Perhaps you have read the story of Daniel in the lion’s den. Therefore, you can understand that there is no greater sign of spiritual advancement than a person’s personal influence. This is an example of advancement in spiritual life. People want to know whether they are progressing or going back. A person need not see how much they have read or learned to find out if they have advanced. The principal thing is: if we attract people or if we repel them, if we are harmonious or inharmonious. This can tell us how far we have advanced. Of course, one day is not the same as the other. One day we may perhaps have more influence than the other. Life is like water, and it will have its waves rising and falling. Sometimes there are conditions or influences that are contrary. By keen observation we can find out if we are advancing. Another sign of advancement is that we must become modest, kind and respectful to others. Another sign is that we must have wisdom and power. If we have both these things, we will create beauty in life.
Now a question is how to attain this advancement. Practices and exercises are the main things. We must have faith and trust in the practices we do. According to our faith we will succeed. Mind and body must be kept in a proper tuning. For instance, one moment of excitement takes away the advancement of six months time. It is like a person who is making a necklace of pearls; if the thread breaks, they must do it all over again.
If we get excited and our mind and body are out of tune, we spoil the practices of six months time. For those who walk on the spiritual path it is of great value to keep ourselves tuned to the pitch which is necessary. The difficulty is to endure all the time the many things which upset us, conditions which excite and exhaust our patience. We must have the power of endurance, in spite of all. Life is a continual battle to fight; and in order to keep fit we must keep our power reserved and preserved. This is done by keeping tranquil and maintaining mental equanimity. Practices, concentrations, meditations, and prayer will win the battle of your life.
January 8, 1923
CW1923 Vol. 1, pp. 7-8.
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