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too. Intoxicants like hemp and hemp-preparations were used in earlier ages, and they are used even today. In the beginning they might prove to be.good stimulants to dhyana, but later it becomes very difficult to deal with problems resulting from their use. In order to create and maintain a clean and wholesome atmosphere for meditation, freedom from all kinds of addiction is an urgent necessary. This also forms one of the main objectives of Anuvrat.
Even in an addiction-free life, two great obstacles to dhyana are pride and attachment to oneself. As long as the complexes of pride and attachment are not dissolved, it is difficult to achieve success in meditation, no matter how much effort is put in. The development of steadfast, unwavering concentration is essential for meditation. Man creates uncertainty through pride and attachment. Pride envelops a man's consciousness and attachment conditions it. All man's action is born of these. The development of passions also takes place because of pride and attachment. These are also the factors behind the deterioration and perversion of human nature. It is therefore, essential to conquer pride and attachment for creating the right background for meditation. When these two elements are under control, the groundwork for dhyana can be said to be well laid.
Some people are of the opinion that it is not necessary to spend time in creating an appropriate background for the practice of dhyana. According to them, one may start practising dhyana at once, and the necessary conditions will come into existence of themselves. There is no need to disagree with the above opinion. Still it must be admitted that this is no ordered way of undertaking sadhana. In the case of farming, one resorts to a planned programme; in order to make the soil fertile the earth is manured, watered, cleaned and levelled and properly
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