From: "Manjit S Rao"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Baba Story: Sadhana Timings
Baba
"Kende, kende kato d'a'ki, tumi ki shun'ite pa'o na'..." -P.S. 419
Purport:
Baba it is very difficult for me to understand; I am desperately crying
for You even then You do not pay heed. Are you not listening to my cry? I
think that You love me and with that feeling You make me cry, that is why
You do not pay heed to my call.
My eyes are showering an unending stream of tears day and night like the
rainy season. You go on seeing and You smile softly. What type of tough
heart do You have. Please tell me.
Baba, I will prepare the garland with the flowers which blossom in my
mind. And by Your grace I will drench it with my tears of longing. And I
will offer the garland; let me see if You accept it or not.
Baba I do not understand. I am desperately crying in longing for You,
with the hope of having Your proximity, but You do not pay heed. Please
grace me by coming in my mind....
== BABA STORY: SADHANA TIMINGS ==
Namaskar,
As I remember clearly, by His grace Baba gave me the opportunity to go
inside His room and massage His feet. That was unforgettable. Such a soft
touch. And His body is full of fragrance. I was aware that Baba never
uses any scent. But I also found, that the sweet aroma which was coming
from His body has no comparison.
It was so intoxicating in a divine way, that my voice was choked - full of bliss.
Before going into the room I had many questions, but once in the room He
made me ensconced in bliss. So in that condition I did not have any desire
or energy to ask anything. After quite some time, with a very soft, sweet
voice, Baba asked, "What time do you do sadhana every day?".
I replied, 'Baba, I do not have a fixed time. Usually every day the time differs.'
Baba smiled and told, "That's why I asked you the question. For better
sadhana, the time should be fixed. It is just like, if sleeping time is
fixed, then that time sleep comes. And if food time is fixed, then that
time naturally you will feel hunger. If you do not have a fixed time for
taking food then you will invite stomach disease, acidity, etc. So this
human body wants some routine or habit. Random changing of the timing of
food and sleep and sadhana, asana etc, will be a very negative aspect. For
better health in all the realms - physical, psychic and spiritual - one
should follow a strict routine. So sadhana needs also fixed timings. If the
time is fixed, then that very time naturally you will like to do sadhana.
And sadhana will be better."
As I told, I did not have any desire to ask anything. So when Baba guided
all these things, then neither I had any question nor I raised the
question. And He allowed me some more time. And I went on serving His feet.
And after some time, very lovingly He told that "Now you should go, and
some more persons are waiting for the work."
After doing sastaunga pranam with heavy heart, unwillingly I came out.
FIXED TIME IS BETTER FOR SADHANA
After coming out, at first I did not have any desire to talk with
anyone. Rather I sat in one corner and did sadhana. After that, I asked
with different Dadas about the fixing of the time of sadhana and what time
will be better. And I remain always in debt to those who guided me on
various points related with my question about importance of times of
sadhana. Because I was going to fix the time, so I wanted to know the most
opportune time in 24 hours which I can manage. And I will fix the sadhana
time for then. There are many guidelines which that time I received. But
about one point I will write today.
Below is the essence of various guidelines on this particular point.
Firstly, Dadas emphasized that strict priority must be given to sadhana.
Baba says,"Human life is short. It is wise to get all the instructions regarding
sadhana as soon as possible." (CC-2, p.8 '98 ed)
THE FOUR SANDHYAS
This entire system of tantrik sadhana is invented by Lord Shiva. And that
very time -- 7000 years ago -- human beings were calculating everything in
the night by the presence of stars in the sky or their various primitive
ways. The modern timing calculating system was not there. So that time,
they decided about what we call Midnight. The whole point of the discussion
was that various junctions of day and night play a very significant role
in infusing the good qualities, sentient feeling in the human mind. And
these junction periods in tantrik language are called as "sandhya'".
In the past, I was thinking that this sandhya' is something dogmatic.
Because especially the various Hindu dogmatic religions, they observe this
sandhya' in their prayers etc. One can see very clearly that in all the
temples, they do their rituals and worships in the morning, in the evening,
and at midday, in these very timings. Because these Hindu priests are doing
like this, that's why I was thinking that this sandhya' theory is dogma.
Later on, after reading Caryacarya it became clearer. But that day after
coming out from Baba's room, I got more explanation in a logical way.
In our day to day life, these four sandhya's -- morning, midday, evening,
and midnight -- are very significant for our various types of sadhana. Not
only sadhana, but other do's and dont's are also involved. All
these things Baba has written in various discourses and various books.
For instance, among the four sandhya's, three sandhya's are very good for taking
bath. But midnight sandhya' is not allowed because it is unhygienic. (See
note 3)
And for longevity, one has to get up in brahma muhurtta. That is
just 45 minutes before sunrise (see note 4). And that also falls exactly in
morning sandhya'. And in this morning sandhya', paincajanya also falls.
