Staying on Track

While the Sant Mat philosophy and way of life seem simple, conducting one’s life according to Sant Mat principles can be incredibly hard. The effort to put the teachings into practice is much more difficult than merely comprehending them.

One falters many a time while walking on the path, often going off-track. At times, one’s conduct seems out of sync with the principles of Sant Mat. These instances may be due to external circumstances or even one’s own compulsions and weaknesses. Even years after being initiated, upon self-reflection, one may notice little to no change in one’s constant faltering. But according to The Book of Mirdad:

Every stumbling-block is a warning. Read the warning well, and the stumbling-block shall become a beacon. The straight is the brother of the crooked. The one is a short cut; the other, a roundabout way. Have patience with the crooked.

It is natural and human for one to experience remorse or even guilt during these phases. One may even have doubts about whether it is even possible to make any progress at all in the inner journey, never mind reaching the destination. It is easy for despair to set in. But Hazur Maharaj Charan Singh tells us:

On the path, we are always going ahead and ahead. But we have to pass through so many phases; so many human failings are there. But we ultimately overcome them.
_{Spiritual Perspectives, Vol. III}

Hazur’s response to a disciple’s question offers a perspective on the vicissitudes of life and the impact they have on practising the path. Sometimes phases of strong undercurrents block our progress. These are meant to be overcome. He tells us:

We should have a positive approach, which is to get rid of our weakness. And only by meditation can we help ourselves rise above our weaknesses. Just to feel guilty and not to do anything about it also doesn’t solve any problem.
_{Spiritual Perspectives, Vol. III}

One way of looking at life and the spiritual journey is to see it as scaling a vast mountain. There are many starting points, the terrain is difficult and the route to the peak is hardly ever straight. On some stretches, one has to move sideways, or even go down into a trench to access a better route to the peak. All of these apparent detours are necessary in the quest to reach the summit. Each person’s starting point is different, and the obstacles we encounter are different. But if we persevere, we eventually reach our destination.

Where many roads converge do not hesitate as to which one to follow. To a God-seeking heart, all roads lead to God.
_{The Book of Mirdad}

The difficult phases we encounter are part of the human design, part of our karma. However, neither despair nor disappointment need to be our response to such situations. A positive approach and practising daily meditation are the anchors offered by the Master. Meditation is the way to go through these phases so that we can ultimately reach the peak.

By spiritual practice we rise so high that we can meet anything, we can know anything. We advance spiritually. Our mind becomes refined, matured, and we can know anything. That is how spirituality should help us, in developing within ourselves.
_{Maharaj Charan Singh, Spiritual Perspectives, Vol. II}