Date: 03 Jun 2011 07:22:06 -0000
From: "Shivadayal Deva"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Why Stuck in Sadhana
Baba
== WHY STUCK IN SADHANA ==
Namaskar,
We all know that sadhana is the cream of life. Sadhana is the only way
to reach the Goal and feel His bliss. It is by sincerely practicing
sadhana that we progress on the path.
There are many factors that might temporarily halt our progress in
sadhana - procrastination, laziness, mundane attraction etc. These
certainly can happen.
However there is one fundamental flaw that will make our sadhana become
"stuck" - when we really cannot move ahead. And it is this pitfall that
every sadhaka and seeker must be aware of - and avert - if they want
success in their spiritual life.
BHAKTI MEANS SERVICE TO PARAMA PURUSA
Baba reminds us again and again that bhakti means service to Parama Purusa.
Bhaktir Bhagavato seva'
Bhakti is service to the Supreme
To serve anyone, to serve Parama Purusa, His presence is needed. One
must feel that Baba is nearby, closeby so that we may serve Him. Without
His presence there can be no service; and if there is no service there
is no bhakti. So this inherent feeling of closeness with Parama Purusa
is the key ingredient of bhakti. And with the feeling of bhakti then one
can easily move forward on the path of sadhana. Hence, it all starts
with the presence of Parama Purusa, thinking that Baba is close by. This
is an essential element of sadhana.
THE MAJOR PITFALL
The main pitfall then or reason for getting stuck in sadhana is falling
into the dogma that Parama Purusa is not really there. Unfortunately
some feel this way - and in that condition their sadhana becomes totally
stuck.
People innocently fall into the belief that sadhana is "just my
imagination". They repeat their mantra, they do their chanting, they do
so many things - all with the feeling that they are alone and that
Parama Purusa cannot really hear them. This defective approach has
invaded the mental plate of many a sadhaka. And it is a most dangerous
phenomena.
How does it happen?
Well, people think, "I imagine so many conversations - with my spouse,
my boss, my grandmother, or my friend. And those persons do not actually
hear me. They do not know I was talking with them. It was all just my
imagination. Same then is the case with sadhana and Parama Purusa. I am
repeating my mantra but He cannot hear me. It is all just my imagination."
This is one unfortunate misunderstanding that may enter the mind. And
this will bring one's sadhana to a complete halt. Because without Parama
Purusa there is no sadhana. If we fall into the trap that Parama Purusa
is not close by but rather very far away then He will remain beyond our
grasp.
Baba says, "If you think that He is very far from you, He will remain
forever beyond your reach." (AMIWL-6)
In that case sadhana will just be one fantasy - just a far off dream.
There will not be any progress. There will not be any vibration or
feeling of closeness in sadhana.
HOW EVERYONE CAN MOVE AHEAD
To avert this spiritual calamity, one must feel like they are
communicating with Baba in sadhana. And to do this, one must cultivate
the idea that He is close by.
One may think that, this is easier said than done.
But, as we have all felt, really it is not very difficult. The whole
essence of our second lesson - or Guru mantra - is that Parama Purusa is
watching me. That is the beginning, middle, and end of second lesson. If
one feels this way then that is everything in second lesson.
Hence, all the 24hrs we should cultivate the feeling that Parama Purusa
is watching me.
And that is the reality also. It is not just one's imagination. Because
Parama Purusa has deep, deep love and affection for everyone - i.e. for
you. In that case He cannot keep Himself away. Rather His tendency will
be to come close and watch for your welfare.
And when as sadhakas we embrace this reality, then we will have His
closeness and touch.
Baba says, "If you think that He is near, He will be so near that you
need not move even an inch to attain Him." (AMIWL-6)
So the feeling embedded within 2nd second is vital toward our spiritual
growth in sadhana. And indeed when doing citta shuddi, this very same
feeling must be inculcated. Only when we feel we are completely
surrounded by His presence should we then commence our mantra japa.
In a nutshell, when we feel that He is with us, then our sadhana can
never become stuck.
