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Aspiration

With the clear perception of one’s own ignorance comes the desire for enlightenment; and thus in the heart is born Aspiration, the rapture of the saints.

On the wings of aspiration man rises from earth to heaven, from ignorance to knowledge, from the under darkness to the upper light. Without it he remains a grovelling animal, earthly, sensual, unenlightened and uninspired.

Aspiration is the longing for heavenly things: for righteousness, compassion, purity, love, as distinguished from desire, which is the longing for earthly things; for selfish possessions, personal dominance, low pleasures, and sensual gratifications.

As a bird deprived of its wings cannot soar, so a man without aspiration cannot rise above his surroundings and become master of his animal inclinations. He is the slave of passions, is subject to others, and is carried hither and thither by the changing current of events.

For one to begin to aspire means that he is dissatisfied with his low estate and is aiming at a higher condition. It is a sure sign that he is roused out of his lethargic sleep of animality and has become conscious of nobler attainments and a fuller life.

Aspiration makes all things possible. It opens the way to advancement. Even the highest state of perfection conceivable it brings near and makes real and possible; for that which can be conceived can be achieved.

Aspiration is the twin angel to inspiration. It unlocks the gates of Joy. Singing accompanies soaring. Music, poetry, prophecy and all high and holy instruments are at last placed in the hands of him whose aspirations flag not, whose spirit does not fail.

So long as animal conditions taste sweet to a man, he cannot aspire; he is so far satisfied; but when their sweetness turns to bitterness, then in his sorrow he thinks of nobler things. When he is deprived of earthly joy, he aspires to the Joy which is heavenly. It is when impurity turns to suffering that purity is sought. Truly aspiration rises, Phoenix-like, from the dead ashes of repentance, but on its powerful pinions man can reach the Heaven of heavens.

The man of aspiration has entered the way which ends in peace; and surely he will reach that end if he stays not nor turns back. If he constantly renews his mind with glimpses of the Heavenly Vision, he will reach the Heavenly State.

Man attains in the measure that he aspires. His longing to be is the gauge of what he can be. To fix the mind is to fore-ordain the achievement. As man can experience and know all low things, so he can experience and know all high things. As he has become human, so he can become divine. The turning of the mind in high and divine directions is the sole and needful task.

What is impurity but the impure thoughts of the thinker? What is purity but the pure thoughts of the thinker? One man does not do the thinking of another. Each man is pure or impure of himself alone.

If a man thinks, “It is through others, or circumstances, or heredity, that I am impure,” how can he hope to overcome his errors? Such a thought will check all holy aspirations and bind him to the slavery of passion.

When a man fully perceives that his errors and impurities are his own, that they are generated and fostered by himself, that he alone is responsible for them, then he will aspire to overcome them, the way of attainment will be opened up to him, and he will see whence and whither he is travelling.

The man of passion sees no straight path before him, and behind him all is fog and gloom. He seizes the pleasure of the moment and does not strive for understanding nor think of wisdom. His way is confused, turbulent, troubled; and his heart is far from peace.

The man of aspiration sees before him the pathway up the Heavenly Heights, and behind him are the circuitous routes of passion up which he has hitherto blindly groped. Striving for understanding, with his mind set on wisdom, his way is clear and his heart already feels a foretaste of the final peace.

Men of passion strive mightily to achieve little things—things which speedily perish, and, in the place where they were, leave nothing to be remembered.

Men of aspiration strive with equal might to achieve great things—things of virtue, of knowledge, of wisdom, which do not perish, but stand as monuments of inspiration for the upliftment of mankind.

As the merchant achieves worldly success by persistent exertion, so the saint achieves spiritual success by aspiration and endeavour. One becomes a merchant, the other a saint, by the particular direction in which his mental energy is guided.

When the rapture of aspiration touches the mind, it at once refines it, and the dross of its impurities begins to fall away; yea, while aspiration holds the mind, no impurity can enter it, for the impure and the pure cannot at the same moment occupy the thought. But the effort of aspiration is at first spasmodic and shortlived. The mind falls back into its habitual error, and effort must be constantly renewed.