A commitment to peace begins with clearing the mind of its restless patterns. (iStock)
When you make a spiritual commitment—what kind of commitment is it? And why do you make it? A spiritual commitment doesn’t have to be to become a swami, a minister. Particularly in the spiritual field, what are you committed to? Not to an organization or an ashram, but to realizing the Truth. That is your real goal.
And what is that Truth? To know your true Self. How do you know the true Self? How do you recognize or realize it? By keeping the mind calm and clean. That’s the essence of every spiritual practice. A mind that is clean will also be calm. And without that calm, clear mind, no spiritual growth is possible.
Put it in simple language. Don’t worry about enlightenment or God-realization—make it more direct: “My goal is to be happy always. I don’t want to lose my peace or joy for anything.” That’s the real spiritual commitment: a commitment to your own peace and joy. Keep that in mind: That is my goal. That is what I want ultimately.
And you must be sure of that, without any doubt. But if you say, “Oh, I don’t mind being unhappy now and then, being restless now and then—I’d like it that way,” then it’s a different matter. So, make a clear decision. What is your commitment? Is it to not to disturb your peace, not to disturb your joy? Ask yourself which is more important—to satisfy your mind and its desires, or to be rooted in peace and happiness?
You’ve been trying to satisfy the mind’s desires for years, in so many ways—and you got tired of it. That’s why you’ve become a seeker. You said, “I want permanent peace.” So, don’t give in to the monkey mind. Giving in will not help—it only makes things worse. If you want a wound to heal, don’t scratch it, no matter how much it itches. And don’t say, “Oh, I can’t help it—I have to.”
Making a spiritual commitment is not impossible. Many have done it. If it were impossible, nobody would even suggest it. And don’t put others on a pedestal: “Only Christ could do that,” or “Only Buddha could do that,” or “They were born that way.” That’s just an excuse not to try. Remember: today’s sinner could be tomorrow’s saint. They simply learned the lesson.
The ultimate goal is not to gain something. You don’t need to achieve or acquire God, peace, or joy—you already are That. Your only goal, your only commitment, is to not disturb what you are by identifying with what you are not. Yes, the mind will want to play pranks, come up with distractions and excuses. Don’t give in. That’s the practice. That’s the goal. If you can keep the monkey mind under control you can experience your true nature always. That’s all.
It doesn’t matter what role you take on, what activities you engage in—I’m not saying you must do this and not that. Just keep this one goal in mind: Am I the master of my mind? Am I controlling it—or is it controlling me? If the mind wants something, let it beg. You be the master. Then you can say, “Okay, I’ve analyzed the situation. It’s not harmful. It won’t pull me away from remembering who I am. I’ll let you play a little—but when I whistle, you come back.” Yes, keep it under control. That’s what all the great saints did.
Make that commitment: I will never allow myself to be pulled into identifying with anything other than my true nature, my true Self. With that commitment, you can do anything. But don’t just follow the monkey mind wherever it wants to go. It’s high time to know that chasing the mind and its fantasies won’t lead to anything real. Don’t give in so easily. Know the true Self—and be free.
