INTRODUCTION.

the? mouth of a gaping grave, for the sake of his beloved. The student whose heart burns with such intense desire for union with the Supreme Soul Paramâtmâ: The "Great Soul" or Universal Spirit, is? sure to find a teacher, and through him he will surely find Him. It is a va?ried experience that the Supreme Soul will try to meet you half way, in proportion to the de?gree of intensity with which you will go to meet Him. Even He hi?mself will become your guide, direct you on to the road to success, or pu?t you on the track to find a teacher, or lead him to you.

Well has it been said: "Those who sought, found Him by diving into deep waters; but I, the foolish one, went to search yet remained sitting on the shore." original: "जिन ढूँढा तिन पाइयाँ गहरे पानी पैठि । मैं बावरि ढूँढन गई रही किनारे बैठि ॥" This is a well-known couplet by the mystic poet Kabir, illustrating that spiritual truths are found only by those willing to dive deep into practice. It is the half-hearted who fail. They hold their wo?rldly pleasures dearer to their hearts than their God, and therefore He in? His turn does not consider them worthy of His favours. Says the Upanisad: Ancient Sanskrit texts that form the philosophical basis of Hinduism:—

"This Soul cannot be attained by instruction, nor by intellectual power, nor by much hearing of scriptures. Only he whom the Soul chooses can attain Him; to such a person the Soul reveals its own true form." original: "नायमात्मा प्रवचनेन लभ्यो न मेधया न बहुना श्रुतेन । यमेवैष वृणुते तेनलभ्यस्तस्यैष आत्मा विवृणुते तनूस्वाम् ॥" A famous verse from the Katha Upanisad, suggesting that divine grace is as important as personal effort.

The Soul âtmâ: The individual self or soul will choose you as its abode only if it considers you worthy of such a favour, and not otherwise. It is therefore necessary that one should first make oneself worthy of His acceptance. Having prepared the temple (your heart) well fitted for His installation there, having cleared it of all the impurities which stink and make the place unsuitable for the highest personage to live in, and having decorated it beautifully with objects as befit that Lord of the creation, you need not wait long for Him to adorn this temple of yours which you have taken pains to make it worthy of Him. If you have done all this, He will shine in you in all His glory. In your difficult moments, when you are embarrassed, sit in a contemplative mood, and approach your Supreme Teacher Parama Guru: The highest or primordial teacher, often identified with God or Ishvara submissively and refer your difficulties to Him, you are sure to get the proper advice from Him. He is the Teacher of the ancients, for He is not limited by Time. This is a reference to Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras (1.26): "sa pūrveṣām api guruḥ kālenānavacchedāt." He instructed the ancients in bygone times, like a teacher, and if you have been unable to find a teacher in the human form, enter your inn?er temple and consult this Great Teacher who accompanies you everywhere, and ask Him to show you the way. He knows best what is best for you. Unlike mortal beings, He is beyond the past and the future, will either send one of His agents to guide you or lead you to one and put you on the right track. He is always anxious to teach the earnest seekers, and waits for you to offer Him an opportunity to do so. But if you have not done your duty and prepared yourself worthy of entering His door, and try to gain access to His presence, laden with your unclean burden, stinking with Lust Kâma, Anger Krodha, Greed Lobha, and Delusion Moha, be sure He will keep you off from Him.