Conscious awareness of God acting in human life is called gratitude. Such a comprehension can penetrate one's being down to the physical in a receptive soul when he thrills. A dust in the eye hurts until it is removed. At least for a year no dust ever entered my eye. I never thought about how it happened. It rarely occurs to us that the eye was constantly protected and it was an act of God. On several occasions, good things happen to us, making us exclaim, 'Thank God.'
We live for ourselves or for our family. Good souls live for others. Patriots live for the country. The Rishi lives for God. Consecration is to act for God and to live on earth to fulfil His goals on earth. Our life is automatic. Whether it is sneezing or walking, the body acts without any conscious reference to our wishes or permission.
In a conversation, if you decide not to answer a certain question, you find yourself answering without your volition. It happens, just as you cannot prevent yourself from sneezing which is a subconscious act.
At the age of fifty, an experienced doctor in London who had conducted several examinations was required by the rules to take an exam for his next promotion. To his surprise, he developed exam-fever! That is the power of tradition, atmosphere and trust in social belief. Psychologists can distinguish natural fear from the ones that are artificially whipped up, either by the individual or by the collective social belief, which is the presiding deity over human destinies.
Nehru, speaking on August 15, 1947 said that we had a tryst with destiny which was then fulfilled. Every successful act in life, however simple or mundane, is in some measure such a tryst with destiny for that particular person. Unless all the ingredients of success are successfully handled in an act, no act can meet with success. Between the successful completion of an act and its possible acme, there is a long way to go.
If you are one who has seen that each time a genuine appreciation is expressed, not flattery, the result is disappointing, at least diluted, know the Spirit of Appreciation lies not in the expression of it but in not expressing it. Consider the truth in the above idea and when you are convinced, try to put it into practice. A desired result is determined by the energy of the Act. By giving expression to the idea, the energy in the idea of the act is scattered, i.e. becomes weak and diluted.
We know satisfaction that is the opposite of frustration, and happiness the opposite of sorrow. Satisfaction comes out of reaching what we aim at. Happiness is given by success. All these are positive, negative emotions of life, actually lower life from the point of view of the Spirit. Spirit, when it emerges, gives a FULLNESS. It is an inner fullness. When that inner fullness emerges, we find mind is incapable of thought, vital life is incapable of sorrow or worry. Just around us there is no failure to be witnessed. The successes we see give Joy, not happiness.
This is an obvious fact and needs no pronouncement. It certainly is not obvious to us when we act. We only think, thus exercising our Reason. We know the Spirit is far more powerful than Reason but when it comes to action, we always rely on Reason and resort to thinking.
Most of us have a general faith in the Spirit as we have in Truth. How many of us, in critical moments, believe that Truth will save us, not falsehood? Our respect for Truth is a little more than lip service. Faith in the Spirit is of that kind. Not that we do not believe in the power of Spirit, but it never rises to pure faith that can accomplish in life.
Several readers have raised a question, "How to invoke the Spirit?" The question is again and again raised, I believe, not because the process is unintelligible, but because it involves raising one's consciousness. Of course, it is not something to be had for the mere asking, but it is eminently possible for everyone who is seriously bent on it. So, I suggest that a full day must be earmarked to see all the aspects - powers as well as difficulties - of this shift and one should STAY on this new level of consciousness for a continuous 24 hours.