Sincerity and Spiritual Sadhana

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For most people, the concept of
sincerity is connected with how

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they relate to other people in
an open, natural and honest way

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without duplicity or hypocrisy.
The idea that sincerity can

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relate to oneself and one's
inner life is something that

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spiritual aspirants grapple
with.

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Sincerity is an essential
quality for the spiritual seeker

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as it implies that the thoughts,
emotions, vital responses and

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physical reactions align with
the deepest aspiration.

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Without sincerity, the
aspiration is basically

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thwarted, diverted or obstructed
in the external being.

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There are known instances where
someone takes on the aspect of a

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teacher or guru and uses the
knowledge and vital energy he

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has in order to manipulate and
take advantage of the followers,

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gaining fame, prestige, money,
sexual favours and allegiance

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while inwardly enjoying these
benefits and putting on a show

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externally for the sake of
gaining support and adherence.

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This type of hypocrisy has a
corrosive effect on the

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individuals who are caught in
the trap, some of whom never

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truly recover their balance in
this lifetime.

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If the individual treats this
simply as a business for

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external gain, it is insincerity
and hypocrisy on the external

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level.
But the individual is not

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misleading himself about his
purpose or his methods.

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This external form of deception,
however, is not the deepest

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measure of insincerity.
The spiritual aspirant has to

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examine his own inner life to
identify the lack of sincerity

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where one prays for certain
types of spiritual growth and

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progress, while at the same time
one makes excuses for thoughts,

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words and deeds that directly
contradict that aspiration.

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It is one thing to actually
recognize the weaknesses and

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failures clearly and take steps
to align them with the

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aspiration.
It is another to pretend to

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oneself that there is a true
will of aspiration while

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entertaining obstructive
actions, feelings, thoughts or

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motivations.
This is corrosive to the seeker

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himself and can set back the
spiritual progress if he does

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not finally recognize and
address this issue.

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Sri Aurobindo observes Quote
sincere is simply an adjective

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meaning that the will must be a
true will.

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If you simply think I aspire and
do things inconsistent with the

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aspiration, or follow your
desires, or open yourself to

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contrary influences, then it is
not a sincere will.

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End Quote reference Sri Rabindu
and the Mother Looking from

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within, Chapter 5.
Attitudes on the Path, page 117.