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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dhyana Vahini - Post 38

 

Chapter XIV

 

Remove Defects in Character

 

"But you should avoid the difficult obstacles in the path of meditation, viz. anger, pride, conceit, the tendency to discover the faults of others, mischief, etc. These operate even subconsciously, as the currents in the depths of the ocean.

Spiritual aspirants must be vigilant not to lose their temper on even small things, for that will block their progress. They must cultivate love toward all, and meekness. Then, undesirable habits will fall away from them, since anger is the parent of all wrong behaviour. Anger can turn any person into bad ways, any moment, and in any form. So it should be sublimated first by systematic effort.

Spiritual aspirants must welcome gladly the announcement of their defects by anyone; indeed, they must be grateful to those who point them out. Aspirants must never entertain hatred against them, for that is as bad as hating the “good”. The “good” has to be loved and the “bad” discarded. Remember, the “bad” should not be hated. It has to be given up, avoided. Only people who can do this can achieve progress in meditation and spiritual wisdom.

Conceit, jealousy, the passionate (rajasic) exhibition of one’s superiority, anger, the craving to inform oneself of the weakness of others and their failings, trickery —all these are obstacles in the path of meditation. Even if these are not patently exhibited, the inner impulses urging one along these wrong directions are latent in the mind.

Just as a room kept closed for a long time is found dust-ridden and foul-smelling, is opened, cleaned, and made habitable by elaborate sweeping and dusting, so the mind has to be cleaned by meditation. Spiritual aspirants must, by inward observation, examine the mind and its contents and condition. By proper disciplinary habits, the accumulated dirt should be removed little by little, systematically. 

Conceit, for example, is deep-rooted and unyielding. In the passionate (rajasic) mind, it puts forth many branches in all directions and spreads everywhere. It might appear to be dry and dead for some time, but it will sprout again, easily. As soon as a chance arises for its exhibition, it will raise its hood. So, spiritual aspirants have to be ever vigilant."

 

Introspection

Swami has given the following factors as obstacles in meditation

*           Conceit 

*           Jealousy 

*          The passionate (rajasic) exhibition of one’s superiority    

*          Anger 

*      The craving to inform oneself of the weakness of others and their failings

*           Trickery 

Basically, all of them and even more such obstacles, stem from one single root cause, which is Ego / avidya or ignorance of one’s true divine nature.

On conceit, a monk writes,

“Conceit (Pride) is the cause of self-destruction

Once upon a time, a horse named Keshi represented the demon of vanity. Such a big, gigantic powerful horse scattering the clouds, causing the earth to tremble he actually had the audacity to think that he can conquer Krishna himself, such vanity. 

But Krishna got him perfectly, because everyone knows, if you want to control a horse it’s through his mouth. So, Krishna knows the weakness of everyone and He put His hand right in the mouth of Keshi. 

When we are proud it is inevitable, we have to offend, criticize & defame others, which is the greatest detriment to our spiritual lives.

How to think that I am the servant of the servant of the servant of the servant even though I have so many qualifications. I am a senior devotee, I have been around for a long time, I have been loyal to my wows, so many people are coming & respecting me with folded hands?.

How can I feel myself the insignificant servant of those people who are coming & honoring me? Very difficult but it is essential. Bhakti is not material, Krishna is pleased by our state of consciousness, by our humility, by our surrender by our dedication to the service of his devotees; and that service should be from the heart.” 

 

Love.

 

Dhyana Vahini - Post 37

Chapter XIII

Cultivate good habits before concentration

Form (rupa) is fundamental for concentration and meditation. Even in the absence of the form in front of you, you should have the capacity to visualize it. This is not so difficult for those whose concentration is correct. But some practise concentration without first cultivating good habits and right conduct. 

That is a sign of incomplete knowledge. Concentration must have the pure qualities (sathwa-gunas) as the basis. The mind has to be purified by proper treatment of the character through good habits. Concentration must follow this purification process, not precede it. All effort for concentration without cleansing the mind is a sheer waste of time. Many great men have ruined their careers by aspiring early for concentration, without the discipline of good habits.