IT IS THE TRUTH ALSO - HERE IS THE PROOF
Even then some think that, "Okay, Parama Purusa is watching me, I can
accept this idea, follow it, and tell others about it, but in my heart I
do not think it is true."
Some fall in this category.
That is why for years and years, in countless reporting sessions and in
dharma samiiksa and in PC, Baba would again and again prove to us that
He was there all along, watching us. He would smile and perfectly repeat
what we were thinking when we were standing outside in the rain waiting
for the bus, or He would talk about how we ate a sweet before doing
sadhana, or He would describe who the passengers were on the train when
we were traveling to DMC.
All these things and many more Baba would tell us. And the sole reason
behind it was to teach and show us that in all circumstances He is
always with us. That was His message: Never are we alone, always Parama
Purusa is with you - watching - caring for your welfare.
Verily, this is the essence of spirituality: His presence.
And Baba has written hundreds of songs in His Prabhat Samgiita
collection that depict how we are to sing to Him and that He is always
listening.
All this reinforces the sweet notion that He is always with us.
A BEAUTIFUL THOUGHT NOT A SCARY ONE
So whether doing sadhana or not, we should always feel that He is with
us - watching us - looking out for our welfare. And this is one
beautiful idea.
It is not scary as if some enemy is secretly watching us through the
window.
Rather it is one very charming and blissful concept that no matter where
I may go in this universe, Baba will always be with me, gently holding
my hand - guiding me, helping me - saving me.
MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF SPIRITUAL LIFE
This idea is the most important aspect of our spiritual life and it is
this notion that propels us ahead on the path.
So we must always feel that He is with us.
When doing second lesson we are to feel that He is watching us. And when
doing first lesson we are to feel like we are calling Him. That is
Baba's explicit guideline.
Mindlessly repeating those mantras without that ideation - without the
feeling of His presence - will be futile.
It is the feeling that we are communicating with Him directly - that He
is there listening - that empowers our sadhana and gives shakti to our
mantra japa.
So we must always cultivate this as the first step in our spiritual
life: That He is present.
Never should we allow ourselves to fall prey to the myth that sadhana is
just our imagination. Doing so is like the kiss of death. Then our
sadhana will really be stuck. Even if we sit for hours and hours we will
not advance.
When we think - "Baba is with me" - then all the lessons of sadhana come
alive and we float in the bliss of of His sweet Presence.
Then we communicate with Him, and we will directly receive His
communication and love also. Sadhana will be a blissful interaction
between bhakta and Parama Purusa.
BABA'S BLESSING
In our Marga, the whole concept and practice of sadhana is based on the
idea that we are very close with and in communication with Parama
Purusa. That is the golden nugget of Ananda Marga.
In the various religions they feel that their god is far away in the
seventh sky and that he is only available one day a week and even then
to communicate with him one needs the help of a priest etc. That is
their dogmatic outlook.
In AM it is not like that. Baba has infused withus with the idea that
'Parama Purusa is yours and that He is your very close companion'. It is
this very real vibration that gives force to our mantra japa and propels
us toward Oneness with Him. By remembering and practicing this ideal, we
will never again get stuck in sadhana, by His grace.
Baba says, "He who is guiding the stars of the skies, is with you, you
are not alone. Under no circumstances should you ever be afraid. Never
think that you are alone. Whatever has to happen, will happen, and the
One who causes this happening is with you. He is not something which
resides far far away. You are not a distant relative of His. He is your
Father. So you only have to know the One. Who is He? He is your nearest
and dearest One. He is your most beloved." (AV-5)
Namaskar,
Shivadayal
Note 1: THINGS TO AVOID
If we do sadhana just to show off in front of others or if we do sadhana
just so that we can go and eat food, then this is not at all good. In
that sadhana there is no Parama Purusa, there is only self and the
mundane desire for name and fame or food. If one falls in this category
then they are stuck. Their sadhana will not go anywhere. Only when one
thinks that my sadhana is for Parama Purusa will they then be able to
advance. Baba is ever-gracious so whatever right or wrong habits we may
have had in the past, He is always there to help us proceed on the path.
