The Spiritual Battle

Spiritual seekers (sadhaks) are brothers and sisters in arms in the battle of life. They come together in satsang (spiritual company), and their very company acts as an invisible buffer against the downward forces that drown the masses. Any time there is a gathering of sadhaks, have no doubt that they are joined by the unseen ascended Yogis. Even when one practices in solitude, they are also present unseen to guide and encourage the seeker – there is no doubt about this. They are aware of the difficulties of navigating out of this world and bestow their grace and blessings.

Time is Short

How many more days we will have left to practice? Death often comes with no warning at all.

” Any person can expire at any time.”

Parahmahamsa Hariharananda

The yogi is the brave hero who chooses to face this now rather than later. When through his deepening experience of the bodiless state he reaches, via spiritual practice, the state in which he is dead while living (jivanmukta), then when the time comes for the body to drop away, it is like nothing at all – for he has already come to perceive himself as Spirit.

And fear is one of the main reasons why we do not take to the spiritual path in the first place – we are afraid to transcend the mortal coil in meditation. We are like the bird who has become so accustomed to its cage that he is hesitant to fly free even when the door has been opened.

Yet fear is not the only restraint that restricts us from our flight – our attachments and desires are also a great weight…

Lightening Our Load

How does the hot air balloon ascend in flight? It begins with so many sand bags, but in order to go higher, it must begin to release more and more bags. The more bags are released, the higher it is able to ascend. So it is with our desires and attachments which serve as the weight that keeps us earthbound. If we destroy them, realizing that they only result in pain, then we lighten our load, so to speak.

In the same way that one who sees clearly will not chase after a desert mirage, knowing it to be unreal, the wise sage does not chase after worldly objects.

“O Raghava, abandon all desires inwardly, be free from attachments and latent impressions, do everything outwardly and thus play your part in the world.”

“O Raghava, adopt a comprehensive view, characterised by the abandonment of all objects of contemplation, live in your innate Self, liberated even while alive (jivan-mukta), and thus play your part in the world.”

“Eliminate one concept by another and the mind by the mind and abide in the Self. Is this so difficult, O holy man?”

-Vasistha (Vasistha Sara, 7:2, 3, 10)

But how do we rid ourselves of the weight of our attachments when they are so strong?

Sages such as Vasistha instructed that viveka and vairagya (discrimination and dispassion) are the means. Discrimination is keeping the mind focused on the truth that the Self alone is real – all else is fleeting, transistory, a passing dream.

Vairagya will also result if we remain fixed on the above contemplation, and if we duly reflect on the short-lived nature of sense pleasures. If the mind stubbornly remains filled with thoughts of the world, it will continue to appear as a solid reality and Self-realization will not dawn…

“Why do people not visualize the atma? (perceive the Self) It is because the mind of the being is so pre-occupied with its false images that it is busy in collecting them. If he mangages to get them, he is overjoyed, but if he is unsuccessful in his efforts then he gets heart-broken. Whatever the case may be, the truth is, that it is not the truth, but, alas! at that time the capability of understanding the reality is not there. Therefore the mind keeps swinging from branch to branch or happiness to unhappiness and the being cannot get peace unless he rids himself of his illusive imaginations.”

Spiritual Gita Bhupendranath Sanyal

XIII, 10

There is no unmixed happiness in life, yet the mind vainly and stubbornly ignores this fact, holding out hope that it is possible. Duality is part and parcel of relative existence. The only way to permanent happiness is Self-realization (the “Kingdom of Heaven” referred to in the Bible). Until then, happiness and unhappiness, pleasure and pain, etc. will continue changing hands – and this continuing oscillation is in itself suffering. Yet when the joy of the Self is reached one becomes like Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa’s sailor who, after much toil and effort, is at last successful in erecting the mast and can sit back, light a smoke, and enjoy the ride. He continues to function in the world and to others looks like a normal man, but they cannot comprehend his divine Joy…

“These saints of the paravastha – after their achievement of the same are not totally cut out from worldly acts, but since they have subjugated all worldly desires, nature cannot bring them down from their high post. They are out of this world in the paravastha or advanced stage or kriya, where rajoguna or tamoguna cannot even approach them.”

Spiritual Gita Bhupendranath Sanyal

XIV, 22

Body is a Sinking Ship

The sages and saints who have found the life vest of God have taught this truth in many ways through the ages, all expressing the same fact – God is the only constant, and all else is but a passing dream. This is why the wise sadhaks, the spiritual seekers of clear vision, toil and labor for God alone. The financial investor works extremely hard, seeking to build capital, as if material wealth, even if he is able to get it, will grant him eternal life. Yet if, owing to his prarabdha karma, ill health or death is his destiny at a given time, no amount of wealth will be of any use. Remember the words of Lord Christ – “For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36) Also, Sri Shankara wrote that life is ever as unstable “as a water droplet on a leaf.” We should keep this ever in mind and know that true wealth lies with God alone. We should fight on with faith and courage. The true yogi must be a warrior. It is not by accident that the setting of the Bhagavad Gita is a battlefield.

