Practical Vedanta

Practical Vedantais but a playground, however gross the play may be. However we may receiveblows, and however knocked about we may be, the Soul is there and is neverinjured. We are that Infinite.Thus sang a Vedantin, "I never had fear nor doubt. Death never came to me. Inever had father or mother: for I was never born. Where are my foes? — for I amAll. I am the Existence and Knowledge and Bliss Absolute. I am It. I am It. Angerand lust and jealousy, evil thoughts and all these things, never came to me; for Iam the Existence, the Knowledge, the Bliss Absolute. I am It. I am It."That is the remedy for all disease, the nectar that cures death. Here we are in thisworld, and our nature rebels against it. But let us repeat, "I am It; I am It. I have nofear, nor doubt, nor death. I have no sex, nor creed, nor colour. What creed can Ihave? What sect is there to which I should belong? What sect can hold me? I amin every sect!"However much the body rebels, however much the mind rebels, in the midst of theuttermost darkness, in the midst of agonising tortures, in the uttermost despair,repeat this, once, twice, thrice, ever more. Light comes gently, slowly, but surely itcomes.Many times I have been in the jaws of death, starving, footsore, and weary; fordays and days I had had no food, and often could walk no farther; I would sinkdown under a tree, and life would seem ebbing away. I could not speak, I couldscarcely think, but at last the mind reverted to the idea: "I have no fear nor death; Inever hunger nor thirst. I am It! I am It! The whole of nature cannot crush me; it ismy servant. Assert thy strength, thou Lord of lords and God of gods! Regain thylost empire! Arise and walk and stop not!" And I would rise up, reinvigorated, andhere am I, living, today. Thus, whenever darkness comes, assert the reality andeverything adverse must vanish. For, after all, it is but a dream. Mountain-highthough the difficulties appear, terrible and gloomy though all things seem, they arebut Mâyâ. Fear not — it is banished. Crush it, and it vanishes. Stamp upon it, andit dies. Be not afraid. Think not how many times you fail. Never mind. Time isinfinite. Go forward: assert yourself again and again, and light must come. Youmay pray to everyone that was ever born, but who will come to help you? Andwhat of the way of death from which none knows escape? Help thyself out bythyself. None else can help thee, friend. For thou alone art thy greatest enemy,thou alone art thy greatest friend. Get hold of the Self, then. Stand up. Don't beafraid. In the midst of all miseries and all weakness, let the Self come out, faintand imperceptible though it be at first. You will gain courage, and at last like alion you will roar out, "I am It! I am It!" "I am neither a man, nor a woman, nor agod, nor a demon; no, nor any of the animals, plants, or trees. I am neither poornor rich, neither learned nor ignorant. All these things are very little comparedwith what I am: for I am It! I am It! Behold the sun and the moon and the stars: Iam the light that is shining in them! I am the beauty of the fire! I am the power inthe universe! For, I am It! I am It!"Whoever thinks that I am little makes a mistake, for the Self is all that exists. Thefile:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/Chitra%20Selva...oksBySwami/PracticalVedanta/PracticalVedantaPDF.html (66 of 113)2/26/2007 12:24:33 AM