Let us all move forward embracing this idea.
"A'nandaghan tumi ananta karun'a a'nanda sudha'sa'ra..." (PS 4140)
Purport:
O' Baba, You are Ananda Ghan, You are full of bliss, You are Bliss
Personified. Your karuna' [1], Your compassionate grace, knows no
bounds; it is unending. You are the essence of nectar-- the essence of
infinite bliss. Baba, You are the most charming and attractive One. You
always remain in bliss. Your culmination lies in a'nanda; Your every
expression - thought, word, and deeds - is bliss. Baba, You are
uniquely situated in a'nanda and your entire Being is a'nanda. O' my
Lord, You are bliss personified, You are A'nandamu'rti.
Baba, You are Alakha Nirainjan [2], infinite and blemishless. You
are so gracious; You are Bhra'ntivimocan [3], You remove all confusion,
doubts, and dilemmas. You have three eyes. You have perfect vision of
the past, present, and future. Baba, by Your grace, You are
sarva'ksa'dhaka, You are the answer of everything. You are fulfilling
everyone's desires and wishes. You grant everything. You are everyone's
own; You are in everyone's heart. Baba You are the infinite ocean of
perfect peace.
Baba, in this world, You have come and expressed Yourself in the form
of effulgence and You will always remain in effulgence. Baba You are
eternally present in the three worlds-- subtle, crude, and causal. You
are vibrating everything. From unit to cosmic, from the blade of grass
to Brahma, You are attracting everyone. All are moving towards You, by
Your grace. O' Great Entity, You are mine and You are the essence of
essence. You are everything...
NOTE FOR PRABHAT SAMGIITA 4140:
[1] Karuna': (Literally: 'Divine Compassion'); When Parama Purus'a sees the
suffering of devotees, then He feels pained by how they are unable to move
ahead on the spiritual path due to getting caught up in various problems
and difficulties. In such circumstances, Parama Purusa cannot bear to watch
His bhaktas go through so much struggle and strife. So in their helpless
condition, when devotees are trying hard to progress but their pathway is
completely obstructed and they cannot advance in their sadhana or spiritual
life-- and again and again they are overcome by various complexes,
bondages, and obstacles-- then by seeing His devotees beleaguered in this
way, Parama Purus'a Himself comes and graces them. With His immense
feeling of karuna' (divine compassion), Parama Purusa blesses His
devotees and relieves them of their pain and suffering. This special
grace is nothing but His divine karuna': Wherein Parama Purus'a graces
the devotees and removes their troubles and hindrances so that once
again they can move ahead freely on the path of spiritual salvation.
[2] Alakhanirainjan: ('Alakh' means 'invisible'; 'nir' means 'no';
'ainjan' means 'black spot'.) Of the infinite attributions of Parama
Purusa, one of which is that He is invisible and blemishless-- totally
pure and perfect. That is why He is known as Alakhanirainjan. Because in
this world unit beings are bound by their past actions, by their
samskaras; and this creates a black mark in their mind. But being
Alakhanirainjan, being both invisible and blemishless, Parama Purusa is
totally beyond the realm of sense perception and beyond the realm of
samskara. His mind never gets stained. He remains eternally pure and
spotless.
[3] Bhra'ntivimocan (Bhra'nti means 'confusion', vimocan means
'remover'). This is one of the names of Parama Purusa: The Entity who
graciously removes all confusion and clears the sadhaka's mind of
ignorance and delusion. When one is swamped in avidya maya and thinking
that right is wrong and wrong is right, then their future is bleak. They
are totally caught up in dogma and wallowing in misconceptions. They
think transitory things to be permanent. In that dreadful and desperate
time, when by His grace Parama Purusa removes the ignorance and clears
the sadhaka's mind of all darkness, then the sadhaka is able to realise
the truth and move forward on the path of Supreme Benevolence. That is
why one of the names of Parama Purusa is Bhra'ntivimocan.
