HOW TO BE IN POSITIVE THOUGHTS

 

         

                                 POSITIVE THINKING

                 THE WAY ONE THINKS, AFFECTS ONE'S BODY AS WELL AS MIND. POSITIVE THOUGHTS CALM THE MIND AND NEGATIVE FEELINGS AGITATE THE MIND. IF THERE ARE RIPPLES IN WATER THEN ONE CAN NOT SEE THE SURFACE OF LAKE BUT IF THE WATER IS STILL INE CAN SEE THE SURFACE OF LAKE CLEARLY. SIMILARLY WHEN MIND IS STILL AND NO THOUGHTS ARE ARISING THEN IT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO PEEK INSIDE AND EXPERIENCE THE INNER SELF.

                    WHAT ONE MUSES DURINT THE WHOLE DAY AFFECTS THE MIND WHILE MEDITATING ! ONE HOUR OF MEDITATION IS AFFECTED BY THE THOUGHT PRODUCED IN ONE'S MIND THROUGHOUT TWENTY THREE HOURS! DURING THE WHOLE DAY, POSITIVE FEELINGS LIKE KINDNESS, TRUTHFULESSM HOSESTY, WILL HELP IN EASY CONCENTRATION OF MIND WHEREAS NEGATIVE FEELINGS LIKE STEALING DECEIVING,  DISHONESTY WILL KEEP HAUNTING THE MIND EVEN DURING MEDITATIVE HOURS. NEGATIVE THOUGHTS STIR UP THE MIND. MIND BECOMES BUSY IN PRODUCING ONE BAD THOUGHTS AFTER ANOTHER WITH THE RESULT IT IS NOT CONCENTRATED ON ONE POINT. NEGATIVE THOUGHTS DRAIN OUT ONE'S PRECIOUS ENERGY AND DON'T ALLOW ONE TO STAY IN THE PRESENT MOMENT. ONE CAN VERY EASILY FALL PREY TO NEGATIVE THINKING. THE MORE ONE THINKS ABOUT THE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS. THE BIGGEST THEY GROW. ONE SMALL NEGATIVE THOUGHTS CAN TURN HUGE AND DO BLUNDERS. THAT'S WHY EVEN A SINGLE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS SHOULD BE CHECKED FROM ENTERING THE MIND.

                  SOMETIMES, A SINGLE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS OF THE SAME FOREC AND INTENSITY ENTERS ONE'S MIND. AFTER THAT, THE NEEDLE TIP NEGATIVITY INCREASES ITS SIZE MAKING ONE'S LIFE HELL.

                      ONE SHOULD KEEP MOVING ON THE SPIRITUAL PATH OVERCOMING OBSTACLES COMING THE PATH. ONE SHOULD ENJOY THE JOURNEY ONE IS MOVING ON AND NOT ONLY THE DESTINATION. ONE SHOULD TAKE PLEASURE IN DOING  THE WORK AND SHOULD NOT RELISH THE MERE REWARD. ONE SHOULD CONSIDER ONE'S TROUBLES AS A GIFT FROM GOD TO IMPROVE ONESELF AND TO MAKE ONE A BETTER PERSON.

                      THERE IS AN OLD SAYING 'AS YOU SOW SO SHALL YOU REAP'. THE POSITIVE ACTIONS WILL GIVE POSITIVE FRUITS AND NEGATIVE WILL GIVE NEGATIVE RESULTS. NEGATIVE SITUATIONS ARISING IN THE FUTURE LIFE CAN DECREASED BY DOING POSITIVE DEEDS IN THE PRESENT. THEREFORE, ALWAYS THINK POSITIVE AND MAINTAIN POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS LIFE IRRESPECTIVE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES. ALWAYS DO GOOD DEEDS. ALWAYS FORM HIGH-QUALITY HABITS.

                    IN GENERAL THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF PERSONS. IN FIRST CATEGORY, THOSE PERSONS WHO FEEL DEPRESSED AND LOW ARE COVERED. THEY ARE PESSIMISTIC. THEY EXTRACT POSITIVE ENERGY FROM THE ENVIROMENT AND SURROUNDINGS. IN SECOND CATEGORY ARE THE PERSONS WHO FEEL HAPPY AND SATISFIED IN ALL CONDITIONS. THEY ARE OPTIMISTIC.

                       OPTIMISTIC PERSONS ARE ALWAYS BUBBLING WITH POSITIVE ENERGY. SUCH PERSONS ALWAYS GIVE POSITIVE VIBES IN THE ENVIRONMENT THEY LIVE. ALWAYS TRY TO BE THE PERSONS OF SECOND CATEGORY - GIVER OF POSITIVE VIBES.

                    ONE SHOULD SPREAD POSITIVE AND GOOD THOUGHTS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

                       MEDITATION IS NOT JUST SITTING WITH CLOSED EYES FOR HOURS IN A ROOM. NO, IT IS NOT MEDITATION. MEDITATION MEANS THAT YOU ARE TOTALLY INVOLVED IN WHATEVER YOU ARE DOING. IT MAY BE COOKING FOOD, IT MAY BE DOING YOUR OFFICE WORK OR IT MAY BE DOING SOCIAL SERVICE. FORGET YOURSELF IN DOING THAT TASK. AND WHEN YOU COME OUT OF IT YOU HAVE TO ERASE THE FACTOR. 'I' FROM IT. YOU HAVE TO WIPE OUT" I DID THE WORK' THIS IS WHAT MEDITATION MEANS TO BE COMPLETELY ABSORBED IN WORK WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT THE FACTOR "I". A SAINT EXPLAINED THE MEANING OF MEDITATION  TO AN ELDERLY WOMEN. MAKER EVERY ACTION OF LIFE A PART OF MEDITATION. DO ALL THE CHORES THINKING THAT YOU ARE IN SERVICE TO GOD. YOU ARE DOING IT FOR YOUR VERY OWN GOD. AND YOU DO NOT WANT ANYTHING IN RETURN FROM GOD. OR YOU ARE DOING IF FOR THE WELFARE OF SOCIETY AND YOU DO NOT EXPECT ANYTHING IN RETURN FROM THEM. OR THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU AND OTHERS. MOREOVER YOU ENJOY ACTIONS OF LIKE YOU ENJOY MEDITATION. "HE PAUSED FOR A FEW SECONDS AND CONTINUED. WHATEVER YOU THINK BUT THERE SHOULD NOT BE " I FACTOR" OR THAT "I AM THE DOER OF THIS TASK" THINK THAT YOU ARE JUST A CHANNEL THROUGH WHICH THAT WORK IS DOING DONE".

