The inherent nature of the soul is absolute freedom. It can choose to either steadily abide in its blissful Self or run outside for worldly pleasures and suffer. You are not dependent. No one can ever interfere in your activities. You are free to wander too. If a father tells his son that ‘all my wealth is yours. You are free to use the way you want. But you should ask me before you spend.’ This is not complete freedom for there is a condition put in that. Complete freedom is when you can choose between committing mistakes, and not committing mistakes, and having committed mistakes can improve upon your mistakes.

Make the Right Choice

Suffering comes from making wrong choices. One chooses to visit a temple while the other decides to indulge in sense pleasures. In a way, both are the same for both are independent in making their choices. But one is utilising his freedom to liberate himself from bondage while the other is creating bondage.

The path of transmigration and the path to liberation from the cycles of birth and death are equally open for you. No one can stop you from taking either one. You are free to choose whether you want to be reborn or you don’t. You provide the cause and inevitably, the effect will follow. Therefore, nurture only those inclinations whose fruits are desired by you. If you breed feelings that make you forget the blissful soul, then undoubtedly you will gain sorrow, disquiet, agitation, wandering, transmigration etc.

The right choice leads to right use of the freedom. With it arises revolution and peace in life. The wrong choice makes you abuse your freedom. You become indulgent. If you willingly make the wrong choice, who can stop you from transmigrating?

Returning Home

When one gets tired of nurturing worldly inclinations that bind him to the cycles of birth and death, he begins his inward journey. Realising the greatness of the soul, he pines for liberation. He utilises his freedom to sublimate and annihilate worldly inclinations. He develops a yearning for knowledge and seeks the Enlightened One.

Your pure and blissful nature has always been present, but it was forgotten. The Sadguru reminds you of your forgotten glory. On recollecting it, you experience it and abide in it. Glory to the all-compassionate Sadguru who shows you your treasure trove! Having found such a Sadguru, if you do not get awakened, then you have wasted your human birth.

You are of the nature of knowledge, then why do you choose to play ignorant? Why do you choose bondage? Why do you fall for baser instincts? You will have to awaken.

Stepping Out of the Vicious Cycle

Man is at such a stage of evolution that if he awakens, he is liberated; otherwise, he will have to repeat transmigration. Like a seed seeking a way out from the darkness of earthly existence, he breaks through, and rises above its layers towards the sky. He cannot remain at ease anymore without moving towards the light. In him arises the earnestness to touch the sky – the formless, to see the sun – the illumination, without which the flowers – the soul’s virtues will not blossom.

The worldly one remains heedless and unawakened, and goes around in cycles of birth and death. Thoughtlessly, he repeats the same thing. But, the one who wants to become liberated will pause and think, ‘what am I doing? How long will I continue like this? How can I bring an end to this repetitiveness? Now, enough!’ He gets worried, bewildered and resolves to step out of this vicious cycle. The pain of repeated transmigration marks the beginning of his journey within.

Only if you examine your mental responses, and feel bewildered by the deluding inclinations, you can become worthy of liberation. Only if you are weary of the repetitive story of indulgence and rebirth, will you embark on the inner journey.

Transformation does not occur in you as long as you have accepted yourself, as you are, imperfect! You are not troubled and pained by your present state. You have reached a state where you will have to make a decision; do you want to live like an animal or become God? Until now you were oblivious of your independence. But now you know that you are free to make the right choice. The steering is in your hands. Knowing that the responsibility is yours, you will get bewildered. But with it will begin sadhana to come to rest in the Self.

The Journey and its Preparation

Sadhana means consciously moving towards blossoming. To not meander but harness all your potential towards the goal. How does it sound if you pack your bags and are ready with the luggage and lunch box, but do not start the journey? Satsang, study of scriptures etc. are preparations. They certainly prepare you for the journey but should you not start the journey? You are prepared enough to respond to the divine call. If you have realised it as His call then why do you fear to move in that direction? Why are you being reluctant?

If you do not begin, your inspiration will fade away, and you will unpack everything. Then once again, you will get an opportunity to do satsang and you will begin the packing; how long will you pack and unpack?

Many a time, you have taken human birth, got satsang, got initiated into monkhood, raised to the status of an Acharya. The present state has also been attained numerous times by you, but you have been missing the opportunity due to your heedlessness. Once the inward journey begins then the end is not too far.

First Step Alone is Difficult

If you have left home, you will surely reach your destination. It is not too far. Even if it appears far, you shall reach. Difficult it is for those who have not left their houses. Only the first step is difficult. One step at a time and you will cross thousands of miles.

Life is moving. If you cannot make progress, you will be thrown behind. If you don’t rise, you will fall. Don’t think that if you don’t do anything, you will remain in the same state. At every point, you are either progressing or regressing. You cannot maintain status quo for years. Even to remain in the same state, you will have to make effort. Slow down a bit, and you will fall back. Therefore, do not stop anywhere. Continue making headway.

Destiny is like the bridegroom’s party accompanying him in the procession, with the role of bringing the bridegroom to the bride. Once the marriage is done, they are not obliged to do anything. Contrary to that, the bridegroom does not have to do anything in the beginning; he just goes at the pace of the procession. But the moment he meets his bride, he gets engaged in the rituals with the bride, otherwise, the wedding cannot occur. Similarly, destiny has played its role. It has given you a human birth and a Sadguru; now it is up to you to make the right choice and pursue the path of liberation. Destiny has favoured you enough; now you must favour yourself.