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Higher Goals Require Higher Disciplines
I used to wonder, why there are certain cults, organisations,
systems, where discipline seems to be inculcated the moment
you step into that. You know, there are margs (systems),
where the discipline is so absolute that a deviation from
discipline can cost you your life, I mean physical mortal
existence can be terminated at the whims and fancies of
the leaders of the cult and sect. But it is not fear of
death alone which makes people disciplined. There seems
to be a fervour, an eagerness to accept that discipline.
And, I used to wonder why, in the so-called nobler traditions
where man is thrown upon his own integrity and his own assessment
of what he should become, or what he should be to start
with - this discipline does not come? Then, one day I heard
my Master's voice telling me that "the degree of
discipline depends on the Goal." You see, hitherto
I had imagined that discipline per se will make the goal
achievable. That is, if I am disciplined enough, I should
achieve the goal. It is like saying, if I walk long enough
I must get to my destination. If I eat long enough, I must
fill my stomach, things like that you see. But I have found
this funny contradiction, that in many societies where the
highest discipline exists there is no spirituality; and
the other way, where the highest spirituality exists there
seems to be almost a total lack of discipline. Now, I am
not trying to justify the lack of discipline in a high-minded
organisation, or to decry the existence of discipline in
those, where there is no apparent spiritual growth. But
there is a definite hiatus, there is a definite incommensurability
between these two things.
Even though Sahaj Marg offers the highest goal, how many
of the abhyasis have really accepted that goal as their
individual personal goals? If you have accepted the highest
goal as your individual goal, you will also accept the highest
discipline as being necessary for the achievement of that
goal. The degree of discipline is linked very rightly with
the greatness, the height, to which we aspire for. For instance,
if I just wish to remain seated in my chair, I don't need
much discipline. I have to sit in that chair, after that
I can forget it. But if I have to walk, I have to remember
that I have to walk on the left side; I should not cross
the road where there are no crossing-indications, things
like that, you see. If I have to go in a car, the rules
become even more stringent. If I have to fly, they have
to become much more stringent still.
One who aspires to the Highest, must be prepared for
the highest discipline. Not because that discipline
will lead him to the Goal, but because the Goal sets these
limits without which you cannot achieve it. It is like this
you know, you can travel in a bus with your windows open,
but you cannot fly in a plane with your windows open. You
may say, "I want air. I would like to wave to my wife
who is standing outside." So this restriction, rather
these restrictions seem to narrow the way little by little,
and put in a squeezing pressure from behind, so that we
have only one way in which we can possibly walk, and this
is to the destination.
In essence, discipline does not lead automatically to achievement,
but achievement is not possible without discipline. Now, this paradoxical
statement, I would think, some of you would be able to work out, remembering
that, for petty trivial things, you don't need much discipline. That
is why I think most people who have lesser aims are so undisciplined.
Because they don't need discipline for those achievements. And it is
possible precisely because, their aims are so petty that even with corruption
they can achieve that.
But can you educate yourself without discipline? That only
means, something worthwhile achieving, something worthwhile
striving for, has to be a disciplined activity. I can become
a millionaire by doing something [hooky-cooky] in a hanky-panky
way. According to the Vedas, you can have a 'pisacha'
(devil) marriage by doing anything you like. But a Vedic
marriage should have the sanction of society, the sanction
of parents, the sanction of Divinity itself. One can
get away at the lowest level with no discipline at all.
At the highest level, lack of discipline means probably
death.
The strict disciplinarian wants more discipline. The freedom-loving
person wants less discipline, not understanding that discipline
is neither interference with freedom, nor a lack of freedom,
nor super-freedom. Discipline is discipline. Discipline
is a way of life. It should have no restrictions. Essentially,
we should discipline ourselves from inside. Now there is
an old adage which says, "That country has a good government
which has no government." "Oh, how can a country
be governed if it has no government?" That is precisely
the problem, you see, that is precisely the beauty. And
I dare to venture to think that someday we should do away
with our ten maxims too. If all abhyasis are disciplined,
they wake up naturally before dawn, they have a nice place
to meditate, naturally they go and meditate, they only eat
pious food out of pious earnings, which all becomes natural.
What is the need for ten maxims, and then for the commentary
on the ten maxims?
So we have to create within ourselves the only source of discipline
whereby, by being disciplined, we will not know that we are disciplined.
You know, Sahaj Marg terminology, phraseology delights in these apparent
contradictions. Freedom without freedom; freedom from freedom. If you
know you are disciplined, you are still in bondage. Such a person does
not know whether he is alive or dead. Therefore, of God it is said,
'He is.' He was not born; He can never die - anadi, anantam.
So, what I would finally say is that discipline is regulating your own
activity yourself, to lead to the maximization of your life's potential
in all spheres of activity - mental, moral, spiritual, in everything.
So, kindly try to start it from today. I shall pray for your success.
"Discipline is the elementary
step of surrender."
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