PROPER FOOD AND RELAXATION IN MEDITATION

 

                       

                             PROPER RELAXATION

                   BODY AND MIND CAN BE RELAXED BY DOING RELAXATION EXERCISES LIKE SHAVASANA (CORPSE POSE),  MEDITATION AND PRANAYAMA. RELAXATION THOROUGHLY REJUVENATES NERVES, MUSCLES AND PROVIDES INNER PEACE. SLEEP CAN ALSO RELAX BODY TO SOME EXTENT. BODY AND MIND CAN BE RELAXED BY KEEPING THE FOLLOWING POINTS IN MIND.

                 ❤     1. ONE SHOULD SLEEP NOT TOO MUCH NOR TOO LESS. THE MODERATE SLEEP IS GOOD.

                 ❤      2. AN OLD SAYING IS "EARLY TO BE AND EARLY TO RISE, MAKES A MAN HEALTHY, WEALTHY AND WISE'. ONE SHOULD AVOID SLEEPING LATE AT NIGHT. MOREOVER, ONE SHOULD WAKE UP EARLY IN THE MORNING .

                ❤      3. MEDITATION SOOTHES BODY AND MIND. DOING MEDITATION OUTDOORS RELAXES BODY AND MIND AS ONE COMES IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH NATURE. ON HILLS, THE OXYGEN IS LESS WHICH HELPS IN BETTER CONVERSATION.

               ❤        4. LISTENING TO CLASSICAL MUSIC, DEVOTIONAL SONGS AND LECTURES BY SAINTS HELPS IN KEEPING THE MIND CAN.

              ❤     5. READING SCRIPTURES AND SACRED BOOK IS GOOD FOR MIND'S HEALTH.

              ❤      6. DATING ON DEVOTIONAL SONGS RELAXES BODY AND MIND.

             ❤ 7. PAINTING AND DRAWING LORD'S IMAGE HELPS IN KEEPING THE MIND SERENE IN EVEN TURBULENT SITUATIONS.

                   PROPER RELAXATION MEANS THAT ONE SHOULD BE PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY AND SPIRITUALLY RELAXED. MENTAL RELAXATION CAN ONLY BE COMPLETELY ACHIEVED IF THERE IS SPIRITUAL PEACE. I'LL ONE IDENTIFIES ONESELF WITH BODY AND MIND, ONE CAN'T BE COMPLETELY RELAXEDAS HERE WILL BE EMOTIONS LIKE FEAR, ANGER, GREED, WORRY AND DOUBT. TO BE SPIRITUALLY ELAXED ONE HAS TO DETACH ONE SELF AND TO BE A MERE WITNESS OF BODY AND MIND. TO BE ONE WITH THE SELF GIVE SUPREME PEACE.

                                     PROPER  DIET

                  YOGA BECOMES THE DESTROYER OF PAIN FOR HIM WHO IS ALWAYS MODERATE IN EATING AND RECREATION (SUCH AS WALKING , ETC), WHO IS MODERATE IN EXERTION IN ACTION, FOOD SHOULD BE BOUGHT WITH MONEY THAT IS EARNED BY RIGHTEOUS METHODS AND NOT BY ILLEGAL OR DECEITFUL WAYS. THE FOLLOWING POINTS RELATED TO DIETARY HABITS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.

   

                           👀    1. THE FOOD SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN TO PLEASE THE TONGUE RATHER SHOULD BE TAKEN TO MAINTAIN GOOD HEALTH.

                          👀    2. THE FOOD SHOULD BE TAKEN IN PROPER AMOUNT NEITHER TOO LESS NOR TOO MUCH .

                         👀        3.  ONE SHOULD EAT SMALLE QUANTITY OF FOOD REGULAR INTERVALS INSTEAD OF HAVING TWO OR THREE LARGE MEALS.

                          👀         4. STOP EATING BEFORE YOU FEEL FULL.

                         👀       5.  ONE SHOULD NOT BE IN A HUNGREY WHILE TAKING MEALS.

   

                          👀        6. ONE SHOULD CHEW THE FOOD PROPERLY AND SHOULD THINK ABOUT GOD WHILE TAKING MEALS.

                          👀        7. ONE SHOULD NOT EAT ANYTHING LATE AT NIGHT.

                         👀        8. THE MEAL SHOULD BE TAKEN IN SMALL QUANTITY THAT CAN BE DIGESTED EASILY.

                         👀       9. ONE SHOULD AVOIDE TAKING PRESERVED, SPICY AND JUNK FOOD.

                       👀        10. MEAL SHOULD BE NUTRITIVE AND SHOULD BE ACCORDING TO THE GENERA HEALTH OF ONE'S BODY.

                       👀   11. A BALANCED DIET CONTAINING CARBOBYDRATES, PROTEINS, VITAMINS, FATS AND MINERALS IS RECOMMENDED. ENOUGH FIBRES SHOULD BE PRESENT IN DIET.

