Svadhyaya (Self-Study)--->Moksha

"If you examine yourself, you will see. There is beauty in the birds and in the animals. They too eat and drink like us, mate and multiply; but there is this difference: we can realize our true nature, the Atman [Self]. Having been born as human beings, we must not waste this opportunity. At least for a few seconds every day, we must enquire as to who we are. It is no use taking a return ticket over and over again. From birth to death, and death to birth is ‘samsara.’ But really we have no birth and death. We must realize that."

-Anandamayi Ma

Raga (Desire) and Shraddha (Faith)

 "The world is the Lord's. He created it for His own play. We are mere pawns in His game. Wherever He keeps us and in whatever way He does so, we have to abide by it contentedly."

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"The world is going on because not all can be free of desires. People with desires are born again and again."

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"It is best therefore to surrender all desires at the feet of God. He will do whatever is best for us. But one may pray for devotion and detachment. These cannot be classed as desires."

-Sarada Devi

🐜 Viveka - Discrimination 🦢

"Sugar and sand may be mixed together but the ant rejects the sand and eats the sugar. Similarly, pious men and paramahamsas (great yogis) reject the unreal (i.e.; lust and gold) and choose the Real (satchidaananda)."

-Sri Ramakrishna

Fleeting Mumukshutva (A Strong Desire for Liberation vs. Worldly Life)

Questioner: When I first started meditating I had an intense desire for liberation. This period lasted for 3-4 years. In the last twelve months my enthusiasm has been slipping. I now seem to be more and more content with my worldly life.

Annamalai Swami: The satisfaction which comes from the outside world is transient. At death it will all be lost. Human life is given to you for the sole purpose of realising the Self. If you die without realising the Self your life has been wasted. Death can come at any time. I am telling you this so that you will become aware of your own death. If you are constantly aware of the possibility that you may die at any moment, your enthusiasm will increase. Try to cultivate this awareness and see if it makes any difference to your sadhana.