Q&A with Swamiji .....234...Serving through Sadhana

[Guest guest]

Question from Chris: (Original sent to Swamiji, condensed version

posted here)

 

I would like to know a little about the fruits of one's sadhana.

Fruits are at once concrete -- the paycheck at the end of the

workweek, and an attitude: the paycheck doesn't disappear if you

work only for God. So fruits are both material and subtle, and

important enough that they are mentioned fairly often in scripture.

But I do not understand, really, what the rules are.

 

On a concrete level, if I give someone my paycheck, I will not have

anything for myself. I'm not sure it is the same on a subtle level,

but I have no real basis for reference. If it is the same, how do I

give away the fruits of my practice without leaving myself in the

muck?

 

I am assuming it is true that one can dedicate the fruits of one's

sadhana to another, and they will receive them.

 

Can you give me some guidance on this? It seems a good thing, but I

wish to progress, myself, too. Could you also suggest how best to do

it? I will appreciate any light you can shed on this subject for me.

 

 

 

Swamiji's response:

 

Love is such a thing: the more you give it, the more it grows. You

never run out.

 

We give our sadhana in different ways: by dedicating it to others,

by exemplifying it for others, by teaching its practical aspects, by

incorporating it into our lives and living it.

 

It's a little different from your pay check.