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Growth Online		 Non-Initiating, Restraint
 		 Knowledge Base
by Roy Posner and MSS

Thoughts on Non-Initiating in Life
-One normally accomplishes by initiating an action. One can also accomplish by not initiating and taking action; i.e. by holding back. (It is a power afforded anyone; though those taking to the spirit are more likely to abide by it.) When to move and when to restrain ourselves is an important life skill that is spiritual in nature.

-Non-initiating in the right situation evokes powerful response from life. The same for initiating.

-Or to put it another way, we can initiate outwardly or inwardly. Initiating outwardly is to take outer action. Initiating inwardly is to have the intention but hold back the action. Taking the right action/inaction will put us rightly the flow of life, tending to elicit luck, i.e. sudden good fortune.

On Initiating
To respond to the outer event is to be human; to initiate inwardly without the outer occasion is to be the strong human who accomplishes without fail. To cease to initiate from inside and await the Divine Impulse from above is to be evolving according to HIS plan. (MSS, Growth Online)

Withholding Expression in a Great Project
I have been involved in a great project that is a once in a lifetime endeavor. I was participating intently and contributed a lot over the last several months. Then I got a little too involved, becoming tired, sometimes assertive and slightly argumentative. I decided at that point to withdraw from the discussion for several weeks. One of my partners then informed me that our schedule for implementation had now suddenly moved from several years to a few months! I was thrilled. Time and space had been overcome because I decided to withhold my thoughts and feelings. By withdrawing, I allowed more positive energy to build up to help others come up with the idea of putting things on a fast-track. When I learned of the new development, I was very gratified, even as I sensed my role in it. In this case then, it was a combination of shift in attitude, i.e. away from the negative, as well as withdrawing active involvement -- i.e.  initiating and intending -- which brought things to a greater stillness which attracted very positive conditions.

Restraint's Magnetic Power
When we exercise restraint and hold back from expressing a thought, idea, urge, or desire, we build up positive energies, which act like a magnet attracting positive conditions to our person. By holding still within, life marches toward us with positive circumstance, often fulfilling or far-exceeding our original physical, vital, or mental urge. Restraint is thus a primary psychological poise for success and fulfillment in life. It is also an expression of the Spirit, as we are Silent witness to life's unfoldings, mirroring that same poise of the Infinite consciousness and Source.

The Life Response Power of Restraint
One of the challenges of life is to know when to take a physical initiative, and when to hold back. Interestingly, when we restrain ourselves from taking outward action, we can attract results that are as great or greater than taking a physical initiative. Here is an example:

Recently I have been involved in the development of several online expert systems. One involves romance, another sales, a third, personal growth. It is the culmination of many years of research into the subtle workings of life that was begun by the multi-dimensional, spiritual genius Sri Karmayogi. In the early days of developing one of those systems, I had taken the initiative to read a book that contained highly relevant information for our project. A second stage was to organize all of my underlines, highlights, and notes so that the content could be used as the project moved forward. However, rather than take an outer, physical initiative, I decided to restrain myself and hold back. At that time, I sensed that doing so might attract positive results.

Well just after making this decision, I received a very unexpected note from the lead content developer who asked me to forward the name of the very book in question so he could use it for the system. Needless to say, I was stunned by this turn of events! I then realized that my earlier aspiration had come true, manifesting from the outside. That because I held back from taking further action, my associate came forward and essentially took up the work I intended to do myself. That is the life response power of restraint in life.

Normally, we believe that taking an outer action creates results. Of course, that is true. However, there is also a more subtle knowledge that non-action can also attract great benefit when applied in the right situation. Knowing the difference is to develop a great capacity and power over life.

It turns out that there is a spiritual principle behind this inner approach to accomplishment. Those who have come to spirit have recognized certain common experiences of consciousness -- including profound insight and Knowledge; a feeling of Oneness with others and the world; a dynamic, Creative urge; an inner swelling and feeling of Love; the experience of utter Joy and Delight, and several others. And yet behind these spiritual movements, there is another power -- not of action and movement -- bit of silence and stillness. It is the spiritual experience of 'Silent Witness.'

