In English
Proper atmosphere is essential for spiritual exercises
The Lord is all Love, so he can be seen only through Love. The moon has to be seen only through its own light - no other light can illumine the moon. In the night of utter delusion, the Lord can be seen only by the light that He himself is, namely, the light of pure love (). He is Truth and Eternal, so He is beyond the categories of falsity and change. Drop the delusion that you have become old or diseased, or that you have become weak and debilitated. Some people begin to count the years and grieve over advancing age and shudder like cowards afraid of death. But remember, elation is Heaven, despondency is Hell. Have always some work to do, and do it so well that you get joy. Delusion is the dust that settles upon the glass of the chimney of the lantern and dims the light. The attachment to sensual objects and to the pleasure they give is the soot that sticks to the inside of the chimney; that also dims the light. Clean the chimney by repetition of the Name every day, and the flame will shine for you and others. Also, have good activities and good companionship. That will help very much in spiritual discipline; proper atmosphere is very essential for the aspirant. That is why spiritual seekers used to move out and dwell in the hermitages maintained by sages in the past. In the hermitages, the spiritual aspirants had the unique chance of being immersed in good thoughts, good activities, and good company. It is like keeping a pot of water immersed in water; the water in the pot will then not be lost through evaporation. But if the pot of water is kept in the open so that the wind plays upon it and the sun shines on it, very soon the pot becomes empty. Be careful, therefore, that the success you have won in the promotion of virtue, in the conquest of baneful habits, and in the assumption of regular disciplines are not frittered away by trite company, loose talk, cynical criticism, or lackadaisical effort.