Make slow but steady progress

Again, in concentration you must be careful not to have as the object something your mind does not like, for however hard you try, your mind will not stay on it. Therefore, in the beginning, have some object that is a source of joy.

Sit in the lotus (padmasana) pose and fix your eyes on the tip of your nose. In the beginning, for a minute; then for three minutes; some days later, for six; and after some time, for as long as nine minutes. Thus, the concentration must be strengthened gradually, without undue hurry. In this way, it can be held for even half an hour, with the lapse of time. But do not force the pace. Slowly and steadily, the discipline must be developed.

With practice, the mind will get fixed, and the power of concentration will increase. To attain concentration and acquire one-pointedness, you must undergo exertion to some extent. You must fasten your mind on the Lord and keep off all other thoughts from the mental plane. By constant exercise of this type, your vision will be firmly fixed on the Lord residing in your heart. That is, verily, the goal, the full fruition of meditation.

Concentration, according to yoga scriptures, is the fixing of the mind on one object, without any deviation. Concentration alone can make meditation successful. Its very nature is one-pointedness; its power will negate hesitation. It is caused by spiritual bliss. The name is essential for meditation, for that alone can ensure quick success. Even if complete faith is not forthcoming quickly, the practice must not be given up or changed, for practice will certainly yield victory. Meditation is spiritual strength, the strength that will keep off the disease of worldliness (samsara).

Introspection

A follower of Paramahamsa Yogananda writes, 

Concentration Is Everything

The mind, in meditation must be so perfectly still that not a ripple of thought enters it. God, the Subtlest Reality, cannot be perceived except in utter silence.

Perfect peace requires perfect stillness of mind, just as the surface of a mountain lake requires complete calm if it is to reflect the sky. Only in deep concentration can you discover the hidden depths of your spiritual nature. 

Fortunately, concentration is like a muscle — the more you exercise it, the stronger it becomes. To increase your ability to concentrate, strive to make each meditation deeper than the one before. When you meditate with this kind of intensity, you will find your practice helped tremendously.

Simple techniques can help you concentrate more deeply

Knowing how important concentration is, people sometimes become discouraged over their inability to hold their minds steady in meditation. 

We need to realize, however, that completely quieting the mind is the goal of meditation, and not something we will necessarily experience right away. 

No one expects to master the guitar the first time he plays, and this is true for meditation, whose very mastery reveals Infinity to us. 

For countless lives we have allowed our minds to run free and undisciplined, like unruly children. How do badly behaved children act when you try to discipline them? They rebel, just as the mind does when we first try to meditate. 

So, we shouldn’t feel surprised if we experience a sense of restlessness or rebelliousness in the beginning. Our mind, however, will learn to behave — just like children do — once it realizes we’re serious.

Meditation Tips for Concentration

Swami Kriyananda offers the following suggestions on concentration from his book, Rays of the One Light:

The devotee, to protect the candle flame of his concentration from the gusts of restlessness, must try to banish from his mind all images, all worldly scenes, the words of others, the remembered episodes in his life, all thought of physical pleasures, his plans for the future. Nothing must tempt him to stray from his fixed purpose while his soul calls to God.

To protect his concentration from sensory invasion, he must first control his response to outward stimuli. He should train his will not to respond to sensations of heat or cold, comfort or discomfort, restlessness, or fatigue.

With a little discipline of the body at the beginning of meditation, and with the strong determination not to move or fidget about, the body’s demands will grow weaker. After even five minutes of this discipline, one may find it easy to sit for a long period without even wanting to move.

Most of the difficulty encountered in meditation is due to physical tension. Once tension is removed by the practice of deep relaxation, one finds meditation itself becoming increasingly enjoyable.

Again, with a little mental self-discipline at the beginning of meditation, one finds it increasingly easy to remain without thought.

Tell your mind firmly the moment you become settled on your seat to meditate, “This is my time for God.” If restless thoughts try insistently to engage your attention, reassure them, “We’ll discuss these things later!”

Love.