Jnana Vahini - Post 2

Swami continues, 

"If fire can give the splendor, then, why does not a stick or blade or pebble placed in the fire become as shining as gold? So one has to conclude that the splendor came not through fire but out of its own inner nature. 

The Prathyagatma, or the Inner presiding Atma, is separate from the five Sheaths of the Individual, the Pancha Koshas; it shines with its own splendor; it is the witness of the activities and consequences of the three Gunas; it is immovable; it is holy and pure; it is eternal; it is indivisible; it is self-manifested; it is Peace; it has no end; it is wisdom itself. Such an Atma has got to be cognized as Oneself!

To realize this Atma, this Jnanaswarupa, there are four obstacles to be overcome: Laya, Vikshepa, Kshaya and Rasa-aaswaadanam. Let us take these one by one.

LAYA (Sleep): when the mind withdraws from the external world, it enters into deep sleep or Sushupthi, on account of the overpowering influence of Samsara. 

  

The sadhaka should arrest this tendency and attempt to fix the mind on to Atma vichara, or the Inquiry into the nature of the Atma. He must keep watch over the mind so that he may keep awake. He must discover the circumstances that induce the drowsiness and remove them in time. He must start the process of Dhyana again and again. 

Of course, the usual producer of drowsiness and sleep during Dhyana is indigestion. Over-feeding, exhaustion through too much of moving about, want of sufficient sleep at night, these too cause sleepiness and drowsiness. 

So it is advisable to sleep a little during noon on those days when you wake up after a sleepless night, though generally all those who engage in Dhyanam should avoid sleep during daytime. 

Do not eat until you feel proper hunger. Practice the art of moderate eating. When you feel three-fourths full, desist from further eating; that is to say, you will have to stop even when you feel you can take a little more. 

The stomach can be educated in this way to behave properly. Over-exercise too is not good; even walking can be overdone. You can walk until you conquer drowsiness; but remember, you cannot plunge into Dhyanam immediately after you have warded off sleep.

Author's note

Laya is a very restful and refreshing sleep, and those not experienced in meditation may consider it some kind of spiritual experience. Once a student came to his Acharya  and announced proudly, “Swâmî, when I was meditating last night I experienced Samâdhi. I felt great inner peace!” 

On inquiry, the Swâmî understood that the student had not had Samâdhi. Instead, he had encountered the obstacle Laya. 

Laya is caused by a temporary preponderance of Tamas in the mind. To prevent Laya it is best to meditate when not tired. A tired body naturally induces Laya. At the end of a busy working day we easily may feel tired and fall asleep during meditation. 

Early morning is more suitable for meditation because the mind and body are fresh and alert at that time. If we want to meditate in the evening, it is advised to have a short nap, if possible, for one hour. This will effectively prevent sleepiness during meditation. Sleeping longer than one hour may produce an adverse effect. It may make the body and mind sluggish and lethargic.

We will move to the next obstacle pointed by Swami- Vikshepa, in next post.

Love.