Self-seeking nature obstructs our spiritual growth
Once we walk on the path of Divine Love, our selfish nature becomes an obstruction to our spiritual growth.
Date: 30th May 2015
Shree Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita stated that bhakti is ‘kartum susukam’ which means “very easy to practice”. It is easy because on the path of Bhakti we don’t have to do anything. We can very naturally attain God if we learn to love Him. If we can simply put our faith in God and keep our will aligned with His will, there is nothing that can stop us from attaining the goal of God-realization in this life itself.
However there is one aspect of our nature that makes even the simple path of bhakti appear so difficult. Our nature of being self-seeking makes the wonderful journey towards God, long and arduous. It is our natural propensity to be self-seeking. In everything we do in the world, the first question we ask is, “What is in it for me”? Even when we love somebody in the world, we first see what we will get in return. Therefore even when we love in the world, we do nothing more than business.
Once we walk on the path of Divine Love, our selfish nature becomes an obstruction to our spiritual growth. Our self-seeking nature again compels us to put our own happiness before the happiness of God and Guru. But on the path of divine love, this attitude is not yielding. God waits before he bestows his grace. He waits for us to reach that point where we learn the meaning of selfless love and implement it in our every thought and action. When we love God and Guru selflessly we don’t love them for our sake, but for their sake. It is extremely rare to find such selfless love on earth, but in the spiritual realm, this is our ideal and we have to strive to achieve it.
The way we can get rid of our self-seeking nature and achieve the ideal of selfless love is by making seva bhav or service attitude as our top most priority. We should think, “How can I serve my God and Guru”? When this thought will repeatedly come to our mind, gradually it will become the paramount thought in our mind. Finally we will reach a stage where we will think, “I wish to love God and Guru for their happiness alone”. So while practicing bhakti, the attitude of service is vital. We can do seva with the mind, with the body or with our wealth.
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Very true Swamiji. Selfless service paves the path for selfless love, which is the essence of spirituality. Thank you! 🙂
Maharaji’s Grace and the path of Bhakti is so great that even these necessary steps of selfless love and service can be simple and uncomplicated; no austerities or grandiose attempts at doing selfless service or behavior that is beyond our means or capacity.. Not worrying is a good first step. What can I do today that would make Maharaji
happy. Is there something I can do for the local center/ashram. What self-defeating behavior can I reduce (some
can do it in a day) that would make Maharaji pleased. Some days may not go as planned but as we keep our heart,
and mind on the greatest of selfless sweethearts we can only progress toward our goal. Thank you Swami Mukundananda for the great reminder about our nature. Sometimes we/I forget. Kathy
This is so important to understand. Often times I lament that I am unable to do bhakti because it seems so difficult. It is only now that I realize that these are the very times I am behaving selfishly and disregarding my duty towards God and Guru and their happiness. I am not being a devotee if I am being selfish. Thank you Swamiji for this wonderful article. I must remember this wisdom at all times.
Swami Mukundanandaji gives the most valuable & important message that we can very naturally attain God if we learn to love Him. Divine Love expresses itself in loving service without expectation of any return.. If we can simply put our faith in God and keep our will aligned with His will, there is nothing that can stop us from attaining the goal of God-realization in this life itself..
Yes Swamiji, It is very true that that the self seeking nature blocks us from attaining the pure love for God. Thank you Swamiji for waking me up and letting me know that how important is the Seva in the spiritual path. By doing the seva for the pleasure of God and Guru for their happiness we naturally moved ahead in the journey of pure Love for God.