MUZAKRA – 4

ASSESSING OURSELVES PROPERLY

SOUL: How can one distinguish between real and false confidence, between
mere show and reality?

LORD: A vain man very often thinks himself most humble. He brags of his
faith in God, but his proud heart is exposed when some fault is bared. Yielding to anger
and vituperation, to depression and discouragement, he places more confidence in
himself than in Me. The great his despondency and anxiety, the more he proclaims his
guilt.

SOUL: It almost sounds as if you expect us to fall down.

LORD: Yes, My servant, I know you will. Certainly I do not want you to fall,
but since you are a tiny spark of My Fire, an infinitesimal reflection of Me, I know you
will. A parent knows that a newborn child will soil his diapers, but the parent doesn’t
want him to.

The soul who has a healthy mistrust of himself is not surprised when he makes a
mistake. However, due to his strong faith in Me, he corrects himself and avoids the
offense again. He never allows himself to be defeated by Satan’s subtle weapon of
despair, for he knows that a depressed spirit cripples his enthusiasm for devotional
service. Rather, he recognizes his own weakness, feels sorry for not taking complete
shelter of Me in the past, arms himself for the future with My protection in the form of
the Holy Name, and then tries again. That is proof of his confidence in Me. (Concept of
Tauba)

Thinking always of Me and My pleasure, My devotee does his best to avoid the
occasions of sin. Still, he knows that without My assistance, all is vain. He strongly
detests all sin and disobedience. He also detests the passions or habits that provoke him to
fall. Being determined and sincere, he tries to minimize all sensual demands in order to
realize that he is not the material body.

Furthermore, a devotee sorrows greatly when he deviates from the mark. But his
sorrow is much different than that of a pragmatist, who works only for a practical result
and becomes discouraged when the result is not quickly manifest. A devotee’s sorrow is
accompanied by peace of mind and increased determination to execute pure devotional
service. His sorrow further spurs him on to pursue and destroy the sinful enemy.

SOUL: How wonderful, Lord! Does this also make You happy?
 LORD: Of course it does. Actually, there is nothing in the whole creation that
pleases Me more. Such sorrow for the wrong and determination for the right are the
hallmarks of true love. Therefore, I plead with all sincere Souls to give up mental
speculation and empiric research in their quest for truth. Simply surrender to Me and
follow My instructions as ordained in Quran.

Let every sincere soul attentively apply these guidelines and thus avoid costly
mistakes. Automatically, a pure devotee will improve in My service, be free from feelings
of guilt, experience unbounded bliss, and know perpetual peace, the seal of My approval.