Every human being who lives in this world and who is also spiritually inclined comes across challenging situations. Nobody is free of that so don’t think you are an exception.
Every human being has challenging situations. They sometimes challenge your spiritual progress and sometimes because of spiritual practices it challenges your material growth because you don’t want to tell a lie. Example there’s a beautiful deal coming up and you just have to tell a lie and you’ll get it but you are a spiritual practitioner so you think you cannot tell a lie. You have to decide – do I now move spiritually or can I keep it for some time materially and then come back on the spiritual path?
I am saying this because later you should not regret for it and say oh I should have told that one lie and I would have succeeded. I am giving you a practical tip so my suggestion is you have to decide whether I want to do this or I want to do that. If you do that, then don’t feel guilty. All you have to say is that it’s a mistake. I did it once. I will not repeat it again and move forward. The other way is to say okay whatever happens I am a spiritual person. I will not succumb to any other temptations but then it’s possible that materially you might suffer a bit.
There is nothing that is achieved or acquired without some sacrifice. The sacrifice could be this way or that way. So this is something which you have to decide. And if you decide, go ahead.
Unless the action is something terrible like murder or something like that, never regret for that. Say, that in a time of weakness, I did this, but I will not do it again and move forward. This is the best thing to do.
I also live in this world, I have to meet hundreds of people. Sometimes a situation arises where I prefer, instead of telling a lie, to keep quiet. They said so? Well, don’t know, can’t tell you.
In the Bhagavad Gita, this is exactly what Krishna is trying to tell Arjuna that in this life you also have to be intelligent and logical and sometimes you should plan what you are trying to do and stick to the plan. However, don’t forget Dharma. Do not do anything that will cause injury or unhappiness to others.
-Sri M
