Guidance for Personal Advancement
What is Real? The Sangha-Vani:
- The Goal
- Self-Realization, Universal Emancipation
- The Religion
- Self-sacrifice, Self-discipline, Adherence to truth and continence
- Real Death
- Forgetfulness of the "Self"
- Real Life
- Self Realization, Self-remembrance and Self-consciousness
- Real Virtues
- Heroism, Virility, Manliness and Aspiration for emancipation
- Real Sins
- Weakness, Fear (Defeatism), Cowardice, Meanness and Selfishness
- Real Power
- Patience, Fortitude and Endurance
- Real Assets
- Self-confidence, Self-reliance and Self-respect
- Real Enemies
- Indolence, Slumber, Procrastination, Inertia, Lustful senses and passions
- Real Friends
- Energy, Enthusiasm and Perseverance
Messages of self-improvement from the Acharya
"Boundless and infinite energy, power, valor and gallantry lie dormant in man. These are developed only by proper exercise and by constant application and culture."
"Respect your own thoughts and character. Is the man who cannot respect his own self, respected by anyone else in the world?"
on practice...
"The essence of Religion lies in its Practice and Realization. Spirituality is not something to be gained by scriptural studies or from hearsay. Mad indeed is the one who thinks of unraveling the mysteries of spiritual life with the help of a mind torn by passions, tyrannized by the senses and agonized by carnal hankerings."
"If you meditate on an utter the holy names of God then you will understand everything. Mind does not become pure without meditation and repetition of God's sacred names, and without purification of the mind, pure knowledge is not attained and without pure knowledge, the inner meaning of religion is not realized."
on power and peace...
"Man wants power and peace. Where there is restraint there is power and power begets peace, surely."
"The body and the mind become strong, healthy, and vigorous by the control of the senses and subjugation of passions and thereby veritable power and peace are attained."
on detachment...
"The more you can lead your mind from the worldly affairs to the inner world, the more your mind becomes serene and then you will attain discrimination and non-attachment."
"No sins, vices and allurements can touch one who realizes that his perishable body will ultimately be reduced to ashes."
on perserverance...
"He who is firm in his vow and steadfast in resolution and can attain success in any sphere.
"Without self-examination and self-investigation along with your daily activities, no progress can be achieved. So do not indulge in any continuous activity on the plea of duty, forgetting your own mission."
"Carry on your fight ceaselessly and untiringly. The momentary weakness will disappear. You should maintain your distinctive attitude and devote yourself to your special task in a different world of your own. Do not hesitate to stake your life to accomplish your objective and to finish the work started, shaking off weakness."
"Always and under all conditions stick to your own principles and ideals. Otherwise your firmness will fall back and laxity will destroy your spiritual life."