Copyright © k.b.mann, from date of original creation: 27th May, 1999
There is no toil or labor in naturally keen, enthusiastic exertion in any activity. That is what is called play. We do not call play ‘labor’. Everything becomes possible if three key elements of consciousness merge. These are desire, intent and will. When these three are unified, no task is impossible. All drudgery, waste and burden arise from a lack of one or two of these elements, or from a conflict between them.
Real intent cannot arise without a keen desire. Without passionate intent, the will has no backbone. There is no sincere, sustained effort without a resolute will. In fact, true determination is the result of the unity of these three. So, desire or interest produce intent, intent leads to will, will leads to persistent effort, and untiring effort leads to achievement. Any weak link in this chain results in failure or loss of achievement.
When a person, who is concerned with goodness and growth, perceives a desire to be wrong, strength in intent is difficult for them to achieve. Consequently, their will and effort are both weakened. This is for the best when, indeed, it is an improper desire. On the other hand, if desire is weak to do good or constructive things, it, too, does not result in achievement or success. This dilutes the positive expression of a life as a whole. For this reason, it is very beneficial to develop a deeper appreciation, value and even love regarding noble and worthy goals. When these bloom, great and noble things can be accomplished as though in play, even if they may previously have seemed very difficult or even impossible to achieve.
The expression of all the above can be illustrated by the following example: A person may have a desire to provide shelter for the homeless – however, there may be no earnest inner pull to actually do so, which also implies the shallowness or lower priority of the desire itself. As the desire grows stronger, it creates a more compelling sense of ‘I should’. When this sense of ‘I should’ intensifies, it becomes ‘I will’ – and lo! shelter after shelter comes to be. These are the transitional phases of desire to intent, and from intent to will. To conclude, impossibilities exist only in the mind.
That is all for now.
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