_Question:_ When we have an attack of some sort, is there any way that we can know whether it is coming from within ourselves or from outside, and is it important for us to know?

Sri Chinmoy: It is not important for you to know at this present stage. An attack is an attack. From inside or from outside the result is the same. It is like getting a cold. For various reasons you can get a cold: you have exposed yourself to cold, you have been working too hard, or you have not been eating the proper foods. There are many reasons why you may get a cold, but the result is the same, and the cure is the same. Again, if you don’t want to suffer from colds, then you will do all the things that will save you from the attack of colds. You will be careful in every way. If you are a beginner in the spiritual life, if you are still not far advanced, when an attack comes, what do you do? Whether it is from outside or from inside is immaterial. You just throw it into the Supreme or look at your Guru’s picture. That is the best thing. You are like a child. If a child is attacked, he just runs toward his father for protection. He knows that if he stays a longer time where he is being attacked, he will only be killed. So he runs to the one who is more than eager to help him. So if you get an attack, just run to your Guru for protection.

From:Sri Chinmoy,AUM — Vol.II-6, No. 8, August 1980, Vishma Press, 1980
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