“Developing self-discipline is like developing a mental muscle — we have to exercise it regularly to grow our capacity. With clarity of purpose, self-discipline and patience, we can accomplish any sincere goal we set.”
-Swami Ramananda
You can
die for it —
an idea,
or the world. People
have done so,
brilliantly,
letting
their small bodies be bound
to the stake,
creating
an unforgettable
fury of light. But
this morning,
climbing the familiar hills
in the familiar
fabric of dawn, I thought
of China,
and India
and Europe, and I thought
how the sun
blazes
for everyone just
so joyfully
as it rises
under the lashes
of my own eyes, and I thought
I am so many!
What is my name?
What is the name
of the deep breath I would take
over and over
for all of us? Call it
whatever you want, it is
happiness, it is another one
of the ways to enter
fire.
“We may get discouraged at times, thinking that we aren’t making much progress on the spiritual path and wondering if our practices are bearing fruit. We should know that every meditation session, every asana, every prayer, positive thought or mantra has a lasting benefit. The mind and subconscious change through repetition. We need only inspire and sustain our sincere efforts to be sure we are growing.”
-Swami Ramananda
