== PHASE OF PAUSE IN SADHANA ==
Namaskar,
As sadhakas, it is perfectly natural for us to go through "ups" & "downs"
in our practice of meditation. At the same time we all wish that we could
always be in an "up" phase. So when a "down" phase invariably comes then we
should all know what it means and how to handle it.
Recently one senior tattvika responded to my queries on this topic and with
his permission here below I am giving a summary of his replies-- all of
which the senior tattvika has reviewed and approved.
NATURAL FLOW OF LIFE: SYSTALTIC MOVEMENT
As Baba discusses in so many discourses-- whether about sadhana, economics,
education, social progress, quantum physics, or literature etc-- each and
every movement in this universe moves along a systaltic path.
Baba says, "As you know, in this universe of ours nothing moves - no force,
no expression, no manifestation, moves - along a straight line. The
movement is always pulsative; the movement is always of systaltic order,
order of pause and start. There must be a stage of pause, and another stage
just following the stage of pause - a stage of movement." (AV-8)
So according to Baba, the "ups" & "downs" in spiritual life are totally
natural and to be expected. And His own terminology for these "ups" &
"downs" of life are known are periods of speed and periods of pause.
PAUSE AND SPEED IS PART OF THE NATURAL PROGRESSION
Each and every sadhaka must know that sadhana itself moves in phases of
pause and speed. This is the normal and natural pathway for everyone. This
is what Baba says.
Baba says, "While doing sa'dhana' in the spiritual sphere, the state of
pause may come. Sometimes people say, 'How strange! A few days ago I was
having excellent meditation, but these days I can't seem to concentrate at
all. That's very sad.' Or at times one may say, 'The other day while
meditating my body began to quiver. It was quite a pleasant experience. Why
don't I get the same experience today?' This sort of blissful experience
during meditation or in concentration comes within the scope of
assimilation. It becomes internalized. But if it does not find any
expression within the mind, you can never experience it. Maybe after a few
days you may experience an even greater bliss during incantation or
meditation. All this means that even in the spiritual sphere also there is
pause and speed." (PNS-7, 'Dynamicity and Staticity)
So while we should always put forth maximum effort in sadhana and never
skip any lessons, at the same time no one should become overly concerned
when sadhana is not as good as it once was. Because it is sure that in the
near future a new period of speed will come and one will advance ahead on
the spiritual path. This is Baba's above teaching.
SOME TECHNIQUES TO HELP KEEP SADHANA STRONG:
THIRD LESSON HELPS
Given the fact that it is an inevitably that we will experience periods of
pause in sadhana, there are certain approaches we can do to help push our
sadhana back into a period of speed.
One point is to practice our lesson of tattva dharana-- or third lesson. As
we know that this energizes our being, enhances our concentration, and
purifies the cakras. So it is a very good lesson to do when experiencing a
period of pause.
Certainly though, sitting for long or even short session in viira'sana (the
posture for 3rd lesson) is not particularly easy. Because the toes are
curled underneath and there is a lot of pressure applied to the joints of
the toes.
In that case, one can place some soft clothing articles or a piece of foam
underneath one's feet when doing third lesson. In that way viira'sana will
feel more comfortable and one will be able to remain in that position long,
thus getting the many benefits. And certainly over time doing this lesson
will become physically easier and easier in which case the sadhaka can
involve purely in the psycho-spiritual plane.
WHAT SADHANA LESSONS TO DO WHEN
As we all know in our sahaja yoga system-- i.e. the six lessons of
sadhana-- the lessons can be separated into two basic catergories:
sa'dhana' & sa'dhana'unga.
Our first lesson (iishvara pranidhana) and our sixth lesson (dhya'na) are
the only two lessons of sadhana. The former leads to mukti and the latter
brings moksa, by His grace. So those are both sadhana lessons.
Whereas our others lessons-- numbers 2 through 5-- are helping lessons of
sadhana known as sa'dhana'unga. These include: Madhuvidya (2nd lesson),
tattva dharana (3rd lesson), pranayama (4th lesson), and cakra shodhana
(5th lesson). All of these are helping lessons in sadhana.
The point then comes that when should one do 1st lesson and one should 6th
lesson be done. Here are some basic guidelines that everyone can try and
experiment with.
