The Illusion of Being Trapped by Our Own Beliefs

If we think that meditation practice is too difficult — it’s just too hard, that we aren’t very good at it and can’t possibly get better, get very far, so shall it seem to be for us. If we believe God to be millions of light-years distant and our spiritual experience will remain cold and uneventful, so shall it seem to be for us. If we’re stuck with the impression that the way forward will never be clear and spiritual guidance is nowhere to be found, so shall it seem to be for us. If however, we come to know that we can have quality meditations beginning right now, and there is no reason why we can’t make much progress on the spiritual path during this life, so shall this come to be our experience. As Kabir says:

“If you place the Guru at a distance from you, then it is but the distance that you honour [you are a worshiper of distance]: If indeed the Master be far away… When you think that He is not here, then you wander further and further away, and seek Him in vain with tears. Where He is far off, there He is unattainable: where He is near, He is very bliss. Kabir says: ‘Lest His servant should suffer pain He pervades him through and through.’ Know yourself then, O Kabir; for He is in you from head to foot. Sing with gladness, and keep your seat unmoved within your heart.” — Songs of Kabir, Rabindranath Tagore