Summary: Teaches that for one who has understood the significance of sadhana there is no other choice; continuity is important despite ups and downs.

X reads the sentence of the day: ‘An internal change must come and that comes through sadhana – sincere sadhana and meditation. And meditation does not mean just techniques. It means the whole of your life and what you do with it and how. You have to consciously take up the whole of your life and bring it to meditation.’ – Giridharji

The gist of it is that you must continue and carry on with your sadhana in spite of the ups and downs that may appear in your lives – because there is no other choice really for oneself. If you have really understood the significance of sadhana in your life then there is no other choice. Your life must become a sadhana because this is the ultimate. To know the Truth that one is and to know the Truth that all is, is the true goal of life anyway. It is just that most people do not know that. But once you have taken to it, this is it, there is nothing else. Otherwise the rest of it is ignorance and a living of ignorance.

Since there is no other choice, there is no other way of living really, because the other way of living – what is ordinarily lived – is a life of ignorance. So obviously that cannot be the choice once you have taken to sadhana, once you have some idea or understanding of sadhana and what should be the goal of life – then this is the only choice. And so as you go along there will be ups and downs, there will be disappointments and so forth. You have to keep the faith knowing full well that if you continue, you will arrive. That is the gist of it.

And for a seeker and a sadhak there is no other life in that sense. The whole life must become sadhana. You cannot live in ignorance. Once you start to feel that you cannot live in ignorance, that you must move out of it and arrive at the Truth, the whole Truth, not partial Truth, then everything is taken care of, then that will keep you on the journey.

So as Aurobindo says, “Who is there that practices Yoga and has not his periods, long periods even, of disappointment and frustrations, temporary failures, doubts and disbeliefs and moments of darkness?” But if there is faith, that sustains one and one goes on in spite of oneself, because one feels that what one follows after is true; and more than feels, one knows in the soul. So the continuity is important. And that is why and how Siddhartha became the Buddha. If he had discontinued and given up because he had some difficulties, there would have been no Buddha.

And then to be able to live that Truth in life, then truly you are living. Otherwise you are living the life of ignorance… so there can be no other choice.

AryaVihar
24 Oct 2011