Dhyana Vahini - Post 39

Chapter XIV

Swami continues,

"About anger, spiritual aspirants have to be vigilant even about the most minor matters that might provoke them, because if they are careless, they cannot progress in the least. Such people must cultivate a humble, loving spirit. Then the bad traits will disappear. Some aspirants become very angry when someone discovers and announces to them the bad traits they possess. This makes matters worse!

Eliminate pride

Aspirants must always have the inward look; if they allow the mind to wander outward, they cannot identify their own faults. Pride prevents the inward look and confuses the examination of the mind. When aspirants want to achieve success, they must bow down to those who point out their faults. That is the way to progress quickly and fast in the path of meditation. And they must endeavor not to entertain the faults any longer.

It is hard to get rid of pride and self-love or ego (ahamkara), for everyone has been shaping this life from the beginningless period. Everyone has been allowing their mind to flow in the direction it likes for ages past, so it is very difficult now to turn it from its accustomed path and bend its steps in another direction.

Individuals full of I (aham) love to exercise authority over others. They will not agree with others that it is “bondage”, for the arguments of others are not advanced by them! They see everything through glasses coloured by the smoke of selfishness and self-love. “My words are true.” “My opinion is correct.” “My deeds are right.” Thus, they feel and thus they spend their days. Such behaviour is very harmful for spiritual aspirants. They must look forward eagerly to any helpful criticism or suggestion or advice, from whatever quarter.

Besides, aspirants must minimize all discussion and argumentation, for this breeds a spirit of rivalry and leads one on to angry reprisals and vengeful fighting. Do not struggle to earn the esteem of the world. Do not feel humiliated or angry when the world does not recognize you or your merits. Learn this first and foremost if you are an aspirant for spiritual success. Do not become happy when you are being praised; therein lies a deadly trap, which might even lead you astray and endanger your progress.

Thus, you must reform your mental traits and habits. Cultivate the habit of never causing pain to others. Try to understand others and sympathize with them and do things that will be helpful. Train yourself to take insult and criticism as “decorations” awarded to you. Struggle hard to be friendly with everyone, whatever their nature or conduct. 

A sense of joy is necessary for meditation and concentration to progress, but many things deprive you of the atmosphere of joy. So, you must pray sincerely, to be free from such obstacles. The recital or repetition of mantras will be of great help.

Introspection

There is nothing to write on today’s Dhyana Vahini post as Swami has written so clearly that anyone can understand.

Let us just take one part from today’s post where Swami Says,

“Do not struggle to earn the esteem of the world. Do not feel humiliated or angry when the world does not recognize you or your merits.”

“Do not become happy when you are being praised; therein lies a deadly trap, which might even lead you astray and endanger your progress.”

In this context, instantly, a verse from Vivekachudamani came into author’s thought, which he has quoted many times in various spiritual sessions.

This verse is about a Jivanmukhta, one who is liberated while he is alive.

This verse echoes exactly the portion taken up in today’s introspection.

It goes like this,

इष्टानिष्टार्थसम्प्राप्तौ समदर्शितयात्मनि ।

उभयत्राविकारित्वं जीवन्मुक्तस्य लक्षणम् ॥ ४३४ ॥

iṣṭāniṣṭārthasamprāptau samadarśitayātmani |

ubhayatrāvikāritvaṃ jīvanmuktasya lakṣaṇam ॥434॥

434. When things pleasant or painful present themselves, to remain unruffled in mind in both cases, through the sameness of attitude, is a characteristic of one liberated-in-life.

Describing this quality of Jivanmukhta, Swami Chinmayananda in one verse of this sacred treatise, says,

“Adorations or censures, reach His bosom and disappear from there, without creating an impact in him and there, He exists, ever rooted in consciousness ( Stitaprajna).”

So, in the context of what Swami has written, this mental attitude of not being affected by praise or abuse must be practised by a sincere seeker in the beginning and it requires deliberate efforts in the beginning. 

However, this is the very nature of the one who realizes SELF, as given in the Vivekachudamani verse.

And, towards the end of today's portion, Swami leaves a very important message for all sincere spiritual seekers. He writes,

"A sense of joy is necessary for meditation and concentration to progress, but many things deprive you of the atmosphere of joy.

Dear Seekers,

Spiritual Sadhana, as we evolve from the kindergarten stage, must be taken up with great sense of joy, great sense of motivation, great sense of exuberance.

Sadhana is never an escapism from misery, to be filled in misery and then crying out to the Lord in sadhana to remove misery.

It is precisely for this purpose that Swami advises students to take up simple bhajans giving great ananda, with expressions filled with Ananda.

Swami says, keep all your sad moods, sad bhajans to yourself and sing when you are alone. When you are in group bhajan singing, sing with joy, for, that joy would spread in the gathering very fast. 

 

Love.