In the last four issues, we
examined the four inner petals of The Mother’s symbol, namely, Maheshwari,
Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati. From this June issue onwards, we visit
the qualities of the outer petals of The Mother’s symbol. In all, there are
twelve such petals representing twelve qualities. In this issue, we take a
glimpse of the first quality, Progress.
Progress denotes an onward, forward or an upward
movement where one emerges better off than at the starting point of the
movement in any area chosen to progress in. In our usual parlance, we refer
to progress in studies, progress in one’s career, progress in one’s health conditions
and life as a whole. In a more detailed analysis, Progress is the result of
an effort one would have out into improving oneself in an area, for example,
in improving one’s handwriting. The effort required would be first of all, to
recognize that one’s handwriting is beyond legibility and hence of no worth
to another who may be reading it. A reasonable reaction would be to desire
legibility so that one’s handwriting may be read and understood by the
reader. The severity of this requirement is added more value especially when
one’s handwriting affects one’s performance in work or in an examination. Hence
follows a string of action and effort towards correcting the undesirable
nature of one’s handwriting. The reward becomes a focus point, the effort
proceeds and one progresses in presenting one’s writing legibly, after
systematic correction efforts.
Prioritising the area
for progress differs with people and their levels of consciousness. But the
spirit of progress is one. Though seemingly mooted by outer needs or
expectations, it stems from a need from the depth to exceed oneself, one’s
nature, one’s habits, and to attain a level of perfection in the way of
expressing ourselves through any work we do.
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However, in a life given to spirituality, where
conscious and consecrated living is attempted, motivated by spiritualised
reasons of existence, then ‘progress’ takes a more refined meaning. The idea
itself of an end result or goal or aim recedes into the background and
disappears. Progress becomes the natural state of a life consecrated to the
Divine, for the sake of the Divine and His expression through the being. This
attitude does not place any demands on the Divine. This attitude places on
oneself the only demand of making the right and prolonged and sincere effort
for progress in an attitude of self-giving and surrender to the Divine will,
be it in the developing of a helpful habit, in relinquishing an unhelpful one
on the path. The Mother explains thus:
“As with
everything in yoga, the effort for progress must be made for the love of the
effort for progress. The joy of effort, the aspiration for progress must be
enough in themselves, quite independent of the result….. Indeed, in life,
always, in all things, the result does not belong to us. And if we want to
keep the right attitude, we must act, feel, think, strive spontaneously, for
that is what we must do, and not in view of the result to be obtained.”
“What does progress
mean to me?” If one were to simply put this question to oneself, the answers
would come quite spontaneously, and it only leaves for one to pick each, one by
one, and chart out the path of progress consciously, and walk on this path
diligently, calling for Divine grace all along the way. Success is not at all
promised. Patience become a need and the certitude of victory a reliable stroke
of the oars along the way, on the seas of time.
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