Question 1
One day is one unit of life.
How do we live this? What is the 'dinacharya' that we follow?
Why is the regularity of daily sadhana important for a spiritual seeker?
"To purify the mind and bring about an inner transformation is a full-time job not a part-time hobby,"
Swami Tejomayananda.
How do we live this? What is the 'dinacharya' that we follow?
Why is the regularity of daily sadhana important for a spiritual seeker?
"To purify the mind and bring about an inner transformation is a full-time job not a part-time hobby,"
Swami Tejomayananda.
Question 2
The very purpose of bhakti-sadhana is -
atmarati-para-bhakti
which is the uninterrupted experience of the Atman.
The Atman means peace, love, awareness, delight, freedom, desire lessness; all these are synonymous with the Divine. For a devotee, his/her inner anchorage in the divine mood is his/her very life. Those alone matters, not any external rituals or signs. He or She may live in this world as a householder, a celibate, or an all-renouncing monk to maintain this inner hold of Divine Awareness. A householder's life or duties are not hindrances but losing hold of Divine Awareness is.
Please respond in the comments section below
OR send a response by email to livegita@chinmayavrindavan.org
OR send a response by email to livegita@chinmayavrindavan.org
Yes, inner transformation is full time work and more indeed!
ReplyDeleteI will first admit I could not implement sadhana while working and raising children as was just rushing from one to another with no reflection. I now admire the young working parents who are trying.
just for the last 2 to 3 years, since retirement, my morning routine involves doing yoga for an hour right after waking up, meditation, bath, puja, breakfast followed by a 3 mile walk. This whole routine takes 3-4 hours and I absolutely thrive in it. Admit it is impossible while working and raising children. If I walk alone I chant mantras silently and it works wonders for me. I do my yoga closing my eyes and again feel peaceful.
For me, these 3 to 4 hours are tranquil and in that time, am able to focus on my spiritual life. Of course, on my walks if I am joined by friends this bliss of solitude and meditation is diluted.
I also do my Bhagavad Gita course lectures in the early evening which again provides an opportunity for reflection.
The other part is to always curb your emotions, particularly, desire, anger and greed. Practising detachment. The anger part for me is the hardest as at my stage in life desire and greed are greatly diminished. By anger I mean even disappointment or reflex action that arises in one. This is tied deeply to attachment. Being detached and functioning with equipoise. I am beginning to get a slight grasp on it from Swamiji’s advice of telling myself “ it is in me but I am not in it”. It helps me when I say this if have thoughts or reactions I see as negative. Certainly helps me pull back.
The hardest part for me is to get back the deeply pious state I was in when I lost my husband five yrs ago. I always heard an inner voice reassuring me saying “ be quiet and you will understand “. That inner voice has now diminished. I sometimes think that in my grief my mind shut down and I could perhaps catch a glimpse of my inner self. Don’t know but I tell myself at least I had a glimpse and strive for it.
I have been very transparent here. Please post what you feel is ok to share or ok even if you don’t post any of it. I feel good just writing this down.
If you decide to post, can post it anonymously or under my name.
I love this idea and hope you continue to have these meetings.
Thanks to the team for your efforts