1. If one is struggling a lot in dhyana either because one cannot visualise
Baba or because one is not feeling that sweet, heart-felt connection
inside, then one can try to switch over to first lesson. Because first
lesson is comparatively easy.
2. And it should be remembered that first lesson itself is a devotional
lesson. So just after one completes the stage of cittashuddhi (the last
step of one's withdrawal process) then before starting the practice of
mantra japa, first one infuse a strong feeling of devotional love for Baba.
And then after arousing that devotional feeling one can then repeat their
is't'a mantra. Then that mantra japa will be fruitful by His grace. Here
the whole point is that one's mantra repetition should be saturated with
devotional feeling and yearning for Him. That is one key point for first
lesson.
3. And then as first lesson build momentum and spiritual flow and one is
getting support from the other lesson as well, then that is a good time to
again engage in the practice of dhyana.
4. So one should always remember that first lesson is easier than dhyana.
That is one point. And next is that normal dhyana is easier than very
intimate and deeper dhyana. So one should proceed according to one's own
mental feeling.
MORE POINTS ABOUT PROCEEDING AHEAD IN SADHANA
5. We can say that the most important point is that a sadhaka should always
be natural in their approach to sadhana and not be artificial or
hypocritical. One should do as one feels.
6. For example, when a small child has a strong desire to sit on his
mother's lap then that little baby is going to cry and cry until that
mother lifts him onto her lap. And this is quite natural and the mother
feels that she must respond to the child's cry. Because that is the child's
pure and natural feeling. In contrast, if that same mother also has an 18
year old son and if all of a sudden that elder son also starts crying and
crying and demanding that he be placed on his mother's lap, then that is
not going to bear any fruit. Because the whole scene is unnatural; that is
not what 18-year-old boys are supposed to do. And no mother is going to
take such an old child onto her lap. It does not work that way. Rather
there are other ways for that 18-year-old son to get his mother's attention
and concern. Here the whole point is that one must be natural in their
approach.
7. Similarly in sadhana also, one must follow a natural approach--
especially in dhyana. One should approach Baba and communicate with Him
according to one's internal feeling. One should not act in any fake or
unnatural manner. Sincerity is the key for progress in dhyana.
8. There are some who may say that dhyana is the only lesson that one
should practice-- but that is not at all proper. Rather all the lessons
have their utility and speciality, and they all help promote deeper dhyana.
So the way to develop a sweet and more intimate feeling in dhyana is by
doing all the six lessons and by being sincere and true in dhyana.
ASKING FOR HIS GRACE
9. And perhaps the most important point in sadhana is to directly ask help
from Baba. One may repeat, 'I cannot do anything, I am helpless, so Baba
please grace me so I may move towards You'. Requesting His grace in this
way will invariably help one to move ahead on the path. This type of
constant request is needed for getting His grace. And certainly this type
of request should be carried out with all the sweet and sincere feelings of
one's heart. Only then will it be successful. And this whole entire concept
of asking got Baba's grace is His direct guideline. Baba teaches us that
each and every sa'dhaka should do like this.
Baba says, "They will have to approach Parama Purusa with these words:
'Parama Purusa I want to move towards You, but I do not have sufficient
strength to move. Please give me strength, I want to move on." (SS-18, p.
9-10)
Namaskar,
Nagendra
Note: All the above points are a senior tattvika's explanation of points
originally given by Baba Himself. And by His grace all these guidelines
help a sadhaka in sadhana, especially if one is experiencing a period of
pause. Whereas when one is in a period of speed then by His grace all the
lessons are flowing naturally and one becomes completely lost in the ocean
of Cosmic Bliss.
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A New Era of Spiritual Age Will Be Coming
Spontaneous Spiritual Experience in Tomorrow's Humans
Baba says, "To move ahead from physicality to intellectuality is the
Proutistic order. It is the surest movement of human life -- it is the
surest movement of human destiny...human beings will be making tremendous
progress in the realms of intellectuality and intuition. The human beings
of that future age will be very sensitive. The efferent nerves will be more
active than the afferent nerves, and subtle experiences will be more common
than they are now. Today human beings seldom have subtle experiences, but
in the future they will occur naturally and spontaneously." (PNS-17, p.36)
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