From: "Shivadayal Deva"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Why Stuck in Sadhana
Baba
== WHY STUCK IN SADHANA ==
Namaskar,
We all know that sadhana is the cream of life. Sadhana is the only way
to reach the Goal and feel His bliss. It is by sincerely practicing
sadhana that we progress on the path.
There are many factors that might temporarily halt our progress in
sadhana - procrastination, laziness, mundane attraction etc. These
certainly can happen.
However there is one fundamental flaw that will make our sadhana become
"stuck" - when we really cannot move ahead. And it is this pitfall that
every sadhaka and seeker must be aware of - and avert - if they want
success in their spiritual life.
BHAKTI MEANS SERVICE TO PARAMA PURUSA
Baba reminds us again and again that bhakti means service to Parama Purusa.
Bhaktir Bhagavato seva'
Bhakti is service to the Supreme
To serve anyone, to serve Parama Purusa, His presence is needed. One
must feel that Baba is nearby, closeby so that we may serve Him. Without
His presence there can be no service; and if there is no service there
is no bhakti. So this inherent feeling of closeness with Parama Purusa
is the key ingredient of bhakti. And with the feeling of bhakti then one
can easily move forward on the path of sadhana. Hence, it all starts
with the presence of Parama Purusa, thinking that Baba is close by. This
is an essential element of sadhana.
THE MAJOR PITFALL
The main pitfall then or reason for getting stuck in sadhana is falling
into the dogma that Parama Purusa is not really there. Unfortunately
some feel this way - and in that condition their sadhana becomes totally
stuck.
People innocently fall into the belief that sadhana is "just my
imagination". They repeat their mantra, they do their chanting, they do
so many things - all with the feeling that they are alone and that
Parama Purusa cannot really hear them. This defective approach has
invaded the mental plate of many a sadhaka. And it is a most dangerous
phenomena.
How does it happen?
Well, people think, "I imagine so many conversations - with my spouse,
my boss, my grandmother, or my friend. And those persons do not actually
hear me. They do not know I was talking with them. It was all just my
imagination. Same then is the case with sadhana and Parama Purusa. I am
repeating my mantra but He cannot hear me. It is all just my imagination."
This is one unfortunate misunderstanding that may enter the mind. And
this will bring one's sadhana to a complete halt. Because without Parama
Purusa there is no sadhana. If we fall into the trap that Parama Purusa
is not close by but rather very far away then He will remain beyond our
grasp.
Baba says, "If you think that He is very far from you, He will remain
forever beyond your reach." (AMIWL-6)
In that case sadhana will just be one fantasy - just a far off dream.
There will not be any progress. There will not be any vibration or
feeling of closeness in sadhana.
HOW EVERYONE CAN MOVE AHEAD
To avert this spiritual calamity, one must feel like they are
communicating with Baba in sadhana. And to do this, one must cultivate
the idea that He is close by.
One may think that, this is easier said than done.
But, as we have all felt, really it is not very difficult. The whole
essence of our second lesson - or Guru mantra - is that Parama Purusa is
watching me. That is the beginning, middle, and end of second lesson. If
one feels this way then that is everything in second lesson.
Hence, all the 24hrs we should cultivate the feeling that Parama Purusa
is watching me.
And that is the reality also. It is not just one's imagination. Because
Parama Purusa has deep, deep love and affection for everyone - i.e. for
you. In that case He cannot keep Himself away. Rather His tendency will
be to come close and watch for your welfare.
And when as sadhakas we embrace this reality, then we will have His
closeness and touch.
Baba says, "If you think that He is near, He will be so near that you
need not move even an inch to attain Him." (AMIWL-6)
So the feeling embedded within 2nd second is vital toward our spiritual
growth in sadhana. And indeed when doing citta shuddi, this very same
feeling must be inculcated. Only when we feel we are completely
surrounded by His presence should we then commence our mantra japa.
In a nutshell, when we feel that He is with us, then our sadhana can
never become stuck.
