A spiritual quest is a full-time commitment

 Whatever doubt may rise, it cannot rise without you, the one who rose first and who then only raised it. Therefore, the original doubt, namely that of not knowing who this "you" is, is alone the root of all doubts.

Sri Ramana Maharshi

 

I find people who demand that we monitor our thoughts and feelings on a 24/7 basis boring. They mean well, for sure, but I always ask in return, “who is it who wants to be in control of the observed self 24/7? It’s the spiritual ego, isn’t it?

 

Yet, there is something about being on our toes 24/7. It’s the ability to admit—often—I do not know what is going on here, so let me reflect on how I feel about it. Simply sitting there on the fence, doing nothing, neither saying yes nor no.

 

Mindfulness kicks in when we perceive to be leaning in a direction, towards the guru, against the temptations, etc. When we lean towards or shy away from Awareness cannot be in play. We always stand on both feet when Awareness is.

 

We cannot be God’s part-time lover. A spiritual quest is a full-time commitment, but we can be in doubt, until we ask who is in doubt, because that’s when the one who is in doubt starts dissolving. Doubt cannot withstand self-inquiry.