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108 Twelve Facets of Reality Without them, we will be ruled by a mind constantly floating and fluctuating between a high tide of joy and a low tide of depression.
The seers in their search found these twelve reflections in which they could sit, meditate, and see with balanced vision. The seventh, eighth, and ninth facets— ashrava, samvara, and nirjara—are deeply connected with one another. In ashrava, there is observation of the influx, of the open gates, of inner vulnerable points. In samvara, there is an action of stopping the unwanted elements from coming in. It is closing the gates of the lake of consciousness. Nirjara is cleansing out the negative vibrations which have already accumulated and taken dominance in your consciousness.
You are in an observation tower. What do you find when you scan your life from this distance? You find your addictions. They may be smoking, drinking, overeating, overindulgence in sex, greed for wealth or fame. They all create weakness. All are props to support the crumbling house. No one is going to become stronger by depending on an addiction.
So the aware person asks, “When did this addiction start? How weak have I become? I am not at peace. I am not with myself. Because of this addiction, I am creating scars in my life. I go in search of happiness and end up finding pain.” The seeker continues to go deep into his self-inquiry. “In pursuit of so-called enjoyment, my mind drives me in many directions. In the end, when I sit and watch, what do I get? In so many years, is there any happiness which gives me exhilaration, which lifts me? Or do I look upon past moments with sadness? Do my memories hover over me like a black cloud?"
By observing in this way, you come to the origin of your thoughts, the source of your needs; you see the quality of your desires and the meaning behind your
