Om! The important objectives of the moment-to-moment inner work - Atman Nityananda

The important objectives of the moment-to-moment inner work

1. To be attentive, vigilant, Self-aware* (to be in conscious contact with the inner silence), to all psychological, bodily and energetic reactions and external happenings. Not to allow the senses to connect freely with what our ego wants or when we connect with some object, to observe it very attentively and inquire about it (e.g., the impermanence of objects and the transience of their experience).
2. To notice and observe the egoic thoughts and tendencies that express themselves in us, (in the form of desire, impulse, negative emotion, lust, imagination, criticism, complaints, etc.). Identify their nature and purpose.
3. To accept and avoid compulsive reactions to happenings and situations.
4. To avoid identification and seduction of thoughts, emotions, impulses, desires, cravings, etc.
5. To accept, not to judge and not to react to selfish tendencies, thoughts, emotions, impulses, desires.
6. To connect as deeply as possible with inner silence to distance ourselves from tendencies and all kinds of psychological expressions.
7. To be fully aware of the tendency (whatever it is, emotion, impulse, desire) and observe it with full attention, that is, fully and carefully feel the tendency.
8. To use some method to pacify and diminish it. For example, inquiry, reflection, repetition of affirmations and mantra, prayer.
9. Return to the mental-emotional calm and to the conscious contact of silence and inner peace, maintain it and deepen it as much as possible.
10. Remain attentive, vigilant, Self-aware, witnessing all psychological, bodily and energetic reactions and external happenings.
11. Control the senses. Not to allow the senses to connect freely with what our ego compulsively wants.

Comment
*To be attentive, vigilant, Self-aware: To maintain the state of vigilance, attentiveness and Self-awareness (to be in conscious contact with the inner silence), to deepen into the silence and purify the mind it will help us to repeat a mantra with the name of God (‘Om Nama Shivay’ for example) or affirmations of our true nature (‘I am Brahman’, Om Brahman’, or ‘I am Consciousness, Om Consciousness’, etc.).
To avoid our efforts becoming relaxed and diminished, to avoid mechanically repeating the mantra or affirmation, and to remain attentive and aware of ourselves, and to deepen the silence, I reccomend to ask ourselves from time to time: Am I aware at this moment of the inner silence? Am I experiencing inner peace here and now? Where is my attention now? To whom do these thoughts or emotions arise? To me. Who am I?

The repetition of mantras - Atman Nityananda

The repetition of mantras

Repetition of mamtra, either mentally or aloud, is the best way to change the structure and vibration of the mind. It also diminishes the egoic tendencies, emotions, desires and impulses.
With this comes peace, stability, clarity and joy! 

Read about mantra practice here:

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Mantra Yoga Sadhana By Swami Sivananda
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The aspects of the ego in relation to the vehicles of our existence - Atman Nityananda

The aspects of the ego in relation to the vehicles of our existence

The ego identifies with the body, mind, heart, senses and intellect (intelligence) and functions as:

1. - The Physical Ego,
2. - The Vital-emotional Ego,
3. - The Mental Ego
4. - The Intellectual Ego

 And by identifying with the ego, we respectively assume the roles of the:

1. Doer by identifying with the body,

2. Feeler, enjoyer and sufferer by identifying with the heart (external and internal),

3. Thinker by identifying with the mind and intellect,

4. Perceiver and Observer. By identifying with the body, senses, external mind (manas), middle mind (intellect or intelligence), and Consciousness we become the Perceiver and the Observer of sense objects and psychological structures.

Divission of firmness according the threee gunas - Bhagavad Gita

Division of firmness according the threee gunas

29. Hear thou the threefold division of the intellect and firmness according to the Gunas, as I declare them fully and distinctly, O Arjuna!

33. The unwavering firmness by which, through Yoga, the functions of the mind, the life-force and the senses are restrained—that firmness, O Arjuna, is Sattvic!.

34. But that firmness, O Arjuna, by which, on account of attachment and desire for reward, one holds fast to Dharma, enjoyment of pleasures and earning of wealth—that firmness, O Arjuna, is Rajasic!

35. That by which a stupid man does not abandon sleep, fear, grief, despair and also conceit—that firmness, O Arjuna, is Tamasic!

By Swami Sivananda