Our Highest Happiness

Self-discipline is action that is taken in harmony with one's deepest wisdom. Rather than an imposed external structure, true self-discipline is learning to follow soul-guidance. The practice of self-discipline therefore supports soul realization and our highest happiness.... The combination of dispassion and self-discipline provide the necessary environment in consciousness for realization to occur.
Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian

Self-discipline on the spiritual path is about our ability to control the whims of the ego, that aspect of ourselves that identifies uniquely with body, mind and personality and is predominanly self-centered. The ego enables us interact with the world, but needs to be properly guided. It wants short term gratification and is basically never satisfied for long. Kriya Yoga meditation practice makes us very aware of our own mental state and trains us to recognize short term desires as opposed to our real goal of lasting inner peace and harmony with the world around us. We can experience the freedom from suffering when we practice dispassion when we do our best and let go of attachment to the results of our actions. Our steady meditation practice slowly frees up the path of higher intuition, our soul's deepest wisdom. Following the soul's guidance slowly purifies our default mental state and opens us up to the appreciation of grace all around us.