Atman at Rishikesh (Munikireti) in the cutier (room) of Swami Sivananda, which is located next to the banks of the River Ganges. The vibrations of Sivananda and the waters of Ganga are powerful purificators of our mind and heart
The
foundation of spiritual life is right
knowledge and understanding, right associations and relations, devotion and
constant diligent practice!
Right
knowledge can be
found in the sacred texts and the words and books of great masters. Study of spiritual literature (Svadhyaya) is one of the most important practices.
Understanding is developed by reflecting, contemplating and
practicing what you have heard and read.
Right
association, is
association (Satsang) with sages, with sattvic persons and what is sattva en general: sattva
books, music, food, impressions, places, colors,, thoughts, nature etc. What is ever available, free and easy to do in order to increase sattva an eliminate rajas and tamas and dissolve the egoic tendencies is japa nama; the repetition of God's names.
Right
relation is to relate
with sattvic persons and relate with everything in a sattvic way.
Devotion means to dedicate our body, energy,
our heart and mind to the realization of Truth.
Diligent
constant practice (sadhana) means that everything in our life is related to Self-realization, that
everything we do is connected somehow with some aspect of our sadhana. That we do
every day, morning and evening a series of certain spiritual practices and we
practice every moment of the day some aspect of our practice as well. For
example self-awareness and self-observation, dispassion, japa mantra, control
of senses, pratyahara, concentration etc. We can do (and we must do) these
practices in our morning and evening sessions but also during all day.
Of
course it is impossible to accomplish all these from the very beginning of our
spiritual journey, but we must succeed to this little by little. We must
cultivate gradually these attitudes and principles and live in
accordance with them.
There
are no half measures in spirituality. We cannot transform our lower nature if
we are not willing to discipline ourselves and practice diligently. Our lower
self will resist and react to this process of transformation. There is inertia
as well. Thus we must be attentive, proactive and cautious in order overcome
all difficulties and march steadily towards freedom.
It
is important also, to cultivate an open, flexible mind, utilize a lot the
common sense as well as to learn to adjust and adapt to all circumstances and
cultivate discernment, dispassion, detachment, acceptance, patience,
perseverance, tenacity and will-power. These qualities together with devotion and
regular diligent practice are the corner stone to realize God consciousness in
this very life, and live the peace, bliss and freedom eternal!
Om
Tat Sat