IT IS THE TRUTH ALSO - HERE IS THE PROOF
Even then some think that, "Okay, Parama Purusa is watching me, I can
accept this idea, follow it, and tell others about it, but in my heart I
do not think it is true."
Some fall in this category.
That is why for years and years, in countless reporting sessions and in
dharma samiiksa and in PC, Baba would again and again prove to us that
He was there all along, watching us. He would smile and perfectly repeat
what we were thinking when we were standing outside in the rain waiting
for the bus, or He would talk about how we ate a sweet before doing
sadhana, or He would describe who the passengers were on the train when
we were traveling to DMC.
All these things and many more Baba would tell us. And the sole reason
behind it was to teach and show us that in all circumstances He is
always with us. That was His message: Never are we alone, always Parama
Purusa is with you - watching - caring for your welfare.
Verily, this is the essence of spirituality: His presence.
And Baba has written hundreds of songs in His Prabhat Samgiita
collection that depict how we are to sing to Him and that He is always
listening.
All this reinforces the sweet notion that He is always with us.
A BEAUTIFUL THOUGHT NOT A SCARY ONE
So whether doing sadhana or not, we should always feel that He is with
us - watching us - looking out for our welfare. And this is one
beautiful idea.
It is not scary as if some enemy is secretly watching us through the
window.
Rather it is one very charming and blissful concept that no matter where
I may go in this universe, Baba will always be with me, gently holding
my hand - guiding me, helping me - saving me.
MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF SPIRITUAL LIFE
This idea is the most important aspect of our spiritual life and it is
this notion that propels us ahead on the path.
So we must always feel that He is with us.
When doing second lesson we are to feel that He is watching us. And when
doing first lesson we are to feel like we are calling Him. That is
Baba's explicit guideline.
Mindlessly repeating those mantras without that ideation - without the
feeling of His presence - will be futile.
It is the feeling that we are communicating with Him directly - that He
is there listening - that empowers our sadhana and gives shakti to our
mantra japa.
So we must always cultivate this as the first step in our spiritual
life: That He is present.
Never should we allow ourselves to fall prey to the myth that sadhana is
just our imagination. Doing so is like the kiss of death. Then our
sadhana will really be stuck. Even if we sit for hours and hours we will
not advance.
When we think - "Baba is with me" - then all the lessons of sadhana come
alive and we float in the bliss of of His sweet Presence.
Then we communicate with Him, and we will directly receive His
communication and love also. Sadhana will be a blissful interaction
between bhakta and Parama Purusa.
BABA'S BLESSING
In our Marga, the whole concept and practice of sadhana is based on the
idea that we are very close with and in communication with Parama
Purusa. That is the golden nugget of Ananda Marga.
In the various religions they feel that their god is far away in the
seventh sky and that he is only available one day a week and even then
to communicate with him one needs the help of a priest etc. That is
their dogmatic outlook.
In AM it is not like that. Baba has infused withus with the idea that
'Parama Purusa is yours and that He is your very close companion'. It is
this very real vibration that gives force to our mantra japa and propels
us toward Oneness with Him. By remembering and practicing this ideal, we
will never again get stuck in sadhana, by His grace.
Baba says, "He who is guiding the stars of the skies, is with you, you
are not alone. Under no circumstances should you ever be afraid. Never
think that you are alone. Whatever has to happen, will happen, and the
One who causes this happening is with you. He is not something which
resides far far away. You are not a distant relative of His. He is your
Father. So you only have to know the One. Who is He? He is your nearest
and dearest One. He is your most beloved." (AV-5)
Namaskar,
Shivadayal
Note 1: THINGS TO AVOID
If we do sadhana just to show off in front of others or if we do sadhana
just so that we can go and eat food, then this is not at all good. In
that sadhana there is no Parama Purusa, there is only self and the
mundane desire for name and fame or food. If one falls in this category
then they are stuck. Their sadhana will not go anywhere. Only when one
thinks that my sadhana is for Parama Purusa will they then be able to
advance. Baba is ever-gracious so whatever right or wrong habits we may
have had in the past, He is always there to help us proceed on the path.
