=== THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF DHYANA ===
Namaskar,
Baba says, "The man who is intelligent should from his very childhood move
along this path of psycho-spirituality. The sooner a man starts or moves
along this path of psycho-spirituality, the better it is. He is the blessed
one." (AV-34, p. 73)
Baba says, "With the practice of dhyana, the mind and the whole existence
becomes one-pointed and ultimately becomes one with intuition. That is, the
mind becomes completely pin-pointed and the entire personality becomes one.
No longer will that jiiva have a balkanised personality."
"With the practice of dhyana the memory power of a sadhaka increases,
his courage also increases...if all the propensities of the human being
become concentrated on one point and merge into the I-feeling, then that
very human becomes a devata (god) in human form. This is not an impossible
task. This thing is easily achieved with the practice of dhyana yoga.
"You boys and you girls who have not yet learned dhyana yoga should
learn as soon as possible from the acaryas. Because in dhyana yoga many
qualities are there. With the practice of dhyana yoga you can become one
with Parama Purusa." (26 July 1980, Udaipur)
All of us are aware that sadhana is a very significant thing in the life.
In our day to day existence, we practice sadhana. Here following is some
meaningful discussion which is directly related with our practice of
sadhana-- what to do and what not to do etc.
"I JUST DO 10 MINUTES OF DHYANA"
During our session, one margii from the unit commented, 'I do not have time
for doing different lessons so I just do 10 minutes of dhyan. Because dhyan
is the top most lesson. That is the best one. So I only do that lesson with
what time I have'.
We all looked towards Acaryaji to hear his response.
Acaryaji said, 'In the Ananda Marga system of meditation, each and every
lesson of sadhana has its own value and significance. Certain lessons focus
on purifying the lower cakras and of course dhyana is related with the
higher cakra, sahasra'ra. But one thing is sure: In order to do proper
dhyana and progress spiritually it is necessary to practice all the lessons
because they strengthen the lower cakras'.
Acaryaji continued, 'On this point all sadhakas should be aware of Baba's
following direction'.
Baba says, "In order to advance spiritually, one has to first establish
control over these lower cakras, then finally over the sahasra'ra cakra."
(AV-17: 14 Jan 1980)
ANOTHER QUESTION ASKED
Then one other sadhaka in the unit asked, 'Dadaji what will happen if
someone only practices 6th lesson, dhyan, and neglects doing the other
lessons of sadhana?'.
Acaryaji replied, 'Remember the various lessons of AM sadhana are important
building blocks for doing 6th lesson. So if those lessons are neglected
then the corresponding cakras remain dirty in which case dhyan will be
adversely affected. The point is, if the lower cakras are not properly
controlled then such an approach of only doing dhyan [sahasra'ra cakra]
will be impeded'.
Acaryaji added, 'Again here it is important to take serious note of Baba's
guideline'.
Baba says, "If one, conversely, tries to control the sahasra'ra first while
the other cakras remain uncontrolled, spiritual practice on the sahasra'ra
may be hampered." (AV-17: 14 Jan 1980)
WHAT ELSE SHOULD BE KNOWN
Another Margii asked, 'Excuse me Acaryaji, but is there anything more we
should know in this regard?'
Then respected Acaryaji replied, 'One should not underestimate the
importance of strengthening the lower cakras by sincerely practicing all
the lessons of AM sadhana. Because even if one can manage dhyana or 6th
lesson and bring the mind to the sahasrara cakra, still if the lower cakras
are not properly controlled then the outcome will not be desirable'.
Again Acaryaji noted, 'We should refer to Baba's following teaching'.
Baba says, "Not only that, even if the sahasra'ra cakra can be brought
under control, the final result will not be good if the subsidiary cakras
are not brought under control." (AV-17)
Looking around I could see that everyone present was mentally absorbed in
the discussion. Then our unit secretary, brother Pradiip asked, Acaryaji,
can you share with us any other sadhana guidelines which Baba has given'.
Then Dadaji said, 'Certainly, in the very same discourse Baba discusses the
deep link between body and mind. And that keeping the body tranquil and
still during meditation enables the mind to focus better'.
Baba says, "If the body is restless, the mind will also be restless. That
is why during spiritual practice, the body should be kept motionless. One
must practise seated in a certain posture, because if the body becomes calm
and motionless the mind also tends to become calm and concentrated." (AV-17)
NOT KNOWN BY THE VARIOUS RELIGIONS
Acaryaji added, 'That is why in our AM system sadhakas are taught to do
sadhana in postures like padmasana or siddhasana. This very science is not
known to the religions like Christianity and Islam. That is why in their
prayers they move about. Sometimes standing, then kneeling, then sitting,
then placing their hands on their head etc. But all these movements are
distracting to the mind. And that is what Baba is explaining here'.
Baba says, "If someone is constantly thinking that he will have to sit down
at a certain time, stand up at a certain time, catch hold of one's nose or
ears at a certain time, the mind will automatically tend to become
restless. Such is the intimate relation between the body and the mind."
(AVM 17)
Some margiis who do not understand this idea, they unknowingly do something
which is improper. This is described in note 1 below.
Acaryaji said, 'In such type of ritualistic prayers when the body is moving
hither and thither, then the mind also gets restless. So altogether the
idea is that the body should be motionless while doing sadhana. And in
that condition naturally sadhana will be better.'
