== HOW TO DO BETTER SADHANA ==
Namaskar,
In this busy, fast-paced materialistic era, often common people pass their
days in a plethora of mundane activities from shopping in the mall to TV
watching to reading the newspaper etc. And then only when it is time to eat
food do they consider doing a few minutes of sadhana. But in that
condition, one can hardly even repeat their Ista Mantra because their mind
is latched up with an array of mundane thoughts and experiences.
GRADUAL ACCELERATION
JUST LIKE A CAR OR BICYCLE
The thing is that going into directly into high gear is just not possible.
Whether a bicycle, car, or airplane, all these vehicles accelerate
gradually, in stages. They never go from a complete stand-still to top
speed in a split second. Rather their rise and transition occurs over a
continuum. By that way they reach their top flight. And if one tries to go
directly into high gear then that vehicle will just stall; it will not
work. So it is a natural law that things accelerate in step-wise fashion.
Similarly, the human mind also rises gradually-- step by step. One cannot
just try to directly throw oneself into a deep spiritual flow without
proper preparation. So if one passes the day in one after another mundane
engagements then it is not possible to then dive into the world of deep
spiritual meditation.
ALL WANT DEEP SADHANA
SPIRITUAL LIFE IS EVERYTHING
Ultimately each and every sadhaka wants to achieve higher and higher sadhana.
Indeed every disciple of Baba thinks that spirituality is the top most
jewel and that all mundane accomplishments are comparatively meaningless.
Only spiritual sadhana is the summum bonum of life.
Because only spiritual wealth is permanent-- lasting; it remains with each
and every person even after their death. Whereas other things just fade
away into the oblivion.
For this reason we all think that having the mind ensconced in spiritual
thought is a blessed existence. And we all want to reach that stage.
Along those lines Baba has given us a simple formula.
MIND STICKS ON A PARTICULAR PABULUM
Baba tells us that the mind always sticks on a particular pabulum. What one
thinks about during the day will stick in the mind all the 24 hours. The
mind will stay in that track.
The point being that whichever way the mind is goaded it will remain moving
in that direction as it gets glued to those thoughts and activities. By
this sequence, depending on the nature of one's mental occupation, the mind
will continue on and on in that direction.
Thus the mind will move in whichever way it is motivated.
BABA'S GUIDELINE: ENGAGE THE MIND IN SPIRITUAL PURSUITS
That is why Baba's golden guideline in Senior Acarya Diary and in so many
other discourses is that one should engage the mind in spiritual thought
throughout the entire day.
Because to succeed in sadhana and to achieve realisation in dhyana, mental
preparation is needed. There has to be a base of thought; the proper
groundwork must be laid down.
So preparation is the key point. That is Baba's teaching: Fill the mind
throughout the day with devotional ideas and let each and every cell
vibrate in the dance of spiritual ideation and then when one sits for
sadhana then naturally-- with little effort-- the mind will race in that
direction.
That is why throughout the day we are to engage in singing His name,
reading His books, doing second lesson, practicing asanas, learning Prabhat
Samgiita, engaging in satsaunga, telling Baba stories, ideating on Him.
As long as one does not adhere to this supreme guideline, then higher
realisations in sadhana will not come. This is Baba's expressed teaching.
Sweet and blissful sadhana only comes when one engages in a spiritual way
of life all the 24 hours. When anyone, step by step, dedicates their days and
their time to spiritual life then they will reach up to the crowning glory
of human existence-- divine bliss and realisation.
A FEW OF BABA'S TIMELESS TEACHINGS
Here Baba warns us what happens if we just fill the mind with mundane
thoughts.
Baba says, "The objects with which people frequently come in contact are
the objects that occupy their thinking. Even if they try to think of any
other object, their minds go back and again to those objects." (DKG,
'Spiritual Lessons of the Giita')
Thus if the mind is goaded again and again toward worldly attachments then
sadhana is not possible.
Here following Baba again warns us of this very fact and He also tells us
that when we involve in a spiritual way of life by singing His name and
following 16 Points, then then one's existence gets purified.
Baba says, "If the sensory and motor organs are not kept engaged in the
attainment of the divine, they may lead one astray. Kiirtana is therefore
most beneficial as it keeps all the organs fully engaged in a spiritual
pursuit." (AV-8)
Baba says, "Good company, good books, good literature, good songs,
kiirtanas (devotional chanting) elevate the mind and the mind becomes
sanctified." ('Mobility and Movement')
Here Baba assures that that ultimately by thinking of Him we achieve that
blissful, eternal, stance.
Baba says, "Earn your deathlessness by establishing yourself in Him. He is
the real Soul. If any condition is worth attaining at all then it is this
condition.. He is the summum bonum of all sa'dhana' or intuitional
practice." (SS-2)
BABA'S BLESSING
Baba says, "Never retreat. Keep advancing, and you will certainly attain
the highest fulfillment of your existence." (SS-7, 'Struggle & Progress)
Namaskar,
Jawaharlal
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