Destroy Egoism, Jealousy and Hatred with Love and Forbearance

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You must take care that you do not develop egoism and its henchmen,

hatred and jealousy. Once they take root within you they will be very

difficult to eradicate. When you have become infested with these bad

qualities you may not be so fortunate as this devotee and get the

attention of the Lord so directly, to help you eradicate them. You

will not be able to exterminate jealousy merely by reading scriptures

or engaging in spiritual rituals. But by making a determined effort

to transform your thoughts and develop selfless love, you can destroy

this pest. Offer up all your negative thoughts at the feet of the

Lord and fill yourself with unwavering love and forbearance.

 

So long as you have jealousy you can never shine. All the great

virtues in you will disappear. The Gita has taught that the primary

spiritual practice is to develop ideal virtues and apply them in your

daily life. In this way, you create favorable circumstances for

yourself. When you lead a virtuous life, you will be able to

experience the principle of the atma. But if you do not develop the

great qualities and apply them to your daily life, you will never be

able to realize the divinity.

 

The light of the Atma is everywhere. It is not limited to any one

person or form. It shines as effulgence, filling the entire universe.

It may take any form and any name. It is the very basis of every name

and form. Take for example the light that is emanating from a bulb,

or the breeze you get from a fan, or the heat you get from an

electric cooking stove, or the work you get from an electric motor.

The effects are all different. The work done by the motor is

different from the breeze obtained from the fan. The light obtained

from the bulb is different from the food cooked on the stove. The

effects are different, the machines are different, but going through

all of them is the one electric current. The same is true for the

principle of the Atma. In different bodies it manifests differently,

but underneath there is the same unity.

 

The luminosity of the electric light is proportional to the current

that flows in the bulbs. The light that shines forth from the bulbs

can be compared to the Atmic effulgence which shines in individuals.

Light has no shape or form, but bulbs come in various shapes and

strengths. An incandescent bulb has a particular form; a fluorescent

light has a different form. The dining-room bulb may be very bright;

the bulb in the bedroom may be quite dim. Because of ignorance you

may think that if the one type of electric current powers both the

bedroom bulb and the dining room bulb, why should there be a

difference in the light? The difference comes about because of the

bulbs.

 

Similarly, there is a difference in the expression of love in various

hearts. If your love is wholesome, full and complete, you will be

able to manifest the fullness of the Atmic effulgence and shine

brightly. If you have a narrow selfish love, it will be something

like a dim bedroom bulb. It is not a question of current; the

potential for providing any amount of current is available and ready.

You must change the bulb in order to get a greater light. If you are

filled with jealousy, then the power of the light will be very small.

If you have the effulgence of selfless love, then the power will be

something like a 1000 watt bulb. Therefore, develop your love. It is

possible to recognize the divinity only with the help of love.