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THE WAVE OF BLISS
religion, and the abiding desire in his heart to go into further and deeper involvement with the religion:.
“It appears Gurudev that the time comes when the decision must be made to move more closely to a chosen spiritual discipline. I have meditated deeply on the need to become a monk; whether it is necessary to take the vows to achieve what I understand to be our 'mission', Moksha. The relationship between 'achieving' and 'being' needed to be understood. After much thought and meditation on questions such as: Is a guru necessary if one is committed to spiritual development? Will the universal consciousness and one's higher consciousness not be the guru? Can the highest spiritual development not occur in North America also? Does the serious aspirant need to travel to India for initiation? Is the learning that is happening to the aspirant not the same learning that would be occurring as a monk or nun? And if so, what is the need to become a monk or nun? If one is content with just being with balance', despite the surrounding events, what is the need to go on up the mountain? Is reaching the summit of the mountain the realization that peace in the heart despite the circumstances of life, is the ultimate achievement? To face life and death with peace in one's heart and the Namokar Mantra in one's consciousness, is my understanding from you as to how we face our existence and mission.
The search for answers to the above questions has resulted in two insights for me. One continuous awareness with balanced joy during life's activities needs to be achieved. And two, I need to quietly and with reverence move more closely to the Jain Dharma. This is a quiet, personal decision, Gurudev, that I now need to take.
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