WHAT SHALL WE DO?

ASPIRANT:  I am discouraged about my spiritual life. I don't seem to be making any progress. What shall I do?

SWAMI PRABHAVANANDA:  Keep up the struggle! You see, there is no such thing as progress in a straight line. In spiritual life, too, there are ups and downs. But there is no failure as long as you make an effort.

Swami Brahmananda, my master, used to give the following illustration. The calf tries to get up on its feet within a very short time of its birth, but it falls down. For fifteen minutes, half an hour, or one hour the calf tries to get up, but it keeps falling down. Still it doesn't relinquish the struggle. Later, it not only stands but begins to run.

It is the same in spiritual life. You make a resolution that you will do so much meditation. Then laziness gets hold of you, "Oh, I'll skip it for today." Or restlessness and passion distract you, and all your good intentions are forgotten for the time being. But if you have fallen, get up again. Struggle! Promise yourself, "I will try to do better." You will fail many times, but don't give up. That's how we grow.