u/Aanaimughamthambiye

I have this habit of blaming my pitfalls, my excuses and other failures on society, my family, and whatever situation is around me, but in this I fail to see what I myself could have done better.

I notice that whoever I become willing, totally willing, I manage to accomplish whatever needs to get done (my sadhana, my work, whatever) regardless of the circumstance. But when I become unwilling, Just a small hindrance is enough for me to fall back into old patterns.

I’ve had the great opportunity to run into a grow mediator who, despite great odds, manages to do so his sadhana and volunteer and it gives me great reassurance that it’s possible for me.

How have you guys noticed yourselves gliding through situations when willing or making an unconscious mess when unwilling?

Sadhguru, whenever he speaks about the mind, makes it clear that our identity is a very significant part of our mind, it is more important than the intellect because that is what holds the intellect. I did a lot of reflection and tried to see why I am neurotic, why I am unstable and get into the same pitfalls again and again though I do my sadhana diligently. I realized I have not paid much attention to my identity, and failed to do the necessary work to craft it. I started this process by myself and started relating to many symbols that I contemplate on, different archetypes that I can meditate on, my smaranam.

Bear: The bear has a lot of spiritual significance. When the bear was ever hunted for its fur and meat, Native Americans used to pray and thank it for its courage and strength. It is also a creative that retreats from the jungle to a cave, signifying aloneness, and also hibernates, signifying self renewal or transformation.

Bee: The bee is one animal that was regarded for its tirelessness, which is a very valued quality on the path. but also its loyalty to the collective hive, and its production of honey, which is synonymous with immortality. The bee is also known as a soldier because it gives its own life to defend its own and dies in the process of stinging.

In addition to animals, I've also meditated on certain people that inspire me, depending on the situation I'm in. I teach at a Latino district, which is almost like a little Mexico, so I've been contemplating on Vicente Fox, a former president of Mexico, who I heard speak in my time in college. When I imagine him, all the kids and the staff look beautiful, their accents, their mission to education, etc. It's also a way for me to learn and be updated with the history of Mexico.

I think we as meditators don't practice this enough, and we may fall into the trap of just being attached to Sadhguru's physical presence, or other teachers, but we may not actively at other people for their devotion and grandness. It's said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but a symbol is worth a thousand pictures. I find that symbols are key to how steady my thought process is, and I've been able to even go to work on the days when I'm not able to do sadhana and still be very balanced. This is also a way of seeing everything as Sadhguru. 🙏