Continued...
Love of God: The Essential condition
Another key point in Sri Ramakrishna's teachings is that we should be sincere in repeating the name of God. It is not important how many thousand times we chanted the name of God or how long we meditated. Someone may eat vegetarian diet and undertake severe austerities wearing a single piece of cloth and so on. These are of least importance if they lack sincerity of purpose. The important thing is whether we are able to love God wholeheartedly. Due to such a love for God, all other worldly attractions would fade into insignificance. We should always keep it in mind.
Srimad Bhagavatam says,'A genuine love for God reduces all other attractions of the world.' We are to tread the spiritual path with this standard. One may lose consciousness while singing of God, one may meditate the whole life sitting in one place, one may perform lakhs of japam for years, one can go on pilgrimages one after another. None of these really matter. Feeling constant presence of God in our heart is what really matters. There will be no space left for anything else, or any other person or even any other thought in such a heart. We ought to offer all our love and adoration on Him. We shall have to surrender ourselves completely at His feet. This is the gist of Sri Ramakrishna's spiritual teachings.
And if we succeed in loving God with our whole heart, we will be able to feel His presence in all the creatures of this universe. I sincerely pray that all of us may be able to live our lives holding fast to this ideal. May this ideal influence our lives to such an extent that everything of the world becomes insignificant. By His grace everything s possible. I pray to Sri Ramakrishna that all of us may have such intense love for God.
Sleep, an Obstacle
It is observed that people often fall asleep during meditation. Sleep is a great enemy and an obstacle to yoga. It may be advisable to splash water on the eyes and sit again. It may work for some time.
The reason for feeling sleepy is that the mind is forcibly withdrawn from the objects in which it generally roams about, but if it cannot be held on to the object of meditation after getting it weaned from those objects, it merges into sleep for not getting anything to sustain itself. The method of getting over this is to try always to remain aware and alert. What else can be done other than that?
The sleep which sets in after sitting for meditation happens due to the influence of lethargy(tamas). It happens due to two reasons. First, bodily tiredness or listlessness and secondly, lack of interest in japa and meditation. In the first case, if the body becomes tired and lethargic, it is necessary to take proper rest. The necessary amount of rest or sleep for the body is given. Rather, it is better to get up a bit late from bed if by doing so one may get good meditation. That is, if there is no over tiredness. Still these things depend upon one's mental and physical constitution. One should do what is convenient and befitting. The second is lack of interest, mind falls asleep. The reason for not getting interest in japa and meditation is, we are not well aware of the goal or the ideal. And so we don't get any taste in it. So the mind falls asleep.
If there is intense yearning for the object we are meditation upon and a deep and strong desire to get Him, then shall we be careless? As Sri Ramakrishna said, pearls and jewellery are hidden in the next room. Knowing this, can the thief sleep quietly in the adjoining room? No, he cannot. Until he enters the next room by breaking the wall and gets possession of the wealth, he will not be at peace. Similarly, if we know that He is in our hearts and we must get Him, then can we be careless? Can we sleep? We get lukewarm only due to want of yearning. Therefore one should always try to be alert an wide awake. By repeated endeavour it becomes a habit and impressions (samskaras) are formed.
We too use to sit for meditation again after a short stroll when we used to feel sleepy. Many ask,'If we feel sleepy, can we do japa while strolling?' That may be done. By that sleep may be driven away, but meditation is not achieved. Meditation means all the senses are withdrawn from their respective objects and activities. The mind alone will then stick to that object of meditation. Meditation is not achieved by walking.
The real thing is, whatever time we meditate, we should try to do it with proper feeling and mental attitude. Whatsoever time we devote to it will be really beneficial of we do it with right mental attitude. It is not possible to examine one's own self until the mind is calm and quiet. Mind cannot be analysed otherwise.
Be at Rest
It is essential that the mind must be quietened to be able to meditate. When the mind becomes quiet, its effect will be produced on the whole life. Words and deeds -everything-will become peaceful,serene. Lie will become peaceful, character too will become pleasing and mellowed. Character will imbibe softness. Restlessness will not do.
