When, by the infusion and integration of the self into the Self, we reach a point of less and less attachment, this is the gaining of Self-mastery. This then becomes freedom from desire for what is seen or heard or felt.

The waves of the mind flow in one of two ways, either toward the objective world and increased bondage, or away from the objective world toward liberation. Most of humanity flows toward the objective world and increased desires. These are valid reasons why it is said that the path of virtue is virtually impossible, because the attempt at sterile effort to be good at all costs results in a far greater cost than most are able to support on a physical level. Therefore, we are faced with repeated failures and mental confusion. The attempt to control the thought waves of desire calls for greater mental capacity than we can exercise. Yet, at all times, we should exercise discipline against desires lest they run rampant and cause our life to be non-productive and often destructive. One important thing to consider is that when such a thought enters the mind, let it be a release of a thought; do not cognize the thought and give it unnecessary power. This is why, as we go along the path of spiritual development, if we from time to time stumble and fall, we then pick ourselves up and go forward. We don't give up in despair. The Spirit is always willing and strong - it is the body that is weak. When we pick ourselves up and press on, we then discover that we are not falling as often as we did. We are now developing skill in action and we are growing stronger daily. No failure is ever a total failure, unless we allow it to be so. The object is to continue to move ever forward.

With the development of our inner and subtle resources, such as the development of discrimination, we slowly gain control over our thoughts and we begin automatically to perfom right action. Thought and speech now become easier and natural. Due to our continued development we learn what desires lead us toward freedom and what desires lead us to further bondages, and the latter we avoid. Under normal activities of life, decisions are relatively easy, but under pressure, stress and excitement we are put to the critical test. It is then that we fall back and rely on our inner strength and inner development to see us through.

Non-attachment is not an overnight achievement and we should never delude ourselves that it is. However, at the beginning of our practice of Transcendental Meditation we find a new inner calm and peace we never had before. The mind under stress and strain does not function well and when we experience a crisis period in our life, that is when we fully appreciate the inner calm and peace that we now have.

The cross of suffering, at one time or another, comes to most of us and by our degree of non-attachement is the degree to which we suffer. As we grow in non-attachment, the soul also grows in greatness and in power. Then, when in the course of human events, we come face to face with our own cross we are able to carry our cross and face the ordeal that lies ahead. The lesson of the cross can come in many ways, yet the end result is always the same - success or failure.

Many feel that non-attachment is gained by adopting an attitude of indifference to activity. This does not work. Non-attachment is the ability to be in activity and yet be in complete separation from the activity. Non-attachment is gained by infusion of purity into our physical mind and body. Then non-attachment becomes automatic to where our nature is an expression of pure love. In this expression of divine love we now love people for what they really are, rather than on the basis of selfish love and selfish desires. When we begin to love humans for what they are, we love the Atman in them, which is their true inner nature. The fulfillment of non-attachment sets up a condition in the mind that allows the mind full cognition of any situation that arises and then, thru sustained peace and calmness and increased intelligence, to make a constructive decision and yet not be bound by the action. It is like a line drawn on water; there is no lasting impression on the mind.

So, non-attachment is achieving mostly of the Self and freedom from binding desires that arise through the senses. Even so, human love is a limited qualified expression of self. Pure love is an unlimited expression of Divine Love in a non-detached Divine Self. Self has at last conquered self and the pilgrim of human life is now homeward bound.