                      👀   12. UNCOOKED FLOWERS, ROOTS, STEMS, FRUITS, LEAVES ARE BEST. GREEN SALAD AND SPROUTS SHOULD BE TAKEN DAILY. ACCORDING TO J.K DAGAR, THE MORE CLOSELY OUR FOOD IS TO ITS NATURAL ORIGINAL FORM, THE BETTER THE FOOD IS, SO, EAT THE FOOD IN ITS RAW FORM AS FAS AS POSSIBLE.

                      👀        13. WATER DRINKING SHOULD BE AVOIDED WITH MEALS.

                       👀      14. ONE SHOULD DRINK PRENTY OF WATER IN BETWEEN THE TWO MEALS.

                      👀      15. AS SOON AS ONE WAKES UP IN THE MORNING, ONE SHOULD GULP DOWN PLENTY OF WATER.

                     ONE SHOULD BRING THE CHANGES IN EATING HABITS TO GET SUCCESS IN MEDITATION.

JAPA MANTRA

                          JAPA MANTRA AND ITS USES

                    THE FOLLOWING POINTS SHOULD BE FOLLOWED WHILE DOING MEDITATION:

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                1. A ROSARY MALA IS USED TO RECITE THE MANTRA. ONE CAN USE A MALA OF 108 BEADS OF RUDRAKSHA SEED, TULSI (BASIL) OR CHANDAN (SANDA) WOOD. RUDRAKSHA MALA IS USED WITH SHIVA MANTRAS. IT CALMS THE MIND. TULSI MALA ENHANCES THE DEVOTION AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH OF THE USER. A SANDAL WOOD MALA HAS FRAGRANCE. IT REPELS NEGATIVE THOUGHTS AND PURIFIES MIND AND SPIRIT.

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                2. A MALA IS USED AS A WHIP TO GUARD THE MIND AS MIND IS VERY NAUGHTY. IT WILL START DISTRACTING DURING MEDITATION IF ONE IS FEELING ACTIVE OR WILL SLEEP IF ONE IS HAVING LOW ENERGY.

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              3. THE MALA HELPS IN CONTROLLIN THE MIND FROM WANDERING AND HELPS IN ACHIEVING SINGLE-MINDEDNESS.

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              4. IN A MALA ALL BEADS ARE STRUNG TOGETHER AND WITH EACH BEAD MANTRA IS RECITED. THE CONTINUOUS RECITATION OF MANTRA ONE AFTER ANOTHER WITHOUT ANY BREAK KEEPS THE MIND OCCUPIED . IT ACTS LIKE AN ANCHOR.

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               5. THE MALA BEADS ARE ROTATED IN RYTHM WITH MANTRA AND BREATH WHICH SHUMS THE FANTASIES AS WELL AS SLEEP. WITH THE HELP OF ROSARY, A LAZY PERSON CAN BECOME ACTIVE AND A DEVILISH MIND CAN BECOME DOCILE.

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               6. BECAUSE OF CONTINUOUS EFFORTS MANTRA DOES NOT LEAVE THE MIND. AT THAT STAGE THE ROSARY MAY BE DROPPED. BUT FOR BEGINNERS IT IS THE BEST TOOL TO FOCUS THE MIND.

                                                       👀

                      👉   TODAY I DID TEN ROSARY ROUNDS OF MANTRA, "MR.'J' SAID, 

                        WHAT IF YOU CAN'T FOCUS YOUR MIND ON THE MANTRA

                        WHILE CHANTING AND THE MIND STARTS WANDERING? MS. 'Z' ASKED.

                        THEN I DO TWO EXTRA ROUNDS". HE BEAMED.  👈

                                                        👀

                   7. HOLD THE ROSARY MALA IN HAND NEVER BELOW THE NAVEL BUT TO HEART.

                                                        👀

                 8. ALWAYS COVER THE ROSARY MALA WITH A CLEAN CLOTH OR HANDKERCHIEF SO THAT OTHERS CAN'T SEE IT.

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                 9. ONE SHOULD USE THE MIDDLE FINGER AND THE THUMB TO ROLL THE BEADS. THE INDEX FINGER SHOULD NOT BE USED IN ROLLING BEADS.

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                10. MERU OF THE MALA (HEAD BEAD) SHOULD NOT BE CROSSED. ON REACHING NEAR IT, ONE SHOULD TURN AROUND WITHOUT CROSSING THE HEAD BEAD TO COMPLETE ONE MORE CYCLE.

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              11. WHILE REPEATING THE MANTRA ONE'S MIND SHOULD NOT WANDER IN WORLDLY CHORES. ONE SHOULD TRY TO CONCENTRATE ONE'S MIND ON LORD. PLACE THE IMAGE OF DEITY OF THE MANTRA IN THE FRONT OF EYES. FEEL THE BLESSINGS BEING SHOWERED BY THE DEITY. IF CONCENTRATING ON OM THEN TRY TO FOCUS MIND ON FLAME OF DIYA.

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                12. NEVER CHANT THE MANTRA IN A HURRIED WAY. ALWAYS CHANT IT WITH FULL BHAVA OR DEVOTION. CONCENTRATE ON ITS MEANING AND NOT ON THE SPEED.

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                13. IF MIND BEGINS TO WANDER THEN ONE INCREASE THE SPEED OF THE MANTRA. IT IS NECESSARY TO KEEP MIND ALERT DURING PRAYERS.

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                 14. PRONUNCIATION OF THE MANTRA SHOULD BE ACCURATE.

