Weekly Guided Meditation & Spiritual Study - April 6, 2013 - "Sadhana for Modern Man"

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This week - DISCUSSIONS ON SWAMI CHIDANANDA’s DAILY SVADYAYA  
" SADHANA FOR MODERN MAN" 
AND 

RELATED TOPICS FROM VEDANTA

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OM NAMO BHAGAVATHE SIVANANDAYA

Svadyaya for April 6, 2013

SADHANA FOR MODERN MAN

Sadhana is the purpose for which we have come to this earth-plane. This is called sadhana-bhumi, for it is the earth-plane alone, upon which sadhana for Self-realisation can be done. God-realisation is the main end and aim of life. In the present age, the one vehicle for sadhana, which is very important – the human body – has degenerated most frightfully. In spite of this degeneracy on the physical plane, mentally man has evolved a great deal. He should shift the emphasis of sadhana from the physical to the mental. We have to admit that we have limitations of time and energy.

For this Vedanta has given the right clue. It lays all the emphasis on mental culture. Vedanta is a complete divine psychology. We have forgotten our real nature. What is the remedy for this? To remember it and reassert it. Autosuggestion is the mainstay, the pillar, of Vedanta. It says, “Remember your lost heritage, your real nature, and assert it again and again, and again.” You can let your whole body be engaged in any activity throughout the day. At the same time, you can unbrokenly carry on the divine current of Atmik assertion going on. This autosuggestion will become more a latent aptitude than a bhav. When it is established into a permanent bhav, then that bhav will translate itself into practice. As you think, so you become.

There are two obstacles for this autosuggestion. Firstly, vices or the impurities of mind. Two methods are prescribed for overcoming them. One is thinking of the opposite – pratipaksha bhavana – and asserting the presence of that which you wish to gain. By asserting the opposite of your present vices, you grow into the nature of the virtues and the vices disappear. The other is the law that the positive always overcomes the negative. Therefore, certain positive assertions are constantly prescribed. This overcomes the negative dehadhyasa – identification with the body and the mind. And the identification with Atman is reasserted. Body upadhi and other upadhis hold down the mind from soaring into Atmik realms. In order to counteract them, sattavik upadhis are purposely prescribed. He is asked to be in spiritual surroundings. He is asked to do japa, kirtan and meditation. The mental upadhis should be made sattavic through autosuggestion, through pratipaksha bhavana, through always trying to be positive, and through voluntarily taking divine upadhis. Man is asked to take sannyasa. That gives powerful colouring to the mind. The colouring of the mind should be made divine. In an incredibly short time, he will see that the whole world stands transformed before him.

God Bless You!

Swami Chidananda

Svadyaya for Mar 16,2013 - The True Purpose of Life by Swami Chidananda

The True Purpose of Life

Glorious Immortal Self! There is a permanent Reality behind this entire universe. That great reality is of the nature of Bliss and blessedness. It is a state of untrammeled (not confined or limited) freedom, limitless peace, boundless wisdom and indescribable Bliss. And that Bliss, freedom, peace, wisdom and joy is your essential and eternal state. That is your real abode. That is your ultimate journey. This life has been given to you in order to realize that Reality. It is this achievement and achievement alone, which is the central purpose of your life.

Indian philosophy declares in bold and unmistakable terms that the great aim of human life is to attain supreme Bliss. It asserts: “All beings in this universe have come forth from Bliss, in Bliss they are sustained, and they are destined to attain that Bliss.” It is this perennial Bliss, which indeed is the great and ultimate Truth and Reality. The great ones who have realized through their intense inner effort the nature of the ultimate Reality, have stated in clear and unmistakable terms: “O mortals, you cannot find unalloyed perfect Happiness and Bliss in this imperfect and limited phenomenal universe. The ultimate state of joy and Bliss can be had only within your own Self, which has its source in the permanent and eternal Reality. All Bliss lie within you. You are yourself that Bliss.” This is your nature. The rediscovery of that living awareness of Bliss is the great purpose of your life. This is the goal of life for which we have taken birth on this earth-plane.

Life is not a haphazard flight from one object to another. Life is a quest full of significance and meaning. Therefore the sooner the eyes are opened to the great meaning of life, the greater the degree of perfection that will be attained. Otherwise, life would be like setting upon a journey without direction, or like getting onto a highway without the knowledge of the destination or route. Life is very precious. Say: “I have come here to realize the supreme state of blessedness and to experience the highest Bliss. I have been given this unique opportunity of a human birth in order to attain the ultimate goal.” The chance is now given to you. Who knows if the keen state of aspiration and devotion to the ideal will continue? Therefore, now is the time to make a supreme effort to realize the true purpose of life. Now is the time to make an earnest effort to attain the highest blessedness and the wondrous bliss of Realization

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God Bless You!

Swami Chidananda 

Additional reading material 

Chapter 6 - Your True purpose in Life (page 41) The path beyond sorrow by Swami Chidananda