Knowledge has to transform into wisdom and only then, it will bless you

I am still not clear; what makes it difficult for us to drop our past?
You have to observe the connection you have with your past. If you closely observe, it is only a habit of being connected to your past. You have drawn your identity from ignorance and are used to it. It is just a habit. Any habit is hard to give up. In the word ‘habit,’ remove the ‘h’ and ‘a bit’ remains. Remove ‘a,’ then ‘bit’ remains. Remove ‘b,’ ‘it’ remains. Remove the ‘i’, still ‘t’ remains. So remove the ‘I’

See the influence of the past on you; is it a friend or an enemy? Is it freeing you or binding you? See the foolishness of it and just renounce it.

Renouncing the past helps in relationships. Is this concept useful in relationships or is it more of a spiritual concept?
Spiritual concepts can be applied in our daily lives. In fact, it has to be applied to our daily lives. For example, if you visualise your wife from the past, then the past will pollute the present. The past should exist as a reference, but not as a limiting block. Your perception should be free to see her as she is, and not as she should be. This is possible only if you renounce your past. The changes in her would never be visible if you are operating from the past. Many relationships are messed up as they are controlled by the past.

Knowledge has to transform into wisdom and only then, it will bless you. For that to happen, you have to practice. But we are forgetful and hence we don’t practice. Self-remembering is the answer. In yoga, this is called atma-smaranam. So remember what you have to practice. Keep reminding yourself.

Managing Life Creatively — a two-day session by Swami Sukhabodhananda — will be held in Mumbai. Contact: 9821555134, 67693366. For details, visit www.prasannatrust.org