(see note 5)
KAPALIKA SADHANA
For kapalik sadhana, the first part of midnight sandhya' is not allowed.
But the second part of midnight sandhya', plus two hours 15 minutes more --
total three hours -- is allotted for kapalika sadhana. That means, from
midnight up for three hours after, it goes. Up to 3 AM.
MADHURA SADHANA
For madhura sadhana, only midnight sandhya' is allowed. The other three
sandhya's are not allowed.
About this madhura sadhana, Baba says,
"As a general rule the grace of Parama Purus'a is expressed through
positive microvita in different plexi. Noticeably or conceivably a sweet
aroma comes from the concerned plexus. When a spiritual aspirant attains
mental concentration or composure, as in madhura sa'dhana' [a particular
type of meditation], he or she experiences a sweet aroma and the mind feels
peaceful or composed. Parama Purus'a gives the bliss of tactuality through
different plexi." (YP, p.114)
By way of the above guidelines of different Dadas, I understood the
importance of the sandhya's in the setting of sadhana timings. And I will
never forget the experience, which Baba blessed me with that day.
Namaskar,
Manjit
Note 1: LIFE IS FOR SADHANA
Baba gives the following lines which convey deep sense, of how life is
only for sadhana.
Baba says, "The worship of Brahma should be done scrupulously, or else you will later
regret and bemoan the futility of your life with the last drop of your
tears at your last hour. You should make your life worthwhile through your
Sa'dhana'. How much can your worldly friends and relations do for you?
After your death your relatives may perhaps ask, "How much money has he
left behind?" Your friends may go to the crematorium and indulge in
flattering reminiscences about you. Your husband or wife may cry for you
for about ten or twelve days and then regain their normal composure. Your
lot will be only a profound sigh -- a record of the futility and
frustration of your life. So do not waste your time lest you later have to
repent."
"Vrtha' janma goina'yaluin hena Prabhu na' bhojaluin
Khoya'yalu soha gun'anidhi,
Hama'r karama manda na milala eka bunda
Premasindhu rasaka abadhi.
Fruitless, O Lord, has been my life
That sang not of glories Thine;
Lost in the worldly strife
And lost Thee, most precious treasure of mine.
Fate's long and ominous hand
With compassion, cold and daft,
Strayed me out of Thy Love's strand
Deprived, alas of a single Draught."
(SS-3, p.63)
Note 2: THE FOUR SANDHYAS
In Caryacarya, Baba has given the following definition of the four
sandhya's.
Baba says,"The four sandhya's:
(1) The period from forty-five minutes before to forty-five minutes after
sunrise is called 'dawn', and dawn is the first sandhya'.
(2) The period from 9 A.M. to 12 noon is called the noon sandhya'.
(3) The period from forty-five minutes before to forty-five minutes after
sunset is called the evening sandhya'.
(4) The period from forty-five minutes before to forty-five minutes after
12 midnight is called the midnight sandhya' (11:15 P.M. to 12:45 A.M.)."
(Carya'carya Part 3, p.3)
Note 3: NO BATHING AT MIDNIGHT
In the rules for bathing, Baba explains about when one may and may
not take bath.
Baba says, "Bathing at midnight is prohibited. One must not take a bath in the
midnight sandhya'. Everyone must bathe in any one of the other three
sandhya's. Taking into consideration one's health and the climatic
conditions, one may also bathe in one or both of the remaining two
sandhya's." (CC-3, p.2)
Note 4: BRAHMA MUHURTA
In the book "In the Land of Hattama'la", Baba explains the meaning of Brahma
Muhurta.
Baba says, "Brahma Muhurta. 45 minutes before sunrise; the best time for meditation.
At that time the omnipresence of Brahma is felt." (In the Land of Hattama'la)
Note 5: PAINCAJANYA
In Caryacarya-1, Baba gives the following explanation of paincajanya.
Baba says, "At five o'clock every morning, sa'dhakas [spiritual aspirants] will
assemble at a ja'grti, and where there is no ja'grti, at a fixed convenient
place, and participate in singing five minutes of Prabha'ta Sam'giita, in
performing fifteen minutes of kiirtana, and lastly in performing ten
minutes of collective meditation. This should be the practice on all days
of the week except Sundays. On Sundays, there should be singing of ten
minutes of Prabha'ta Sam'giita, performance of fifteen minutes of kiirtana,
and performance of at least ten minutes of collective meditation. This
programme is known as Pa'incajanya." (CC-1, p.17)
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Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji says,
"Your future is bright -- not only bright, but guaranteed. A new spiritual
life free from all sorts of dogma is sure to come in the near future.
...Parama Purus'a is also waiting for that auspicious day. He is with you
-- He will give you proper direction so that with His gospels for the
salvation of the universal creation, you will reach your goal without much
difficulty." (SS-18, p.37)
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inspiring.
ReplyDeleteDr T R Sukul