Atma vichara - Self-enquiry

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Sri Bhagavan's Instructions

by M.G. Shanmugam

 

Sri Bhagavan once said categorically, "For practising atma vichara

everyday is auspicious and every moment is good - no discipline is

prescribed at all. Any time, anywhere it can be done, even without

others noticing that you are doing it.

All other sadhanas require external objects and congenial environment,

but for atma vichara nothing external to oneself is required. Turning

the mind within is all that is necessary. While one is engaged in

atma vichara one can with ease attend to other activities also.

Besides, atma vichara being a purely internal movement, one does not

also distract others who are around; whereas, in sadhanas like puja,

others do notice you. One-pointed perseverence alone is essential in

Self-enquiry and that is done purely inwardly, all the time. Your

attention on the Self within alone is essential."

 

Some of Bhagavan's personal instructions to me were:

(i) If you observe the breathing one-pointedly such attention will

lead you spontaneously into kumbhaka (retention) - this is jnana

pranayama.

 

(ii) The more you humble yourself, the better it is for you, in all ways.

 

(iii) By withdrawing the mind within, you can live anywhere and under any circumstances.

 

(iv) You should look upon the world only as a dream.

 

(v) Do not allow your mind to be distracted by objective things and by

thoughts. Except attending to your allotted duty-work in life, the

rest of your time should be spent in atma nishta; do not waste even a

second in inattention, lethargy.

 

(vi) Do not cause even the slightest hindrance or disturbance to

others. Also, do all your work yourself.

 

(vii) Both likes and dislikes should be equally discarded and eschewed.

 

(viii) With attention focussed on the first person and on the heart

within, one should relentlessly practise Who am I? When this is done

one-pointedly, one's breathing will subside of itself. During such

controlled practice, the mind might suddenly spring up; so you have

to vigilantly pursue the vichara, Who am I?

 

(ix) To remain silent without thoughts is the Whole: To remain without

thoughts is Nishta; To remain without thoughts is Jnana; To remain

without thoughts is Moksha; Tor remain without thoughts is Sahaja.

Therefore, the state without any trace of thoughts is the final state

of fullness, indeed!

 

(The Mountain Path, Jayanti Issue 2001; p. 152)

 

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