When one’s resources are completely at an end and one
realises one’s absolutely helpless state, then, like a man drowning, knowing he
can no longer rely upon himself or save himself, one reaches up and calls out
for help from the outside.
In this way, perhaps certain heavy sorrows, extremely dire
situations, catastrophes or calamities become the turning point of one’s life.
From a feeling of self-sufficiency, from a basic egoistical arrogance of
feeling that one is capable of doing everything in this world, one comes into a
sudden realisation that here is something which one cannot face.
As long as the Mind is in
state of I (egoism), the mind is lost, because egoism is the first product of
ignorance. It contains the essence of individuality. And this individuality is state of alienation from one’s eternal oneness
, one’s unity with the Divine Reality. And this state of alienation from our
divine Cosmic Origin, which deprives us completely of the awareness of our
essential parts of the supreme power, is the root of all the sufferings,
afflictions of the worldly life.
To start liberation from total bondage
in this net of I-ness and mine-ness, attachment, selfishness and an
identification with these inner principles of a separate, finite, little
ego-personality, then the first thing needful is to realise and recognise the
insufficiency of this little ego-principle, which up till that moment was to
you the centre of your universe, the most important and precious thing in the
world, the dearest thing, for which, to protect its interest, you have been
prepared to fight with anyone.
When this ego-principle is recognised in its true colours,
that it, as a matter of fact, constitutes your real problem, that it is the
factor that holds you in thraldom, in bondage, then you realise that if you
rely upon it, you will ultimately be left in the lurch. When that realisation
begins to dawn and you start looking up for a higher Being, a higher Power to
take you out of this predicament which has been brought about by giving
over-importance to the ego, then commences your liberation.
suddenly, when the attachments of the sentimental and
emotional aspect of your personality begin to invade your consciousness and begin
to overcome and overwhelm you, then you find yourself in a terrible fix.
Suddenly there is this clash between the clear thinking intelligence, the
rational aspect, and the overwhelming and very powerful emotional and
sentimental aspect .
And the sentimental aspect is now trying to undo
everything. And in this state of fix, not able to decide what to do, this
normally clear thinking young man, who had come with no doubts about what he
had to do that day, cries aloud for help. They say: “Man’s extremity is God’s
opportunity”.
Why do you worry without cause? Whom do you fear without
reason? Who can kill you? The soul is neither born, nor does it die.
Whatever happened, happened for the good; whatever is
happening, is happening for the good; whatever will happen, will also happen
for the good only. You need not have any regrets for the past. You need not
worry for the future. The present is happening...
What did you lose that you cry about? What did you bring
with you, which you think you have lost? What did you produce, which you think
got destroyed? You did not bring anything - whatever you have, you received
from here. Whatever you have given, you have given only here. Whatever you
took, you took from God. Whatever you gave, you gave to him.
You came empty handed, you will leave empty handed. What is
yours today, belonged to someone else yesterday, and will belong to someone
else the day after tomorrow. You are mistakenly enjoying the thought that this
is yours. It is this false happiness that is the cause of your sorrows.
Change is the law of the universe. What you think of as
death, is indeed life. In one instance you can be a millionaire, and in the
other instance you can be steeped in poverty. Yours and mine, big and small -
erase these ideas from your mind. Then everything is yours and you belong to
everyone.
This body is not yours, neither are you of the body. The
body is made of fire, water, air, earth and ether, and will disappear into
these elements. But the soul is permanent - so who are you? Dedicate your being
to God. He is the one to be ultimately relied upon. Those who know of his
support are forever free from fear, worry and sorrow. Whatever you do, do it as
a dedication to God. This will bring you the tremendous experience of joy and
life-freedom forever.