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                15. FOCUS MIND ON THE MANTRA AND AVOID ANY SORT OF SOUND DISTRACTIONS FROM T.V. RADIO  OR MOBILE. BETTER TO KEEP THE MOBILE ON SILENT MODE WHILE MEDITATING. CLOSE THE DOOR OF YOUR ROOM TO MAINTAIN SILENCE IN THE ROOM. SURDAS SAID, "TATEIN SAB CHINTA KARI TAYAG. SURDAS KAROON HARI-PAD ANURAG! (THAT'S WHY SHED ALL TENSIONS, WORSHIP HARI-FEET WITH DEVOTION!)

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SELFISHNESS AND DESIRE

 

                             THE SPIRITUAL ADVICE

                      SHE CONFUSED BETWEEN HER SELFISH DESIRE AND DESIRE FOR SOCIAL AS WELL AS SPIRITUAL CAUSE.

                      DESIRE IS THE LONGING FOR A PERSON, OBJECT OR OUTCOME. THERE IS WIDE DIVERSITY OF DESIRES BUT IN GENERAL THERE ARE TWO CATEGORIES OF DESIRES - ONE IS WORLDLY DESIRE AND OTHER IS SPIRITUAL DESIRE . THE DESIRE WHICH PLEASES FIVE SENSES I.E. EYES THROUGH SEEING, EARS THROUGH HEARING, NOSE THROUGH SMELLING, TONGUE THROUGH TASTING AND SKIN THROUGH TOUCHING COMES UNDER WORDLY DESIRES. ON FULLFILLMENT OF SUCH DESIRES, ATTACHMENT WITH THE WORLDLY THINGS INCREASES. THE DESIRE WHICH DOESN'T FULFILL SENSUAL PEASURES BUT HELPS ONE IN BECOMING A BETTER PERSON BY DOING SOCIAL SERVICE OR MEDITATION COMES UNDER SPIRITUAL DESIRES. IN SUCH DESIRES THERE IS NON-ATTACHMENT WITH THE MATERIALISTIC WORLD.

                     THE HUMAN MIND IS SO ACQUISITIVE THAT ON GETTING ONE, IT YEARS FOR MORE AND MORE. IF ONE WORLDY DESIRE IS FULLFILLED THEN THAT ACCOMPLISHED DESIRE GAVE BIRTH TO TEN NEW DESIRES IN MIND. CHARLES JOHNTON STATED THAT THE DESIRE IS NOT QUENCHED BY POURING OIL ON IT. SO DESIRE IS NOT QUENCHED WITH THE SATISFACTION OF DESIRE. DESIRES WILL NOT ONLY BRING HAPPINESS BUT SORROW, TROUBLE AND SADNESS ALSO. CONTINUOUS THINKING ABOUT THE DESIRE.  FULLFILLMENT OF DESIRES, PLEASURE DERIVED FROM THE ENHOYMENT OF THE OBJECTS BRING ATTACHMENT IN MIND WITH THE WORLDLY OBJECTS. IF DESIRE IS FULLFILLED THEN IT INCREASES LOBHA (GREED) AND ONE WANTS MORE AND MORE. IF ANY OBSTACLES COMES IN THE FULLFILLMENT OF DESIRE IT LEADS TO KRODHA (ANGER). SO , DESIRE IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF ALL EVILS.

                   IF ONE RUNS AFTER THE DESIRES, THEY WILL RUN WITH DOUBLE THE SPEED AWAY FROM ONESELF, IF ONE DOES NOT PAY ATTENTION TO THEM, THEY WILL COME TOWARDS ONE. IGNORE ALL WORLDLY DESIRES LIKE THIS BALL. DESIRES SHOULD "LET GO OFF". THE EASIEST WAY TO GET RID OF WORLDLY DESIRES IS TO THINK ABOUT GOD. THEN SLOWLY AND GRADUALLY DETACHMENT FOR WORLDY OBJECTS WILL GROW.

                   THEN WHATEVER HEPPENS, IT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO AFFECT ONE'S MIND. GOOD RESULTS WILL NOT PROVIDE PLEASURE AND BAD RESULTS WILL NOT GIVE SADNESS AND SORROW.

                        YOU ARE WHAT YOUR DEEP, DIVING DESIRE IS.

                        AS YOUR DESIRE IS, DO IS YOUR DEED,

                       AS YOUR WILL IS, SO IS YOUR DEED,

                       AS YOUR DEED IS, SO IS YOUR DESTINY, 

                        BRIHADARANYAKA UPANISHAD

                    IT IS THE DESIRE WHICH DECIDES ONE'S DESTINY HENCE ONE SHOULD ONE'S VERY BEST TO HAVE DESIRE FOR GOD ONLY AND NOTHING ELSE. MEDITATION IS THE ROYAL ROAD TO THE ATTAINMENT OF FREEDOM FROM WORLDY DESIRES. IT REMOVES DARKNESS AND BRINGS LIGHT IN ONE'S LIFE. IT REMOVES IGNORANCE AND GIVES KNOWLEDGE. IT REMOVES PAIN AND BRINGS PEACE AND BLISS IN ONE'S LIFE. ACCORDING TO SWAMI SIVANANDA MEDITATION IS A MYSTERIOUS LADDER WHICH REACHES FROM EARTH TO HEAVEN, FROM ERROR TO TRUTH, FROM RESTLESSNESS TO ABIDING PEACE AND FROM MORTALITY TO IMMORTALITY.

                       FIXING OF GOAL (SHORT TIME AND LONG TERM)

                 WHO AM I ? WHY AM I BORN ON THIS PLANET? FROM WHERE DID I COME FROM? WHAT WAS I BEFORE COMING ON EARTH? WHY OTHERS ARE RICH AND I AM POOR? WHAT IS THE GOAL OF MY LIFE? WHY THE LIFE OF OTHERS IS SO EASY AND MINE SO DIFFICULT? WHERE WILL GO AFTER DEATH?

