DISCOURSES Volume II - Avatar Meher Baba Trust

THE DYNAMICS OF SPIRITUAL ADVANCEMENT 179through the prison of his ego-life, and if he takes to a life of actionhe is faced with the possibility of his ego being transferred to thesenew acts.For spiritual advancement the aspirant has to avoid thesetwo extremes and yet carry on a life of creative action. Treadingthe spiritual path is not like riding a saddled horse, but like walkingTreading the pathlike walking on edgeof a swordon the sharp edge of a sword. Once a rideris on horseback he is practically at rest,sitting with more or less ease and requiringvery little effort or attention to proceed.Treading the spiritual path, however, requires utmost attention andcarefulness since the path affords no halting places or room forexpansion of the ego-life. He who enters the path can neitherremain where he is nor can he afford to lose his balance. He is likeone who attempts to walk on the sharp edge of a sword.To avoid inaction on the one hand and pride of action onthe other, it is necessary for the aspirant to construct in thefollowing manner a provisional and working ego which will be en-Constructing new egosubservient to Mastertirely subservient to the Master. Beforebeginning anything, the aspirant thinksthat it is not he who is doing it, but theMaster who is getting it done through him. After doing it he doesnot tarry to claim the results of action or enjoy them, but becomesfree of them by offering them to the Master. By training his mindin this spirit he succeeds in creating a new ego which, thoughprovisional and working, is amply able to become a source of thatconfidence, feeling, enthusiasm and "go" which true action mustexpress. This new ego is spiritually harmless since it derives its lifeand being from the Master who represents Infinity, and