The acceptance of pain the door to true happiness and peace ~ Nisargadatta

The acceptance of pain the door to true happiness and peace

Acceptance of pain takes you much deeper than pleasure does.

The personal self by its very nature is constantly pursuing pleasure and avoiding pain. The ending of this pattern is the ending of the self.

The ending of the self with its desires and fears enables you to return to your real nature, the source of all happiness and peace.

Samskaras and its destruction ¬ Swami Sivananda

Samskaras and its destruction

A conscious action-whether cognitive, affective or conative-assumes a potential and hidden form just below the threshold of consciousness. This is termed a Samskara.

A Samskara of an experience is formed or developed in the Chitta at the very moment that the mind is experiencing something. There is no gap between the present experience and the formation of a Samskara in the subconscious mind. A specific experience leaves a specific Samskara. The memory of this specific experience springs from that particular Samskara only, which was formed out of that particular experience.

When you perceive an orange and taste for the first time, you get knowledge of an orange. You know its taste. You know the object, orange. A Samskara is formed in the subconscious mind at once. At any time, this Samskara can generate a memory of the object, orange and knowledge of an orange. Though the object and the act of knowledge are distinguishable, yet they are inseparable.

The Enslaving Chains Of Samskaras

Mind exercises its suzerainty through Samskaras. From Samskaras emanate Vasanas like swarms of locusts. From Vasana flows the stream of desire and from enjoyment of objects of desires arises Trishna or internal craving (intense longing). Trishna is very powerful. The Samskaras are imbedded in the mind, in the Karana Sarira. There arises a memory of pleasure in the mind. Then the mind thinks of objects. Maya has her powerful seat in the imagination. There comes attachment. The mind plans and schemes. You are swayed by the passions. You exert yourself physically to possess those objects and enjoy them. In your efforts, you favour some and disfavour others through Raga and Dvesha. You will have to enjoy the fruits of your virtuous and vicious actions. Through this six-spoked wheel of Raga and Dvesha, virtue and vice, pleasure and pain, this Samsaric wheel of birth and death moves on without stopping from Anadi Kala (beginningless time).

Thoughts And Desires Depend Upon Samskaras

The nature of desires and thoughts depends upon the nature of your Samskaras. If you have good Samskaras, you will have good desires and good thoughts and vice versa. Even if you have indulged in vicious actions up to the age of forty, begin practising virtuous actions such as charity, Japa, Dama, Svadhyaya, meditation, service of the poor and the sick, service of saints, etc., from this moment and these Samskaras will prompt you to do more virtuous deeds. They will stimulate good desires and noble thoughts.

Who is your real enemy? It is your own evil Samskaras. Substitute Subha (pure) Vasanas in place of Asubha (impure) ones. Then you can approach God. The mind will be changed. Old Samskaras will be obliterated. Wrong suggestions of various kinds and crude fantastic superstitions are rooted deeply in your mind. They are harmful. You will have to knock them down by Vichara, sublime suggestions, right thinking. "I am body," "I am Mr. John," "I am a Brahmin," "I am rich"-these are wrong suggestions and wrong Samskaras. Suggest to yourself boldly that you are Brahman. The previous wrong suggestion and Samskara "I am body" will slowly melt away by strenuous efforts.

If you forget your real Brahmic nature even for a minute, the old Samskaras of Ajnana will try to come up and overwhelm you. See how Narada's determination began to fluctuate even though he was absorbed in meditation, when he saw some Deva-girls. He at once experienced the sexual desire in himself. The seed came out, he put it in a pot and Chudala in the form of Kumbha Muni emerged from out of the pot. (Yogavasishtha, story of Sikhidhvaja). Therefore, you will have to be very, very careful. Keep yourself away from all kinds of temptations-money, woman, name, fame, etc.

Death Of Samskaras Leads To Moksha (Liberation)

The physical body may die. But, the thoughts and Samskaras of actions, enjoyments and thinking follow you after death till you attain Moksha. These are variable Upadhis that accompany you after death. They are variable because you carry different kinds of Samskaras each time when you die. In defferent incarnations, you create different kinds of Samskaras. The permanent Upadhis that accompany you after death are the five Jnana-Indriyas, five Karma-Indriyas, five Pranas, fourfold mind and the Karana Sarira which is the support or Adhara for the Linga Sarira or astral body. It is the death of the Samskaras, it is the death of the Karana Sarira that leads to the final Moksha. It leads to the attainment of Brahma-Jnana. You will be getting fresh births so long as there are Samskaras. You will have to take birth again and again till all the Samskaras are obliterated or fried up by the acquisition of Brahma Jnana. When the Samskaras are wiped out, Brahmic Knowledge shines by itself in its own glory.

