Know Your Own Path

 

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Know Your Own Path

In spirituality there are two ways by which you can reach the ultimate truth – the path of Truth and the path of Love. In the end both these paths converge – duality ends and thereafter there is only merging with universal consciousness.

We have been coming and going, assuming different bodies over several births, in some we have experienced poverty, in some wealth, in some an average life and so on, but in every birth, we have experienced hardship as well as good times. We have also been led onto the spiritual path, we have done penance and spiritual practise – all of us have a bank locker filled with these past life experiences. These are hidden deep below in our subconscious mind and in this birth, we have accumulated impressions – both good and bad of this birth itself – so what is hidden in the bank locker stays hidden.

You can find the key to this locker by following the path of truth, viz. attaining the state of a sakshi or witness through regular meditation under the guidance of a spiritual Master or Satguru. This path requires tremendous self-discipline and a level of awareness which transcends the normal – that is why it is considered difficult. But like Swamiji says that if you treat meditation as a hobby, something you love for its own sake, like watching football or tennis, then it does not become something ‘to do’. Because the moment it becomes a ‘to do’, your ego comes into play, the moment your ego comes into play you lose your way.

Meditation – if it becomes an activity in your calendar, then there is no way you will progress on the path – the mind will play tricks and you will continue to live in an illusory world and just end up fooling yourself. But if in your heart you feel this is your path, then that is the way to go.

Swamiji has mentioned ‘Love’ to be the easier path to liberation. If in your heart of hearts, you feel that this is so, then follow this path. Fill yourself with so much love that only love energy flows from whatever you do. All your words and actions will be filled with love for all beings – sentient and non-sentient – and that selfless love will ultimately ensure that you hear the music of your soul.

Remember - nothing is easy, it is how we behave and act and condition ourselves that will let us know whether we will reach our goal in this birth or not. Swamiji is there to take us across – from this shore to the other. He is only a bridge – His one hand is holding our hand on this shore and the other hand is held by Paramatma on the other side. It is up to us to ensure that we choose our own path and use the connection provided by Swamiji to reach the other shore.