Virtues cannot be cultivated. You must assume that they are there. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna said to Arjuna, “Grieve not Arjuna; you are born with virtues.” The seeker should remember that he is born with virtues; otherwise he would not be a seeker. If you think you have no virtues and then try to cultivate them, you will fail. When you think you do not have a virtue; then you come from a space of lack or deficiency.
You compare yourself with others on the basis of virtues. Do not compare yourself with anyone. Simply recognize all the virtues you appreciate in others and realize that those virtues are present in you in seed form. You only have to nurture them.
Virtues must be practiced until they become your nature. Friendliness, compassion and meditation should continue as practices until you realize that they are your very nature.
The flaw in doing something as an act is that you look for a result. When something is done as your nature, you are not attached to the result and you simply do it. An action that arises from your nature is neither tiring nor frustrating. Daily routines like brushing your teeth or bathing are not even considered actions because they are so integrated into your life. You do all this without doership. When sevais made part of your nature, it happens without doership. Wise men continue their practices just to set an example, even though for them there is no need for any practices.
Question: “When do you realize that compassion, meditation and sevaare your nature?”
When you cannot be without them.
