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Do Not Let Spiritual Practice Hinder Self Realization - Hinduism Teaching

Question: I am trying very hard in my practice but I don't seem to be getting anywhere.

Answer: This is very important. Don't try to get anywhere in the practice. The very desire to be free or to be enlightened will be the desire that prevents your freedom. You can try as hard as you wish, practice ardently night and day, but if it is still with the desire to achieve in mind, you will never find peace. The energy from this desire will cause doubt and restlessness. No matter how long or how hard you practice, wisdom will not arise from desire. So, simply let go. Watch the mind and body mindfully but don't try to achieve anything. Don't cling even to the practice or to enlightenment.

Question: How much should I sleep?

Answer: Don't ask me, I can't tell you. A good average for some is four hours a night. What is important, though, is that you watch and know yourself. If you try to go with too little sleep, the body will feel uncomfortable and mindfulness will be difficult to sustain. Too much sleep leads to a dull or a restless mind. Find the natural balance for yourself. Carefully watch the mind and body and keep track of sleep needs until you find the optimum. If you wake up and then roll over for a snooze, this is defilement. Establish mindfulness as soon as your eyes open.

Question: How about eating? How much should I eat?

Answer: Eating is the same as sleeping. You must know yourself. Food must be consumed to meet bodily needs. Look at your food as medicine. Are you eating so much that you only feel sleepy after the meal and are you getting fatter every day? Stop! Examine your own body and mind.

Advices given by a Saint to his disciple.

Meaning Explanation:

The above first excerpt touches upon a profound spiritual teaching often found in Hinduism, as well as other wisdom traditions. The essence of the passage is the paradox that desire for liberation or enlightenment itself becomes a barrier to achieving it. This idea is deeply embedded in Hindu philosophy and resonates with many other spiritual traditions across the world.

Symbolism in Hindu Wisdom

In Hinduism, this concept aligns with the idea of vairagya (non-attachment) and sannyasa (renunciation). The desire for enlightenment, freedom, or even peace is, ironically, still a form of attachment. The Bhagavad Gita beautifully illustrates this teaching through Lord Krishna’s discourse to Arjuna. Krishna says:

"You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, nor be attached to inaction." (Bhagavad Gita 2.47)

Here, Krishna emphasizes the importance of performing one’s duty (karma) without attachment to outcomes, including the desire for enlightenment. When we perform actions with expectations, they create restlessness and dissatisfaction.

Modern Day Relevance and Practicality

In today’s fast-paced world, where achievement, success, and goals are deeply ingrained in our minds, the teaching of non-attachment seems counterintuitive. The “hustle culture” promotes constant striving, measuring self-worth by accomplishments, and craving validation. However, this teaching urges us to pause and reflect on the internal peace that comes from letting go of the need to achieve. Practicing mindfulness without expectations can be liberating.

In our day-to-day lives, this wisdom can be applied by:

  • Approaching tasks mindfully, without fixation on outcomes. Whether it’s a work project, a relationship, or even a meditation practice, do it with full awareness, but detach from expectations.
  • Letting go of the ego’s desire for recognition and reward. Realizing that peace arises from being present in the moment, not from external achievements.
  • Avoiding burnout by not being enslaved by the need to constantly "win" or reach a certain level of success.

Story of Sage Narada and the Water Carrier

One of the best ways to illustrate this concept is through the well-known story of Sage Narada and Lord Vishnu:

Narada, a great devotee of Lord Vishnu, once asked Vishnu to show him the greatest devotee on Earth. Vishnu directed him to a poor farmer who worked hard from dawn till dusk, but would only remember Vishnu twice a day, once in the morning and once before going to bed. Narada was surprised. How could this farmer be the greatest devotee when Narada himself constantly chanted and remembered Vishnu’s name all day long?

Vishnu, sensing Narada's doubt, gave him a task. He asked Narada to take a cup of oil filled to the brim and walk around the city without spilling a drop. Narada carefully carried the cup around, concentrating fully on not spilling a single drop. When he returned, Vishnu asked him, "How many times did you remember me while carrying the cup?" Narada confessed that he didn’t remember Vishnu even once as he was too focused on the oil.

Vishnu explained that while Narada was focused on a single task, the farmer, despite his daily struggles, managed to remember Vishnu with love and devotion.

The story highlights that devotion, wisdom, and spiritual growth are not about constant external effort or elaborate rituals but are found in the quiet and sincere moments of awareness and surrender.

The Importance of Non-Attachment

This idea of "letting go" is closely linked to the concept of non-attachment. In Hinduism, the Upanishads teach that the root of suffering is attachment. As the Isha Upanishad (Verse 1) states:

"All this, whatever moves on the Earth, is to be given up in favor of the Lord. Enjoy by renouncing. Do not covet anybody's wealth."

This verse illustrates the principle of enjoying life not through acquisition or achievement but through renunciation, non-clinging, and surrender. When the ego, the "I" that craves recognition, drops away, one experiences true inner freedom and wisdom.

Similar Teachings in Other Cultures

This theme of releasing desire and attachment appears in many wisdom traditions:

  • Buddhism emphasizes nirvana, which literally means "extinguishing" – not in the sense of physical death, but the extinguishing of the flames of desire, aversion, and ignorance. The Buddha taught the Four Noble Truths, the third of which is the cessation of suffering through letting go of craving.
  • Taoism teaches the importance of flowing with the natural order of things, without resistance or forced effort. The Tao Te Ching says, "The sage does nothing but leaves nothing undone." This reflects the principle of wu wei, or effortless action, which is in harmony with the idea of practicing without attachment.
  • Sufism, the mystical branch of Islam, similarly emphasizes surrender to the divine will (known as tawakkul). Rumi writes, "The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear,” suggesting that true wisdom arises not from striving but from surrender and silence.

Additional Thoughts

This teaching doesn’t mean one should stop practicing or striving altogether. Instead, it points out that attachment to outcomes is the real obstacle. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali also highlight this in the concept of abhyasa (consistent practice) paired with vairagya (detachment).

In modern mindfulness practice, we are often taught to observe our thoughts and feelings without judgment, which is similar to this teaching of watching the mind without the desire to change or control it. Just by watching, awareness deepens, and peace naturally follows.

Conclusion

The wisdom of "letting go" has timeless relevance. In a world filled with pressures to achieve, attain, and accomplish, this teaching offers a refreshing perspective. By surrendering the desire for specific outcomes, we open the door to a deeper peace, clarity, and wisdom that naturally emerges when we stop trying to control or force things.

In your daily life, simply practice mindfulness without any goal of achieving something in particular, whether it is success or enlightenment. As you become more aware and less attached, the teachings of wisdom will naturally arise.