                  SUCH QUESTIONES AND MANY MORE LIKE THESE ARISE IN EVERYBODY'S MIND, ONE OR THE OTHER TIME IN LIFE. SOME FORGET AND DON'T BOTHER ABOUT THEM IN BUSY DAILY ROUTINE OF THEIR LIVES WHEREAS SOME OTHERS TRY TO FIND THE ANSWER AND A FEW FIND THE TRUTH. THOSE WHO FOUND THE TRUTH HAVE PEACEFUL MIND AND ARE CONTENTED IN EVERY SITUATION. ACCORDING TO SWAMI VISHNUDEVANANDA, THE MEANING OF LIFE IS FOUND BY DIVING DEEP, DEEP WITHIN. A JOURNEY WITHIN IS MEDITATION!.

                    GOAL IS THE DESIRED END POINT WHICH CLEARLY STATES THE HIGHEST PRIORITIES WHETHER PERSONAL, PROFESSIONAL OR SPIRITUAL. THERE CAN NOT BE ANY PROPER ACHIEVEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT GOAL. THEREFORE, ONE SHOULD SET AIM IN LIFE TO IMPROVE ONE'S FUTURE. TO SUCCEED IN SPIRITUAL PATH ONE SHOULD ALSO SET GOAL AND THEN FURTHER BREAK IN INTO SHORT-TERM, INTERMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM GOALS.

                  MEDITATION IS ATTAINED STEP BY STEP. IT IS A QUESTION, NOT OF MIRACLE, BUT OF EVOLUTION, OF GROWTH. TO MASTER A LANGUAGE, A PERSON LEARNS ALPHABETS FIRST, THEN WORDS, SENTENCE FORMATION, TENSE, MODALS ETC. SEQUENTIALLY, A PERSON WHO LEARNS MATHEMATICS FIRST LEARNS COUNTING THEN ADDITION, SUBTRACTION, MULTIPLICATION, DIVISION, TABLES, THEOREMS ETC. IN THE SIMILAR WAY SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE GROWS SLOWLY AS IT IS A STEP BY STEP PROCESS.

CONCENTRATION IN MEDITATION

                              HOW TO CONCENTRATE

                                      IN MEDITATION

                       MIND CAN BE EASILY CONCENTRATED WHILE WATCHING TV SERIALS, MOVIES AND INTERESTING DOCUMENTARIES. MIND CAN BE FOCUSED WITHOUT ANY EFFORT WHILE READING NOVELS AND COMICS AND PLAYING VIDEO GAMES. MOST OF THE PERSONS FIND IT DIFFICULT TO CONCENTRATE MIND ON TEXT BOOKS AND OTHER BOOKS WHICH REQUIRE SERIOUS READING. MIND IS EASILY CONCENTRATED ON ACTIVITIES THAT IT WANTS TO DO . IT IS ATTRACTED TO PLEASING AND APPEALING OBJECT THINGS.

                    THIS IS THE QUALITY OF MIND . IT IS IMMEDIATELY PERTURBED WITH A SINGLE NEGATIVE THOUGHT. A STONE THROWN IN A STILL WATER HAS THE POWER TO CREATE MANY RIPPLES.

                   MIND IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL NOT ONLY FOR CHILDREN BUT ALSO FOR ADULTS. IT WANDERS HERE AND THERE AND JUMPS ON IRRELEVANT THOUGHTS. ITS RESTLESSNESS IS A BIG OBSTACLES TO CONCENTRATE ON ONE POINT. ONE SHOULD FOCUS MIND ON ONE POINT TO ATTAIN BETTER RESULTS. SURPRISINGLY, THE WORK IS DONE IS LESSER TIME. ONE SHOULD STRENGTHEN THE POWER OF CONCENTRATION THROUGH PRACTICE AND PATIENCE AS IT CLARIFIES IDEAS, MAKES COMPLEX THINGS SIMPLER, REMOVES CONFUSION AND ENHANCES EFFICIENCY AND WORKING CAPACITY. WITH THE RESULTS, ONE CAN ACCOMPLISH MORE WORK IN LESS TIME THUS CAN EARN MORE.

                    CONCENTRATION IS THE FIRST STEP OF MEDITATION. BUT IT IS DIFFICULT TO SAY WHERE CONCENTRATION ENDS AND MEDITATION BEGINS BECAUSE ONE FALLS INTO MEDITATION MUCH LIKE ONE FALLS INTO SLEEP - AN ACTIVITY WHICH CAN'T BE CONTROLLED BY AND HAPPENS JUST LIKE A CONTINUOUS FLOW OF WATER FROM ONE CONTAINER TO ANOTHER. ON SWAMI SAID, THE MORE YOU PRACTISE, THE CRISPER THE CONCENTRATION.

                     ONE'S MIND IS ABSORBED IN SENSUOUS OBJECTS. ONE FEELS ATTACHED TO THOSE OBJECTS. ONE CAN RISE ABOVE THIS BONDAGE CONTROLLING THE MIND. MIND SHOULD BE TRAINED IN SUCH A MANNER SO THAT IT IS NOT ATTRACTED TOWARDS THE GLITTERING OF MATERIALISTIC WORLD. NON-ATTACHMENT TO SENSE OBJECTS LEADS TO LIBERATION. IF MIND IS WITHDRAWN FROM SENSUAL OBJECTS THAN IT BECOMES ONE'S FRIEND. IF MIND IS TRAPPED IN THE PLEASURE SEEKING FROM SENSUAL OBJECTS THEN IT IS ONE'S BIGGEST ENEMY. ONE CAN NEVER BE SATISFIED WITH THE SENSUAL PLEASURE FROM THE EXTERNAL OBJECTS. MIND WANTS TO SEEK MORE AND MORE. HENCE ONE'S OWN MIND BECOMES ONE'S ENEMY.

