Abrasive
Definitions
- 1: tending to abrade
- a. to rub or wear away especially by friction : erode
- b. to irritate or roughen by rubbing
- c. to wear down in spirit : irritate, weary
- 2: causing irritation <abrasive manners>
Description
An abrasive is a material, often a mineral, that is used to shape or finish a workpiece through rubbing which leads to part of the workpiece being worn away. While finishing a material often means polishing it to gain a smooth, reflective surface it can also involve roughening as in satin, matte or beaded finishes.
Abrasives are extremely commonplace and are used very extensively in a wide variety of industrial, domestic, and technological applications. This gives rise to a large variation in the physical and chemical composition of abrasives as well as the shape of the abrasive. Common uses for abrasives include grinding, polishing, buffing, honing, cutting, drilling, sharpening, lapping, and sanding (see abrasive machining). Files act by abrasion but are not classed as abrasives as they are a shaped bar of metal. However, diamond files are a form of coated abrasive (as they are metal rods coated with diamond powder).[1]
Quote
Never be afraid to go to the stone and make sparks in your endeavor to pursue the polished edge which you seek. It may only be attained through the grinding away of the unnecessary in order to achieve the point. Effort must be put forward, and you know you are making progress when the sparks are flying.
Cause the sparks of spirituality to fly. Do not fear that this is radical or too intense, as this is exactly the step to be taken in order to achieve the results. Don't shy away from the apparent abrasiveness, as you have come to realize in your own spiritual growth the benefits of the effort are far in excess of the apparent harshness of the process.- Malvantra
