Journey to Enlightenment Part 02

Author(s): Chitrabhanu, Nirmala Hanke
Publisher: Create Space

Page 91

Five Steps to Healthy Living
Spring 2012
One should know the purpose of living and also how to live a healthy life, peacefully, purposefully and happily. In that sublime atmosphere, we also need to introspect on who we are. The two primary questions, therefore, one must try to find answers to, are (1) who/what we are, and (2) why we are here. Once we get the answers, howsoever partially, the steps to healthy living become clear to us. Otherwise, one needs to have some background before reaching the steps.
If one leads a chaotic life, i.e. undisciplined, devoid of 'svadhyaya' (self-study and study of scriptures) and 'tapah' (self-discipline with ascetic devotion) and spends the invaluable time here in collecting just material things (wealth, titles, name and fame), then at the end of this life's journey, one really goes empty handed, as a loser.
In order to inculcate reverence for all forms of life, one must have good thoughts, good food, good company and good environment. We need to make this journey a pleasant trip to our own selves, so that when we leave this body, there is a smile on our face, reflecting that we have lived a rich and healthy life, knowing the purpose of life.
Who is to climb up the five steps to healthy living, when one reaches these? Each one of us has to climb up the steps if we want to lead a healthy and happy life. Each one has to proclaim, “I am the person who is going to climb the steps to make my life not an 'outside appearance', but ‘inside awareness'." Whilst taking the steps up, we are helped by what is not, to use what is! The invisible energy which is within us, which makes the body alive, helps the body to climb up the steps, just as to enter a room, the door has to be open and there should be no obstacle at the entry point. Only open space would make the entry possible. When this invisible energy goes out, all visible things become useless. We are helped by what is not, to use what is and this requires meditation and deep concentration. The body is helped by the invisible 'Atma'. The body works only because of the 'Atma'.
When one looks into a mirror to see how he looks, the thought does not occur to any one that what is visible in the mirror is not I. The one who is invisible and observing is I! This reflection is not of my Soul, but of my physical self.
90 - Journey to Enlightenment - Volume Two