Swami Venkatesananda

On Self effort (From Yoga Vasishta)

Sage Vasishta addresses Rama.

"Self-effort, Rama, is that mental, verbal and physical action which is in accordance with the instructions of a holy person well versed in the scriptures. 

It is only by such effort that Indra became king of heaven, that Brahma became the creator, and the other deities earned their place.

Self-effort is of two categories: that of past births and that of this birth. 

The latter effectively counteracts the former. 

Fate is none other than self-effort of a past incarnation. 

There is constant conflict between these two in this incarnation; and that which is more powerful triumphs.

Self-effort which is not in accord with the scriptures is motivated by delusion. 

When there is obstruction in the fruition of self-effort one should examine it to see if there is such deluded action, and if there is, it should be immediately corrected. 

There is no power greater than right action in the present. 

Hence, one should take recourse to self-effort, grinding one's teeth, and one should overcome evil by good and fate by present effort.

One should never yield to laziness but strive to attain liberation, seeing that life is ebbing away every moment. 

One who says "Fate is directing me to do this" is brainless and the goddess of fortune abandons him. 

Hence, by self-effort acquire wisdom and then realise that this self-effort is not without its own end, in the direct realisation of the truth.

If this dreadful source of evil named laziness is not found on earth, who will ever be illiterate and poor? 

It is because laziness is found on earth that people live the life of animals, miserable and poverty-stricken."

( Extract from "Yoga Vasishta" by Swami Venkatesananda)