Consider the theory of creation. A universe of visible and invisible forms and forces took shape from a timeless, spaceless Being. And yet behind this unfolding there is a stability rooted in stillness and silence, standing back and observing Its creation. This silent, still Being is in fact the source of that which is created. It thus has a power to act and create, as well as to be silent, still, and hold back. It is the Creator's power of cosmic Action and of restraint as Silent Witness.

Well, it turns out that this same capacity is available to us. Through an inner poise of stillness and calm, we can silently observe the world, becoming still witness to life's current conditions. From there, we will know whether to act or to hold back. Because we are silent observer of the world, we develop the best instincts, enabling us to make right decisions that have the very best outcomes. In fact, they often come in the form of sudden good fortune -- i.e. life response -- which is what happened when I stood back and decided not to act, attracting my friend's own initiative and action.

The Power of Restraint in Small Moments

In the course of the day, there are countless opportunities to rail against those things we do not agree with or like. It could be another's behavior, a report in the newspaper, a comment from a tv reporter, or a remark by a friend, relative, or spouse. At each point we refrain from reacting, we take a powerful step in consciousness. Through non-reaction, we block the release of negative energies, and set loose positive ones that attract good fortune.

It is at this crucial crossroads moment, when our vital being want to lash out and react, that we can practice stillness and inner restraint. It is in that moment that we can feel calm in our heart and emotions, letting the potential antagonist vibration move on. It is an indicator that we are building up inner strength and spiritual power; for the first law of spirit is stillness and being, in which we silently observe the world without reacting to alluring stimuli, particularly those that rub our sensitivities the wrong way. All progress then begins with these small moments, which we can then build upon to change the lower part of our nature.

 

Restraint's Magnetic Power

When we exercise restraint and hold back from expressing a thought, idea, urge, or desire, we build up positive energies, which act like a magnet attracting positive conditions to our person. By holding still within, life marches toward us with positive circumstance, often fulfilling or far-exceeding our original physical, vital, or mental urge. Restraint is thus a primary psychological poise for success and fulfillment in life. It is also an expression of the Spirit, as we are Silent witness to life's unfoldings, mirroring that same poise of the Infinite consciousness and Source.

 

Non-initiating vs. The Secret

Q: You say that controlling our urges, desire to act, i.e. non-initiation conserves energy and attracts what we want towards us. But the book 'The Secret' says that the process of creation works in three steps: ask, believe and receive. In the third step, we should pay attention to our inner urges and 'act' on them otherwise we cannot manifest what we want in the physical world.  Now this is contrary to the advice, non-initiation, that is advocated by you. 

A: Both methods are completely valid. The Secret's method of intention is perfect for the average person. Understand and visualize what you want, ask for it, believe in the results, and receive it. It is to a large degree the universal process of creation and accomplishment in action. Like following this process for ourselves, the Divine followed this process in extending Itself to create a universe of forms. In this way, infinite results are made possible out of nothing through a process of intention, will, manifestation.

Non-initiation is for the person somewhat more developed in consciousness. That individual uses inner silent power to attract things to him. The Spirit's first poise before creation is Stillness, Stability, and Silent Witness. Non-initiating is one form of that for the individual. (Silent Will, soft speech, non-reaction are several others.) That approach also attracts. E.g. the yogi on the mountain sits in utter silence for hours if not days, focuses his mind on a thing, and it occurs shortly thereafter. He has taken no action. The urge of an intention is hardly there. Yet, through non-initiation and restraint, life responds overwhelmingly. He has built up powerful inner energies of Silence that attract.

The Secret has one central method for attracting; i.e. to accomplish the object of one's desire. But there are many ways to attract. E.g. increased -- psychological strength, cleanliness, reversing negative attitudes (a big one!), the silence methods mentioned above, and so forth. Depending on your level of consciousness, you have a myriad of inner methods at your disposal. Also, we do not have to attract for the purpose of accomplishing a particular thing, but simply to have the world continually operate in our favor. Beyond that, we can surrender to the Divine, and through these and other methods -- particularly consecration -- life conspires to work in Its favor through us. All of these are forms of Attraction.

