a blunder and are laughed at. > You are hurt accidentally or stung by an insect or scorpion. > You suffer from illness or pain. > You do not succeed in your efforts. > You do not get a thing that you want, or find that some thing you > possess is missing. > You are kept waiting for a long time by some other person. > You are insulted or abused for no reason. > Others fail in their duties towards you. > You suffer a loss or bereavement. > > If none of these can disturb your peace of mind and you are > indifferent to them, you have won the struggle and achieved 50% self > control. > > God sends trials and troubles to strengthen your character: Greet > them and test yourself. > > Swami Sivananda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 1, 2004 Report Share Posted August 1, 2004 Hers's another poem by Rumi that seems to go along with Master Sivananda's sage counsel... The Guest House This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they're a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight. The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in. Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond. Rumi [translation by Coleman Barks] , "Latha Nanda" <lathananda> wrote: > Here is something I found on the Divine Life Society Website - an > article from Sri Swami Sivananda. Was it you Steve that had asked > our Swamiji a while ago how he would gauge a person's progress ..? > Here is something to think about. > Jai Maa ! > Jai Swamiji ! > > ==================================================== > Here is an infallible barometer to find out the degree of your > spiritual progress. How would you feel, if: > > Your clean hands or best clothes are stained. > You stumbled down or commit a blunder and are laughed at. > You are hurt accidentally or stung by an insect or scorpion. > You suffer from illness or pain. > You do not succeed in your efforts. > You do not get a thing that you want, or find that some thing you > possess is missing. > You are kept waiting for a long time by some other person. > You are insulted or abused for no reason. > Others fail in their duties towards you. > You suffer a loss or bereavement. > > If none of these can disturb your peace of mind and you are > indifferent to them, you have won the struggle and achieved 50% self > control. > > God sends trials and troubles to strengthen your character: Greet > them and test yourself. > > Swami Sivananda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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