Mysteries of Mind

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

Page 74

THE UPWARD FLOW OF ENERGY
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greed are mental tendencies. Tapa or the upward flow of vital energy negates all the above-mentioned eight tendencies.
There is, however, one thing which should be noted. The tongue and the palate are closely connected with the sexcentres. In all the methods of meditation, the practitioner should keep in mind that restraint of the tongue and the palate is a necessary condition of stopping the operation of all the physical and mental tendencies. If the practitioner, while he is meditating, feels that his wind is restless, he should upturn his tongue and fix it on the palate. While doing so he will feel several strange sensations and these will restrain his mind. With the tongue becoming stable, all the natural tendencies of the body and the mind will calm down. Authors of works on sādhană have emphasised the necessity of restraining the tongue. This is a meaningful emphasis. One who wants to restrain sexual tendencies must restrain his tongue. Out of the five organs of sense two are said to be tough and difficult to conquer. They are the sense-organs of touch and taste. The former is directly connected with the sex-centre and the latter only indirectly. Restraint of sexual tendencies and that of the tongue go hand in hand with each other. Once sensations which the tongue produces have been stopped, sexual tendencies will also come to a stop.
The organ of taste produces much obstruction in the ascent of vital energy. But once vital energy becomes dissociated from the tongue, the obstructions begin to disappear. Craving for delicacies is the result of nila laśyā. But once this has been stopped, auspicious tendencies become operative and helpful in the ascent of energy, in the purification of mental tendencies and in dharmya and sukla meditations and in bringing about the transformation of personality. This is the outcome of tapa or the practice of austerities.
The practice of austerities produces three results : 1. More and more accumulation of vital energy, 2. The least expenditure of vital energy, and 3. Upward movement of vital energy.