== RELATIONSHIP OF SADHANA LESSONS ==
Namaskar,
In our unit was one sadhana shivir program was held and afterwards
many margiis expressed how it helped arouse many devotional feelings in
the heart. And I felt the same way and indeed my whole family was so much
benefited. It is Baba's grace that ultimately He has given us such type of
opportunity.
We Ananda Margiis are so fortunate that we have gotten the blessings of
Parama Purus'a, our Guru. How He is guiding us every moment and blessed us
with spiritual sadhana, the sumum bonum of life.
Although Dadas and Didis are coming to my house regularly, but because of
their being over-busy schedule and affairs, often they do not have time to
sit with a peaceful mind and help solve anyone's sadhana problems.
I can understand their difficulties. So I do not have anything to say
against that. But even then, I feel that in my life, sadhana is the most
important thing and that meditation should get top most priority.
Before the sadhana shivir program, I was looking for any Dada or Didi with
whom I can have some guideline about my queries in sadhana. In the meantime
though, my family acarya came. So I approached him because he is also
kapalika and he has deep interest in sadhana.
Following then are some of the many points which he shared with me about
pranayama, dhyana and the ordering and practice of the lessons of sadhana.
#1: Baba clearly guides in Senior Acarya Diary that without properly
practicing pranayama, then good dhyana is not possible. So pranayama should be
done just before dhyana.
My family acarya added that he cannot write the direct quotes from the
Senior Acarya Diary because this diary is not for public distribution. But
he quickly added that it is the order of Baba that senior Acaryas should
read carefully and understand these points. And then they must convey the
correct process to all margiis. Because this link between pranayama and
dhyan is important for proper sadhana.
#2: If anyone such as a senior acarya is not aware about such things and if
they are not guiding on this point about the important relation between
dhyan and pranayama, then it reveals that fact that those acaryas do not
have time etc to read the Senior Acarya Diary. Otherwise if proper interest
was there then they would surely be aware that this point is discussed in
pointed fashion in the pranayam chapter on page 98 of the Senior Acarya Diary.
#3: Any margiis who have contact with senior Acaryas who are authorized to
have Acarya Diary, they can get confirmation about this serious point that
pranayama and dhyana are closely associated. And those who are still
feeling confusion then at least they should practice pranayama and then
dhyana on an experimental basis. It is my own experience since practicing
this sequence in my life I feel big difference. So I think if anyone will
practice this very technique which is printed in Senior Acarya Diary then
naturally anyone will realise this fact easily in their life. Because as
Baba says the knowledge that remains confined in the books has no value.'
#4: Here is the one of the critical links between pranayama and dhyana.
Because pranayama is complementary to dhya'na.
BABA says, "Pra'n'a'yama is the scientific process to control the
respiration and hence the mind, as a result of which sadhana is especially
facilitated. The practice of dhya'na becomes a time consuming affair if
pra'n'a'yama is not adequately practised." (CC, part 1, pg 11)
By the above teaching then it is clear that pranayama plays an important
role in the practice of dhya'na.
And in this next guideline Baba is telling us that dhya'na is our highest
practice which has no comparison.
BABA says, "Dhyana is the unbroken flow of the mind-stuff, or citta, in one
continuous stream, like the flow of oil, where all the propensities of the
mind are fixed on the goal." (CC, part 1, pg 11)
By this sadhana guideline it is clear that dhya'na is the top most lesson
and that other lessons, especially pranayama, play an important and
complementary role.
#5: About Pranayama, here below Baba says something very meaningful.
Baba says, "In order to control the mind the ten va'yus have to be brought
under control. The systematic and scientific process to regulate the va'yus
in order to control the mind is called pra'n'a'ya'ma. Pra'n'a'n
yamayatyes'ah pra'n'a'ya'mah -- "The process of controlling the va'yus is
known as pra'n'a'ya'ma." (The word pra'n'a'ya'ma is derived as: [pra'n' +
a' - yam + ghain].)" (DT I, p.125)
Baba says, "The psycho-philosophy behind the practice of pra'n'a'ya'ma is
that the spiritual aspirant tries to let the pra'n'endriya [ten
vital-energy currents] remain in a state of pause so that the paused unit
mind will merge into the ocean of consciousness." (Yoga Psychology, "
Questions and Answers on Meditation ")
#6: The pranayama of ayurveda is related with physical exercise. Their
pranayama is totally misguided. Not depending on ideation and mantra. Those
who are practicing pranayama in ayurveda, they do just breathing exercise.
And invite serious psychic disease. And ghastly physical ailments.
#7: Regarding lesson order and sadhana practice:
Baba says: "Just after Asanas Pranayama is prohibited" (Caryacarya III,
rules for Asanas no. 16).
#8 By doing pranayama properly then by this way the mind develops a 360
degree outlook. Expansion occurs and the mind becomes bigger in which case
small minded thinking like groupism and narrow-mindedness cannot exist.
Baba says, "The humans of today have started to realise that they are the
progeny of Parama Purusa. If people can properly ideate on Parama Purusa,
they will realise Brahma. On imbibing cosmic ideation all kinds of ailments
will be cured." (PNS-8, p. 19)
BABA'S GUIDELINE
Here in conclusion, Baba is giving great importance to spiritual practices
like pranayama and dhyan and how sadhana holds the golden key to human
happiness and fulfillment.
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." (Baba, SS part 10)
brotherly yours,
Manindra
Note 1: Some blind persons think that sadhana should not be done if one is
in an 'off-mood' or feeling angry or upset. And such person have even gone
so far as to make misguided comments about this point in their books and
publications etc. But this point is not at all accurate-- not at all true.
Rather sadhana can be practiced at all times regardless of how one is
feeling emotionally. And indeed it is the very practice of sadhana that will
bring the mind back into a proper state of well-being. So one should never
feel constrained thinking that sadhana should not be done because of their
emotional state. The one point to be aware of in this regard is that only
pranayama must never be done if one is feeling angry or irritated etc. But
beyond that all other sadhana lessons can be practiced regardless of one's
mental disposition and in fact sadhana will help to bring the mind back
into a proper state of balance and upliftment.
Note 2: Here Baba guides us about the purpose of human life.
Baba says, "The foremost duty of a human being is Brahma sa'dhana or the
devotional worship of God." (SS-2, p.6)
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Hankering for Praise
Baba says, "Those who work with the motivation that they will attain
intellectual victory are slaves to words of praise. They can never become
great people. It is bad to be a slave to worldly words of praise. The
sounds raised by jackals and those raised in praise of some intellectuals
are similar. Hence remaining engrossed in [the path of intellectuality, i.e.
vada, vitanda and jalpa] will lead to nothing...So those who waste their
time in vada, jalpa and vitanda are fools. They are C-grade fools." (AVM-5)
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