How do I repent for my sins? I have committed same mistakes again and again consciously. I have broken the Brahmacharya vrat in in depression many times. How do I come out of this guilt complex?
—Siddharth Patel, India
Dear Siddharth,
Paramhansa Yogananda said, “Life is a battle all along the way. May I win the battle on the very spot in which I stand.”
It sounds like you are aware of your mistakes and you want to overcome them. Here is a question that you might want to look at:
Are you working with yourself as you are, or are you trying to become someone that you are not, forcing yourself to act in ways that are not suited to your nature?
Guilt is a waste of time. It keeps you stuck, constantly blaming yourself without doing anything to improve the situation. You need to use your will power to resist the guilt urge, and when it comes up anyway, to affirm the opposite.
Here are a few suggestions that might help you:
- Daily meditation practice, by yourself and with a support group. If you don’t have one, please check Ananda’s meditation section.
- Choose battles that you can win. Start with a small battle that you have a chance winning, and gradually take on bigger battles. Remember: You can’t fight all the battles at once. Maybe at this time in your life, Brahmacharya is not right for you. Maybe being in a relationship will actually help you grow and expand your consciousness.
- Choose to be in a positive supportive environment that will help you overcome negative tendencies.
- Use your will power consciously and direct your energy in positive directions. Our will power is one of the greatest tools that God gave us to become successful and to overcome negative habits. You need to use it wisely.
I also recommend that you read Paramhansa Yogananda’s book How to Be a Success, available at Crystal Clarity Publishers or, in India, at Ananda Sangha Publications. I think you will find it helpful.
Best wishes to you,
Nayaswami Diksha
