The Path Is Fulfilled Through the Cultivation of Inward and Outward Peace

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It is a frequent occurrence.
Someone takes up the spiritual

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path and tries to follow the
dictates set forth in that path

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down to the smallest detail.
They treat goals and aspirations

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as a type of rule book that
needs to be followed if, as is

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to be expected, they do not
succeed.

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In each such detail they can get
into a cycle of self criticism.

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In some cases this simply breeds
an obsessive state of mind and

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an emotional reaction, but in
others it can actually lead them

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to take up acts of violence
against themselves in the form

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of various sorts of
self-inflicted corporal

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punishments.
While it is a good thing that

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they are observing and paying
attention to the little habits

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that generally go unnoticed, and
they are intent on changing them

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in a positive direction, they
seem to be going about things in

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a manner which is seriously
counterproductive.

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First, this obsessive focus
implies that there is intense

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concentration on the external
nature instead of a shift of the

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focus to the divine.
Second, the methods employed do

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not actually tend to control
these behaviours over the long

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term.
Rather, they suppress the energy

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they are trying to control,
which actually can increase

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their power, similar to the way
that compressing a spring stores

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enormous energy that eventually
gets released in a more intense

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manner.
Third, the mind and the vital

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tend to be disturbed and lose
the sense of peace and serenity

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that are actually the basis for
opening up the receptivity of

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the being to the higher forces.
If the seeker can develop peace

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and undertake to observe and not
become fixated on micromanaging

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the habits of the nature but
simply not get caught up in

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them, the power of the forces
that need to be adjusted or

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changed will actually diminish
over time with patience and

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perseverance in the method.
The secret is not to let these

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habits disturb while
simultaneously not providing

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them any sanction from the mind,
vital or physical being.

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The mother adds additional
insight about the actual lack of

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central importance these
external circumstances, events,

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or habits have in the spiritual
path.

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The basis is peace, the path is
peace, and the result is due to

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the receptivity and shift of
focus that can only come when we

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reduce the importance of and
focus on these external things,

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including those that take place
within one's own province of

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being, so to speak.
The mother note quote.

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This morning as I was glancing
over the month at his beginning

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and wondering how I could serve
thee better, I heard the small

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voice within, like a murmur in
the silence.

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And this is what it said to me.
See how very little all outer

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circumstances matter.
Why strive and strain so to

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realize thy own conception of
truth?

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Be more supple, more trusting.
The only duty is not to let

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oneself be troubled by anything.
To torment oneself about doing

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the right thing causes as much
harm as of bad will.

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Only in a calm as of deep waters
can be found the possibility of

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true service.
And this reply was so luminous

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and pure.
It carried within itself such a

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striking reality that the state
it described was communicated

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without any difficulty.
It seemed to me I was floating

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in the calm of deep waters.
I understood.

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I saw clearly what the best
attitude would be, and now I

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have only to ask thee, O Sublime
Master, my Supreme Teacher, to

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give me the strength and clear
sightedness I need to remain

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constantly in this state.
Do not torment thyself, child.

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Silence.
Peace.

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Peace.
End Quote Reference Sri

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Arrovindo and the Mother Looking
from within, Chapter 1.

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Looking at Life and
Circumstances, page 31.