Mysteries of Mind

Author(s): Mahapragna Acharya
Publisher: Today and Tomorrows Book Agency

Page 11

developed a strong liking for delicacies and who keep their minds unclean will always remain careless about what they eat. For them the pleasures of the palate are supreme pleasures. Those who want to use their minds the least, those who want to activate the energy lying dormant in them, those who want to put their powers to maximum use and those who are ambitious to do great deeds will never be careless about and negligent in matters of food. Enlightened men eat only to nourish their bodies and not to satisfy their palate.
The practitioner of sādhanā has to walk on a selected path. His aim is to activate his energies, to achieve something commendable, and therefore, he must know what kind of food produces what kind of consequences,
The fifth principle of perceptive meditation is to speak very little or to remain completely silent. We have to speak because we live in a society. Language is an instrument of social communication. But sadhanā, being a personal affair, needs little speaking. I do not mean that the practitioner should never speak in his life-time. He should certainly avoid speaking too much or when it is not needed. Even when he has to speak, he should speak very little and that too softly. He has to communicate mysteries, and therefore, he shou speak very softly and preferably in the ears of the listener as if he is talking something secret.
The entire life and behaviour of Bhagavān Mahavira is an example of complete silence. He spoke very little. I do not mean that he did not speak at all. That is why his actions remained undisturbed and he could preserve immense energy. Some people take the vow of silence, but thoughts rise thickly in their minds and they are unable to control them. They write out thousands of pages to express themselves. This goes against the very vow they have taken. Their entire energy is spent in writing or in making physical gestures. This is a foolish waste of energy.
The above-mentioned principles of prēkņā meditation, when practised, give the practitioner a lot of gain,
In sādhanā the practitioner should be very clear about his aim from the very first day on which sådhana begins.