This happens to everyone-everyone knows about it. In this, mind thinks of object other than the object of meditation. In this, case one has to try to concentrate the mind again on the object of meditation. If the mind is coloured by sense-pleasures or the desire for enjoyment, it will be attracted towards the sense objects due to desire for enjoyment, let it remain alert and be aware of it.
Be Patient and Determined
Whatever little noble effort we make, will not go in vain however little it might be. It remains stored up. If we stretch one little step towards the ideal, the distance does get less by that much. At least that much is stored. However, it is also true that unless we get intense yearning in our mind whatever we do is of no avail. Does that mean that we must give up all effort? No. As long as we don't get that type of intense yearning, we must go on struggling. Our slightest effort is not lost, will not be lost. It will remain accumulated. When in the future we shall get blows, difficulties and counter-blows, then this small but noble effort which we have put in,will save us. However little the effort might be, none of the noble endeavours must be forgotten. Its remembrance at the time of difficulty and adversity gives strength to the mind, gives mental sternght. One must remember the early attraction for God, spirit of dispassion, and the endeavours one had put in during one's early days. Then we shall fell,'Oh, what a state of mind I had then! What attraction for the ideal, what dispassion I had!'
We shall have to remember that there is no hope of our reaching the goal if we fumble on the way or become complacent. We must have that kind of patience which cannot be exhausted even by several lives of failures and sufferings. Of course, this sort of perseverance cannot be achieved in a day or two, not even in a few years. But the object of our search is worth so much that even hundreds of lives may be spent in it's quest. Nothing can be attained for which we have not paid adequately. Perhaps, in spite of our utmost struggle, the goal may still be so far away as to make us despair of reaching the goal. Or perhaps it may be very near our reach! Who knows when the good moment will come!
Ultimately we have to depend on His grace. The consummation of all our sadhanas is complete surrender to Him and dependence on His grace.
With the above, I have completed the book, Spiritual Initiation - What it is, by Swami Bhuteshananda. I am blessed, to be able to share this with you. Together with you, let us implement into our lives what was preached by Sri Ramakrishna and his disciples.
Books can be ordered at www.sriramakrishnamath.org
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Love of God: The Essential condition
Another key point in Sri Ramakrishna's teachings is that we should be sincere in repeating the name of God. It is not important how many thousand times we chanted the name of God or how long we meditated. Someone may eat vegetarian diet and undertake severe austerities wearing a single piece of cloth and so on. These are of least importance if they lack sincerity of purpose. The important thing is whether we are able to love God wholeheartedly. Due to such a love for God, all other worldly attractions would fade into insignificance. We should always keep it in mind.
Srimad Bhagavatam says,'A genuine love for God reduces all other attractions of the world.' We are to tread the spiritual path with this standard. One may lose consciousness while singing of God, one may meditate the whole life sitting in one place, one may perform lakhs of japam for years, one can go on pilgrimages one after another. None of these really matter. Feeling constant presence of God in our heart is what really matters. There will be no space left for anything else, or any other person or even any other thought in such a heart. We ought to offer all our love and adoration on Him. We shall have to surrender ourselves completely at His feet. This is the gist of Sri Ramakrishna's spiritual teachings.
And if we succeed in loving God with our whole heart, we will be able to feel His presence in all the creatures of this universe. I sincerely pray that all of us may be able to live our lives holding fast to this ideal. May this ideal influence our lives to such an extent that everything of the world becomes insignificant. By His grace everything s possible. I pray to Sri Ramakrishna that all of us may have such intense love for God.
Sleep, an Obstacle
It is observed that people often fall asleep during meditation. Sleep is a great enemy and an obstacle to yoga. It may be advisable to splash water on the eyes and sit again. It may work for some time.
The reason for feeling sleepy is that the mind is forcibly withdrawn from the objects in which it generally roams about, but if it cannot be held on to the object of meditation after getting it weaned from those objects, it merges into sleep for not getting anything to sustain itself. The method of getting over this is to try always to remain aware and alert. What else can be done other than that?
