The seemingly contradictory idea of death and new life is but a fact even in our ordinary experience. As we have seen in the last Post, the destruction of old cells in our body gives rise to new ones. Jesus explained the need of dying to our self for a new life by indicating how a seed will remain as it is unless it falls to the ground and disintegrates to give rise to a new plant producing fruits. Here we have to be cautious to the danger of falling into the snares set up by self-serving people instigating others to forego one's life for a better tomorrow. It is self-serving because the rule applies to each one's self and not to be applied to others by anyone else. Any sacrifice worth the name has to be self-sacrifice and we have no right to demand it from others in the name of religion or of common good. This is what Jesus demonstrated by his own example of self-sacrifice by death on the cross the spirit of which may be followed by those who believe in him. Even at the sacrifice of the Holy Mass Christians are expected to participate in it by offering themselves as living sacrifices by renewal of their minds (See Romans, 12:2).
For human beings, therefore, change and transformation start with a new mind and the body will automatically follow the dictates of the mind from a renewed perspective. It is self-defeating merely to run away from the world to shun it in the name of spirituality as the world follows us wherever we go. The fundamental reason for the persistence of the world in us lies with our own self known as the Ego that cannot be eliminated merely by our moving from one place to another. This is why Jesus laid down the fundamental principle of spiritual life as denying one's own self along with carrying one's own daily cross and following him (See Mark, 8: 34). The self cannot be denied without being master of our lower nature with the help of our higher nature. A renewal of mind is the basic condition for the same. We need not bother ourselves with persecuting our bodies for the sake of spirituality as others will do it for us when we are seen as different from them. At the same time, penance and fasting voluntarily undertaken goes a long way in subduing our unruly minds, which will help us to be masters of our lower nature. Those who go about with a renewed mind will consider as despicable what the world holds in high esteem while what it considers as lowly and worthless will be their object of esteem and honor. The conflict will be certain between the two sides and in this conflict the believers have their chance for self-sacrifice and transformation. We shall see below our part in this process of transformation from death to a new life through resurrection as threefold:
1. Our willingness to be transformed;
2. Acquiring the necessary enlightenment;
3. Faithful execution of what we see as true.
Here we shall discuss the first point , leaving point nos. 2 and 3 to the next Post. As created in the image and likeness of God, man is endowed with the faculties of intellect and will for action. Any action is expected to be guided by the illumination provided by our intellect on the basis of which a choice is made by exercising our will. The problem here is that as we are also endowed with a body with five sense faculties , our mind that is connected to both the intellect and the sense organs may easily get clouded. The resultant picture of reality presented to the will for a choice and decision will not be transparent and we are led into uncertain territories. To avoid such pitfalls, it is necessary to strengthen our will-power to seek and follow the right course of action .To take a decision to improve our lives according to the Word of God and wise sayings is already the battle half won. Exercises are required to strengthen our will-power by controlling our weaknesses for which prayer and penance will go a long way. To avoid a harmful habit like smoking by quitting it at one stroke is a good exercise in gaining will-power. To forgive any ill-treatment meted out to us by someone is a gem of an exercise in practicing will-power. At the beginning it will be very painful and yet by constant practice we can be experts in accumulating will-power. In the same spirit of fortifying our will to excel in life, a steady and determined attempt to lead a fully human life should constantly rule our conduct of life. The efforts we make in this connection should not be under any stress and strain, but should be smooth and effortless. The reason for this caution is that we are expected to be just what we are as created by God and not become alienated by our actions. (to be Continued).
For human beings, therefore, change and transformation start with a new mind and the body will automatically follow the dictates of the mind from a renewed perspective. It is self-defeating merely to run away from the world to shun it in the name of spirituality as the world follows us wherever we go. The fundamental reason for the persistence of the world in us lies with our own self known as the Ego that cannot be eliminated merely by our moving from one place to another. This is why Jesus laid down the fundamental principle of spiritual life as denying one's own self along with carrying one's own daily cross and following him (See Mark, 8: 34). The self cannot be denied without being master of our lower nature with the help of our higher nature. A renewal of mind is the basic condition for the same. We need not bother ourselves with persecuting our bodies for the sake of spirituality as others will do it for us when we are seen as different from them. At the same time, penance and fasting voluntarily undertaken goes a long way in subduing our unruly minds, which will help us to be masters of our lower nature. Those who go about with a renewed mind will consider as despicable what the world holds in high esteem while what it considers as lowly and worthless will be their object of esteem and honor. The conflict will be certain between the two sides and in this conflict the believers have their chance for self-sacrifice and transformation. We shall see below our part in this process of transformation from death to a new life through resurrection as threefold:
1. Our willingness to be transformed;
2. Acquiring the necessary enlightenment;
3. Faithful execution of what we see as true.
Here we shall discuss the first point , leaving point nos. 2 and 3 to the next Post. As created in the image and likeness of God, man is endowed with the faculties of intellect and will for action. Any action is expected to be guided by the illumination provided by our intellect on the basis of which a choice is made by exercising our will. The problem here is that as we are also endowed with a body with five sense faculties , our mind that is connected to both the intellect and the sense organs may easily get clouded. The resultant picture of reality presented to the will for a choice and decision will not be transparent and we are led into uncertain territories. To avoid such pitfalls, it is necessary to strengthen our will-power to seek and follow the right course of action .To take a decision to improve our lives according to the Word of God and wise sayings is already the battle half won. Exercises are required to strengthen our will-power by controlling our weaknesses for which prayer and penance will go a long way. To avoid a harmful habit like smoking by quitting it at one stroke is a good exercise in gaining will-power. To forgive any ill-treatment meted out to us by someone is a gem of an exercise in practicing will-power. At the beginning it will be very painful and yet by constant practice we can be experts in accumulating will-power. In the same spirit of fortifying our will to excel in life, a steady and determined attempt to lead a fully human life should constantly rule our conduct of life. The efforts we make in this connection should not be under any stress and strain, but should be smooth and effortless. The reason for this caution is that we are expected to be just what we are as created by God and not become alienated by our actions. (to be Continued).
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