ROOT OUT ATTACHMENT

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SIVANANDA DAILY READING FOR 11 OCTOBER

ROOT OUT ATTACHMENT

 

 

Atman is Brahman or absolute or infinite or supreme being. It is

existence absolute, knowledge absolute and bliss absolute. It is

eternal, perfect, pure, self-luminous. It is self­delight and

self­ knowledge. It is bodiless, formless (nirakara) and

attributeless (guna-less). It is all­pervading, all­full,

imperishable. It has neither beginning nor end. It exists in the

present, the past and the future. It is svayambhu (self­existent).

It is the source for the body and the mind, prana (life), indriyas

(senses), vedas and the universe. No one can deny it because it is

the self of all beings.

 

Selfishness retards spiritual progress. If anyone can destroy his

selfishness, half of his spiritual sadhana (practice) is over. No

samadhi or meditation is possible without the eradication of this

undesirable, negative quality. Aspirants should direct their whole

attention in the beginning towards the removal of this dire malady by

protracted, selfless, disinterested service.

 

Never say 'my body', 'my wife', 'my son', 'my house'. Attachment is

the root cause for the miseries and sufferings of this world.

Discipline the mind carefully. The old habits will creep in,

­destroy them at the very root. Lead the life of mental

non­attachment. This is the master­key to open the realm of

Brahmic bliss. Nonattachment is dispassion or indifference to sensual

enjoyments.

 

It is the mind that creates the ideas of 'I­ness' and

'mine­ness'. It is the mind that links the body and the jiva

(soul) and creates intense deha adhyasa (body­consciousness) and

the man thinks, "I am the body". If the binding link in the mind is

destroyed you can remain wherever you like, you can roam peacefully,

in any part of the world, unattached like water on the lotus leaf.

Nothing can bind you. The whole mischief is wrought by the mind.

 

Introspect. Look within. Try to remove your defects. This is real

sadhana (practice) ­ you will have to do it at any cost.

Intellectual development is nothing. But the former needs a great

deal of struggle for many years as many vicious habits have to be

rent asunder.

 

Keep up the unbroken current of meditation. Avoid mixing. You will

soon get over body­consciousness. A little more drastic sadhana is

needed for a month ­ unbroken silence. Do not allow inertia or

laziness to overpower you.