Dr. Wicks's formulation is
based on her long experience and similar thought patterns exist in many
religious books and also verdicts of saints from different parts of the world.
Dr. Wicks puts forward this three-point formula to help train the mind so that
it is in tune with one's inner self. She believes that the patient's inner
voice is his/her salvation.
My own personal experience
confirms the efficacy of this advice. In 1954 when I had just joined the Order,
I went up to Swami Vishuddhanandaji, the then President of the Order and showed
him a self-analysis chart to check how many of the twenty-six virtues mentioned
in the Bhagavad Gita I had been able to practise. I wanted to do this as an
effort towards self-improvement. Maharaj listened to my explanation and looked
through the chart patiently. Then he said, "Good. But my son, it will be
sufficient if you practise only one virtue." I wondered why Maharaj was
telling me to practise only one when Sri Krishna had told Arjuna to follow all
the twenty-six. Fortunately, I asked him to explain more fully and listened to
his words with great attention. He said, "The voice of your conscience is
the voice of God. It is enough if you follow this inner voice." Then he
narrated a story about a child who had accompanied his mother while Maharaj was
giving diksha on one occasion. When Maharaj asked the child, "When you do
something wrong, does your mind tell you anything?" The child said at
once, "Yes, Maharaj, when I do worng, my mind tells me it is wrong."
Maharaj wanted me to learn to
be like the child - always open to the voice of conscience which tells us
everything. Our basic divine heritage—that we are satchidananda swarupa—is
often forgotten by us. But if we keep this in mind amid our busy schedule we
can periodically retire into the inner sanctuary of our heart and hold silent
communion with our real self This will bring about our spiritual unfoldment.
The inner conscience prompts us to do what is right and avoid what is wrong. We
have to rise above the mind-body complex; then we shall be able to handle our
tensions and lead a balanced life.
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