If commitment is a leopard, sacrifice is a sabre-toothed tiger—a beast that exists in myth; not in real life. Notwithstanding our belief, it’s undeniable that the beast of sacrifice shall cross our path at certain stages in life. While avoidance ensures survival, engagement helps us to evolve.

Sacrifice is a test thrown at us by nature to filter out our inner negativity and to help us become open, positive and non-judgemental. In this state of being, we can dig deeper to expand our consciousness and radiate more positive energy. Sacrifice involves the forsaking of guaranteed rewards or benefits for the purpose of unlocking our barriers and eventually, for merging with the One.

During the course of our lives, we face numerous situations where we have to make a sacrifice. The objective of the sacrifice often appears to be short term. However, they do satisfy our long-term objective of achieving conscious growth. Sacrifice involves taking a risk or a leap of faith. It may or may not produce the result that we’d expected. Irrespective of the outcome, though, the learnings and self-awareness propel us to a higher level of consciousness. Thereafter, we face different, possibly more complex choices to reach a higher level of consciousness. These choices require us to make further sacrifices.

An example of sacrifice in daily life is that of a man who must make a sizeable financial investment to launch a new company. Here, he has to sacrifice financial security to become a successful entrepreneur. Subsequently, when he has to raise external growth capital, he has to dilute his stake to an investor. Here, he must sacrifice ownership and control to achieve his long-term business goals.

The importance of sacrifice is illustrated in the epic, Ramayana. Would Rama have attained enlightenment had he not sacrificed his throne and gone into exile? Therefore, to grow our consciousness, we must complete sacrifices that come our way; instead of avoiding them like scared cats.

While sacrifice is crucial for conscious growth, it’s insufficient to achieve Oneness. To attain the ultimate state of super consciousness, we must surrender to the Guru Tatwa (the element of supreme consciousness). Surrendering oneself to it represents the ultimate form of sacrifice. It involves total submission to a figure of our belief. An object that (we feel) houses the energy of Supreme Consciousness. To kindle this energy, we must sacrifice our ultimate possession—our belief—to the Guru Tatwa. When we do that, we bank 100% on the belief that our Guru Tatwa will guide and strengthen us in all scenarios. Our belief factor activates the energy which then awakens our consciousness.

An example of the role of the Guru Tatwa can be found in the story of the archer, Ekalavya, depicted in Mahabharata. Ekalavya was an aspiring warrior who dreamed of training under Dronacharaya—the legendary military instructor from a rival kingdom. Ekalavya expressed his devotion to Guru Drona through a non-living symbol of his consciousness. Awakened by its energy, he believed that Guru Drona would help him and guide him at all times. The power of his belief made him the finest archer in his land.

The story is significant because it shows that true greatness lay not in the archer nor his master; but in his belief in Drona. Similarly, we too have the divine flame within us. All we need to kindle it are two things. Belief in something or someone. And, faith in our belief.