All who set their hands to the plough of inner spiritual life achieve a growth of faith. Perhaps this faith was in the beginning simply a seed of mere interest in self-improvement.

“True faith is not like a picture frame, a permanently limited area of acceptance. It is like a plant that keeps on throwing forth shoots and growing. All we require, at the beginning, is a seed. And the seed need be nothing more than a feeling of interest in spiritual life. Perhaps we read a passage in a book that moves us. Perhaps we meet someone who seems to have reached some degree of wisdom and tranquility through the practice of meditation and spiritual disciplines. We become interested and intrigued.” [1]

    It is natural to assume that the deep levels of yogic absorption require a development of mental strength that is beyond our capacity. For many, the enormity of the difficulties in normal life seems to demand all of the energy they possess. They conclude that to delve into the realms of samadhi requires superhuman strength, and therefore any attempt would be futile and a waste of precious time. Nevertheless, we innately possess an inner impulse that tells us that if we seek even the slightest inner growth with faith and devotion, some degree of success will come. After all, those whom we admire who possess spiritual stature are human and so are we. Maybe even the simplest practice of meditation would be the solution to our problems. We cannot be certain, but we do have faith and energy and perhaps just enough devotion that will set us on a path to success.

    Patanjali affirms this assumption as true in his Yoga Sutras:

         “The concentration of the true spiritual aspirant is attained through faith, energy, recollectedness, absorption and illumination.” [2]

   Earlier Patanjali stated that success in yoga comes gradually through a step-by-step progression from the beginning stages towards the final highest attainment. His wisdom directs us to possess faith, energy and devotion as the foundation upon which the illumination of Life is achieved:

“Success in yoga comes quickly to those who are intensely energetic.”

“Concentration may also be attained through surrender to Ishwara (God within Prakriti, manifested).”

“In Him (God) knowledge is infinite; in others it is only a germ.”

“The word which expresses Him is Om.”

“This word must be repeated with meditation upon its meaning.”

“Hence comes knowledge of the Atman and destruction of the obstacles to that knowledge.” [3]

   What Patanjali describes, is in Truth confirmed by Sri Ramana Maharshi in His declaration of Arunachala as the living embodiment of Divinity. Thus with the deepest devotion Bhagavan declared:

“Significance of Om, unrivalled, unsurpassed! Who can comprehend Thee, O Arunachala?” [4]

       “You are beyond the knowledge of all tattvas, all philosophies. You are only this, the Truth at once transcendent and immanent, you are my Arunachala.” [5]