                    LORD KRISHNA IN THE BHAGAVAD GITA SAYS THAT ONE MUST ELEVATE ONESELF BY ONE'S OWN MIND, NOT DEGRADE ONESELF. THE MIND IS THE FRIEND OF THE CONDITIONED SOULD, AND ONE'S ENEMY AS WELL.

                           RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN 

                             MIND AND BREATHING

                           MIND IS A SPACE WHERE THOUGHTS GENERATE AND REST. THE THOUGHTS GENERATE IN THE INNER SPACE JUST LIKE THE CLOUDS GENERATE IN THE SKY. RAMANA MAHARSHI SAYS THAT MIND IS ONLY A BUNDLE OF THOUGHTS. STOP THINKING AND SHOW ME THEN, WHERE IS THE MIND? STILL MIND LEADS TO THOUGHTS-LESS STATE.

                           PRANAYAMA IS THE GHEE AND SOUL IS THE FIRE. SOUL IS PURIFIED BY DOING PRANAYANA AND MEDITATION. PRANAYAMA IS SIMPLIFIED TERMS MEANS CONTROL OVER PRANA OR REGULATING BREATH BY INCREASING THE TIME PERIOD OF KUMBHAKA, RETENTION OF BREATH. ACCORDING TO SWAMI CHIDANANDA SARASWATHI, "PRANA IS A SUBTLE INVISIBLE FORCE. IT IS THE LIFE-FORCE THAT PERVADES THE BODY. IT IS THE FACTOR THAT CONNECTS THE BODY AND THE MIND, BECAUSE IT IS CONNECTED ON ONE SIDE WITH THE BODY AND ON THE OTHER SIDE WITH THE MIND. IT IS THE CONNECTING LIKE BETWEEN THE BODY AND THE MIND. THE BODY AND THE MIND HAVE NO DIRECT CONNECTION. THEY ARE CONNECTED THROUGH PRANA ONLY.

                               THERE ARE VARIOUS PRANAYAMA (BREATHING EXERCISE) WHICH ARE LISTED BELOW:

 

                        BHASTRIKA - THE FIRST STEP IN PRANAYAMA IS DEEP BREATHING. IT IS A VERY SIMPLE EXERCISE. INHALE DEEPLY AND FILL THE FRESH AIR IN LUNGS AND EXHALE IS SLOWLY. THE SLOWER IT IS DONE, THE BETTER RESULTS IT GIVES. PRACTICE THIS DAILY IN FRESH AIR FOR A FEW MONTHS. EVEN A BED-RIDDEN PATIENT CAN DO THIS EXERCISE WHILE LYING ON BED. THE WINDOWS AND DOORS OF THE ROOM SHOULD BE OPEN.

                      KAPALABHATI - THE AIR IS EXHLAED WITH FORCE WHICH IS BRIEF, ACTIVE AND LOUD WHERE AS NORMAL AIR IS INHALED SILENTLY. IT ALSO GIVES GOOD RESULTS AS IT IS VERY HELPFUL IN REMOVING NEGATIVE ENERGY FROM THE BODY. THIS EXERCISE PROVES TO BE A BLESSING FOR A FATTY PERSON IF DONE REGULARLY.

                     ANULOMA VILOMA - INHALE FROM LEFT NOSTRIL WHILE KEEPING RIGHT NOSTRIL CLOSED WITH THUMB, CLOSE LEFT NOSTRIL WITH MIDDLE FINGER, LIFT THE THUMB FROM RIGHT NOSTRIL TO OPEN IT AND EXHALE FROM RIGHT NOSTRIL AND INHALE FROM RIGHT NOSTRIL. CLOSE RIGHT NOSTRIL WITH THE THUMB. LIFT MIDDLE FINGER TO OPEN LEFT NOSTRIL AND EXHALE FROM LEFT. REPEAT THIS CYCLE.

                     SURYA BEDHA - CLOSE THE LEFT NOSTRIL AND INHALE AND EXHALE SLOWLY FROM RIGHT NOSTRIL. IT SHOULD BE DONE MORE IN WINTERS. IT GIVES WARM EFFECT ON BODY.

                      CHANDRA BEDHA - CLOSE THE RIGHT NOSTRIL AND INHALE AND EXHALE SLOWLY FROM LEFT NOSTRIL. IT SHOULD BE DONE MORE IN SUMMERS. IT HAS COOL EFFECT ON BODY.

TO FEEL GOD

                  

                                     VISION OF GOD

                    WHEN MIND IS CONCENTRATED FOR LONGER PERIOD OF TIME THEN ONE HAVE VISIONS OF GOD. GENERALLY A GOLDEN LIGHT WILL APPEAR IN WHICH YOU WILL SEE THE DEITY. THE SOUND OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS WILL RING IN ONE'S EARS. ONE SHOULD NOT GIVE MUCH IMPORTANCE TO SUCH VISIONS. ONE HAS TO CONTINUE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY TILL ONE HAS ATTAINED IMMENSE PEACE AND SELF REALISATION.

                   FEELING OF SEPERATION

                WHILE CONTINUING THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY, ONE WILL EXPERIENCE THE FEELING OF SEPARATENESS FROM FRIENDS, FAMILY MEMBERS AND FROM ONE'S OWN BODY.

                   I LOST LOVE FOR MY WIFE AND CHILDREN. THE SHOWER OF MY LOVE TOWARDS THEM HAS DRIED UP. I LOOK AT THEM AS STRANGER. EARLIER I HAD LOVED THEM FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. ALL THE AFFECTIONS HAVE BEEN WIPED OUT OF ME. MR "Y" EXPRESSED THE CHANGE IN HIS FEELINGS AFTER AWAKENING OF KUNDALINI ENERGY. I AM COMPLETE STRANGER IN MY OWN BODY, I AM SCARED . I FEEL IT IS PERILOUS TO LIVE IN THIS BODY.

