If we think of one quality that is a prerequisite for self-improvement and the foundation of an elevated life, it is purity, in all its aspects. The definition of purity is deep – it includes honesty, a clean mind, a clean heart, good wishes and pure feelings for all.
But it often happens that we pay attention to one or more aspects of purity but do not take the others seriously. We give ourselves some leeway in that regard either out of ignorance of the significance of those aspects or due to carelessness, which fosters a casual attitude towards certain things. The significance of complete purity is not clear to us. To think unnecessarily about someone or something, to enable waste thoughts to be created, or to cause others to have waste thoughts – all these are subtle forms of impurity that sully the mind and dilute the quality of the soul.
If we truly wish to improve the quality of our consciousness to a level above the ordinary and live an elevated life, the first step is to practice purity in our thoughts. Whenever we are affected by any weakness — such as anger, greed, ego, or lust — it first enters our thoughts. All vices cause waste thoughts, but we may fail to recognise them as such. “Why is it like this?”, “It should be like this”, and similar futile commentary in the mind sets off a chain of thoughts that consume our time and energy. Further damage is done when such thoughts spill over into talk. Another form of impurity that can creep in even when we are working hard on the self, is arrogance of our virtues and talents. If we are blind to this fault, it gets accentuated as we progress, and others can see that clearly. This weakness is born from a desire for recognition and fame, to be consulted, given a prominent position in a team, or a key role in a project. We compare ourselves with others, take umbrage at perceived slights, and demand respect and equal treatment.
Giving up arrogance saves us from a lot of unnecessary thinking that can occur even after we have freed ourselves from other vices. Being celibate and having a disciplined lifestyle is good, but that is just the beginning of a life of purity, which needs to be taken to a higher level with purity in our vision and attitude. The foundation of that is purity in thoughts, which should be based on spiritual principles and also carry power. If we are complacent or weak in dealing with our defects, and think, “What can I do… it happens all the time, even though I do not want it to happen…”, would these be called the thoughts of a pure soul?
We may consider ourselves strong, but if we make a mistake, it is a sign that we have been influenced by a weakness. The key to avoiding such mistakes is to introspect honestly, regularly check the quality of our thoughts and feelings to make sure that there is nothing there of second-best quality, and focus on solutions, not problems. Then we will keep moving forward smoothly and accurately.
B.K. Atam Prakash is a Rajyoga teacher at the Brahma Kumaris headquarters in Mount Abu, Rajasthan.