Seven Steps and inconsistency

I read in the scramble quiz today that "inconsistency is the greatest weakness in human nature." It took me to the very common experience that I have had with teaching simple techniques to students. The ideas and the practices of relaxation and time management are very simple and practical. But for that very reason, they are not easy to follow consistently. There is a feeling that arises from time to time - 'Oh, it's simple and I have done it; it doesn't matter if I miss it for a day.'

So I asked our participants to make a progress check after the first week. There were three simple things to be done over the week. Some had practised one or the other regularly and others had predictably been irregular. The material that was put in the folder had read fully by not even one participant. I have learnt to respect the participants' choice. So I don't sermonize the virtue of consistency. Instead I follow a time tested mantra that I received from my ustad in these practices.

"First learn to relax. Keep practicing. Don't give up." That's what I told our participants last week. Let's see what they report today.

Another famous saying of opportunist politicians is that consistency is the virtue of a donkey. Of course it is not flattering to be likened to a donkey. But donkeys as animals also have a right to be respected. After all, the Kargil war could not have been won without the donkeys that carried the ammunition boxes up the mountain cliffs and the Bihari workers.