 

Power of Withholding a Helpful Knowledge

When you refrain from relaying a knowledge that would be helpful to them -- knowing full well that silence compels life to strengthen that truth -- soon after that person will be acting on that very thing on their own. E.g. one man refrained from conveying the fact that new jobs were suddenly available in the healthcare field, only to see the other person suddenly applying for such a job, even though she had not taken any related action in months. It is an example of the power of "Silent Will;" i.e. refraining from speaking out one's thoughts.

 

On Giving Advice

-It is best to avoid giving advice to others unless it is asked for, or otherwise called for.

(Almost immediately after jotting this down while on the street, two men came up to me and asked for directions. I then happily gave them an answer, which was in essence my 'advice.'  It turned out to be just the right instance to give advice; i.e. when others ask for it! I then also understood that when one focuses on a truth of life, life gives one the opportunity to demonstrate it.)

 

Not Butting In Attracts Benefit from Them

If you restrain yourself from butting into a stranger's conversation, they or a related party will soon reveal things that are of real benefit to you. It is the power of Being, not acting, that attracts.

 

Results of Waiting for Life to Come, Instead of Initiating

The Spirit-oriented individual does not tend to initiate action. He waits for life to come to him. And when it does, he responds spontaneously with all his power, generating an outcome that is very often of the very highest order.

 

Non-initiating vs. The Secret
Q: You say that controlling our urges, desire to act, i.e. non-initiation conserves energy and attracts what we want towards us. But the book 'The Secret' says that the process of creation works in three steps: ask, believe and receive. In the third step, we should pay attention to our inner urges and 'act' on them otherwise we cannot manifest what we want in the physical world.  Now this is contrary to the advice, non-initiation, that is advocated by you. 

A: Both methods are completely valid. The Secrets method of intention is perfect for the average person. Understand and visualize what you want, ask for it, believe in the results, and receive it. It is to a large degree the universal process of creation and accomplishment in action. Like following this process for ourselves, the Divine followed this process in extending Itself to create a universe of forms. In this way, infinite results are made possible out of nothing through a process of intention, will, manifestation.

Non-initiation is for the person somewhat more developed in consciousness. That individual uses inner silent power to attract things to him. The Spirits first poise before creation is Stillness, Stability, and Silent Witness. Non-initiating is one form of that for the individual. (Silent Will, soft speech, non-reaction are several others.) That approach also attracts. E.g. the yogi on the mountain sits in utter silence for hours if not days, focuses his mind on a thing, and it occurs shortly thereafter. He has taken no action. The urge of an intention is hardly there. Yet, through non-initiation and restraint, life responds overwhelmingly. He has built up powerful inner energies of Silence that attract.

The Secret has one central method for attracting; i.e. to accomplish the object of ones desire. But there are many ways to attract. E.g. increased -- psychological strength, cleanliness, reversing negative attitudes (a big one!), the silence methods mentioned above, and so forth. Depending on your level of consciousness, you have a myriad of inner methods at your disposal. Also, we do not have to attract for the purpose of accomplishing a particular thing, but simply to have the world continually operate in our favor. Beyond that, we can surrender to the Divine, and through these and other methods -- particularly consecration -- life conspires to work in Its favor through us. All of these are forms of Attraction.

 

From the Liberty of Ego to the Infinite Power of Self-Restraint

One of lifes blessings is that we are endowed with full freedom to act. Thus, Human Choice, not fate, nor karma can ultimately determine events. Yet if we were to look closely, we would see that three quarters of our actions are based on ego movements; on initiatives that are wholly self-serving. Sri Karmayogi calls this the Liberty of ego. We have the freedom of choice to determine the outcomes of life, but we abuse it through self-absorbed initiatives based on urge, compulsion, or other willful action that are self-aggrandizing. These in turn do not garner lifes cooperation, but their opposite, attracting negative conditions back to us. Yet if in these instances we simply restrained ourselves and held back our action, life would constantly conspire in our favor.

In Jane Austins Pride and Prejudice, like most great literature, we see several examples of this phenomenon. One is Mrs. Gardners restraint in speaking to Eliza about Darcy at a particularly sensitive moment. Rather than raise the issue, she shows sensitivity and refrains from expressing her thoughts in deference to Elizas difficult relationship with Darcy. She in essence avoids an ego movement, moving outward to embrace the concerns and interests of another person. As a result, life supports her non-initiative when soon after Darcy and Eliza come to an understanding, fall in love and marry -- bringing great happiness to the couple, while energizing both families to no end. Life has responded to Mrs. Gardeners non-egoistic restraint.

