Fwd: SIVANANDA DAILY READING FOR 2 AUGUST

[Guest guest]

RamakrishnaVedanta , "Narendra Nath"

<claude.laurent@e...> wrote:

dlsmd , kvashisht wrote:

SIVANANDA DAILY READING FOR 2 AUGUST

PURITY AND CONTENTMENT

 

Sauca is internal and external purity. External purity generates pure

thoughts. Practice of sauca brings disgust for one's own body and the

body of others also. You will soon give up mamata (mineness of body).

Take a bath in the early morning and wear simple, clean cloth. You

will get the meditative mood quickly. Sauca helps to maintain

brahmacarya. The practice of celibacy, kindness, love, mercy,

patience, japa (repetition of God's name) and meditation will purify

the heart and eradicate jealousy, cruelty, hatred, anger and lust.

This is internal sauca.

 

This is the first anga or limb of niyama (discipline). Niyama and

yama (self-restraint) are interdependent. Niyama strengthens and

safeguards yama. Removal of lust, anger, hatred, jealousy etc.,

constitutes internal purity. Internal purity is more important than

external purity. Internal purity makes the mind one-pointed; it

bestows serenity, cheerfulness, joy, strength, harmony, poise and

happiness; it instils love, patience and magnanimity. Therefore

develop internal purity through diligent and vigilant effort.

 

Contentment (santosa) cuts at the root of all desires. It gives

success in the practice of yama. It gives peace, one-pointedness of

mind, serenity and eternal satisfaction. Divine light will descend in

a contented mind alone. A contented man is satisfied with his lot, he

is happy in whatever condition he is placed, he does not crave for

things he has not got. Contentment is a mystic stream of joy that

cools the three fires of samsara and joins the ocean of immortal

bliss.

 

Contentment - this is a most vital subject. You all know the

maxim: "A contented mind is a continual feast". The mind is always

restless on account of greed. Greed is a kind of internal fire that

consumes a man slowly. Contentment is a powerful antidote for the

poison of greed. There are four sentinels who guard the domain of

moksa (liberation). They are: santi, santosa, satsanga and vicara

(peace, contentment, company of the holy and enquiry). If you can

approach any of these sentinels, you can get hold of the other three.

If you get hold of santosa (contentment) you can easily see the other

three following you.

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