| Though the
perfect light may not be attained, the effort should not be relaxed, for even if the truth
be but partially realized and the effort maintained, it will do us great good. He very
exertion to obtain light tends to purge us of our faults and helps us towards right
conduct and enables us to escape from many sinful deeds. The mental effort to realize the universal identity raises us to a higher plane
of life. With some great souls, in the steadily increasing pitch of realization, it
reaches the form of ecstasy, not a mere temporary abnormality, but a sustained joy arising
out of unshakable detachment and wide sweeping identification with all life and all
creation.
It is this ecstasy that made Brother Lawrence happy
wherever he was and whatever be was doing. It is of this ecstasy that the Tamil poet
Bharati sang. The crow and the sparrow are my kin, the wide seas and hills are my
clan,Whatever I see, wherever my eyes turn, I see my own flesh and blood, I see myself in
every being around, Oh what boundless joy! |
