"Living in the world and entangled in many of its duties, the aspirant, during the first stage of spiritual life, finds many obstacles in the path of concentration. While the trees on the foot-path are young, they must be fenced around; otherwise they will be destroyed by cattle. The fence is necessary when the tree is young, but it can be taken away when the trunk is thick and strong. Then the tree won't be hurt even if an elephant is tied to it." - R
Earnest and persistent self-inquiry establishes a fence along the foot-path of concentration.
"...like the water of a lake, which appears green, blue, or black from a distance. Go near, take the water in your hand, and you will find that it has no color. The sky also appears blue from a distance. Go near and you will see no color at all. Therefore I say that in the light of Vedantic reasoning Brahman has no attributes. The real nature of Brahman cannot be described. But so long as your individuality is real, the world is also real, and equally real are the different forms of God and the feeling that God is a Person." - R
Earnest and persistent self-inquiry erases the last vestige of individuality.
"It is like a seed that has been left on the cornice of a building. After standing many days the house crumbles, and the seed falls on the earth, germinates, and at last gives fruit." - R
"It is like the light inside a lantern. One feels as if one could touch the light, but one cannot on account of the pane of glass." - R
Earnest and persistent self-inquiry demolishes this pane of glass.
"Speaking of householders [regular working stiffs] entangled in worldliness, the Master said: 'They are like the silk-worm. They can come out of the cocoon of their worldly life if they wish. But they can't bear to, for they themselves have built the cocoon with great love and care. So they die there.'"
Earnest and persistent self-inquiry establishes a fence along the foot-path of concentration.
"...like the water of a lake, which appears green, blue, or black from a distance. Go near, take the water in your hand, and you will find that it has no color. The sky also appears blue from a distance. Go near and you will see no color at all. Therefore I say that in the light of Vedantic reasoning Brahman has no attributes. The real nature of Brahman cannot be described. But so long as your individuality is real, the world is also real, and equally real are the different forms of God and the feeling that God is a Person." - R
Earnest and persistent self-inquiry erases the last vestige of individuality.
"It is like a seed that has been left on the cornice of a building. After standing many days the house crumbles, and the seed falls on the earth, germinates, and at last gives fruit." - R
"It is like the light inside a lantern. One feels as if one could touch the light, but one cannot on account of the pane of glass." - R
Earnest and persistent self-inquiry demolishes this pane of glass.
"Speaking of householders [regular working stiffs] entangled in worldliness, the Master said: 'They are like the silk-worm. They can come out of the cocoon of their worldly life if they wish. But they can't bear to, for they themselves have built the cocoon with great love and care. So they die there.'"
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