REMARKS ABOUT SOME DHARMACAKRAS
Acaryaji added, 'I have seen in various units that in dharmacakra when
sadhana starts some margiis start yawning and some in half sleep start
waving back and forth. And others are hunched over and then they straighten
their backs and then again they become hunched over. But all these types of
movements are not good'.
Acaryaji also reminded us of one incident where in dharmacakra he was doing
sadhana and all of a sudden the front side of one Dada's head hit him
squarely on the back. Acaryaji was startled by this and then he saw that
the Dada whose head hit him got awakened by this and then again that Dada
straightened himself and made his back straight.
BABA'S TEACHING
In conclusion Acaryaji said, 'Sadhana is very important. And in the following
teachings Baba is giving emphasis and importance to sadhana, our spiritual
practice'.
Baba says, "Those human beings who do not perform spiritual practice are
under the influence Prakrti...I have said before that there can be no
progress either in the realm of physicality or in the realm of
intellectuality. Those who are hankering for progress in these fields are
indulging in a self-cheating business. Whether they admit it or not, they
know that they know nothing. Ask them whether they are getting pleasure in
the realm of physicality. They will admit that they are not. Ask a good
business man whether he is earning good profits. His reply will be, 'What
profit? I am incurring losses'. This will be his reply whether you belong
to Income Tax Department or not! To run after progress in the realm of
physicality and intellectuality is utter foolishness, a waste of time, as
there is no progress in these fields." (SS part 10)
Baba says, "When you come in close contact with the Supreme Entity, you
will find that you have no wealth superior to devotion. All worldly
possessions will prove of no avail. Only devotion enables you to come into
close contact with Him. This is the goal of human life. This is true progress.
You have been wandering through the labyrinth of a myriad of lives.
You have been ever advancing toward this stage. Knowingly or unknowingly,
you are being drawn unto Him. This is the summum bonum of life. As long as
you have not realized Him, there is no siddhi in your life." (SS-10)
BABA'S BLESSING
Here in this next series of quotes Baba guides us that we are do sadhana in
the prime of our life.
Baba says, "Some people consider that one should start intuitional practice
in old age when a person has more leisure." (AMEP '92, p. 134)
Baba continues, "Whoever is born is bound to die and one is constantly
approaching death, not knowing when it will come. It is never certain if
one will live to grow old. Yet people reserve the most important work of
practising sa'dhana' for the time when the body has become completely
enfeebled and the fatuous mind of old age." (AMEP)
Baba concludes, "There is no value in remembering God in old age, when it
is not possible to concentrate the mind due to the weakness and disease of
the body and its preoccupation with the reactions (sam'ska'ras) of the
deeds of this life. The mind then is caught up in the infirmities of the
body, in the diseases of old age, impending death, and most of all, in
memories of past incidents, and it is impossible to concentrate the mind.
For these reasons one is incapable of intuitional practice. (AMEP)
At His lotus feet,
Bhavanath
Note 1: During sadhana some margiis keep their cats or dogs or their pets
on their lap and in that way they do sadhana-- but that should not be
treated as real sadhana, but rather as a show of sadhana. One of my known
margiis was even keeping his two little monkeys on both his legs during
meditation. But as I say this is not at all proper. Now please return to
the main part of the letter as it will discuss more about Christianity and
Islamic prayers and how the mind gets distracted by movement of the body.
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For Our Day to Day Life
Baba says, "They [Yaksa microvita] are instrumental in arousing the
propensity to accumulate more and more wealth...In most cases, this psychic
ailment aroused by yaks'as is more fatal than the diseases called
"yaks'ma'" (such as tuberculosis or consumption). It has produced extremely
fissiparous tendencies in human society, and has lead to the exploitation
of one group of human beings by another group who feel elated to hear the
lamentations of others. The overwhelming urge to acquire wealth-- the urge
for capitalism and the capitalist structure-- is based on this psychic
ailment. It gives rise to the all-consuming and insatiable greed of
capitalists. The collective name of the microvita which produce this
disease in the human mind, in the human psyche, is called "yaks'a". When a
person devoid of any ideology becomes engrossed in the thought of
accumulating wealth, yaks'as begin their frenetic dance in his
mind...Ultimately, the structure of those minds will be crudified, and
through dogma they reach the nadir point of crudification." (MVNS, p.13-14)
Note: In the above teaching Baba is guiding us that we should not run
blindly after money and crude wealth. Those doing so face a terrible fate.
They will turn into negative microvita-- yaks'a. Thus they will become
completely crudified; they will become one lifeless currency note, just paper.
Now is the crucial time when this teaching is needed because in this
capitalist era the majority of the population is getting misguided. They
think money is the be-all and end-all of life. So if they will not get
proper guidance their fate will be gloomy and dark. Hence Baba's teaching
and warning is timely-- that we should not be influenced by negative
microvita and not run blindly after money.. This is His timely guideline.
However on this point Dada Tapeshvaranandaji is confused because in
his book he is telling that Baba has not given this teaching for today, but
that after 400 years it will be useful. In this way Dadaji wants to deprive
the common people of Baba's divine teachiing which is highly needed now in
our day to day life. Hence, in such a circumstance, our duty is to correct
Dadaji on this vital point so that he will not mislead others any longer.
Best is if Dadaji will update and correct his book.
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