On the other hand, Elizas mother Mrs. Bennet has no personal control; is constantly acting from self-interest and self-concern. Because she lacks restraint, her unflagging initiating and meddling continually backfires on her and her family. If only she stood back, looked outward from within, and restrained herself, life would have quickly brought her everything she hoped for -- including the marriage of her daughters to prosperous young bachelors, and without the travail and pain the family was forced to suffer through. Instead, her ego-oriented initiatives almost lead to its ruination.

It turns out that she is just an exaggerated version of every one of us. We too subconsciously engage in acts that serve our ego. If we could catch ourselves and suspend such actions, we would conserve energy, which would in turn attract positive conditions.

Practically speaking, each time we feel the urge to send a note, or forward a picture, or speak to a friend or colleague, we should ask ourselves whether this is a wholesome, fully positive activity, or is it being undertaken to tickle our ego; for the purpose of self-aggrandizement? E.g., are we tacitly seeking the approval of others? Are we hastily reacting and trying to assert our opinion? Are we looking to express our contempt for another in a backhanded way? Are we selfishly trying to gain benefit? And so forth, ad infinitum. If ego, self-aggrandizement, and selfishness is in any way behind our intention, we should refrain from acting. We will avoid the negative, while attracting the very best of conditions.  

When we restrain ourselves this way, we build up positive energies that align with the very best corresponding conditions in the world. We essentially move from the local, ego plane to the universal, where our hopes and dreams are fulfilled. Considering that three quarters of our actions consciously or unconsciously issue from the ego motive, it would be well worth examining every action we take to determine whether or not our intent is wholesome. If we avoid initiating when ego is present, we can avoid difficulties, while attracting startling positive results.

Ultimately, we can move toward the elimination of ego itself. That takes resolve, usually reserved for those who are on willing to follow a path of conscious evolution -- i.e. yoga in the East. To dissolve ego, one begins by moving away from the surface of life, where our consciousness is seperative, and find a still and silent soul space within. From there our intentions tend to be in harmony with the world outside ourselves. From there, there is little need to initiate or take action, as what we aspire for tends to rapidly come to fruition.

Non-Initiating Draws Response by the Force
Life Responses as a result of our NOT taking initiatives will be initiated by the Force of Mother.

On Initiating and Non-Initiating
The normal man needs to initiate to accomplish. The spiritual man always waits for life's indicators. Then he either acts outwardly, acts inwardly, or forgets the matter intentionally. In all cases, we tend to gain the cooperation of life.

Self-Restraint
Man has not yet acquired the very first discipline of psychological growth : self-restraint. Ones character and values are known by the level of their self-restraint and its absence. (MSS)

From Self-Initiation to the Spirit Initiating
Man thinks and acts, sometimes acts on impulse. In either case, he initiates an act. To allow the Spirit to act through him, he has to sacrifice his capacity for initiation. One who sacrifices all his initiatives - is a yogi. (MSS)

Untitled
When you refrain from giving someone more details, out of concern for his time or well-being, he asks for it thereafter nevertheless. It is an example of the process and results of not initiating; or of withholding speech of thought.

Action Moved by Silence
The highest desirable action is the non-action of the body or vital or Mind.
A higher action is that which is moved by that Silence.
The Divine enjoys that action in which Silence is Silent and active. (MSS)

Not Taking Initiative Attracts Greatly for Spiritual Devotees
To those who have become devotees of The Mother or who have ardently taken to invoking the Spirit, one of the disciplines is NOT to take initiative to secure what is due to them. When the human desists from human initiative, the Divine takes its INITIATIVE. (MSS)

Our Initiative vs. God's Initiative

Q: A reader asks: If all initiatives are egoistic from the spiritual perspective, then why did God take the initiative to start the creation?"

A: First of all the divine is not attached to his manifestation like we are to our initiatives and possessions. When we take an initiative we act impulsively like we cannot refrain from taking that initiative. The initiative gets the control over us and we are not in control anymore. In Pride and Prejudice Collins could not control himself from proposing to Lizzy and neither could Darcy restrain himself from Proposing to Lizzy though a part of his own personality questioned the wisdom of proposing to somebody with inferior social connections. Lydia could not control her desire to run away with Wickham and Caroline could not control her impulse to tease Darcy about Lizzy.

