Weer eens wat anders

[Ziza]

You Only Hurt Yourself

If we spend our time cherishing negative thoughts about someone --- jealousy, doubt, or anger --- then, in effect, we are making that person our master. We should be very careful of how much time we spend in thinking of others and how much time we spend in thinking of the Supreme. If we waste time thinking of others with our doubt, jealousy, anger and other negative forces, then our own progress will be delayed.

If we want to make fast progress, we should not criticize anybody or speak ill of anybody. We have enough problems of our own. When we criticize someone, we bring forward the problems that are being shouldered by him. Let us not criticize; let us strive only for our own perfection. We shall be responsible for ourselves and let others be responsible for themselves. In this way, each one will have ample freedom to reach his goal.


The Meditation-Medicine

It is not the actual feeling of fear or doubt or jealousy which makes us miserable, but the aftereffects, when we become conscious of what we have done. Since we have suffered the aftereffects many times, we should immediately take action to cure ourselves. In India, when people suffer from malaria, the doctors prescribe quinine. Quinine is very bitter. When you cherish jealousy, at that time meditation is like quinine, very bitter and dry. But if you know that this meditation-medicine will cure you of your fever of doubt, fear, and jealousy, the best thing to do is to take it.
Before you start meditating, say four things: "Fear, get out of my life! Doubt, get out of my life! Jealousy, get out of my life! Insecurity, get out of my life! I do not need you and I will never need you." Then they will all come out of you and ask, "Whom do you want/" You will reply, "I want only meditation; I want only God. The proof is that I can live without you, but you cannot live without me. Fear, you cannot live without me; that is why you come and take shelter in my body. Jealousy, you cannot live without me; that is why you come and take shelter in my vital. Doubt, you cannot live without me; that is why you come and take shelter in my mind. Insecurity, you cannot live without me; that is why you come and take shelter in my heart." When you challenge these four in a divine way, they will say it is beneath their dignity to remain inside you. "If you can live without us, how is it that we cannot live without you?" they ask, and then they go away. At that time you will have your perfect meditation.

-- Sri Chinmoy