Dhyana Vahini - Post 10

Chapter IV 

 

Swami continues,

 

"The meditator (dhyani) considers the realization of Atmic bliss as important, but the promotion of the welfare of the world is also an equally important aim. For carrying out that aim, one must bring certain physical, verbal, and mental tendencies under control. 

 

These are usually known as the tenfold sins: the three physical, the four verbal, and the three mental. The physical tendencies are: injury to life, adulterous desire, and theft. The verbal sins are: false alarms, cruel speech, jealous talk, and lies. The mental attitudes are: greed, envy, and denial of God.

 

Eschew the tenfold “sins”

 

The person intent on following the path of meditation must take every care that these ten enemies do not even approach. They have to be eschewed completely. The person needs tendencies that will help progress and not those that drag back. 

 

One must speak and act only good (subha), for good alone is auspicious (mangala) and the auspicious alone is Siva. This is what the scriptures (sastras) also say. The good is the auspicious. The auspicious is the spiritually helpful. The good is the instrument for merging in Siva.

 

Through the good, the meditator can achieve this world and the other; the meditator can promote their own welfare as well as the welfare of others. Welfare is the fruit of knowledge; ill-fare is the fruit of ignorance. Through welfare alone can peace, joy, and progress be attained. One’s very basic duty is the welfare of all beings! Promoting it and contributing to it is the right task. Living out one’s span of life in discharging this task is the ordained path.

 

Introspection by a devotee

 

Ten-fold sins against which Swami warns are:-

 

·       injury to life

·       adulterous desire

·       theft

·       false alarms

·       cruel speech

·       jealous talk

·       lies

·       greed

·       envy      and,

·       denial of God.

 

When we examine carefully, what is the root cause of any of the above 10 sins? It is our mind, which we are keeping active even while meditating.

 

Our Mind is let free to travel freely even while we are trying to meditate on God, whether the one with form or the formless Brahman.

 

Mind, by its very nature, is like that. But we should have the conviction to come back to meditation even if the mind tries to get out of our control. 

What Swami said to the student who told Swami that he is not able to control his mind.

 

Swami said, “You may not be able to control the mind at your age so easily, but do not take up any action as per dictates of the mind”

 

So, the real harm is done to ourselves when we take up action prompted by any of the 10 sins listed by Swami, falling slave to the dictates of our mind.

 

Initially, external source like an AUM recording or a Gayatri Mantra recording kept in low volume, shall be of immense help in bringing back our mind to the seat of meditation whenever it goes astray. But a day should come when the AUM is so synchronized within that the impact of AUM is experienced without having to listen to any recorded version of AUM.

 

A devotee’s Question to Ma: When will this state of unrest come to an end?

 

Ananda mayi ma answers: The fact that many of you feel concerned about it and ask: ‘When will it end?’ is also one of the ways of His Self-manifestation.

 

Jagat (world) means ceaseless movement, and obviously there can be no rest in movement. How could there be peace in perpetual coming and going? Peace reigns where no coming exists and no going, no melting and no burning. Reverse your course, advance towards Him then there will be hope of peace.

 

By your japa and meditation those who are close to you will also benefit through the helpful influence of your presence. In order to develop a taste for meditation you have to make a deliberate and sustained effort just as children have to be made to sit and study, be it by persuasion or coercion. 

 

By taking medicine or having injections a patient may get well; even if you do not feel inclined to meditate, conquer your reluctance and make an attempt. 

 

The habit of countless lives is pulling you in the opposite direction and making it difficult for you - persevere in spite of it! By your tenacity you will gain strength and be moulded; that is to say, you will develop the capability to do sadhana. Make up your mind that however arduous the task, it will have to be accomplished. Recognition and fame last for a short time only, they do not accompany you when you leave this world. If your thought does not naturally flow towards the Eternal, fix it there by an effort of will.

 

The obstinacy of the mind must be curbed with resoluteness. Whether the mind co-operates or not, you must be adamant in your determination to do a certain amount of practice without fail - simply because sadhana is man’s real work. For so long you have been accustomed to perform actions that fetter, therefore from sheer force of habit you feel the urge to bind yourself by activity again and again. But if you try hard for some time, you will be able to see for yourself how you are caught in your work, and that the more you engage in sadhana the quicker will be your advance.

 

As to self-surrender: by constantly endeavoring to live a life of self-dedication, it will come about one day. What does self-surrender mean (or, what is the use of saying I surrender), if not to surrender to one’s very own Self!!”

 

 Love.