This uncontrollable urge to take initiative is a human trait but the divine is totally free of it. What we get out of a successful initiative is a paltry satisfaction while what God gets is a divine delight which is far superior to human satisfaction. How can any human being tell God that he does not have the right to enjoy his divine delight by engaging in manifestation? It is not like if he has to cancel his manifestation he will become unhappy and lonely and therefore he maintains his creation so that he will have company. Whether his manifestation is there or not, his Ananda remains the same while we become sad and disappointed if we are told to cancel our initiatives.  (MSS)

Non-initiating and Silent Will
Non-initiating (or initiating inwardly) is a form of Silent Will. It is Silent Will towards action at the physical/life plane.

See Thoughts on Silent Will

Non-Initiative
 The ego is an organization of consciousness that enables the individual to gather personal experience and organize knowledge from it. It creates a center of concentration with sufficient intensity for the universe to evolve through it. That which is greater than the ego sense is referred to by "The Secret'' as the universe. In the measure the individual suspends the action of his ego, the universe is able to act. When the individual takes external initiative to accomplish, the response of the universal is minimal. When the individual refuses to take initiative and invokes the universal consciousness to act, the response is maximum.

A Dutch youth on a spiritual quest realized the value of education and took a degree at the age of 40. Many years later he went on to take an M.B.A. Out of idealism, he offered voluntary service to a distinguished international academic organization. After about ten years of such service, he was made an Associate Fellow, an honor he had never imagined possible. He was devoid of ambition and only wanted to give. His mentor proposed that he take a Ph.D. so that he might eventually qualify to become a full Fellow in the organization. As a person who does not know his own inner potential, he found the proposal intimidating. After hesitating for years, he finally consented to register for Ph.D. and spent over a year preparing his proposal. Before he even submitted the proposal, he was unexpected elected as a Fellow of the organization. His emotional willingness brought the result even before he began to act.

When the results we seek are far beyond out present capacities and resources, but the intensity of our aspiration is sufficiently great, life waits for us to give up striving for the result and then suddenly presents us with all the necessary conditions for accomplishment. This process is dramatically illustrated by events in a sequel to Alexander Dumas' The "Three Musketeers''. After the execution of the English king Charles I by Cromwell, Charles' son escapes to Holland where he lives in exile, impoverished and without a following. Ten years later Cromwell dies and there is a fight for succession. Young Charles II sees his last hope of regaining the throne. He travels to France incognito to seek money or troops from young Louis XIV with which he can attempt to regain power. When Louis refuses him, he falls into despair and abandons any hope of restoring the monarchy in England. Within a few hours of his meeting with Louis, he has a chance encounter with a French courtier from whom he learns that the exact sum of money he sought to launch a campaign was hidden by Charles I before his death and is now available for his son. Within a month of these events, Charles II regained the throne of England without even having to expend that money. When the last hope is lost, one exhausts his efforts and forgets it. Forgetting the goal is to withdraw one's own mental influence, allowing the universe to accomplish in one's life as it chooses without the limitations of our egoistic understanding. (MSS)

Not Taking Initiativeus"> is Acting Inwardly
 Question: How can not taking initiative improve success? If I want to start a company, I should learn all about the industry, the products, build an organization, look for an office etc. In other words, act and prepare for the accomplishment I seek.

Answer: When we say not-taking initiative, we mean acting inwardly rather than acting outwardly. Initiative is necessary. Initiative means to direct and exert one's energy. The greatest results come when you direct your energies inwardly in intense aspiration. Then the knowledge you need comes to you unasked or with minimum effort and the right people and circumstances come. The universe moves toward you. In practice, when we aspire for something very intensely, it is difficult not to take action. In the measure you can redirect the energy inward toward elevating your attitudes, the result will be greater. Outer initiative works -- when the inner is prepared or it can help prepare the inner. But inner initiative works much better.

