No effort to apply these practices is wasted

One should not have any doubts about the benefits of applying these principles. Even if one lapses in his or her practice, just having the theoretical knowledge of these things puts you ahead of someone who only goes to a worship service to practice the rituals of faith. Any effort to diligently follow this path will result in a lasting force that will eventually propel you onward toward the ultimate goal. With earnest effort over many years you will find yourself purged of your karma and free to realize your oneness with God. That purified soul rises above all the mere practitioners when he or she continues to worship constantly with sincere belief and finally achieves union with God.

Those who believe in reincarnation are taught that anyone who strives to achieve union with God by living a virtuous life but fails to reach the ultimate goal will go to heaven and stay there for a long time before returning to earth. When that person is reborn it will be into a good and prosperous home where he or she will be encouraged to continue the quest for God realization.  If you practice long and hard enough you might be lucky enough to be born into a family of already enlightened parents, but that is rare and hard to obtain. That fortunate person will recall his or her former wisdom and be in an environment that will encourage even more earnest efforts than before.

Nothing bad comes from following a spiritual path

So what happens if you decide to follow this spiritual path, that you decide all the ego gratification and indulging yourself in sensual satisfaction really is no good, and you give it all up to practice the things that lead to union with God, but you find out you can’t do it?  What if you either quit practicing after a while or realize that you can’t control your mind and emotions well enough to make it to the ultimate goal?  Won’t you find yourself lost to both worldly pleasures and the promise of bliss with God? What then? Do you just perish like a cloud dissolved by the wind? Will you find yourself disillusioned by the quest for God and alone without support for either way of life, riddled with doubt? Rest assured that anyone who sincerely tried to apply these principles will not suffer a negative outcome. Whether in this world or the next, anyone who tries to do good and be good will not come to an evil end.

All this is hard and seemingly unnatural, but it can be done

All those great things like bliss and peace of mind are wonderful for those who have achieved union with God, but for the average person it seems impossible to get there. If even-mindedness under all circumstances is what it takes, most people would say that it can’t be done. The mind is restless by nature and is as hard to control as the wind. Indeed the undisciplined mind is restless and hard to control at first, but by steadily practicing meditation and non-attachment it can be done. In fact, if you persist in applying the proper methods and earnestly try to remain self-controlled, little by little you will undoubtedly succeed.

Once aware of your oneness with God, you are never separated

Whether in a human body or merged with the eternal Spirit after death, once united with God no one is ever separated.  Anyone who perceives God everywhere and sees that everything is a part of God will never be separated from that Holy Spirit again. That person feels the pleasure or grief of others as if it were his or her own.

God is everywhere and within everyone

The practice of meditation consists of withdrawing one’s consciousness from its attention to the senses and their contact with the things that stimulate them.  With patience, little by little, the mind becomes one-pointed and tranquil.  Then you can completely let go of any desires and expectations so you can identify with your inner soul-self. Whenever your mind wanders away, simply bring it back to rest in that calm identification with your true self. Anyone who masters this will be able to quell all passions and become united with God.  All sins fall away and one experiences the greatest joy.  That person sees the same image of God within everyone and everyone becomes a part of oneself.  God is everywhere and within everyone.

A description of union with God and how to get there

When your mind is completely under control and you turn it inward, devoid of attachment to any desire, towards the image of God within, your individual “self” beholds your true soul-self and it becomes satisfied.  That well-trained mind becomes as steady as a candle flame in a windless place.  Once your mind becomes fixed in that state, you will have achieved union with God.

            There is nothing else to achieve for yourself when you become completely established in that state of union.  You will be immune from even the worst possible grief. Nothing can upset you.  You will have awakened an intuitive intelligence about reality and you will experience an immeasurable bliss that far transcends any pleasure of the senses. You will have discovered the treasure of all treasures and you will never slip from that state again.  This pain-free state is achieved by resolutely practicing meditation and selfless service. Therefore, be determined and practice with a brave heart.