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How to never ever give up on the spiritual path



The Upanishads have compared a spiritual aspirant's journey to a razor's edge. From the age of 9, I have been walking on that razor's edge. No matter how hard I try, how sincerely I aspire, the fall is always a gut-wrenching one, filled with mind-numbing pain. In life, there will be difficulties and hardships we have to navigate. There are no shortcuts for honest people. Sadhana elevates our consciousness and gives us the courage to tackle everything with faith.

Then I chant the name of Lord Sai in my heart and I start my baby steps all over again, stumbling, sometimes falling but always knowing that my God is there , protectively watching over me. 

Being human, sometimes I forget that my nature is essentially divine. And on such days, I turn to Him in despair, wanting to understand the cause of these inner struggles and consequent pain. 

I forget that my real Self is untouched by suffering. 





One such day, this was His message through the book 'Life is a dream; Realize it' by Joy Thomas:

"Many quail before the impossible demands of Sadhana. When confronted by calamity, you must attach yourself to this sadhana even more firmly, instead of losing faith in it and slacking off. The drug should not be given up when it is most needed. The pity is, when the first disappointment faces you, you lose courage and give up..."

And here's how to NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP on the spiritual path:

1. Learn to think in positive affirmations.
2. Discipline your mind to shut negative thoughts.
3. Love yourself, stop criticising yourself.
4. Put your Divine awareness to practice. 
5. Create new patterns of thinking and actions to feel good
6. Meditate: become a witness to your thoughts
7. Be Kind and make the world a happier and a better place!

I love this quote by Sheila Johnstone:

"I shall pass through this world but once. Any good thing that I can do or any kindness that I can show, let me do it now, let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."

What steps do you take to overcome the struggles that limit you from realizing your true potential? Looking back, how do you see your pain, struggle-filled phases in life? What has it taught you over the years?

With decades of professional expertise and profound insights on why we need to advocate positive thinking, Dr. Julie Gurner observes, "Big things have only ever happened, because someone was optimistic that they could. 

You want something BIG?

There is NO space for pessimism. You've got to be the first time believer!" 

Do write in your thoughts, I'd love to hear from you!




