All I sense is that I, within myself, have sensitive physical, emotional, and mental weaknesses. How do I go on to develop the grantite Will because I “understand” the Problem intellectually, but what’s lacking is the Will in executing and clearing it. I have yet to read the chapter Sri Aurobindo wrote about the Purification of the Will in the Synthesis of Yoga. Please have a session on the ‘Cultivation of the Will’, if time and schedule permit. Thanks.
Yes the will is the most important element for success in any endeavour. It can be developed as we develop the muscles by training and sustained discipline. There are two main elements to this discipline. The first is to teach and train the mind to focus on the object or goal gradually increasing one’s concentration. It means not leaving any task that one has undertaken halfway, to do whatever we do with full awareness and concentration, not to give up whatever one has undertaken simply because of obstacles. The other aspect is to teach and train oneself into self-restraint. It means not to speak and act under an impulse, to allow a little pause before speaking anything, before doing anything. To learn to wait, to consciously cultivate patience, is part of this discipline. A sustained effort combining these two is bound to strengthen one’s will. The Mother explains.
‘Mother, how can one strengthen one’s will?
Oh, as one strengthen muscles, by a methodical exercise. You take one little thing, something you want to do or don’t want to do. Begin with a small thing, not something very essential to the being, but a small detail. And then, if, for instance, it is something you are in the habit of doing, you insist on it with the same regularity, you see, either not to do it or to do itโyou insist on it and compel yourself to do it as you compel yourself to lift a weightโit’s the same thing. You make the same kind of effort, but it is more of an inner effort. And after having taken little things like thisโthings relatively easy, you knowโafter taking these and succeeding with them, you can unite with a greater force and try a more complicated experiment. And gradually, if you do this regularly, you will end up by acquiring an independent and very strong will.’
Source: CWM Vol. 06: Questions and Answers (1954): November > 3 November 1954
Link: https://incarnateword.in/cwm/06/3-november-1954#p16
Above all we can ask from the Mother to strengthen our will. By Her Grace everything is possible.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