                   THIS GIVES IMMENSE JOY MIXED WITH FEAR. JOY IS FELT AS ONE ENTERS AS NEW PLANE AND FEELS LIKE ONE IS FLYING IN AIR ROTATING IN MID-AIR. ONE IS STARTED BY THE FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN AND THE FEAR OF FALLING DOWN. GOPI KRISHNA IS HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY WROTE, "MY WHOE BODY WAS SO ENGROSSED IN THE CONTEMPLATION OF THE LOTUS THAT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AT A TIME I LOST TOUCH WITH MY BODY AND SURROUNDINGS. DURING SUCH INTERVALS I USED TO FEEL AS IF I WERE POISED IN MID-AIR, WITHOUT ANY FEELING OF A BODY AROUND ME. THE ONLY OBJECT OF WHICH I WAS AWARE WAS A LOTUS OF BRILLIANT COLOUR, EMITTING RAYS OF LIGHT".

                   WHEN MIND AND EGO DISSOLVE, ONE EXPERIENCES SAMADHI. ACCORDING TO SWAMI SIVANANDA, " THROUGH CONCENTRATION, YOU RISE ABOVE BODY-CONSCIOUSNESS, THROUGH MEDITATION. YOU RISE ABOVE MIND, AND FINALLY THROUGH SAMADHI, YOU BECOME ONE WITH BRAHMA. THESE ARE THE THREE IMPORTANT. ANTARANGA SADHANAS (INTERNAL MEANS), IN THE ACHIEVEMENT OF FINAL BEATITUDE. WHEN THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SELF DAWNS, IGNORANCE, WHICH IS THE SEED FOR BONDAGE AND THE CAUSE OF KARMA IS TOTALLY ERADICATED AND THE ASPIRANT ATTAINS IMMORTALITY AND ETERNAL BLISS".

                  ❤     TAKE WHAT YOU LIKE AND LEAVE WHAT YOU DISLIKE  .❤

                          USELESS CONVERSATION

                   MOST OF THE TIME, ONE IS BUSY IN SUCH USELESS CONVERSATION. SUCH CONVERSATION EAT UP A LARGE PART OF OUR ENERGY TIME. ENERGY WHICH CAN BE UTILISED FOR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND GOD REALISATION IS WASTED IN USELESS AND EXCESSIVE CONVERSATION. TOO MUCH TALKING MAKES ONE'S MIND RESTLESS AND SIMULTANEOUSLY UNFIT FOR MEDITATION. KEEPING SILENCE FOR SOME TIME DAILY IS THE BEST OPTION TO MINIMISE IT. IN SILENCE ONE FINDS TIME TO LOOK INSIDE. TO OBSERVE AND ENJOY ONE'S COMPANY. SILENCE SHOULD BE KEPT DURING THAT TIME WHEN ONE IS FEELING THE NEED TO CONVERSE THE MOST.

                      AS SOON AS ONE SITS IN SILENCE THE NAUGHTY MIND STARTS TALKING. OM SWAMI SAID, EACH TIME TO CONTROL OF CURB IT,  INSTEAD STOP IT EITHER BY IGNORING IT OR BY CONCENTRATING ON THE POINT OF YOUR FOCUS. REMEMBER, YOU MIND ONLY TALKS IF YOU LISTEN TO IT.

                          FAULT FINDING, SELF-PRAISING, BACK-BITING AND TRYING TO PULL DOWN OTHER PEOPLE ARE THE MOST ABOUT TOPICS DURING CONVERSATION. THE ROOT CAUSE OF SUCH THINKING IS JEALOUSY AND IGNORANCE. THESE CAN BE EASILY OVERCOME BY ENGAGING ONESELF IN THE WELFARE OF THE SOCIETY AND CHANTING MANTRA.

                      EGO

                   EGO MEANS WHATEVER I AM SAYING IS CORRECT. WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING WRONG. WHATEVER WAY I HAVE CHOSEN IS THE RIGHT PATH. THIS HOUSE CARE, WIFE, CHILDREN, STATUS AND MONEY ARE MINE. I WANT TO DOMINATE. I WANT TO SEEK ATTENTION FROM OTHERS. I WISH THAT OTHERS PRAISE ME FOR WHAT I HAVE DONE. I CAN'T BEAR THE CRITICISM OR ANY OTHER SORT OF DISAPPROVAL FROM OTHERS. I KNOW EVERYTHING AND OTHERS KNOW NOTHING. I AM SUPERIOR AND OTHERS ARE INFERIOR. I CAN'T FORGET AND I CAN'T FORGIVE. EGO IS MUCH MORE DANGEROUS THAN NEGATIVE EMOTIONS LIKE ANGER, LUST AND GREED. IT IS THE ATTACHMENT WITH THIS MERE BODY WHICH CREATES SO MUCH PRIDE IN ONE'S MIND.

                     SOUL IS VEILED BY THE EGO. IT IS THE EGO WHICH HAS CREATED THE IDEA OF SEPARATENESS FROM SOUL AND GOD. REMOVE THE BIGGEST HURDLE EGO TO EXPERIENCE THE DIVINE SELF. THE SPACE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE TUMBLER IS THE SAME. BUT ONE HAS TO BREAK THE GLASS TO EXPERIENCE THE VAST SPACE. SIMILARLY ONE HAS TO DESTROY THE EGO TO FEEL THE SELF. BY REGULAR CHANTING OF THE MANTRA, BY DOING KIRTAM, BY SURRENDERING TO GOD, SELFLESS SERVICE, LIVING WITH SPIRITUALLY MINDED PEOPLE AND STRONG DESIRE TO ERADICATE EGO, A SELFLESS WILL IS DEVELOPED.