Sadhana Consists In Destroying The Samskaras

The aim of a Sadhaka is to fry out or burn or obliterate all these Samskaras through Nirbija Samadhi. Sadhana consists in wiping out the Samskaras. Breathing, hearing, seeing, feeling, tasting, smelling-all cause Samskaras or latent Smriti in the mind. The world enters the mind through the eyes, ears, tongue (speech) and old Samskaras. If you remain in seclusion, you can shut out the first three doors. Through Vichara (right enquiry of Supreme Self), you can destroy the fourth route. Then, Jnana (Knowledge of Self) will dawn. A Jnani is without Samskaras. They are fried out by Jnana. No doubt, the force of the Samskaras remains in the Antahkarana. But they are harmless. They will not bind the Jnani.

How To Eradicate the Ego and get Self-realization. ~ Swami Sivananda

How To Eradicate the Ego and get Self-realization

by Swami Sivananda

The deep roots of Ego (Ahankara) should be burnt by the fire of knowledge (Jnana Agni). Then you will quite easily get the wealth of Liberation ( Moksha). All tribulations, sorrows, miseries and afflictions will terminate now. 

Control of the senses (indriyas) and Pranayama help to develop the intellect -Buddhi (Vikasa of Buddhi).

You cannot, all at once, eradicate ego (Ahankara) altogether. You can easily give up wife, children, money, anger. But it is extremely difficult to give up Ahankara. Try to minimise it little by little.

 Remove one cent (Anna) of Ahankara within three months. Within four years,you will be able to root it out completely.

 You will have to remove Ego (Ahankara) either by self-sacrifice through Karma Yoga or self-surrender through Bhakti or self-denial through Vedantic Atma-Vichara.

Through the Sankalpas of mind (Manas), Ego is generated. If the modification of the mind which leans to sensual pleasures is destroyed, the Atman, divested of its Ego (Ahankara), becomes the unnameable Brahmic Reality.

Ahankara is like a thread. It connects or links all the senses ( indriyas) on itself. When the thread is broken, all the pearls fall down. Even so, when the thread of Ahankara is broken by ‘Aham Brahma Asmi‘ Bhavana or witness attitude ( Sakshi Bhava) or self-surrender method by taking the instrument-in-the-hands-of-the-Lord attitude. (Nimitta Bhava), all the senses ( Indriyas) will be broken down or destroyed. The connection with senses (indriyas) will be severed.

Even if you identify yourself with a subtle body inside, it will help you in your Self-realisation. It is only the identification with the fleshy physical body that brings all sorts of troubles through gross Ego (Ahankara) and ‘mineness’. The physical ‘I’ is a very great menace.

Whenever Ego asserts itself, raise a question within thyself, “What is the source of this little ‘I’?” Again and again, moot this question and enquire. When you remove layer after layer, the onion dwindles to nothing. When you analyse the little ‘I’,it becomes a non-entity; it will gradually vanish. It will dwindle into an airy nothing.Body is not ‘I’. ‘I’ remains even after the leg is amputated. Give up Jivasrishti.

Sattvic Ego (Ahankara)

When you assert ‘Aham Brahma Asmi’ (I am Brahman), it is Sattvic Ahankara. It is Ego tht makes for liberation (Moksha Ahankara. It will not bind you in any way. It will help you realise Brahman. The fire in a picture will not burn anything. A light in the presence of midday sun will not shine andshed its light. Even so, the Ego (Ahankara) of a Sattvic person cannot do any harm to any person.

Extract from the book MIND, ITS MYSTERIES AND CONTROL

https://www.dlshq.org/download/mind-its-mysteries-and-control/#_VPID_20

The Cause Of Bondage is Raga-Dvesha. ~ Swami Sivananda

The Cause Of Bondage is Raga-Dvesha!

Raga-Dvesha is translated as like-dislike or attraction-repulsion or love-hatred.   

Raga (attraction), Dvesha (repulsion) and Tatastha Vritti (indifference) are the three important modifications of the mind (Vrittis).

Raga and Dvesha (like and dislike or love and hatred or attraction and repulsion) are the two currents in the mind which bind a man to the Samsaric wheel of birth and death. 

Raga and Dvesha are the two Doshas or faults in the mind that have brought you to this world. Bondage. (Svarupa of Bandha) is Raga and Dvesha. The Svarupa of Ajnana is Raga and Dvesha. All the emotions come under the category of Raga-Dvesha. These two currents are the Dharma (characteristics) of the mind and not of the spirit. 

Pleasure and pain, exhilaration and depression (Harsha and Soka), are due to Raga-Dvesha.

 If Raga and Dvesha vanish from the mind, Harsha-Soka also will disappear.

 It is desire that sets the mind in motion. When there is a desire, Raga and Dvesha  (like and dislike or love and hatred or attraction and repulsion) exist side by side in the mind. Desire is a motive force. Emotions and impulses co-exist with desire.

Whenever there is pleasure and Raga, there exist side by side fear and anger. Anger is only a modification of desire. Fear and anger are two old associates of pleasure and Raga.Fear and anger are hidden in Raga. They constantly torment the mind.

