Question: Guru, I was wondering if negative forces attack more when you are aspiring or when you are not aspiring?

Sri Chinmoy: When you do not aspire, when you are fast asleep, then the negative forces say, “Let the baby sleep.” Then when the baby gets up and tries to pinch or kick the negative forces, they say, “What are you doing? We are infinitely stronger.”

Sometimes God examines us: how much we love Him, how much we need Him. There are many disciples who sometimes make complaints to me, and other Masters also have the same problem. They say, “Today I prayed intensely to God for purity. Alas, all the impure thoughts are coming today. Today I prayed to God for hours to give me joy, and the whole day is miserable. The news that is coming is full of misery. What is this? I prayed so sincerely, more than other days. Other days perhaps I prayed for five minutes, and today I have prayed for five hours. But today so many calamities are taking place in my life, so what is the use of prayer?”

It is a question of unconditional surrender. We say to God, “O God, I pray to You for purity, for sincerity, for compassion and all good qualities. Today it is the diametrically opposite reality that I am feeling. I prayed for peace for three hours. Alas, I see that today my mind is full of unrest, worries and anxieties.”

Then God will say, “Show Me how much you love Me.” Knowing well that today you are suffering much more than other days, although you have prayed more sincerely for a particular thing from God, at that time you can say, “All right, I prayed sincerely. If it is Your Will that I will suffer today more than other days, I am fully prepared. On my part I will continue to pray for peace, light and bliss from You.”

At that time the question comes, “Do I really love God?” If I really love Him, who cares? I know my God has His Ears wide open. My God has His Eyes wide open. Then the philosophy comes: God is having this experience in and through me. He is having the experience. If that kind of feeling we can have, then we are safe – otherwise, no. Some days when we pray more sincerely, on that day hostile forces may attack us more vehemently. Then God examines our love, if our love for God is stronger than the hostile attacks. If you can prove that your love for God is infinitely stronger, then God will take away these problems and give you peace of mind.