________________
YOGA AND ITS PRACTICE
Purity is cleanliness, both physical and mental. If a man thinks of himself as being the dwelling-place of the Atman, he will naturally feel that his body and mind have to be kept clean. External cleanliness is chiefly important because of its psychological effect upon us; the mere act of washing suggests the removal of mental as well as physical dirt. After a good bath, we are apt to say involuntarily: "Ah, now I feel better!”
The internal organs of the body must be cleansed and strengthened by following a proper diet. Similarly, we must follow a mental “diet” in order to cleanse and strengthen the mind. We must regulate our reading, our conversation, and indeed, our whole intake of mental “food.” We must cultivate the society of those who are spiritual minded. This does not, of course, involve an absolute taboo on certain persons and topics, on the grounds that they are “worldly" or "sinful.” Such negative puritanism would only lead to self-righteous pride and a furtive desire for what was forbidden. What really matters, as always, is our own attitude. If we never relax in the exercise of discrimination, we shall find that every human encounter, everything that we read or are told, has something to teach us. But this discriminative awareness is very hard to maintain, and so the beginner has to be careful. The danger in gossip, “light” entertainment, ephemeral journalism, popular fiction, radio-romancing, etc., is simply this: they encourage us to drift into a relaxed reverie, neutral at first but soon coloured by anxieties, addictions and aversions, so that the mind becomes dark and impure. Cleanliness of mind can only be maintained by constant alertness. "Once thrown off its balance,” said St. Francois de Sales, "the heart is no longer its own master.”
A Hindu teacher tells us: “Always talk to everyone about God." This is subtle and profound advice. For talking about God does not merely include the discussion of overtly “religious” topics. Almost any topic, no matter how seemingly
