Spiritual Practice is Will Asserted and Re-Asserted

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

 

It is that time of the year - Jan 1st - a time for new beginnings,

new hopes and new resolutions.

For all of us that take resolutions but are unable to keep them from

time to time , here is yet another nugget - this time from

Nisargadatta Maharaj , emphasizing endurance and perseverance.

 

I sincerely pray that we may all grow in spiritual strength this

year.

 

I look forward to hearing from folks on the resolutions that they

have made and if possible share their progress on this forum and

keep each other inspired.

 

Let this be a year of Inspired Sadhana for us all !

 

Happy New Year !

JAI MAA

Latha

 

============================================================

>From the book "I am That" - Conversations with Nisargadatta Maharaj

 

 

Nisargadatta Maharaj: If you want words, I shall give you some of

the ancient words of power. Repeat any of them ceaselessly;they can

work wonders.

 

Questioner :Are you serious ? Would you tell a Westerner to

repeat 'Om' or 'Ram' or 'Hare Krishna' ceaselessly, though he lacks

completely the faith and conviction born of the right cultural and

religious background. Without confidence and fervor; repeating

mechanically the same sounds, will he ever achieve anything ?

 

NM:Why not ? It is the urge , the hidden motive that matters, not

the shape it takes. Whatever he does, if he does it for the sake of

finding his own self, will surely bring him to himself .

 

Q:No need of faith in the efficacy of the means ?

 

NM: No need of faith which is but expectation of results. Here the

action only counts. Whatever you do for the sake of truth will lead

you to the truth. Only be earnest and honest. The shape it takes

hardly matters.

[...]

 

Q:Unbelievable ! How can dull repetition in boredom verging on

despair , be effective ?

 

NM: The very facts of repetition, of struggling on and on and of

endurance and perseverance, in spite of boredom and despair and

complete lack of conviction are really crucial. The are not

important by themselves, but the sincerity behind them is all-

important. There must be a push from within and pull from without.

 

Q: My questions are typical of the West. There people think in terms

of cause and effect, means and goals. They do not see what causal

connection can there be between a particular word and the Absolute

Reality.

 

NM: None whatsoever. But there is a connection between the word and

its meaning, between the action and its motive. Spiritual practice

is will asserted and re-asserted. Who has not the daring will not

accept the real even when offered. Unwillingness born out of fear is

the only obstacle.

 

Q: What is there to be afraid of ?

 

NM :The unknown. The not-being, not-knowing, not-doing. The beyond.

 

[..]

 

======================================================

[Guest guest]

Thanks Lathaji for this very interesting quotation. Very act of

repeating the word brings in great strength from within.

Chetan

 

, "Latha Nanda" <lathananda>

wrote:

>

>

> Dear All,

>

> It is that time of the year - Jan 1st - a time for new beginnings,

> new hopes and new resolutions.

> For all of us that take resolutions but are unable to keep them

from

> time to time , here is yet another nugget - this time from

> Nisargadatta Maharaj , emphasizing endurance and perseverance.

>

> I sincerely pray that we may all grow in spiritual strength this

> year.

>

> I look forward to hearing from folks on the resolutions that they

> have made and if possible share their progress on this forum and

> keep each other inspired.

>

> Let this be a year of Inspired Sadhana for us all !

>

> Happy New Year !

> JAI MAA

> Latha

>

> ============================================================

>

> From the book "I am That" - Conversations with Nisargadatta

Maharaj

>

>

> Nisargadatta Maharaj: If you want words, I shall give you some of

> the ancient words of power. Repeat any of them ceaselessly;they

can

> work wonders.

>

> Questioner :Are you serious ? Would you tell a Westerner to

> repeat 'Om' or 'Ram' or 'Hare Krishna' ceaselessly, though he

lacks

> completely the faith and conviction born of the right cultural and

> religious background. Without confidence and fervor; repeating

> mechanically the same sounds, will he ever achieve anything ?

>

> NM:Why not ? It is the urge , the hidden motive that matters, not

> the shape it takes. Whatever he does, if he does it for the sake

of

> finding his own self, will surely bring him to himself .

>

> Q:No need of faith in the efficacy of the means ?

>

> NM: No need of faith which is but expectation of results. Here the

> action only counts. Whatever you do for the sake of truth will

lead

> you to the truth. Only be earnest and honest. The shape it takes

> hardly matters.

> [...]

>

> Q:Unbelievable ! How can dull repetition in boredom verging on

> despair , be effective ?

>

> NM: The very facts of repetition, of struggling on and on and of

> endurance and perseverance, in spite of boredom and despair and

> complete lack of conviction are really crucial. The are not

> important by themselves, but the sincerity behind them is all-

> important. There must be a push from within and pull from without.

>

> Q: My questions are typical of the West. There people think in

terms

> of cause and effect, means and goals. They do not see what causal

> connection can there be between a particular word and the Absolute

> Reality.

>

> NM: None whatsoever. But there is a connection between the word

and

> its meaning, between the action and its motive. Spiritual practice

> is will asserted and re-asserted. Who has not the daring will not

> accept the real even when offered. Unwillingness born out of fear

is

> the only obstacle.

>

> Q: What is there to be afraid of ?

>

> NM :The unknown. The not-being, not-knowing, not-doing. The beyond.

>

> [..]

>

> ======================================================