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The Outer Running And The Inner Running
Sri Chinmoy
The outer running is a powerful struggle for a great independence.
The inner running is a soulful cry for a good interdependence. Independence
brings to the fore what we have unmistakably deep within: a freedom-smile.
Interdependence makes us conscious of what we eternally are: a oneness-satisfaction.
The outer running is a burning desire to achieve everything that
we see here on earth. The inner running is a climbing aspiration
to receive from Above a vast compassion-sky and to give from below
a tiny gratitude-flame.
The outer running is an extraordinary success on the mountain-summit.
The inner running is an exemplary progress along Eternity's sunlit
Road. Success is the ready and immediate acceptance of the challenges
from difficulties untold. Progress is the soulful and grateful acceptance
of the blessingful joy from prosperities unfathomed.
The outer runner and the inner runner: two aspects of the seeker-runner.
The outer runner does; therefore, he succeeds. The inner runner
becomes; therefore, he proceeds. When he succeeds, the seeker-runner
gets a new name: glorification. When he proceeds, the seeker-runner
gets a new name: illumination.
The seeker-runner's glorification is a beautiful flower that charms
and inspires his entire life. The seeker-runner's illumination is
a fruitful tree that shelters and nourishes his entire earthly existence.
The outer running is a colossal satisfaction, although at times
it may be quite oblivious to the existence-reality of a quiet perfection.
The inner running is a perpetual satisfaction in and through a blossoming
perfection.
The seeker-runner has a shadowless dream of his full realisation-day
in his outer running. The seeker-runner has a sleepless vision of
his God's full Manifestation-Hour in his inner running.
The outer runner challenges the Himalayan pride of impossibility.
The inner runner smilingly arranges a feast not only with impossibility
but also with Immortality.
The outer runner runs through the golden gate and arrives at the
sound-kingdom. The inner runner enters into the unique palace, runs
up to its highest floor and places himself at the very Feet of the
Silence-King.
Finally, the seeker-runner's outer running says to his inner running,
"Look, I am giving you what I now have: my majesty's crown."
The seeker-runner's inner running says to his outer running, "Look,
I am giving you what I now am: my beauty's throne."
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