Fear is hidden in Raga. When you have got Raga for body, fear of death comes in. When you have Raga for money, there is fear of losing money, as money is the means of getting objects of enjoyment. When you have Raga for a woman, you always take care in protecting her. Fear is a very old, intimate friend of Raga.

From ignorance (Avidya) emanates  non-discrimination (Aviveka). 

From non-discrimination (Aviveka) originates Ego (Ahankara) and clinging or identification with the body.(Abhimana). F

rom Abhimana emanates Attraction-Repulsion (Raga-Dvesha).

 From Raga-Dvesha comes action ( Karma).

 From Karma comes the body. From body comes misery. 

This is the chain of bondage and misery with seven links.

If you do not want misery, do not take up the body. 

If you do not want body, do not do (actions) Karma.

If you do not want to do Karma, give up attraction-repulsion (Raga-Dvesha).

If you want to give up Raga-Dvesha, give up attachment to the body (Abhimana).

 If you want to give up Abhimana, give up non-discrimination ( Aviveka). If you want to give up Aviveka, give up ignorance (Avidya). If you do not want ignorance, get Brahma-Jnana.

This Samsara or world process is kept up by the six-spoked wheel, viz., Attraction ( Raga), Repulsion (Dvesha), merit, demerit, pleasure and pain. 

If the root cause, the original Avidya, is destroyed byattainment of knowledge of Brahman (Brahma-Jnana), the whole chain of Abhimana, Raga, Dvesha, Karma, body, merit and demerit, pleasure and pain will vanish. 

One link hangs upon another. All the linkswill be broken totally on the advent of Jnana. Sruti says: "Liberation comes from knowledge of Brahman (Rite Jnananna muktih)"

Is there freedom with conditions? Atman Nityananda

 Is there freedom  with conditions?

When we set conditions for our security, happiness, peace, love and fulfillment (i.e., feeling secure, peaceful, fulfilled, loved and happy when....), then we attach and enslave ourselves to those conditions (objects, things, people or situations) through which we believe we will obtain them (happiness, love, peace, fulfillment, peace, fulfillment). We actually attach to and enslave ourselves to our thoughts, beliefs and feelings about them.

And what does it mean that we are attached and enslaved? That we live in the company of fear and anger, frustration and sadness.

WHY MEDITATION? - Atman Nityananda

WHY MEDITATION?

If our mind were free of desires, attachments and passions, meditation would be our natural state.

That is, our mind would naturally and spontaneously rest into its source Atman (Consciousness) and we would spontaneously experience the peace and bliss of our spiritual nature and our actions would be in harmony with life and all beings.

But because of desires and attachments to sensory pleasures and experiences the mind becomes extroverted, identified and attached to sense objects.

Thus, because of this extroversion, on the one hand the mind does not experience spiritual bliss and peace and, on the other hand, it develops the egoic qualities (anger, hatred, pride, fear, jealousy, envy, conceit, impatience, resentment, fondness, etc.) which cause pain and suffering.

It is impossible to experience peace, freedom and bliss, when our mind is agitated, distracted and constantly moving outwards, except some rare moments that our mind calms down by itself due to certain circumstances. In deep sleep our mind also rests peacfully in pure Consciousness, however, in deep sleep we are not conscious, so we cannot be conscioulsy aware of the bliss of our true nature.

So the sages through their experience have given us various ways to withdraw the mind from the senses and their objects and direct it into the center of our existencce where the peacful and blissful light of Consciousness shines continually without being affected by the mental and emotional programming.

Meditation is, therefore, the conscious effort (which ends up being effortless) to turn the mind away from objects, quiet it from emotions and thoughts, and keep it focused on its center or source, the silent peace of Consciousness. By staying centered in the inner silence we become more and more immersed in the silence until we become one with it... 

Desire and emotions. - Atman Nityananda

 Desire and emotions!

Lower emotions are children of desire. Attachment, fear, anger, exhilaration, grief or depression, pleasure and pain, ike dislike, attraction-repulsion, love-hatred,  jealousy, greed, vanity, pride all are children of desire. 

However, desire is the essential nature of Ego. Hence, all lower emotions are only an expression of the desirous Ego..

Follows extract of Swami Sivananda

Emotions and impulses co-exist with desire.

Desire is a motive force. It is desire that sets the mind in motion. 

Emotions are desires which are penetrated by the thought element.

In other words, emotion is desire mingled with thought. 

The vibrations of emotions will arouse corresponding excitement in purely mental matter and all the man’s thoughts will be disturbed and distorted.

When there is a desire, Raga and Dvesha  (like and dislike or love and hatred or attraction and repulsion) exist side by side in the mind. 

It is a symptom of weakness to have emotions in the mind. They should be controlled bythe intellect and the will.

https://www.dlshq.org/download/mind-its-mysteries-and-control/#_VPID_25