Simplicity means reduction of our needs to the minimum extent possible. A complex life is one where we need many things. A simple life is where we don't need so many things. So we have to try to become simple in our attitudes, simple in our needs, simple in our life.

Love and Death, p. 105-07

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One reason I gave that idea that the Master is my heart, not just somebody who resides in the heart, is precisely to bring back this idea of freshness, of innocence, of beauty, of truth, of simplicity, of charity, of compassion, all that is associated with the heart. I am also tempted to say that the heart can beat—must beat. It must beat. Without the heart beating there can be no circulation. It is not only a joke, it has some meaning, too. Because if the heart does not beat we cease to exist. So the heart must beat from inside, not from outside. So we have to use our self to discipline our own self. Discipline essentially must come from inside. The great difference between Eastern, or rather Sahaj Margian, idea of discipline, which my Master has given us and the normal understanding of discipline is, that one is enforced by external authority; the other is created from inside by our Self, out of love for that Self, understanding that discipline means survival. Discipline means survival of the highest nature in beauty, in bliss, in an understanding of truth, in a perception of reality, in omnipotence of existence, in an all pervasiveness of influence.

Principles Vol 12, p. 261-263

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So, we have to be what we have to be irrespective of what others are. It is no use being patient with good people and then becoming impatient with impatient people. Or honest with the honest people and dishonest with dishonest people. We must remember, like water is to water to the criminal, to the saint, the rose is a rose to everyone, it cannot be a rose in the hands of a saint, and jasmine in the hands of a woman and a stone in the hands of a sinner. So when we have developed our character through spiritual practice with the Master's help, we must be constant in our behaviour. It cannot change according to circumstance. It cannot change according to situations. That is why character must be at the highest level of development, a shining out of your inner light….that light is brighter the darker it becomes. Our character must be like that. The more the problems outside, the stronger we must become. The more abusive the other people become, the more patient we have to become.

SRCM Inst. Patience, p. 56

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Discipline! What is discipline but a way of life? Discipline is not something which is enforced on you. You see, there are two ways of discipline. One is regulatory, official discipline. “Drive on the right. Follow the speed limit. Don't enter, and no entry, etc.” These are regulatory, imposed restrictions which you have to…obey. You have no choice. People confuse this with a different sort of obedience which must come from inside, out of recognition that, if I do not follow this discipline, I shall lose my way. Very much like if you don't follow the road signs you are losing your way….So, discipline says, “Stick to the way. Follow the rules.” For whose benefit? For your benefit.

Heart to Heart Vol V, p. 494-495 

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A sleeping person may scratch himself without knowing what he is doing, or roll on a mosquito and kill it without knowing what he is doing, or have nightmares which he cannot control. But a waking person is not supposed to behave without the ability to control himself or herself. This is discipline. The ability to regulate your own life to your own best possible interest, so that you can reach a specified goal of evolution, is discipline. Discipline does not mean going to the right or to the left, smoking or not smoking….Discipline means, am I living in the only way possible in which I can evolve?

Heart to Heart Vol V, p. 541

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So you see, we need all these attributes, human attributes, there are nothing divine in these attributes. But without these human attributes of patience, perseverance, faith, love, devotion, and mostly love and discipline, where each balances the other. Love balancing a discipline preventing it from deteriorating into gross misuse of power and authority. Discipline balancing love from degenerating into mere mushy nonsensical emotionalism. These are the human, absolutely human behavioural characteristics we need, attributes that we need, before we can embark on the voyage of becoming divinised. And, until these attributes are able to be seen in abhyasi, believe me, his journey has not yet begun.

Master's Talk at Hyderabad on 5th January 2003, p. 4

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