Abhyasa (Practice) 1

[Guest guest]

Abhyasa (Practice)

 

Devotee: What is the method of practice?

 

Maharshi: As the Self of a person who tries to attain Self-realization

is not different from him and there is nothing other than or superior

to him to be attained by him, Self-realization being only the

realization of one's own nature, the seeker of liberation realizes

without doubts or misconceptions his real nature by distinguishing

the eternal from the transient, and never swerves from his natural

state. This is known as the practice of knowledge. This is the

enquiry leading to Self-realization.

 

D. Can this path of enquiry be followed by all aspirants?

 

M. This is suitable only for ripe souls. The rest should follow

different methods according to the state of their minds.

 

D. What are the other methods?

 

M. They are stuti, japa, dhyana, yoga, jnana, etc.Stuti is singing the

praises of the Lord with a feeling of great devotion.Japa is uttering

the names of the gods or sacred mantras like Om either mentally or

verbally.

Dhyana: When one is in dhyana the mind does not contact the objects of

the senses, and when it is in contact with the objects it is not in

dhyana. Therefore those who are in this state can observe the

vagaries of the mind then and there and by stopping the mind from

thinking and fix it in dhyana. Perfection in dhyara is the state of

abiding in the Self.

Yoga: The source of breath is the same as that of the mind, therefore

the subsidence of either leads to that of the other. The practice of

stilling the mind through breath control is called yoga.

Fixing the mind on psychic centres such as the sahasrara (lit. the

thousand petalled lotus) yogis can remain any length of time without

awareness of their bodies. As long as this state continues they

appear to be immersed in some kind of joy. But when the mind emerges

(becomes active again) it resumes its worldly thoughts. It is

therefore necessary to train it with the help of practices like

dhyana whenever it becomes externalised. It will then attain a state

in which there is neither subsidence nor emergence.

Jnana is stilling the mind and realizing the Self through the constant

practice of dhyana or enquiry (vichara). The extinction of the mind is

the state in which there is cessation of all efforts. Those who are

established in this spontaneous effortless state have realized their

true nature, the Self. The term 'silence' (mouna) and inaction refer

to this state alone.

All practices are followed only with the object of concentrating the

mind. As all the mental activities like remembering, forgetting,

desiring, hating, attracting, discarding, etc., are modifications of

the mind they cannot be one's true state. Simple changeless being is

one's true nature. Therefore to know the truth of one's being and to

be it, is known as release from bondage and the destruction of the

knot (granthi nasam). Until this state of tranquility of mind is

firmly attained the practice of unswerving abidance in the Self and

keeping the mind unsoiled by various thoughts is essential for an

aspirant.

Those who follow the path of enquiry realize that the mind which

remains at the end of the enquiry is Brahman. Those who practice

meditation realize that the mind which remains at the end of the

meditation is the object of their meditation. As the result is the

same in either case it is the duty of aspirants to practise

continuously either of these methods till the goal is reached.

****

yes">

to be

continued

 

 

THE MAHARSHI

January/February 2003Vol. 13 - No. 1

Produced & Edited byDennis HartelDr. Anil K. Sharma

Tired

of spam? Mail has the best spam protection around