Mysteries of Mind

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

Page 46

THE PLAYGROUND OF CONSCIOUSNESS
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before hand. There is a fixed time table prescribed for every kind of sādhanā. There is no question of returns until the required time has been spent in self-exertion. But a weak practitioner, unless he has been assured of the returns, will begin to waver and give up the exercise.
Forbearance is another form of spiritual strength. The practitioner of self-discipline should not be perturbed in adverse circumstances. A stone thrown into a pond disturbs the water. There are innumerable people who throw stones into the pond of life and disturb its waters. A sādhaka will not be able to perform his sădhanā if he becomes disturbed and loses his patience. He must develop the strength which patience and serenity give.
Serenity is the manifestation of spiritual strength. We should develop this strength and see to it that no disturbance coming from any direction is allowed to disturb us.
There are several forms of spiritual strength which serve as an armour to protect us from all kinds of harm. Without the shield which spiritual strength provides consciousness will not be able to maintain its purity.
Our journey, the aim of which is to arrive at the source of infinite energy, is a short one. If we did the right effort we will be able to achieve this aim.
What are the means of achieving this aim ? Let me suggest one. It is called tanmūrti yoga. There are two kinds of meditation : meditation on one's own form and meditation on some form other than one's own. The practitioner should first decide what he wants to achieve. If he wants to achieve the state which is called vitarāga (a passion-free state of mind), he will have to perform the first kind of meditation i.e. meditation on one's own form. No other meditation will be suitable for this purpose. Meditation on the vītarāga form is the only means by which we can reach the state of pure consciousness. Meditation on this form will result in spreading illumination around the meditator like the light emanating from a lamp placed on the head of a man in a standing posture. With this illumination the meditator begins to experience the purity of his consciousness.
The entire energy which manifests itself in the course of meditation has got to be diverted towards and concentrated