IT IS LIKE A MOTHER SHIP. There is a capsule that comes out of the mother ship and lands on the moon. When it comes back home to earth, it has released two portions and the third portion falls back to earth, into the ocean. Two portions are left in space. The actual “capsule” of each soul that touches the Spirit is very tiny. The Vedas have called this portion the angooshtha maatrena. All other parts are shells or capsules you leave one by one: first the physical, then the astral, then the ego until you come to your Spirit. After Realization you find everything is Spirit—that’s quite a different Realization—but for the time being this is the process as we go forward, leaving shell after shell. Detachment is very necessary in addition to taking care of these shells. That is how yogis can leave the physical body and travel elsewhere. The body is a shell but it is not outside you; it is a part of you. Do not forget that. But do not make so much of that part, as if that is you. That is a fallacy.
       Most people spend much of their time involved in the maintenance of the body. How much do we do for the Spirit? According to the Vedas, seventy-five percent of our time and energy should be utilized for Spirit and twenty-five percent for our body and mind. Out of twenty-four hours, six hours should be spent maintaining the body and mind and eighteen hours for your Spirit. Now let us judge ourselves. We worry and worry and worry about things. How much do we remember God?

       The merciful, compassionate gurus and sages prayed to God to reduce this eighteen hours to twelve, ten, or even six hours, six hours for the Spirit. And God agreed to six hours for the Spirit and eighteen hours for the body and mind. Even that will work but now let us judge even these six hours. Mr. M, the author of the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, had a wife, two children and was schoolteacher. He worried that there was no hope for him. His life was being wasted in “kamini kanchan,” which is Bengali for “lust” and “gold.” One day he went to his Master and said, “I’m not celibate. I’ve not renounced anything. I’ve got two children. My life is gone.” And Sri Ramakrishna said, “No. Whatever is left, at least if you employ that now it will work. It will give you Realization. But employ that at least, whatever is left.” Six hours, four hours, three hours, fine. But dedicate that to God.
       Health is necessary but it is not the aim of life. It is a means, not a goal by itself. You need health so that you do not have obstructions in your meditations and prayers. You have to give at least one fourth of whatever energy and time you have left to God and Spirit, not just to your children, your spouse or attachments. If you do this you will not even have to plan. God will do for you. He will show you the way. Employ time in relaxation, silence, meditation and remembering your God. Touching your Spirit within is the goal of life. 

© 2007 Truth Consciousness. Edited from the Satsang How to Overcome Weakness  (O-11), given on November 15, 1978, at the Third Annual Spiritual Retreat in Tucson, Arizona and Rehearsal in the Mind (N-5), given on December 31, 1977 at Sacred Mountain Ashram.  These and the entire collection of Audio Satsangs of Swami Amar Jyoti are available on CD and Audiocassette. Please see the Audio Satsang Catalog at truthconsciousness.org