You live by habit - this means that the habit actually lives by you. The habit itself continues, it has its own energy. Of course, she takes energy from you, but you collaborated with her in the past and you are cooperating in the present. Little by little, habit becomes the master, and you become only a servant, a shadow. Habit gives you orders, and you will only be an obedient servant. You'll have to follow it.
It so happened that the Hindu mystic Eknath was going on a pilgrimage. The pilgrimage must have lasted at least a year because he was going to visit all the holy places in the country. Of course, it was a privilege to be with Eknath and thousands of people traveled with him. The city thief also came and said:
“I know that I am a thief and unworthy to be a member of your religious group, but give me a chance too.” I would like to go on this pilgrimage.
Eknath said:
“It will be difficult because a year is a long time and you might start stealing things from people.” You can create problems. Please drop this idea.
But the thief insisted. He said:
“I’ll stop stealing this year, but I have to go with you.” And I promise that I won’t steal a single thing from anyone for a whole year.
Eknath agreed.
But after a week, problems began, and this is what happened: things began to disappear from the pilgrims’ luggage. And what was even stranger was that no one stole them - they simply disappeared from one person's bag and ended up in someone else's bag a few days later. The man in whose bag they were found said that he did nothing, that he had no idea how these things got into his bag.
Eknath had his suspicions and one night he pretended to be asleep but continued to stay awake and watch. Around midnight a thief appeared. He began to transfer things from one bag to another. Eknath caught him red-handed and said:
- What are you doing? You promised!
“I keep my promise,” said the thief. - I didn't steal a single thing. But this is my strange habit... In the middle of the night, if I don’t do anything criminal, I absolutely cannot sleep. Not sleeping for a whole year? You are a man of compassion. You must be compassionate towards me. I don't steal! Things are always there; they don’t disappear anywhere, they just move from one baggage to another. And besides, in a year I'll have to start stealing again, so I have to stay in shape.
Habits make you do certain things; you are their victim. Hindus call this the theory of karma. Every action you repeat or every thought - because a thought is also a subtle action in the mind - becomes more and more powerful. It takes over you. Then you live the life of a prisoner, a slave. And this conclusion is very subtle; the prison is made up of your habits, conditionings and actions you have done. It surrounds your body, and you are confused in it, but you continue to think and fool yourself that you are doing it yourself.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru