The Natural Way

One of the greatest challenges that an initiate faces is living the spiritual life while confronting the world-at-large. With all the distractions, desires and peer pressure constantly hammering the spiritual practitioner, it would seem that leading a life dedicated to returning to our true source is almost an impossible task. It does not help that we have also to deal with the load of karmas from countless past lives, tipping the scale heavily against us.

Nevertheless, the Master tells us that if an initiate sincerely follows and practises the path within the parameters of the four vows, balance can be achieved.

We have to go through the karmic accounts which we have collected in past lives; that is why we have taken this birth. But we should not forget why we have been given the opportunity of being born in this human form. It is to go back to the Father. If you withdraw your consciousness to the eye centre and become one with that spirit, that holy light within yourself, you will be able to discharge your worldly duties better. Also, you will be able to go back to the Father. That is keeping a balance in this world.
_{Maharaj Charan Singh, Spiritual Perspectives, Vol. III}

The key is ‘balance’ – to be mindful of not being extreme. The Masters give the gift of Nam and teach us the practice of meditation, which in turn helps us to take charge of our focus, in both the outer and inner worlds. They graciously provide satsang – a protective atmosphere where we continue our study of Sant Mat and spirituality; seva, where we learn humility and fellowship by serving others; and a support system among fellow disciples where we strengthen our faith and conviction to face life’s daily ups and downs. But at the same time, the Masters remind us that even meditation, satsang and seva are just a means to the ultimate end, and therefore these activities should not be undertaken at the expense of our personal duties and family obligations. Here too, the Masters favour a balance; they strongly discourage us from being obsessive and over zealous in our spiritual duties at the cost of performing our worldly obligations.

We have to live in the world, but we have to meditate also. We have to keep the balance, because a certain load of karma can be cleared only by facing life, not just by attending to meditation. When we become too absorbed in meditation, sometimes the Master withdraws the grace so that we work in the world also. You are not to leave your worldly work. Rather you may even be pushed to the world, to face the world.
_{Maharaj Charan Singh, Spiritual Perspectives, Vol. III}

Leading a spiritual life does not mean one is to become reclusive or a hermit whereby we avoid discharging our responsibilities and obligations to family, friends and the community.

Sometimes people just try to close themselves off in a room and don’t want to lead a natural, normal adult life. They try to meditate all day and the mind reacts, and they lose their balance. They behave quite abnormally. Meditation is a slow process. That is why it is known as ‘sahaj marg’ (the natural way). You have to be part of the world and also attend to meditation. You cannot fight with your mind day and night. You also have to divert it into worldly affairs, and then bring it back to meditation. Otherwise, sometimes you build too much suppression, and the mind can react, sometimes violently. That is not a healthy approach. So we are never advised to cut off all our worldly activities and just attend to meditation. We have to lead a normal human life. We have to be a part of normal society and then also to attend to our meditation. Meditation is a way of life, it’s not just closing yourself in a room and cutting yourself off from everybody and sitting in meditation. That’s not meditation. Meditation should reflect in your whole life, your whole day. It becomes a part of your life, your way of life. That way your whole day is spent in meditation.
_{Maharaj Charan Singh, Spiritual Perspectives, Vol. III}

It is extremely dangerous to assume that we have any control over our mind and that we have the ability to conquer it. The mind being our foremost adversary cannot only destroy our balance in life but hinder our spiritual progress as well.

The Master has often counselled that sitting for two to three hours is just whetting the appetite. We have to live in Sant Mat daily – twenty-four seven. Eventually, it is how we balance our worldly life with our spiritual life that will help us build the atmosphere conducive to living the path of the saints.