Is it possible without Effort?
I have heard distinguished speakers say that it cannot be attained with effort. And that effort is the barrier. This has been causing confusion. I brought it up to Sri Mahaprabu. Within a few seconds, he gave such a clear understanding. That Effort is the bridge between Energy and Experience. This one is a must-read!!
A recording of our conversation, which is also transcribed below.
Effort, Energy, and Experience
Effort alone will take you there. When the wind is blowing, then only, you are able to feel the presence of the air. Only when you put the Effort. How you are able to put Effort? Because of the presence of some Energy. Prior to any Effort, there will be Energy. So because of the energy only you can put Effort. That putting Effort will create an Experience about the Energy. Energy, Effort, Experience. Only the Effort is the bridge between the Energy and Experience. What are you looking for? An Experience. An Experience of what? The Energy. When it can be felt? Whenever you are putting Effort! (Laughing!!).
(SC: Please read the above lines till it is crystal clear what Sri Mahaprabu is saying. The brilliance with which he immediately answered the question with such an apt analogy. Time was past 2 AM! He had already spoken continuously to me for 1 hour and 30 minutes on another topic! This happens every time, no matter what the question is.)
Your Effort is only a block when you are in a higher state. There, one will continue putting Effort, and that Effort itself will push one back. This is correct for someone who is in a higher state. Until then Effort is a must. If you tell a seeker that Effort is not needed, he will just sit and relax. How will he grow? How will he advance towards the Spirit? How will he move towards the Energy? He is not going to exert. There won’t be any exertion. When he puts the Effort, then only there will be a vibration in the Energy. He will hit the Energy. He is going to get the link with the Energy.
SC: And turn its attention, right?
Mahaprabu: Yes, Definitely!
It is simple, remember. Energy and Experience are on two ends. Effort is the bridge. Without the Effort, Energy will be there, but there won’t be an Experience the Energy. The Energy will be there. See, whether you attain Atma Jnana or not. Is Atma affected? Will Atma decrease in intensity if you don’t attain Atma Jnana? Or will it increase if you attain?
SC: No, it has no effect.
Mahaprabu: Whether you attain the Experience or not, put Effort or not, Energy will be there. So, what is needed is an Experience of the Energy. You are interested in it. The thirst is born in you already. How do you quench that thirst? Only if you put in the Effort. As you keep on putting Effort and putting Effort, the Experience will be there but as an Expectation. And whenever you are putting Effort, at that moment you are able to feel the presence of an Energy. Then, who is putting in the Effort? Your ego may be the one wanting to put the Effort, a thought. But what comes as Effort? Thought? Ego? SC: Energy! Mahaprabu: Yes, what you call Effort, what is its prior form? Energy!! So Energy is the Effort. What you want is the Experience of the Energy. When can you experience it? When the Energy comes as Effort!!
SC: Correct since Energy and Effort are not different, otherwise, there won’t be an Experience, since Experience also is Energy!
The 3 are one and the same
Mahaprabu: Correct, All three are one and the same! When you Experience, what are you experiencing? Energy. Is there something other than Energy in the Experience? No. Hidden in Experience is Energy. And what is hidden in Effort is also that Energy. But if it was just in the state of Energy, then there is no question of Experience at all. The Energy should FLOW! Only for that flowing, an Effort is needed. That’s why I said, when air is at a standstill you don’t feel it. In summer, people say ‘Katthe illa‘ There is no air at all. What do they mean? That there is no air? The air is there, but it is still. Just like the energy is always there. Only when it blows he says there is air! For example, at noon you are in a room which is in a forest. The air is still in the room. You say there is no air at all (IF so you’d be dead). But at 12:05 the air blows. You start to feel it. Wasn’t the air there at 12:04, 12:03? It was always there, even at 12 but you didn’t feel it. Only when it blows, you felt it. So, in the beginning, to create the Experience, you have to have the air blow. You have to put Effort to get the Experience. Now, in the same room, even though the breeze is blowing, but say you are in a very bad state of mind. Will you feel the breeze? No. That doesn’t mean the air isn’t there. So, when it was not blowing, he didn’t feel it. When it was blowing also he didn’t feel it! So there is no problem with the existence of the air whether you feel it or not. Thus he will realize that only because it was here in the first place because it was always here, he was able to feel it later. ie. Before blowing also it must be here only. Then with maturity, just in the presence of air he will feel it. Because respiration will be happening. There must be air! The one who says “there is air only when the wind blows”, will agree that even without it blowing, there is air. Similarly, by putting Effort he who begins to feel the Energy, will one day realize that even without putting Effort the Energy is there continuously!
I am watching how IT is giving it to you in heaps. Has any univerisity or spiritual book given this equation? Has any spiritual master explained this to you? That too this late at night has any master spoken to you? He will say, “Let’s talk tomorrow. What is the hurry!”(It was nearly 3 AM!!). Mahaprabu is looking at it from the standpoint of “Tomorrow he may be there or not!! (Laughing). While he is receiving now, let us give.” That is Arul, That is Grace, Compassion. Because IT has decided to shower it upon you in abundance. You take one step there. It will take 100 steps here.
Romba Magizchi (Very happy)
Romba Santhosham (Very happy)
Gurudeva
Satguru