August 6, 2023
"Does hope bring about positive attitude or approach to meditation in the practitioner?" asked a young man who is involved in the practice of meditation. Naturally, if there was no hope of gaining peace of mind, happiness, freedom from pain and suffering were some sort of inner experience, we might not undertake to practice yoga at all! But, as long as that hope is there there is no hope of attaining any of these. Hope promotes duality. It chases its own goal which runs away, leading to frustration. Unable to face this frustration hope may even experience what it hoped for. Because such experience is shadow without substance it vanishes soon leaving a deeper sense of frustration.
Hope may lead to frustration or, what is worse, imaginary attainment of the hoped-for goal. Our concept may itself shine as the reality it symbolizes. When these errors arise, there is restlessness within oneself once again. The self is never deceived.