Despite life’s uncertainty and instability the yogi, knowing the Self to be indestructible, should have no fear:

“Without the sea there are no waves. Without waves, the sea still exists. When the wave of an individual body and personality perishes, the soul remains. The soul is immortal; the wise do not lament for the dead. Seek your immortality.”

The Bhagavad Gita in the Light of Kriya Yoga, II:12 Paramahamsa Hariharananda

Please Lord, lift up, protect, and guide all seekers of Truth. Watch over us and guide us in our journey. Enable us, through your grace, to emerge victorious in the battle of life.

OM

Thus Spake Shrimat Bhupendranath Sanyal

http://www.hariharanandakriyayoga.org/english/who_we_are/kriya/Quotes_Bhupendranath.htm

One must not practice yoga only by reading books, it does not provide the benefit one can get from the direct guidance of a teacher.

For the practice of yoga and meditation, there are three important requirements: a sense of morality; mind control; knowledge or intelligence.

A sincere teacher can show others the right path to spiritual enlightenment.

A sincere and worthy teacher is the real guide, whereas a materialistic, greedy person is like a blind man unable to show others the right way.

One who is blessed with the eye of wisdom is free from all doubts, confusion and duality.

Strong desire, keeping good company and practice are the three steps for quick spiritual evolution.

To comprehend the subtle spiritual truth, citta (memory) must be free from impurities and imbalances through the practice of meditation. Only in this way can one enter into the state of realization.

Pranayama (simple Kriya breathing) can remove all inner impurities. Keep control over your tongue, to gain control over your life.

Analysis (vichara), detachment (vairagya) and good company (satsanga) are helpful to attain steady spiritual growth.

To possess more and more wealth and to accumulate more and more material objects is the natural tendency of man.

To earn money is difficult, to protect and preserve one’s possessions is troublesome, and to lose them or have them damaged brings also a feeling of misery.

Purity in thought, refraining from criticizing others, and freedom from vanity and ego are essential in spiritual life.

Contentment is the best policy in life. 

To be unaffected by the dualities of life, like pleasure and pain, loss and gain, praise and condemnation, heat and cold, is the real proof of spiritual advancement.

Study the scriptures, which increase your depth and understanding and encourage you to be steady in your practice.

When a thought comes to your mind, think of God.

When your body is steady and straight, your breath will come rhythmically and your life will be beautiful.

Breath and mind are correlated. When your mind is restless, your breath is restless. A restless mind causes pain.

Have compassion for all living beings. Never create a sense of fear in others, refrain from using harsh words.

To be truthful in words is to reveal what one has seen or heard, without adding your own perceptions.

Truth means not to allow any falsehood in thought, words or deeds. Truth is not to hurt others.

Practice observing silence or speak only a little.

Where there are many words, mistakes are inevitable.

True penance is to endure the dualities in life like heat cold, pleasure and pain, loss and gain, praise and censure.

Push yourself to sit in one position longer and practice meditation.

A restless mind is impure.

The purpose of breath-control is to keep the body and mind free from negative vibrations

As fire purifies metal, breath-control purifies the mind and the senses.

Because of restless breath, mind cannot remain steady at any fixed Point.

Vital breath (energy of prana) is the supreme power of man.

The gayatri mantra in the form of inhalation and exhalation can give you liberation.

When one practices breath-control through Kriya, one enjoys a blissful state and one becomes free from ego.

Remember, one day or another you will leave this world, do not run madly after material things.

Through sadhana (spiritual discipline) one will get peace.

Seek a secluded place for your spiritual practice.

Man has enough time for self-development. Start now!

Forbearance is the best policy in life.

Keep your mind concentrated and your senses under control.

Regular and sincere practice brings success.

Keep your mind always in tune with the scriptures and the teachings of the Master.

Without patience one cannot progress on the spiritual path. 

Through spiritual evolution one becomes free from the torture of passion, anger and greed.

Direct your mind to think of nothing but your soul, and then concentrate on each exhalation and inhalation.

Eat only up to half of your stomach’s capacity, leaving the rest for water and air. Practice moderation.

In order to achieve samadhi (realization), have strong self-control in every aspect, practice steadiness of mind, put your faith in the scriptures and your guru, accompany this with devotion, compassion for others, and remain non-attached.