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Comments

KParthasarathi said…
It is an endless struggle.The mind is akin to a monkey stung by a scorpion that is under the influence of alcohol and eaten lot of ginger and to cap it all possessed by a ghost.How unstable it would be is exactly the state of my restless mind hopping from one thought to another unable to concentrate.Yet chanting of God's nama is one way suggested by saints to bring the mind under control.
March 21, 2015 at 10:24 PM
Anonymous said…
What do you do when through the stressfull times you open your heart to help someone and find out they were lieing to you all along ?
I need to find a way to heal my heart and forgive even though they dont want or care if I do
September 28, 2015 at 9:15 AM
James said…
Every second going bye i see musicals or artists as if they look and sense like they are angels doing there duty for god in messages trying to teach and help and guide the earthlings i only just started feeling like this a week or 2 ago it feels like im being called upon
April 6, 2016 at 12:30 AM
MOHAN SUNDARAM said…
@ SWAPNAJI, Although I was born in a good, well to do family, I've undergone a lot of sufferings in my lifd. At the age of 11 years (when I was studying in 7th std), I accidentally met Sri GNANANANDA GIRI of Tapovanam, Tirukovilur, TN who gave me Contd
December 1, 2017 at 3:53 AM
MOHAN SUNDARAM said…
Sri Gnanananda gave me an orange fruit & asked me to eat it all myself without giving it to any body else. I ate the fruit. Gnanananda attained mahasamadhi in 1974. I subsequently asked a Krishna upasaka (who had psychic powers like ESP, Intution COTD
December 1, 2017 at 4:09 AM
MOHAN SUNDARAM said…
Sri Gnanananda gave me an orange fruit & asked me to eat it all myself without giving it to any body else. I ate the fruit. Gnanananda attained mahasamadhi in 1974. I subsequently asked a Krishna upasaka (who had psychic powers like ESP, Intution COTD
December 1, 2017 at 4:09 AM
MOHAN SUNDARAM said…
Contd , : The Krishna upaasaka had ESP & told me, "U have poorva janma sambandham with Gnanananda.He gives fruits to only a few people . It will give U ATMA JNANA. It is also good for ur body." Gnanananda has saved me from suicide & road accident. Contnd
December 1, 2017 at 4:43 AM
MOHAN SUNDARAM said…
Bhagawan Baba & His previous avatar Sri Shirdi Baba had connection & contact with Sri Gnanananda. SWAPNAJI, please forgive me for boring you with my "puranam". May ur Guru bless you with a long & happy life. Your posts are inspiring. May God bless you.
December 1, 2017 at 5:17 AM
MOHAN SUNDARAM said…
I often wonder as to what is d purpose of creation. Advaita Vedanta says that God became the JEEVAS, put on the veil of Maya or illusion, forgot His nija swaroopa(real identity) & does punya or paap & is born again & again until the Jeeva attains JNANA
December 1, 2017 at 6:18 AM
MOHAN SUNDARAM said…
I often wonder as to what is d purpose of creation. Advaita Vedanta says that God became the JEEVAS, put on the veil of Maya or illusion, forgot His nija swaroopa(real identity) & does punya or paap & is born again & again until the Jeeva attains JNANA
December 1, 2017 at 6:18 AM
MOHAN SUNDARAM said…
There was a saint in Thiruvannamalai, TN. He was a professor from Uttar Pradesh but lived like a beggar in Tiruvannamalai. His name was Yogi RAM SOORAT KUMAR. His guru was a Konkani Gaud Saraswat from Kanjankad (Kasargod Dt. of Kerala) named RAM DAS. Cond
December 1, 2017 at 6:52 AM
MOHAN SUNDARAM said…
There was a saint in Thiruvannamalai, TN. He was a professor from Uttar Pradesh but lived like a beggar in Tiruvannamalai. His name was Yogi RAM SOORAT KUMAR. His guru was a Konkani Gaud Saraswat from Kanjankad (Kasargod Dt. of Kerala) named RAM DAS. Cond
December 1, 2017 at 6:52 AM
MOHAN SUNDARAM said…
There was a saint in Thiruvannamalai, TN. He was a professor from Uttar Pradesh but lived like a beggar in Tiruvannamalai. His name was Yogi RAM SOORAT KUMAR. His guru was a Konkani Gaud Saraswat from Kanjankad (Kasargod Dt. of Kerala) named RAM DAS. Cond
December 1, 2017 at 6:53 AM
MOHAN SUNDARAM said…
There was a saint in Thiruvannamalai, TN. He was a professor from Uttar Pradesh but lived like a beggar in Tiruvannamalai. His name was Yogi RAM SOORAT KUMAR. His guru was a Konkani Gaud Saraswat from Kanjankad (Kasargod Dt. of Kerala) named RAM DAS. Cond
December 1, 2017 at 6:53 AM
MOHAN SUNDARAM said…
There was a saint in Thiruvannamalai, TN. He was a professor from Uttar Pradesh but lived like a beggar in Tiruvannamalai. His name was Yogi RAM SOORAT KUMAR. His guru was a Konkani Gaud Saraswat from Kanjankad (Kasargod Dt. of Kerala) named RAM DAS. Cond
December 1, 2017 at 6:53 AM
MOHAN SUNDARAM said…
Contd... Sri Ramdas had initiated Sri Ramji (short for Ram Surat Kumar) into the Rama TrayodashAkshari Mantra which is very popular in North India. Ramji was chanting this mantra in T.V.Malai for decades. His advice 2 d ppl was 2 chant Ram/Shiva/ Contind
December 1, 2017 at 7:06 AM
MOHAN SUNDARAM said…
Contd...GANESH/Gayatri Mantra daily as much as possible. IT WILL SERVE AS AN UMBRELLA WHEN IT IS RAINING. We can't stop troubles & misfortunes but nama japa will protect us like an umbrella. He also gave importance 2 taking Amalaka(Anwala) daily. Contind.
December 1, 2017 at 7:20 AM
MOHAN SUNDARAM said…
Contd... Ramji said consuming a little of dry Amalaka (Anwala in Hindi, NellikkAi in Tamil & Gooseberry in English) would prevent bacterial & viral infections. We can take CHYAWANPRASH whose main ingredient is Amalaka. So nama japa is d easiest way.
December 1, 2017 at 7:34 AM
MOHAN SUNDARAM said…
Contd... Ramji said consuming a little of dry Amalaka (Anwala in Hindi, NellikkAi in Tamil & Gooseberry in English) would prevent bacterial & viral infections. We can take CHYAWANPRASH whose main ingredient is Amalaka. So nama japa is d easiest way.
December 1, 2017 at 7:35 AM
MOHAN SUNDARAM said…
Contd... Ramji said consuming a little of dry Amalaka (Anwala in Hindi, NellikkAi in Tamil & Gooseberry in English) would prevent bacterial & viral infections. We can take CHYAWANPRASH whose main ingredient is Amalaka. So nama japa is d easiest way.
December 1, 2017 at 7:35 AM
MOHAN SUNDARAM said…
Swapnaji, I knew a man from a village near Coimabtore. He had ATMIC AWAKENING & was an ardent devotee of Sri Gnanananda Giri of Tirukoviloor. He read my thoughts & told me" When a diamond is polished it loses its weight but its value increases".
December 3, 2017 at 12:39 PM
MOHAN SUNDARAM said…
Swapnaji, I knew a man from a village near Coimabtore. He had ATMIC AWAKENING & was an ardent devotee of Sri Gnanananda Giri of Tirukoviloor. He read my thoughts & told me" When a diamond is polished it loses its weight but its value increases".
December 3, 2017 at 12:41 PM
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