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.
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. |
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. |
© 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 |