Initiating, Tending to a Work vs. Allowing it to Blossom on its Own through the Force
Work must be attended to, not left to itself. Any work left to itself is sure to be spoiled. Man is greater than the drifting Time. Man has risen above life and conquered it. He has in him an expertise which no one on earth other than MAN himself enjoys. He must bring himself to bear upon the situation, let his personality impact on the work at hand. Then it turns out to be a good work.

This is no great wisdom, but simple common knowledge as it is a daily occurrence.

In this sense, Man is an achiever, as he has skill. There are other times, of course, rarely when we do witness a work rising to great proportions which we are incapable of when we leave it to itself, not meddle into it by our human interference. This happens when the hour is great and carries the work in its hands of benevolence.

At such moments, we say, "None of these things were on the agenda. It all happened by itself. Had I planned, I would not have thought of it on this scale as it was nowhere on my mind.'' There are people of luck. There are lucky periods which are determined to raise our lives high. We generally resist such moves successfully. Should we choose not to interfere, or should we find ourselves helpless to stop the movement of affairs, life ushers us into luck.

Such a thing happens to ALL who are in touch with this Force I speak of invariably. Even outside this Force, such a MOMENT comes to all those people who are pious in the real sense of the word, who are optimistic, who are good-natured, in the right sense of the word. Anyone can recall a few incidents in their own lives or experience. (MSS)

The Inner Voice that does Not Ask for Anything
The inner voice is also known as asariri, vani. It is that inner voice which brought Sri Aurobindo to Pondicherry. Mahatma Gandhiji relied on the inner voice which is the reason stalwart leaders submitted to him.

The inner voice in a man rises when he accepts what comes to him and ceases to desire for anything. In that sense, we can say the penultimate step to inner voice is NOT to seek for anything, not even moksha [liberation in spirit] or God. Not to ask for anything is not to rely on men or circumstances.

One comes to a status when his own inner Spirit moves the outer events and it is then he ceases to ask. (MSS, extracted)

 

Consciously Abridging Time
 Because I had problems with Internet communication on my computer the other day, I had a little extra time on my hands. I then thought that rather than waste it, why not take care of one of the items on my long-term agenda -- upgrading the memory on my computer.

When I arrived at the service area at the local electronics superstore, I was greeted by four individuals in line ahead of me. Though that might not seem so bad, consider the fact that they were there to have their laptop computers serviced, and at the time, there were only two technicians on duty. Since each customer took ~15-20 minutes to service, I was looking at a half hour or more wait. I had been on this slow moving service department line before, and I had seen the look on the faces of the people ''patiently" waiting. Well this time it was no different, as the person in front of me had that same silent, but frustrated look.

Because I had lost landline DSL connection to the Internet, I was forced on that day to use a wireless Wi-Fi connection at McDonald's and Starbucks. Now as I stood in this slow moving line, I thought that rather than stand around nervously for half hour waiting for my turn, I could make use of the wireless service that might be available in the store. And so I pulled out my computer from its case, and awakened it from sleep mode. I then discovered that a free Internet connection was indeed available in the store. However, when I tried to connect to that Wi-Fi service, it did not work. And yet when I put the computer back in its case and looked around, I noticed that the line in front of me had suddenly moved two spaces. That normally would have occurred over 15 minutes, but instead it happened in fewer than 5. I then understood that because I shifted my attention away from the ''problem" of the line, life responded and moved it along overcoming the duration of time.

Now I sensed I was in one of those moments where I had the presence of mind to overcome and master life's conditions. Taking that cue, a moment later I made the conscious decision to give up all concern about the lengthy wait. As a result, the line moved again two places in less than 5 minutes. When I was then called to be serviced, I had in essence been served in less than 10 minutes, when it would ordinarily take 30 or more.

When I first explained my need to the technician, he said that the added memory could be installed within two or three hours. I thought that was too long, and asked him if it could be done sooner. Sensing my time constraints, he then said his tech people could do it in 45 minutes. I thought that was fine. I could after all go out to get something to eat and return in the allotted time.

He then told me it would cost around $140 for 1GB of memory, which was the maximum additional amount my computer could hold. After filling out the paperwork, I was prepared to leave, but then stopped myself from assuming that our communication was over. As a result, I held my ground and waited for him to speak. He then proceeded to tell me that if a technician didn't return within the next ten minutes, he would install the memory himself. I naturally accepted this new course of action.

