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Sincerity and Spiritual Sadhana · Sri Aurobindo Studies

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  For most people, the concept of sincerity is connected with how
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  they relate to other people in an open, natural and honest way
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  without duplicity or hypocrisy. The idea that sincerity can
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  relate to oneself and one's inner life is something that
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  spiritual aspirants grapple with.
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  Sincerity is an essential quality for the spiritual seeker
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  as it implies that the thoughts, emotions, vital responses and
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  physical reactions align with the deepest aspiration.
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  Without sincerity, the aspiration is basically
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  thwarted, diverted or obstructed in the external being.
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  There are known instances where someone takes on the aspect of a
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  teacher or guru and uses the knowledge and vital energy he
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  has in order to manipulate and take advantage of the followers,
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  gaining fame, prestige, money, sexual favours and allegiance
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  while inwardly enjoying these benefits and putting on a show
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  externally for the sake of gaining support and adherence.
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  This type of hypocrisy has a corrosive effect on the
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  individuals who are caught in the trap, some of whom never
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  truly recover their balance in this lifetime.
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  If the individual treats this simply as a business for
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  external gain, it is insincerity and hypocrisy on the external
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  level. But the individual is not
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  misleading himself about his purpose or his methods.
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  This external form of deception, however, is not the deepest
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  measure of insincerity. The spiritual aspirant has to
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  examine his own inner life to identify the lack of sincerity
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  where one prays for certain types of spiritual growth and
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  progress, while at the same time one makes excuses for thoughts,
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  words and deeds that directly contradict that aspiration.
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  It is one thing to actually recognize the weaknesses and
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  failures clearly and take steps to align them with the
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  aspiration. It is another to pretend to
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  oneself that there is a true will of aspiration while
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  entertaining obstructive actions, feelings, thoughts or
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  motivations. This is corrosive to the seeker
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  himself and can set back the spiritual progress if he does
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  not finally recognize and address this issue.
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  Sri Aurobindo observes Quote sincere is simply an adjective
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  meaning that the will must be a true will.
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  If you simply think I aspire and do things inconsistent with the
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  aspiration, or follow your desires, or open yourself to
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  contrary influences, then it is not a sincere will.
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  End Quote reference Sri Rabindu and the Mother Looking from
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  within, Chapter 5. Attitudes on the Path, page 117.