Life is an Opportunity, Make the Most of It

Discourse: Avdeshanand Giriji http://spirituality.indiatimes.com
Life is an opportunity; it is God's greatest gift. Life, full of promise, is expanding every moment, and the transitory moments flit past before we know it. Pause to think: Am i being vigilant in life? Am i endeavouring to learn how to experience true consciousness?
What we are or wish to become and the constant exercise of its acceptance or opposition is what causes the state of inner conflict. This inner conflict is verily like a great war being waged in us and the huge armies of conflicting emotions attacking and counter-attacking reduce us to a state of helplessness.
This state gives rise to confusion and despair, increasing our vulnerability and affecting adversely our ability to move towards equanimity.
Only when you cultivate the habit of reaching out to conscious knowledge and concen-tration, you will move towards greater clarity and understanding of the present state. In order to set this process in motion, you need to make a fundamental change in your daily routine.
A person is able to make his future bright and secure only to the extent that he is able to transform himself. This transformation does not take place on its own.
This fundamental change will be the result of your dedication to those purposeful ideals which you form studying the scriptures, teachings of sages, and by emulating the high example set by noble preceptors.
When you perform your duty after becoming conscious of loyalty to self, then all directions inspire you to move towards your aim. When life's aim is clear, knowledge of direction is spontaneous. When your spiritual ambitions yearn for fulfilment, reawakening takes place.
In your preparation to be perfect and great, as a seeker, you have to give up narrow-mindedness. The first step in
the journey to perfection is this: A seeker, instead of looking for perfection in others, should try to make himself perfect. This change is the basis of real progress and fundamental development. For his own progress a seeker should not wait for the progress of others. Such a wait would cost him dearly.
Introspection, just once, means a touch of that great immeasurable power of limitless energy and supreme brilliance. As soon as our inner self awakens, the seed of all these good things sprouts, and then all our mental, physical, super-sensual powers fill us with the fragrance of consciousness achieved in our own presence and then inspire us to Supreme Divinity, excellence and an exalted living style.
We have not to give up or abandon something for this achievement, nor have we to hate or ignore anybody, because everyone is the abode of the same Almighty. We are the extensions of that One only.
In this state whatever experience you gain will cover all your information and knowledge and will create in you a divine experience of supreme compassion and divine love. You will then be an instrument for common good and welfare of all.
You will become most sacred like the purity of all the holy places of pilgrimage and experience the divine peace of worship. It is our nature to be most sacred and for achieving this state all our activities should be directed towards the Supreme.