What Is It That Can Make Such A Totality Of Cooperation Possible?
It is discipline! Discipline alone can make it possible for us to
extend Him the total cooperation that He needs, to make us what He wishes
us to be, and then through us to bring about the vaster changes which He wishes
to bring about. Discipline is the key to cooperation Where there is no discipline,
there can be no cooperation either. The two may be thought of, as two sides
of the same coin, as it were. It would appear as if it made little difference
whether we began with one of them or the other. The only difference seems
to be that when we begin with cooperation, discipline begins to become established
rather late, if at all. Whereas, when we begin with discipline, cooperation
follows immediately of its own accord, naturally.
What is the value of discipline? It is precisely by being disciplined that
without even knowing what cooperation implies or what it means, we are able
to follow each and every wish of the Master and to act strictly according
to His instructions. That is, by being disciplined, obedience follows naturally
and makes the very thing (cooperation) that He wants in us establish itself
without our even being aware of it.
In the other way, when we try to begin with cooperation we are bewildered
because we do not know in which area of our lives we are required to cooperate.
We run the risk of making the mistake that we are at liberty to choose the
area in which we are required to cooperate, and then find out, often to
our annoyance that it was total cooperation, embracing each and every facet
of our existence, that was necessary - and that too right from the beginning!
The danger is not faced by one who is disciplined, and who is willing to
obey the Master in everything, without dissecting his life into parts, and
thinking that obedience is necessary only in some parts. Discipline needs
no thoughts. Discipline needs no understanding. Discipline needs no explanation.
Therefore it is possible for all humans to be disciplined. But the very
word 'discipline' seems to evoke feelings of abhorrence, implying - as it
seems to do to some persons - some sort of slavery into which they will
be ensnared. Can anything be farther from the truth? No. Can there be anything
which can lead to one's evolution so easily and so quickly? No. A disciplined
person can achieve the goal of human development most easily and most speedily.
My Master defined a disciple as one who is disciplined.
As we begin to perceive that we are making progress towards the goal established
for us, we are able to appreciate what is being given to us by the Master
and to sense that what we receive is infinite. We begin to understand that
under no circumstances can there be any question of repayment to the Master
for what we have received. At this stage gratitude begins to be awakened
in our heart for the Divine gift of Grace that the Master is bestowing on
us. From this stage onwards the need for cooperation with the Master in
working towards the removal of all complexities from our own system begins
to assume greater importance. This cooperation must take the active form
of analysing ourselves to see what are the defects in us, mental, moral
and spiritual, and try to overcome them with the Master's cooperation. Master
is always there to help us in every possible way in all the fields of our
activity but unless we cooperate with Him, whatever the stage of spirituality
may be, to which the Master may carry us, such spiritual attainment is unable
to reflect itself in our outward behaviour and in our life generally.
There has been quite some criticism in respect of highly evolved people,
who by their behaviour and general living have attracted public criticism
that they are living in a manner not consisting with their spiritual attainment
The abhyasis of our Mission
must take the greatest care and ensure that by ardent cooperation with the
Master they are totally transformed inside and out. If we are able to cooperate
with the Master and try to eradicate from ourselves all our shortcomings,
our progress definitely becomes faster and the Master's work easier.
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