"Faith is a Mountain, said Swami to Hislop once. Yes, the primary requirement
is Faith and this faith comes from our inner soul. Faith based on outer
experiences may not last since with every gale of rough wind, we will tend to
suspect. The mind is always jumping from one thing to other. It is called
"Aswatta", a tree whose leaves quiver even if there is no wind. Also, the term
Aswa refers the horse. If you notice a horse, it will never remain stable. It
will always move some parts of its limb. The mind is fickle like the aswatta
tree and horse. How to bring it in control? Even Arjuna had this doubt. Hence
he asked the Lord, "The mind is very fickle and how it can be tamed. The Lord
accepted his argument and he said, "No doubt, the mind is fickle but with
steady practice it can be tamed. We have seen that the ring masters in circus
tame even the ferocious wild animals like the lion and tiger. They make the
elephant to sit on a small stool! How it is possible? It is by persistent
practice. Hence by adopting spiritual practices from young days will enable us
to meditate on the Self. Shri Ramana Maharishi of Thiruvannamalai in Tamilnadu
is one good example. He become "Self realized" at the age of fourteen by some
mysterious death experience. Likewise we have to start early, drive slowly and
reach safely our destination which is God.
Swami never ask us to leave the family and to flee to the forest. He has
asserted that the family is a good training ground for the spiritually
inclined. It creates such situations and test" how far we are able to control
our baser instincts. Even if we proceed to the jungle, there may not be any
opportunity to test our progress in meditation and control of the senses. Hence
be in the world and family, do your duty in an unattached manner. Do not seek
the results. Leave it to God. Let people behave in any manner. Maintain your
calmness and composure. Let the world become topsy turvy. But remain in your
place watching everything in a disinterested manner like a "Mute Witness". If
we practice the above, our progress will be certain. Witness the thoughts
arising in the mind but do not follow them or do anything!The thoughts will
slow down in due course. If we show our interest, then our thoughts will surely
mislead us. Remain aloof from the thought process. Remain in the Present moment
forever. Focus on the Present only! By this way, we can avoid much worries and
anxiety.
Shirdi Baba has said, "Stay, Cast off anxiety. The meaning is staying in
the Present and staying in the Self!
