Don’t Give Up

Life is not always easy, and we regularly fail in our attempts to live with compassion and stay true to our convictions. Each time we fall, we can pick ourselves up and move forward.

Babaji says, Failure is the foundation of success. We learn how to achieve success by failing in our efforts. The main thing is to not stop the effort. In the spiritual path what are our expectations? Probably we want to be on the top of Mount Everest with very little experience in climbing. But if we go on climbing we can achieve success.

The Dalai Lama says the same thing: Never give up. No matter what is going on around you, never give up.

This poem by Portia Nelson tells the story of our lives in a very simple and elegant way. It is an excellent metaphor for our struggles to overcome our habits – and a reminder to keep trying.

Chapter 1
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost…..I am hopeless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.

Chapter 2
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I can’t believe I’m in the same place,
But it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter 3
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in…..it’s a habit.
My eyes are open,
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

Chapter 4
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

Chapter 5
I walk down another street.

From Babaji: You start from where you are. Live a disciplined life, which will eliminate the burning desires for sense objects. Try to keep the mind equipoised in the pairs of opposites, and perform actions without egocentric desires.

The world always pulls us to attachment, desires, lust, greed, etc. This is the natural flow of the mind in the world. It’s like a river that naturally flows down the slope of the land. But the aim of life is to get back to the source. So it means we have to climb up.

Don’t give up.

contributed by Sharada

all text in italics is from Babaji’s writings