Now sensing that time was disappearing before my very eyes, I again held myself back from rushing off. He then said he wanted to check the memory configuration in my computer before he did the work. After a quick check, he told me that the computer would only take a 2gb chip, not a 1gb one, though either way it would only add 1gb of usable memory to the system. For a moment, I thought that would mean that the price would now double, but he surprised me by saying that it would cost less for the 2gb chip because it was on sale! Thus, my bill now went down by nearly $50, despite the fact that I used a bigger chip. In the back of my mind, I thought that small wonders were rapidly accumulating through my conscious effort.

When I then finally went off for the allotted 10-minute period, I came upon and watched a beautiful video on one of the flat-panel TVs called 'Above California.' When I arrived, the film was just showing my favorite spot in the state -- Mt. Shasta, the 13,000-foot snow-capped cylindrical peak in the north. I saw that as a good omen now, even as I have often thought of Shasta peak as a symbol of ultimate aspiration in life, including my own. Feeling light, lilting, and joyous because of all these events, I then returned to the technician who was in the process of completing the installation for me. At that point, I did not want to force the conclusion of the transaction, for I knew that right inner attitude could attract additional small miracles.

A few minutes later, the transaction was completed and I got the additional memory that would speed up my computer. In addition, I was equally happy because a potential half hour or more wait in line had been cut by over 75%; that an originally proposed 2 to 3 hour installation was reduced to a mere 10 minutes; and that my bill was substantially reduced from the original quote. I clearly perceived that it had all happened because I made conscious use of time through efforts of inner detachment, calm, and patience at various points along the way. It was a powerful reminder that if we make use of our inner power, time will shift from being an obstacle and adversary to becoming an ultimate instrument and ally.

Various Planes of Consciousness through which We Can Initiate an Action
The initiative to this life can be done at various levels based on the personality.
1. Relying on Consecration to Mother preceding every act is yogic method.
2. Relying on collective rational thought without superstitious irrationality is mental method.
3. Being expansive and self giving in all acts is vital method.
4. Relying on perfection in all efficient skills is physical method. (MSS, paraphrase?)


TO BE CATEGORIZED
 

Non-Initiating

Taking Initiative vs. Restraint in Spiritual Life

Normal life requires initiative; spiritual life, restraint. Some of us are in between, meaning there is a blend of the two. It depends on your current level of inner power. I personally initiate, but I also consecrate "Thy Will Be Done." Thereby I receive signals what I should do or not do. Some things I have initiated should have been restrained. When I shift to restraint on these, I sometimes get very positive results. So life, Mother is giving me a signal here. Now I continue along that line. This is one dynamic I follow. Beyond this is Surrender to the Divine to be an instrument of what She wants, not what I want.

 

Human and Cosmic Initiative

On Cosmic and Human Initiative, Creation

The starting place of initiative is Real idea. The outcome is creation. There is nothing in the Universe without initiative. Universe took initiative to create human beings. It is the turn of human beings to initiate the inner journey towards evolution. The beauty here is to shift our initiative as Divine initiative. That is Consecration. (Karmayogi)

 

From Human to Life-Based to Divine Initiative

In ordinary life, taking initiative is key to success. Knowing what we want, having the will to achieve it, organizing the details, and executing. If we follow that process, we succeed, depending on our effort, level of skills, perseverance, attitude, etc.

In a more conscious life, we do not follow this process outwardly. Instead we restrain ourselves from taking outer effort. Then life comes to us directly, or gives us the signal of what to do or not to do.

For those who surrender to the Mother, there is an added dimension, as we refrain from all initiative, except what the Divine indicates for us. I.e. we continually consecrate the details of our lives, offering them to the spiritual Force, the Divine Mother, and we watch how she responds, including non-response, and then act (or do not act) accordingly.

We can thus see three levels here. Ordinary Life where we take initiative. Restraint and following the flow of life to determine the signals of how to act. And an existence where we surrender to the Divine and wait on its response to take action. In the latter, there is greatest power of Truth, Success, and Power over life. It is Supramental in nature.

For the individual on the Path, it would be best if there were a progressive movement upwards amongst these levels of relating to initiative in life.

 

 

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