Let us all move forward embracing this idea.
PRABHAT SAMGIITA
"A'nandaghan tumi ananta karun'a a'nanda sudha'sa'ra..." (PS 4140)
Purport:
O' Baba, You are Ananda Ghan, You are full of bliss, You are Bliss
Personified. Your karuna' [1], Your compassionate grace, knows no
bounds; it is unending. You are the essence of nectar-- the essence of
infinite bliss. Baba, You are the most charming and attractive One. You
always remain in bliss. Your culmination lies in a'nanda; Your every
expression - thought, word, and deeds - is bliss. Baba, You are
uniquely situated in a'nanda and your entire Being is a'nanda. O' my
Lord, You are bliss personified, You are A'nandamu'rti.
Baba, You are Alakha Nirainjan [2], infinite and blemishless. You
are so gracious; You are Bhra'ntivimocan [3], You remove all confusion,
doubts, and dilemmas. You have three eyes. You have perfect vision of
the past, present, and future. Baba, by Your grace, You are
sarva'ksa'dhaka, You are the answer of everything. You are fulfilling
everyone's desires and wishes. You grant everything. You are everyone's
own; You are in everyone's heart. Baba You are the infinite ocean of
perfect peace.
Baba, in this world, You have come and expressed Yourself in the form
of effulgence and You will always remain in effulgence. Baba You are
eternally present in the three worlds-- subtle, crude, and causal. You
are vibrating everything. From unit to cosmic, from the blade of grass
to Brahma, You are attracting everyone. All are moving towards You, by
Your grace. O' Great Entity, You are mine and You are the essence of
essence. You are everything...
NOTE FOR PRABHAT SAMGIITA 4140:
[1] Karuna': (Literally: 'Divine Compassion'); When Parama Purus'a sees the
suffering of devotees, then He feels pained by how they are unable to move
ahead on the spiritual path due to getting caught up in various problems
and difficulties. In such circumstances, Parama Purusa cannot bear to watch
His bhaktas go through so much struggle and strife. So in their helpless
condition, when devotees are trying hard to progress but their pathway is
completely obstructed and they cannot advance in their sadhana or spiritual
life-- and again and again they are overcome by various complexes,
bondages, and obstacles-- then by seeing His devotees beleaguered in this
way, Parama Purus'a Himself comes and graces them. With His immense
feeling of karuna' (divine compassion), Parama Purusa blesses His
devotees and relieves them of their pain and suffering. This special
grace is nothing but His divine karuna': Wherein Parama Purus'a graces
the devotees and removes their troubles and hindrances so that once
again they can move ahead freely on the path of spiritual salvation.
[2] Alakhanirainjan: ('Alakh' means 'invisible'; 'nir' means 'no';
'ainjan' means 'black spot'.) Of the infinite attributions of Parama
Purusa, one of which is that He is invisible and blemishless-- totally
pure and perfect. That is why He is known as Alakhanirainjan. Because in
this world unit beings are bound by their past actions, by their
samskaras; and this creates a black mark in their mind. But being
Alakhanirainjan, being both invisible and blemishless, Parama Purusa is
totally beyond the realm of sense perception and beyond the realm of
samskara. His mind never gets stained. He remains eternally pure and
spotless.
[3] Bhra'ntivimocan (Bhra'nti means 'confusion', vimocan means
'remover'). This is one of the names of Parama Purusa: The Entity who
graciously removes all confusion and clears the sadhaka's mind of
ignorance and delusion. When one is swamped in avidya maya and thinking
that right is wrong and wrong is right, then their future is bleak. They
are totally caught up in dogma and wallowing in misconceptions. They
think transitory things to be permanent. In that dreadful and desperate
time, when by His grace Parama Purusa removes the ignorance and clears
the sadhaka's mind of all darkness, then the sadhaka is able to realise
the truth and move forward on the path of Supreme Benevolence. That is
why one of the names of Parama Purusa is Bhra'ntivimocan.