The sleep which sets in after sitting for meditation happens due to the influence of lethargy(tamas). It happens due to two reasons. First, bodily tiredness or listlessness and secondly, lack of interest in japa and meditation. In the first case, if the body becomes tired and lethargic, it is necessary to take proper rest. The necessary amount of rest or sleep for the body is given. Rather, it is better to get up a bit late from bed if by doing so one may get good meditation. That is, if there is no over tiredness. Still these things depend upon one's mental and physical constitution. One should do what is convenient and befitting. The second is lack of interest, mind falls asleep. The reason for not getting interest in japa and meditation is, we are not well aware of the goal or the ideal. And so we don't get any taste in it. So the mind falls asleep.
If there is intense yearning for the object we are meditation upon and a deep and strong desire to get Him, then shall we be careless? As Sri Ramakrishna said, pearls and jewellery are hidden in the next room. Knowing this, can the thief sleep quietly in the adjoining room? No, he cannot. Until he enters the next room by breaking the wall and gets possession of the wealth, he will not be at peace. Similarly, if we know that He is in our hearts and we must get Him, then can we be careless? Can we sleep? We get lukewarm only due to want of yearning. Therefore one should always try to be alert an wide awake. By repeated endeavour it becomes a habit and impressions (samskaras) are formed.
We too use to sit for meditation again after a short stroll when we used to feel sleepy. Many ask,'If we feel sleepy, can we do japa while strolling?' That may be done. By that sleep may be driven away, but meditation is not achieved. Meditation means all the senses are withdrawn from their respective objects and activities. The mind alone will then stick to that object of meditation. Meditation is not achieved by walking.
The real thing is, whatever time we meditate, we should try to do it with proper feeling and mental attitude. Whatsoever time we devote to it will be really beneficial of we do it with right mental attitude. It is not possible to examine one's own self until the mind is calm and quiet. Mind cannot be analysed otherwise.
Be at Rest
It is essential that the mind must be quietened to be able to meditate. When the mind becomes quiet, its effect will be produced on the whole life. Words and deeds -everything-will become peaceful,serene. Lie will become peaceful, character too will become pleasing and mellowed. Character will imbibe softness. Restlessness will not do.
This happens to everyone-everyone knows about it. In this, mind thinks of object other than the object of meditation. In this, case one has to try to concentrate the mind again on the object of meditation. If the mind is coloured by sense-pleasures or the desire for enjoyment, it will be attracted towards the sense objects due to desire for enjoyment, let it remain alert and be aware of it.
Be Patient and Determined
Whatever little noble effort we make, will not go in vain however little it might be. It remains stored up. If we stretch one little step towards the ideal, the distance does get less by that much. At least that much is stored. However, it is also true that unless we get intense yearning in our mind whatever we do is of no avail. Does that mean that we must give up all effort? No. As long as we don't get that type of intense yearning, we must go on struggling. Our slightest effort is not lost, will not be lost. It will remain accumulated. When in the future we shall get blows, difficulties and counter-blows, then this small but noble effort which we have put in,will save us. However little the effort might be, none of the noble endeavours must be forgotten. Its remembrance at the time of difficulty and adversity gives strength to the mind, gives mental sternght. One must remember the early attraction for God, spirit of dispassion, and the endeavours one had put in during one's early days. Then we shall fell,'Oh, what a state of mind I had then! What attraction for the ideal, what dispassion I had!'
We shall have to remember that there is no hope of our reaching the goal if we fumble on the way or become complacent. We must have that kind of patience which cannot be exhausted even by several lives of failures and sufferings. Of course, this sort of perseverance cannot be achieved in a day or two, not even in a few years. But the object of our search is worth so much that even hundreds of lives may be spent in it's quest. Nothing can be attained for which we have not paid adequately. Perhaps, in spite of our utmost struggle, the goal may still be so far away as to make us despair of reaching the goal. Or perhaps it may be very near our reach! Who knows when the good moment will come!
Ultimately we have to depend on His grace. The consummation of all our sadhanas is complete surrender to Him and dependence on His grace.
With the above, I have completed the book, Spiritual Initiation - What it is, by Swami Bhuteshananda. I am blessed, to be able to share this with you. Together with you, let us implement into our lives what was preached by Sri Ramakrishna and his disciples.
Books can be ordered at www.sriramakrishnamath.org
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