Daily routine – Spiritual Living
Study, svadhyaya is also
something very important. You will not be able to go on meditating, and do
nothing else. When the actual entry into direct meditation on the Supreme
Reality of life is found to be impracticable on a particular day for some
reason or the other, stop the meditation. Don’t tire the mind and whip it up
unnecessarily when it is not willing to do it. At that time, take up a
scripture – anything that enthuses you, rouses your feelings, and enables your
spirit to rise – whatever be the scripture or a textbook that you may find most
suitable for the purpose.
When you are calmed, and your
mind is properly prepared after this study of a scripture, you may take to
meditation a second time. But, even then, if you find it is difficult, take to mantra japa. A mantra is a
summoning of the Ultimate Being by associating it with the principle of sound.
Just as everything has a name, the Universal Reality also may be summoned by
some kind of description, a designation. If you have an ishta devata – a god whom you worship dearly – a mantra of that
deity can be taken up for your daily japa. A few rounds of the japa mala with
chanting for some 15 minutes, or even half an hour, will prepare your mind for
meditation.
So, three prongs of this
trident of the sadhana process may be said to be meditation, svadhyaya and japa. All the three may have to be
attempted every day. Keep a few minutes for japa,
a few minutes for study, and a few minutes for actual meditation. But more than
all these, there is satsanga. Nothing
can equal satsanga, the company of a great person who will sustain your
enthusiasm for spiritual living.
Today you may find it
difficult to locate a great master. You
can place the portrait, picture, or a photograph of that great master in front
of you, and go on gazing at it. What you see with your eyes, you should also
think at the same time. There is a direct connection between sight and thought.
So, ishta is
the name that we give to this form that you place before yourself for the
purpose of meditation – the dear one. The mind wants many things, and one of
the things is yourself. This kind of thing is not ishta. Mortal objects in the
world cannot bless you with such a thing. So, your must-have ishta does not
mean a perishable object, because a perishable object can give you only
perishable satisfaction. Thus, when you do not have an actual Guru whom you can
befriend and receive instructions from, you must have something imperishable in
front you for your purpose of concentration.
Therefore, we have japa,
svadhaya, meditation, dhyana, and satsanga with great ones. If you are sincere,
you will come in contact with these Gurus. The Almighty Lord, who is seated in
your heart, who loves you very much, who is your real friend, will bring you in
contact with a Great Master. The Guru will come to you, instead of your going
to the Guru. Suhṛdaṁ sarvabhūtānāṁ jñātvā māṁ śāntim ṛcchati (Gita 5.29):
“Remember, I am your real friend,” says the Great Master Yogi, with humility in
the Bhagavadgita. He will come to you for every little thing, and satisfy you
with His succour.
Study the Bhagavadgita every
day. I mentioned to you that some svadhyaya is to be done every day. There are
many holy books. The Bhagavadgita is very good because it tells you what your
duty, mama dharma, is. The Bhagavadgita is not easy to understand, though you
may chant it any number of times. Its intricacy is very difficult to make out.
It is a comprehensive teaching, touching every aspect of life. Or you can have
any other book – the New Testament, or the Koran, or the Bible. Whatever you
like, take to it with the heart, and study that.
Never forget that God sees
you; all your thoughts and feelings, your actions and your performances are
seen by millions of eyes around you. You are always watched with a caretaking
eye, and it notes all your deeds. Whenever you do something, or speak, or act,
remember that you are doing it in the presence of an all-seeing eye. Every atom
is an eye of God. Sarvatokṣiśiromukham (Gita 13.13): Everywhere He has got
eyes. Every sand particle is an eye of God; it sees. Every brick, every leaf of
a tree are all eyes of God. They see. They see, not merely to punish you for
your bad deeds, but also to protect you, to warn you and take care of you, and
to provide you with all your needs – to see to your yogakshema, and to give you
what you need and take care of you in every way.
So, trust in God; do the
right. When you do the right, you must remember that it is possible only if you
trust in God. Only a person who trusts in God can do the right. Otherwise, your
concept of righteousness may sometimes be tarnished by a little bit of your
personal selfishness. The great Master Jesus Christ said, “Seek ye first the
kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto
you.” Ananyāś cintayanto māṁ ye janāḥ paryupāsate, teṣāṁ nityābhiyuktānāṁ yogakṣemaṁ
vahāmy aham (Gita 9.22): “Whoever is intently thinking of Me, is contemplating
on Me, is united in his heart with Me, I shall take care of that person
continuously and provide that person with every little need.” The world will
follow you, instead of your running after the world. The tables will be turned
completely; the subject will become the object, the object will become the
subject. God will be with you for ever and ever.
Continue to read:
The Trident of the Sadhana Process - Chapter 12:Everything
About Spiritual Life by Swami Krishnananda
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