When you seek, when you meditate, see your mind and your subconscious tendencies. Try to analyze from where your beliefs come, from where your agitations come, your hopes and so on. That is the best practice. It is not just propaganda, publishing one million copies of something. Do not deceive yourself, because self-delusion will perpetuate your ignorance. Be very clear about it. Is this what you want or what He wants? Is it simply theology or doctrines followed to make us look religious or is it real? Our change, our conversion, is actually our transformation.
      This self-analysis, churning the ocean of the mind, is very hard work and therefore many do not attempt it. They escape, they avoid, but that is the way, the only way it has to be. If you work with your mind you will understand your responsibility, what you should do and are supposed to do. That is where your question will be answered, “Who am I?” You have to face your mind. If you can devote at least a few years to this, it does not matter which “ism” or path you follow, whether it is Krishna or Zen or Vedanta or self-inquiry or devotion or whatever. Those who avoid or escape their mind will not achieve much. Wherever you go you carry your mind with you.

       The first few years it is very hard work. But after a few years you will begin to see that the mind, which is like a wild horse, is now broken in a little. Then it becomes easier. Aspiration means assuming responsibility for what you are, for your mind, for your motives, for what you want or do not want. No one else is responsible for you. Whatever your wife does or husband or brother or children or parents—do not get involved in condemning or blaming anyone. It is your mind; it is you. I put much stress upon this because there is no other way you can be truly spiritual or Enlightened. Buddha had to work with his mind for years. So did Jesus, Ramakrishna, Chaitanya and Moses. The prophets could not avoid their mind, whatever it was, what to speak of seekers. Never escape and avoid and just believe in something. Yes, believe in something, but face your mind. As long as you want to blame anyone or anything outside you, in my humble opinion you are not even an aspirant. See that you judge yourself first.
      In the years to come, whether we have peace on earth or doomsday, I believe it will be those spiritual seekers who are somewhat evolved who will make the new world. What can others do anyway? The last word is therefore humility. Humility makes us see rightly; pride and arrogance blind us to see the way we would like to see. Therefore arrogant people often misjudge; humble people see correctly. There are many things to see when you travel through your mind. Those who work hard on their minds, even though they may not look highly spiritual, God will accept first. Whatever path you are following and whatever goal you determine, please do not avoid your mind. 

© 2007 Truth Consciousness. Edited from the Satsang The Play of the Mind, given on May 25, 1986 at Desert Ashram.  This 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