The expansion of our awareness is only possible through solving those tasks which are matched to the actual status of our training. The tackling of tasks which are «too difficult» does not lead to any kind of acceleration of our development. In fact it is the opposite, it leads to a slowing down or even to a standstill or to steps backwards. The same is also true where the demands are insufficient.
This is immediately obvious in virtually every other form of training: A music student who learns a piece which is too difficult for him during his training will not make faster progress in his learning process than another musician, who only plays pieces which are matched to his actual abilities. If a good piano player only ever plays quite simple pieces with one hand, in time he loses his ability with the second hand: He takes steps backwards or forgets what he has learned about two-handed piano playing. A car driver who also drives a formula one racing car, will not become a better car driver because of this. A sportsman who trains to run over a length of 5 km will obtain no advantage at all for his 5 km stretch by completing a 42 km marathon, even if he finishes the marathon in a very good time.
From these examples it is easy to see that independently of the trained discipline, it is only possible to make progress in the training if the training is well matched to the actual abilities. For this reason it is necessary to permanently live the basic rights of existence in our lives. Earlier we spoke about the fact that we can imagine the development of humankind as a series of lessons which in the course of time have to be successfully completed. However it is important not to confuse this with a series of tests which have to be passed arbitrarily or not arbitrarily. Our lives concern the learning of the ability to live a life of unconditional love in every situation or to master this ability like a virtuoso. It is not possible to master an ability by doing something just once but by establishing and then retaining this ability through continuous corresponding training.
If for example I wish to train for the circus with a balancing act on a tightrope 10 m above the ground, I would presumably start with the rope just 50 cm above the ground and put a soft mat below it and then gradually increase the level of difficulty. Even when I have first successfully carried out the balancing act at a height of 10 m it does not help me much: I will want to achieve security in the activity and will want to be able to do it at every performance and not just once. What is necessary here is to be able to completely master the activity at a height of 10 m. The quickest way to achieve this is to build up the level of difficulty in steps.
If the task is not demanding enough or is too demanding the person carrying it out cannot develop further. Possibly he will even visibly distance himself from his goal because of this in that he violates the basic rights of existence. Perhaps he will even prevent another person, for whom this task would have been well matched, from developing further with this task. He thus damages himself as well as many others. Both for himself as well as for his environment the very best thing is therefore to try to develop further by means of well-matched tasks.
This statement is tremendously important. If I personally would like to help to solve the problems of the world and work for the general wellbeing then I don’t have to travel all over the place as a sort of modern missionary telling other people what they should and should not do. I should also not attempt to «develop» other people so that they will «also» eventually work on their awareness.
I can achieve the best possible effect if I personally continue to develop with respect to the basic rights of existence and if I can arrive at a state of personal harmony. Interestingly this is both best for me personally as well as for my environment! A sort of «egoism», which benefits the general wellbeing!
It is therefore also extremely absurd to make our personal development dependent on some kinds of conditions, such as for example «if they first do such and such … then I will do….» etc. That which I can personally bring into this world does not depend on others but simply and exclusively on me alone. My biggest possible contribution is from my own personal development – the further I develop the better it is for me and for all others. I must however also really carry out this development – to merely think about it will not achieve anything!
The greatest gift which I can give to my environment, to humanity as a whole and especially to myself is my personal progress on the way to harmony within myself.
By this means and only by this means can I provide my maximum contribution to the general wellbeing.