Dear All,
Swami writes,
"VIKSHEPA (Waywardness): the mind seeks to run after external objects and so
constant effort is needed to turn it inwards, away from the attractions of
sensory impressions. This has to be done through the rigorous exercise of the Intellect, of Inquiry. Discriminate and get the conviction driven into you that these are evanescent, temporary, transformable, liable to decay and, therefore, unreal, Mithya not Sathya.
Convince yourselves that what are sought after as pleasurable and avoided as painful are only the fleeting products of sensory contacts; train yourselves in this way to avoid the distractions of the external world and dive deep into Dhyanam.
A sparrow pursued by a hawk flies in despair
for shelter into a house; but it is anxious to again fly into the outer world,
isn't it? So also, the mind is anxious to go again into the outer world, from
the Atma where it takes refuge.
Vikshepa is this mental attitude, the urge to
run back into the world from one's shelter. The removal of Vikshepa alone will
help the concentration of the mind in Dhyanam."
(Author's note - We may
occasionally find it very hard to meditate because the mind keeps wandering.
This restless wandering of mind is called Vikshepa in Sanskrit. It is the
second major obstacle to meditation. This obstacle appears when the mind is in
a state of preponderance of Rajas.
Usually two techniques are
used to overcome this obstacle. The first is to force the mind by sheer will
power to concentrate on the object of meditation. A person who lacks adequate
will power will find it hard to do. It may also pose a health hazard for
someone suffering from hypertension by temporarily raising the blood pressure.
In the second technique we
have to say to the wandering mind, “Go wherever you want, but know that I’ll be
watching you.” As we keep on watching the mind, it stops wandering and
gradually becomes calm. This entire process usually takes ten or fifteen
minutes, though for some it may take longer. Once the mind has been made calm
it can be focused on its object of meditation.")
"KSHAYA: The mind is drawn with immense force by all the unconscious impulses
and instincts of passion and attachment towards the external world and its
multitudinous attractions. It therefore experiences untold misery and might
even get lost in its depths. This is the stage called Kshaya or decline.
The state of inertia into which one is driven
by despair cannot be called Samadhi; or one might even indulge in day-dreaming
in order to escape from present misery; or one might start building castles in
the air. All this is due to attachment, to the temptations of the outer world.
There is another type of attachment too, the attachment to the inner world ...
the planning within oneself of various schemes to better oneself in the future as
compared to the past. Both these form part of what is called Kshaya. The basis
for both is the attraction of the outer world. Attachment brings about desire;
desire leads to planning."
(Author's note - To
counteract this obstacle any of the following can be done: (i) Sing devotional
songs or listen to devotional music. (ii) Read inspirational religious
literature. (iii) Imagine that we are giving personal service to God, a divine
incarnation. (iv)Listen to the discourses of Incarnation/Realized master and try
to contemplate on the discourse essence.
Any of these techniques is capable of removing the feeling of dryness
from the mind. However, it is advised that we not leave our seat while
practicing these techniques. As soon as the mental dryness is gone we must
start meditating.)
Love.
