Excerpt from Swami Sivananda’s book, “Light, Power and Wisdom”
1. Do You Really Want God?
Do you really want God? Do you really thirst for His darshan? Have you got real spiritual hunger?
He who thirsts for the darshan of God only will develop love. Unto him alone He will reveal Himself.
God is a question of supply and demand. If there is sincere demand for God, the supply will come at once.
2. The Light Is Within You
Be righteous always. Never deviate from the path of righteousness. Stand upright. Be bold. Be fearless.
Practice Truth. Proclaim it everywhere.
March forward in the spiritual path. The light is within you. Fix the mind on the Lord. Kill egoism and pride.
Cultivate fellow-feeling and universal brotherhood. Love all. You will have full life.
Control the senses. Pray fervently with intense faith and sincerity. Have an unshakable conviction in the
existence of God and in the efficacy of spiritual practices. Be humble and simple. You will attain Immortality.
3. Be Good, Do Good
Do thou always without attachment perform action which should be done; for by performing action
without attachment, man reaches the Supreme (Gita II-19).
When the thought of good becomes part and parcel of man's very being, then he will not entertain
any bad motive at all. He takes immense delight in serving others, in doing good to others. There is
peculiar joy and ananda in doing selfless service.
Expand. Purify your heart. Live in the true spirit of selfless service. Live every second for the ideal and
goal of life. Then and then alone will you realize the true glory of selfless service. May you shine as a
dynamic yogi by the practice of selfless service! May you enjoy the true bliss of the eternal.
4. Do As You Wish To Be Done By
All the phenomena of nature are governed by one important law, the law of causation, the law of karma.
It is that law that keeps up the inner harmony and logical order of the universe. No phenomena can escape
from the operation of this mighty law.
The cause is bound in the effect and effect is in the cause. The effect is similar to the cause. This world runs
on this fundamental vital law. This law is inexorable and immutable.
Any action is bound to react upon you with equal force and effect. If you do some good to another man,
you are really helping yourself. Because, there is nothing but the “Self”. “Atmaivedam Sarvam” is the emphatic
declaration of the “Srutis” or “Upanishads”. This virtuous action will react upon you with equal force and effect.
It will bring you joy and happiness.
5. Be Up And Doing
The power of prayer is indescribable. Its glory is ineffable. Sincere devotees only realize its usefulness and splendor.
Sit not idly craving God to help thee, but be up and doing as God helps those who help themselves. Do the
best you can and leave the rest to God.
Serve the devotees. Remain in their company. Do japa and meditation. Study Holy Scriptures. You will soon
develop devotion. The divine grace will descend upon you.
JAI SAI RAM!
Topic: Five Key Thoughts on Effective Spiritual Life (Read 1622 times)