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    Muzakra 22

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    Mansoor Ahmad
    1) Sloth is a vice that prevents spiritual perfection and leaves one vulnerable to enemies. To combat sloth, one must avoid useless entertainments and pursuits not focused on God. 2) It is necessary to have a fixed schedule for devotional service and not delay even for an instant, as delays can lead one to lose their opportunity for worship. 3) Sloth spreads its paralyzing effect over one's faculties and makes work seem loathsome. Constant remembrance of God through hearing, speaking, praying, service, and chanting satisfies God and draws His grace.

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    Muzakra 22

    Uploaded by

    Mansoor Ahmad
    24 views2 pages
    1) Sloth is a vice that prevents spiritual perfection and leaves one vulnerable to enemies. To combat sloth, one must avoid useless entertainments and pursuits not focused on God. 2) It is necessary to have a fixed schedule for devotional service and not delay even for an instant, as delays can lead one to lose their opportunity for worship. 3) Sloth spreads its paralyzing effect over one's faculties and makes work seem loathsome. Constant remembrance of God through hearing, speaking, praying, service, and chanting satisfies God and draws His grace.

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    MUZAKRA-22

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    1) Sloth is a vice that prevents spiritual perfection and leaves one vulnerable to enemies. To combat sloth, one must avoid useless entertainments and pursuits not focused on God. 2) It is necessary to have a fixed schedule for devotional service and not delay even for an instant, as delays can lead one to lose their opportunity for worship. 3) Sloth spreads its paralyzing effect over one's faculties and makes work seem loathsome. Constant remembrance of God through hearing, speaking, praying, service, and chanting satisfies God and draws His grace.

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    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    24 views2 pages

    Muzakra 22

    Uploaded by

    Mansoor Ahmad
    1) Sloth is a vice that prevents spiritual perfection and leaves one vulnerable to enemies. To combat sloth, one must avoid useless entertainments and pursuits not focused on God. 2) It is necessary to have a fixed schedule for devotional service and not delay even for an instant, as delays can lead one to lose their opportunity for worship. 3) Sloth spreads its paralyzing effect over one's faculties and makes work seem loathsome. Constant remembrance of God through hearing, speaking, praying, service, and chanting satisfies God and draws His grace.

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    of 2

    MUZAKRA – 22

    COMBATTING SLOTH

    SOUL: How hard do I have to work at spiritual life, my dear Lord?

    SELF: I am glad that you’ve asked this question, My friend. Actually, there’s no
    question of “How hard,” for however hard you try, you can never try hard enough. (Fa
    iza fraghta, fansab - Qur’an) It is extremely important to avoid laziness and to declare
    war on sloth. Sloth is a vice that not only prevents perfection; it also automatically
    delivers you into the hands of the enemy. If you are at all serious about defeating this
    enemy, you must begin by shunning all vain and useless entertainments, such as
    television and cinema, newspapers and useless novels, books and magazines. In fact, you
    have to withdraw your affections from all worldly things and avoid all pursuits that are
    not for Me.

    Remember: I am the still small voice within, and you should strive diligently to
    heed the inspirations to My voice. You may not know it, nor yet have sufficient faith to
    believe it, but I always speak for your benefit. You will always triumph, provided you
    listen carefully to Me and execute the orders of your God conscious superiors.

    For this reason, it is necessary to have a fixed schedule in devotional service. Do


    not hesitate – not even for an instant – in the execution of your service. One delay leads
    to another, and another, and then a third, and so on, until you finally lose your
    opportunity for worship altogether.

    People often become addicted to leading an easy life and avoiding work entirely.
    This addition is proportional to one’s indulgence in it. Finally, labour – even though
    service to Me – becomes so distasteful that one becomes lethargic to the point of
    uselessness. Who wants a useless servant? How can a master be pleased with and
    reward such a servant?

    SOUL: But, my Lord, it’s very difficult to shake off the lazy habits of a lifetime.

    SELF: You’re quite right. Sloth is very difficult to overcome. Often it does not
    disappear unless one is shamed by economic or social failure. Conversions occasioned
    by social or economic shame, however, are not as permanent as those occasioned by
    spiritual shame, resulting from realization of My displeasure.

    Furthermore, sloth is a poison that spreads its paralyzing effect over all the
    faculties of the soul. First, it infects the will, making work seem loathsome. Then it
    infects the intelligence, so that one’s resolutions to improve have no effect. What should
    have been done without delay is either totally neglected, or deferred to some indefinite
    future. Procrastination becomes your second nature. The conditioned soul promises,
    “Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow.” Unfortunately, tomorrow never arrives, for tomorrow
    always becomes today.
    SOUL: So I have to be quick. Isn’t that right, Lord?

    SELF: Not exactly. Mere swiftness of hands and feet is not enough. Things must
    be done at the proper time and at the proper place. Moreover, the proper consciousness
    must be employed. By this, I mean God consciousness – acting only for Me.

    For instance, an act, which is done without regard to its proper execution –
    performed only to avoid some threat of retribution, or to attain, some promised sense
    gratification – cannot be called either diligent or devotional.

    SOUL: What is the cause of such miscalculation, Lord?

    SELF: Usually, one has failed to appreciate the infinite value of a good work
    properly done for Me. Such a good act may completely nullify all the impediments that
    sloth can place before you.

    Think constantly of Me. Whether you hear about Me, tell others about Me,
    sincerely pray to Me, render some service to My sacred Deity, chant and recite My Holy
    Name, or in any other way remember Me – such loving service satisfies Me very much.

    On the other hand, I withdraw My graces from the soul who neglects My graces,
    and I give them more and more to him who is faithful in loving service to Me. Surely,
    such a devoted soul will enter into the joys of My Kingdom.

    SOUL:But I am so weak, Lord. How will I ever be able to manage this?

    SELF: In the beginning, you may find your own strength insufficient to face all
    the tribulations on the road to perfection. But be of good cheer. I am the Master not only
    of this world, but also of an infinite number of worlds, some higher and some lower.
    Gradually, you will acquire the habit of always calling upon Me in your times of trouble.

    Remember, I am the friend of My devotee and the protector of the surrendered


    soul. I will not fail you. I promise you this, for you are very dear to Me. Chant My Holy
    Name and be happy, My dear one.

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