认为这个地球可以变得完美的想法，最终，是人类最大的幻觉之一
我有一次问上师，“先生，当我们进入到更高级的时代(yugas)之后，现在在地球上的人们会继续出生在这里吗?”
“不，”他回答到，“我说过在宇宙中有很多星球都住着人。当一个灵魂从星光界回到物质界时，有很多星球可以选择。它在哪里转世取决于其自身的灵性进展。”
他又挖苦地加了一句，“如果它们总是回到这里的话，它们或许早解脱了!”
对任何一个相信上帝渴望人类早日得救的人，这最后一句评论必然显得很奇怪。人们会想，如果祂爱我们，祂怎么会不想如此呢?不过，在这一点上，人对宇宙真相的感知需要扩展。真相是，宇宙是上帝设计的。他对我们的计划不是“早解脱”——
亦即
，意识到我们回归神性源头的需要，直到我们出于自由意志做出这一决定。
我们被给与了许多外在的刺激以鼓励我们寻求更高的实相。自然之美数之不尽。自然的秩序中有令人惊异的适应性和精密性:透露出一个宏大的引领的智能 存在。存在于人性中的令人鼓舞的品质，被敏感的人们察觉到时，他们会想要在自己身上发展这些品质。
在消极的方面，这些痛苦的刺激是一切世俗希望的重复破灭。人性中的不光彩属性，同样，使得任何高尚的人拒绝自己内在低下和丑陋的属性，并追求内在的灵性高度。
当然，也有许多的刺激是延续在幻象中的逗留。人类里面的神圣火花必须被他自己个人对真理的渴望所点燃，而不是被上帝存在的证据——那只会令心灵麻木。上帝希望每个个体只怀有对祂的渴望。救赎不是装在一个由微笑的天使端来的银盘里。每个人必须付出非凡的努力方配得到它。真理寻求者被要求的自我牺牲最终将被发现根本没有牺牲，而是完美极乐的永恒实现。不过，首先，人必须欣然接受的是，在这个世界上没有什么是值得追求的。
认为这个地球可以变得完美的想法，最终，是人类最大的幻觉之一。这个世界，只不过，是灵魂向上演化历程中途经的一所学校。如同任何一所学校，一个个体可能会“不及格”，向下降级在别处接受更低的教育，以便为了解生命的真相到底是什么打下更好的基础。
完美，换句话说，是一个学生应当追求的理想，而不是学校。如果这所学校， 我们的地球，以当前无法想象的方式，完成了它的教学目的，那只会意味着仍需教导的灵魂将不得不“转学”到别处。外在的改善永远不能保证一个个体出现相应的改善。终极而言，人的改善永远都取决于他是否认识到了自己需要进行改善。
隔绝
(seclusion，隔离，孤立，隐居)
，
是伟大的代价
“变得灵性并不容易，”上师有次说，“但是如果你遵循几条准则的话就会很容易。首先简化你的生活，然后与其他人保持某种距离，如果你想要找到神，不要过于参与到社交活动中。我自己极少与人打交道。当我独自一人时，我保持集中在自性里。‘隔绝(seclusion，隔离，孤立，隐居)，’我常对人们说， ‘是伟大的代价。‘
那是神的方式，用来让我们始终朝向他前进
我们在 SRF 和平岩壁(Pacific Palisades)的新建圣祠湖(Lake Shrine)的场地工作，为其宏大的公开开张做准备。有许多数不清小苍蝇在我们的头上嗡嗡个不停，准备钻到我们的眼睛，耳朵，鼻孔里。我恼怒地对上师说，“先生，我们把这里布置地这么漂亮，却不得不遭到这些害虫的搅坏，实在叫人遗憾!”
上师挖苦地评论道，“那是神的方式，用来让我们始终朝向他前进。”
——以上内容摘自《与尤迦南达的对话》
The thought that t
h
is
earth can ever be perfected
is
, f
inally, one of man’s greatest delusions.
I once asked the Master, “Sir, as we progress into the higher
yugas
[ages], will thepeople now on earth continue to be reborn here?”
“No,” he replied.“I’ve stated before that there are many populated planets in the universe. Whena soul returns from the astral world to the material plane, there are many planets available to it. Where it reincarnates depends on its own level of spiritual development.”
He added wryly,“If they always returned here, they might find out too soon!”
That last commentmust seem strange to anyone who imagines God as eager for man to be redeemed.And, man thinks, how could He not want that, if He loves us? In this perception too, however, man’s perception of the cosmic verities needs expansion. The truth is, the cosmos was designed by God. His plan was for us not to “find outtoo soon”—that is, realize our need to return to our Source in God until we decideto do so of our own free will.
Many incentives are given us, outwardly, to inspire us to seek a higher reality. There are Nature’s countless beauties. There is the amazing adaptability and precision evident in the natural order: the signs of a mighty, guiding Intelligence. And there are inspiring qualities in human nature, which sensitive people, as they become aware of them, want to develop in themselves.
On the negativeside, the incentives are suffering, and the repeated disappointment of allworldly hopes. The ignoble qualities in human nature, also, cause anyone of refinement to repudiate such qualities in himself as base and ugly, and to aspire to the spiritual heights within.
There are, of course, also many incentives for continuing to play in delusion. The divine spark within man must be kindled by his own personal longing for the truth, and not by mind-numbing proofs of God’s existence. The Lord wants each individual to desire Him alone. Salvation is not served on a silver platter by smiling angels.Each person must strive by arduous effort to become worthy of it. Theself-sacrifice demanded of those who seek truth is perceived at last as being no sacrifice at all, but the eternal fulfillment of perfect bliss. First,however, one must accept joyfully that nothing, anywhere in this world, exists that is worth the seeking.
The thought that this earth can ever be perfected is, finally, one of man’s greatest delusions.What this world is, simply, is a school through which the soul passes on its upward evolution. As in any school, one can also “flunk out” of it and move downward for lower education elsewhere, in order to become better grounded in what life is really all about.
Perfectionis
,
in other words,an ideal to be sought for the benefit of the students, not of the school. Were this school, our earth, to complete its educative purpose, by means at present unimaginable, it would mean simply that souls still in need of its instruction would have to be “enrolled” elsewhere. No outward improvement will ever guarantee a corresponding improvement of the individual. Ultimately, man’s betterment depends, always, on his own recognition of his need for it.
That is the Lord’sway of keeping us always moving toward Him
We were working onthe grounds of SRF’s newly acquired Lake Shrine in Pacific Palisades, gettingit ready for its grand public opening. There were numerous little flies buzzingaround our heads, getting into our eyes, ears, and nostrils. I exclaimed in exasperation to the Master, “Sir, here we have this beautiful setting. What a pity it is that it must be spoiled by such pests!”
The Master commented wryly, “That is the Lord’s way of keeping us always moving toward Him.”
Seclusion,is the price of greatness
“It is not easy to be spiritual,” the Master oncesaid, “but it is very easy if you will only follow a few rules. Begin by simplifying your life. Then, remain somewhat apart from others. If you want to find
——from
Conversations with Yogananda
