Hari
OM
Application - that is what 'Workings-days' are about!
The Narada Bhakti Sutra is our guide for a while… the
nature of Love (with the capital 'ell') and a full exploration of it. As
always, you are encouraged to seek out the full text from Chinmaya Publications
(links in side-bar); but for those who prefer e-readers, this version is recommended. Whilst awareness and interest can be
raised by these posts on AV-blog, they cannot substitute for a thorough reading
and contemplation...and practice!
We
read last week how easy it is to fall down 'the stair' of behaviour and habits.
This is such a risk to the spiritual traveller that the third and last shloka
of this section reiterates;
tr'aiyta
ApIme s'gaTsamuÔayiNt.45.
Tarangaayitaa
apiime sangaat-saamudraayanti ||45||
Though appearing as a ripple (in the beginning),these
(anger, lust etc) by evil-companionship can become an ocean.
It
is very easy to brush aside concerns, because each little thing is just that;
apparently little. Subtle are the invidious ways of negative character traits
and behaviours. Put simply, such traits are also the easiest to perform.
Performance of positive traits can require effort. The basic nature of mankind
is to protect and that sometimes mean attack. Therefore we tend to fall to the
lowest common denominator, forgetting to self-monitor and put in the effort to
rise above ourselves.
All
too easily, we can look back and find that we have tumbled from higher ideals
and become immersed in our urges, some which may appear harmless enough on the
surface, but which cause us to always stray from our mark. Our society
currently pushes constantly through marketing and peer pressures to seek always
the preyas, the path of comfort and ease and lustful behaviours, the path of
squandering what we gain, of damaging our physical well-being as much as our
emotional and spiritual selves. This can all happen even in 'good' company; how
much more so if we fall in with the 'wrong crowd'? Gurudev said, "if you
re offered a glass of milk to drink and know that there is poison contained in
it, will you knowingly drink it? No, of course not! However, milk looks
innocent, and the person who is offering it is smiling, so we drink anyway. We
pay the price of not checking the situation properly." Spirituality takes
effort. It requires that we are constantly alert to our own instincts and
behaviour patterns. To say that 'I was good before but I fell in with wrong
company' is actually a weak explanation, for the self-responsible sadhaka knows
full well that others cannot in fact be blamed for our own behaviour. We alone
are responsible for our thoughts, words and deeds. To ensure that we maintain a
high standard, clearly the advice is to avoid as much as is possible being in
places and situations which may present an opportunity for our fall. To
strengthen our positive traits, actively seeking out equally positive places
and situations is to be desired.
The
athlete wishing to be top of their sport does not frequent night clubs or fast
food restaurants; they will be found on the arena of their choice practicing
the very thing they wish to be best at and that too, in the company of others
of like desire.
The
spiritual student, wishing to maximise that spiritual experience does not sit
and daydream or seek 'out-of'body' experience by extreme methods; rather they
will seek out the experienced teachers and fellow spiritual travellers with
whom they can discuss their doubts and difficulties and find support and
companionship as they seek to scale the spiritual heights.
What
is involved in this then? This is explored in the following section.
