Mysteries of Mind

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

Page 12

The first step in sadhana is the purification of the mind. The mind is polluted by passions. The current of knowledge cannot flow freely in a polluted mind. As soon as the mind has become pure, the curtain obstructing the manifestation of knowledge is lifted and the self is enabled to see through the mind. We experience a state of calm when the mind has been purified. In such a state the mind becomes balanced and full of the feelings of friendliness and joy. Joy manifests itself as soon as the taijasa energy is released in the mind of the practitioner. Tejo leśyā gives joy, padma leśyā produces calm and śukla lesya eradicates passions.
Our aim at present is to purify the mind and not to attain joy. Joy is not the ideal. It is a support. We will have to go ahead.
We should contemplate before we begin to meditate. Bhavana is a shield which protects us on all sides. It does not allow external influences to disturb us. How to build the shield? It can be built by reciting the sacred word Arham in a sitting posture. While reciting it, we should imagine that a glow of light is spreading all around us, that it is growing stronger and that a shield of light is in the making. In the course of a short time the practitioner will begin to feel that a shelter is being built around him which is two three feet deep. Bhāvanā is the base of yogic practices.
To sum up, the prerequisites of the practice of prekṣā meditation are:
1. To accept the five principles of prekṣa meditation, 2. To build the image of the ideal, and 3. The application of bhavanaa.
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