EXTERNAL SADHANA

I consider this behavior as a practical and useful way of external sadhana if practiced with clear understanding. Just as inner sadhana is evidenced based, outer sadhana is also practical and evidenced based. Whenever there is any kind of suggestion from anybody, you should divide them into essential and non essential suggestions. If there is no obvious harm in following the suggestion (i.e there is no hindrance in your over all goal of sadhana) then just accept and do it right away. In general there is an expression of mind's insistence, attachments, affections etc, in these seemingly minor items when the decision to carry out the suggestion or not is made. If you want to get rid of these attachments, affections and insistences you should be ready whole heartedly to carry out suggestions and instructions of others. But at the same time you must have the awareness of the purpose, understanding and intention in carrying out the works. The result really depends upon this awareness while performing the tasks. If you perform the works as per these writings you will be successful.

Pujya Shree Mota
Jivan mandaan
Edition 3; pages 70 - 71.