Why do so many people on the path of Yoga adopt an attitude of fight, struggle, over-concern with keeping strict rules and warrior-like ways? Is this really necessary to be a Yogi?

It is absolutely unnecessary – not only unnecessary, it creates all types of hindrances on the path of Yoga. The warrior-like attitude is the greatest hindrance possible because there is no one to fight with. Inside, you are alone. If you start fighting, you are splitting yourself.

This is the greatest disease: to be divided, to become schizophrenic. The whole struggle is useless because it is not going to lead anywhere. No one can win: you are on both sides! So at the most you can play; you can play a game of hide and seek. Sometimes part A wins, sometimes part B wins; again part A, again part B.... In this way you can move. Sometimes that which you call good wins. But fighting with the bad, winning over the bad, the good part has become exhausted and the bad part has gathered energy. So sooner or later the bad part will come up, and this can go on infinitely.

But why does this warrior-like attitude happen? Why with most people does fighting start? The moment they think of transformation, they start fighting. Why? Because you know only one method of winning, and that is fight.

In the world outside, in the outside world, there is one way to be victorious and that is fight: fight and destroy the other. This is the only way in the outside world to be victorious. You have lived in this outside world for millions and millions of years and you have been fighting...sometimes getting defeated if you don’t fight well, sometimes being victorious if you fight well. So it has become a built-in program to fight strongly. There is only one way to be victorious and that is a hard fight.
 

When you move within, you carry the same program because you are acquainted only with this. And in the world within, just the reverse is the case: fight and you will be defeated, because there is no one to fight with. In the inner world, let-go is the way to be victorious; surrender is the way to be victorious; allowing the inner nature to flow, not fighting, is the way to be victorious. Letting the river flow, not pushing it, is the way as far as the inner world is concerned. This is just the reverse. But you are acquainted only with the outside world, so this is bound to be so in the beginning. Whoever moves within, he will carry the same weapons, the same attitudes, the same fighting, the same defense.

Machiavelli is for the outside world; Lao Tzu, Patanjali and Buddha are for the inside world. And they teach different things. Machiavelli says attack is the best defense: “Don’t wait. Don’t wait for the other to attack, because then you are already on the losing side. You have already lost because the other has started. He has already gained, so it is always better to start. Don’t wait to defend; always be the aggressor. Before somebody else attacks you, you attack him and fight with as much cunningness as possible, with as much dishonesty as possible. Be dishonest, be cunning and be aggressive. Deceive, because that is the only way.” These are the means that Machiavelli suggests. And Machiavelli is an honest man; that’s why he suggests exactly whatsoever is needed.

But if you ask Lao Tzu, Patanjali or Buddha – they are talking of a different type of victory, the inner victory. There, cunningness won’t do, deceiving won’t do, fighting won’t do, aggression won’t do...because whom are you going to deceive? Whom are you going to defeat? You alone are there. In the outside world you are never alone. The others are there; they are the enemies. In the inside world you alone are there. There is no other; there is no enemy, no friend. This is a totally new situation for you. You will carry the old weapons, but those old weapons will become the cause of your defeat.

When you change the world from without to within, leave all that you have learned from without. That is not going to help.
 

Somebody asked Ramana Maharshi, “What should I learn to become silent, to know myself?”

Ramana Maharshi is reported to have said, “To reach the inner self you need not learn anything. You need ununlearning. Learning won’t help. It helps to move without. Unlearning will help.”
 

Whatsoever you have learned, unlearn it, forget it, drop it. Move inside innocently, childlike...not with cunningness and cleverness, but with childlike trust and innocence; not thinking in terms that someone is going to attack you. There is no one, so don’t feel insecure and don’t make any arrangements for defense. Remain vulnerable, receptive, open. That’s what shraddha, trust, means.

Doubt is needed outside because the other is there. He may be thinking to deceive you, so you have to doubt and be skeptical. Inside, no doubt, no skepticism is needed. Nobody is there to deceive you. You can remain there just as you are.

That’s why everybody carries this warrior-like attitude, but it is not needed. It is a hindrance, the greatest hindrance. Drop it outside. You can make it a point to remember that whatsoever is needed outside will become a hindrance inside. Whatsoever, I say unconditionally.

Fight, struggle, aggressiveness are hindrances. Don’t carry them. When you move inwards, leave them at the door. If you carry them, you will miss the inner temple; you will never reach it. With those things you cannot move inwards.