COLOURS AND SOUNDS DOING MEDITATION

 

               

                         EXPERIENCES IN MEDITATION

                  WHEN ONE CLOSES EYES FOR MEDITATION, ONE SEES ONLY DARKENESS. IN THE DARKNESS MIND WANDERS HERE AND THERE AND JUMPS FROM ONE POINT TO ANOTHER. WITH PRACTICE, ONE LEARNS TO FOCUS MIND. AS SOON AS THE MIND STARTS CONCENTRATING ONE SEES A LIGHT OF THE SIZE OF STRAIGHT PIN HEAD. MIND WONDERS ABOUT THE SIZE. COLOUR OR BEAUTY OF LIGHT. IT DISTURBS THE CONCENTRATION OF MIND AND HENCE THE LIGHT DISAPPEARS. SOON THE MIND BECOMES HABITUAL OF SEEING LIGHTS. ITS EVER CHANGING SIZE, SHAPE AND COLOUR. THE CONCENTRATION OF MIND IS NOT DISTURBED WITH ALL THESE VIBRANT LIGHTS. ALTHOUGH THE APPEARANCE OF LIGHTS PROVES THAT ONE IS MOVING ON THE RIGHT TRACK BUT THEY ARE OBSTACLES AS THEY DISTURB ONE'S CONCENTRATION. SO, IT'S BETTER TO IGNORE THESE LIGHTS.

                    SEEING INNER LIGHTS

                 AFTER PRACTISING CONCENTRATION FOR SOME TIME A TINY LIGHT APPEARS IN THE FRONT OF FOREHEAD. IT REMAINS THERE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. AS ONE'S CONCENTRATION INCREASES THE SIZE AS WELL AS THE DURATION OF LIGHTS APPEARING INCREASES. LIGHT CAN BE OF VARIOUS COLOURS LIKE RED, YELLOW, WHITE, GREEN, BLUE OR MIXTURE OF TWO. THESE LIGHTS ARE ELEMENTAL LIGHTS REPRESENTING EARTH, WATER, FIRE, AIR AND SKY. SEEING LIGHTS IN MEDITATION HAVE DIFFERENT EFFECTS WHICH ARE LISTED BELOW:

                 1. RED - IT UPLIFTS THE ENERGY.

                 2. ORANGE - IT PURIFIES THE BODY.

                 3. YELLOW - IT STIMULATES WAKEFULNESS.

                4. GREEN - IT RELAXES MIND. IT REDUCES SLEEP.

                5. BLUE - IT LESSONS TENSIONS.

               6. INDIGO - IT PURIFIES THE MIND.

               7. VIOLET - IT GIVES VAIRAGYA (DISPASSION) IT DETACHES THE MIND FROM EARTHLY MATTERS.

               8. WHITE - IT IS THE SYNTHESIS OF ALL COLOURS. IT IS SEEN AT THE TIME OF BLISSFUL EXPERIENCES AND JUST BEFORE THE DAWN OF SAMADHI.

         

                      BEGIINERS GENERALLY SEE RED, ORANGE AND YELLOW LIGHTS WHEREAS THE VIOLET IS SELDOM NOTICEABLE.

                      SOMETIMES SUN OR FLASHING LIGHTS APPEAR IN THE FRONT OF FOREHEAD. THESE LIGHTS CONFIRM THAT ONE IS PROGRESSING. BUT ONE SHOULD AVOID PONDERING TOO MUCH ON THESE LIGHTS RATHER STOP THINKING ABOUT THEM. THE BEST WAY TO PROGRESS FURTHER IS TO SHUN THEM. SEEING A SNAKE AFTER KUNDALINI IS AWAKENED IS A SIGN OF PROGRESS. SOMETIMES GOD AND SAINTS APPEAR TO BLISS. THE MANTRA DEITY AS ONE HAS IMAGINED WILL APPEAR, WEARING BEAUTIFUL DRESS, VARIOUS ORNAMENTS, GARLANDS, FLOWERS AND WITH MUSICAL INTRUMENTS IN WEAPONS IN HIS HANDS.

                         TRIANGLE IS SEEN BY ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE VAIRAGYA (NON - ATTACHEMENT) FOR WORDLY THINGS, WHO CONSIDER FRIEND AND FOE A LIKE, CONSIDER PAIN AND PLEASURE A LIKE, WHO HAVE GIVEN UP EGOISM AND WHO DON'T CURSE OR BLESS ANYONE.

                           VISIONS AND DAZZLING LIGHTS CAN BE OF WIDE VARIETY. ONE SHOULD NEITHER BE TOO DELIGHTED TO SEE THEM NOR TOO FRIGHTENED BY THEIR WEIRDBESS. ONE SHOULD ONLY IGNORE THEM TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT STEP.

                                  HEARING INNER SOUNDS

                          DURING MEDITATION EARS ARE CLOSED WITH THUMBS AS IN YONI MUDRA AND DISTINCT INNER SOUNDS CAN BE HEARD BY BEGINNERS. IF ONE PRACTISES TO HEAR THESE SOUNDS DAILY THEN IT INCREASE ONE'S ABILITY TO HEAR DISTANT SOUNDS WITH EASE. ACCORDING TO HAMSA UPANISHAD, THE SOUNDS THAT ARE GENERALLY HEARD ARE LIKE THE SOUND OF WORD CHINI, CHINI-CHINI , BELL, CONCH-BLOWING, TANTIRI (LUTE), TALA (CYMBALS), FLUTE, BHERI (DRUM), MRIDANGA (DOUBLE DRUM) SOUND, THUNDER SOUND OR SOMETIMES A COMBINATION OF HARMONIOUS AND MELODIOUS SOUNDS. SOMETIMES ONE ALSO SMELLS FRAGRANCE OF INCREASES, ROSE AND OTHER FLOWERS.