I have started reading the book 'The Magic of tidying up' by a Japanese cleaning consultant. I may have read 20-25 pages but the crux of the book is clear: the process of cleaning involves three steps.
- Focus on a healthy living -- both physically and mentally
- Getting rid of unwanted things
- Cleaning for the sake of perfection
I was able to correlate this to the process of Surrender Sri Aurobindo speaks of.
In the case of Surrender, the three steps are
- Aspiration
- Rejection
- Surrender
In both cases, the focus is on
- Aspiration. The writer says cleaning can transform your lifestyle. So, the aspiration to have a healthy mental life is the key, the driving force.
- Rejection: In Surrender, you reject the lower aspects of your consciousness. In cleaning, you throw away unwanted things. Reject them.
- Surrender. The process of cleaning should have as its aim perfection. And that entails Likewise, the process of Surrender should have perfection as is aim without expectation, without egoistic assertion of our will-- Let Thy Will be done.
Your thoughts on this are welcome.
Wonderful Ranjani, deep insights!
ReplyDeleteRead about the process at http://karmayogi.net/?q=aspiration-rejection-surrender Please write more on this process of Aspiration, Rejection, Surrender.
I relate cleaning the house to cleaning the thoughts in my mind. Cleaning the house without lowering the harmony level with the family members is a constant battle. Clearing the mind by reducing the buzzing thoughts, and keeping up the energy level in the body is a challenge.
Thanks for the kind words, Vani. I dont know if this is deep, but this is definitely helpful.. For people like me who are too lazy to take up cleaning.
DeleteGarry Sir always used to tell me that an untidy place means an untidy mind and disorganised thoughts :-)
//Read about the process at http://karmayogi.net/?q=aspiration-rejection-surrender//
ReplyDeleteI didn't intend to write this, I meant "I read about the process". I have never read about Aspiration_Rejection_Surrender earlier. Please do write more.
//disorganised thoughts// I m trying hard to focus to not make a spelling mistake that might give rude meanings to a sentence.
//too lazy to take up cleaning.// When I was supposed to clean, I got lazy and ended up reading this book. Have you noticed the different forms of laziness? starting trouble, do a little and be satisfied, being lazy with guilt or pity.
Very true, Vani
DeleteWhen I start reading a book as I opposed to cleaning, I tell myself that I am making a choice: between reading , a higher pursuit and cleaning, a not-so-higher-pursuit. It is what it is. A justification tpo stick to what I like doing.
But I have never felt guilty that I have an untidy room. I tell myself it's okay. I can't be perfect in this area when I concentrate on the other. This is nothing more than a delusion. But of late, I have really tried to do some cleaning and have been successful. When the urge comes to clean, I drop all thoughts and start doing it. Otherwise, I would never do it.
I will try to understand in detail what Sri Aurobindo says about the triple process of Surrender. Thanks for the motivation, Vani :-)