SIVANANDA DAILY READING FOR 20 MARCH

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SIVANANDA DAILY READING FOR 20 MARCH

YOGASARA-UPANISHAD MANTRA - 11 (CONTINUED)

Dharana (concentration) is fixing the mind on an idea or a point or

object either internal or external (continued)

 

 

Retire into a quiet room; sit on padmasana. Close your eyes. See what

happens when you concentrate on an apple. You may think of its

colour, shape, size and its different parts such as skin, pulp,

seeds, etc. You may think of the places (Australia or Kashmere)

wherefrom it is imported. You may think of its acidic or sweet taste

and its effects on the digestive system and blood. Through law of

association ideas of some other fruits also may try to enter. The

mind may entertain some other extraneous ideas. It may begin to

wander about. It may think of meeting a friend at the railway station

at 4 p.m. It may think of purchasing a towel or a tin of tea and

biscuits. It may ponder over some unpleasant happening that occurred

the previous day. You must try to have a definite line of thought.

There must not be any break in the line of thinking. You must not

allow other thoughts which are not connected with the object on hand

to enter. You will have to struggle hard to get success in this

direction. The mind will try its level best to run in the old grooves

and to take its old familiar road or old beaten path. The attempt is

somewhat like going uphill. You will rejoice when you get even some

success in concentration. Just as law of gravitation, cohesion, etc.,

operate in the physical plane, so also definite laws of thought such

as law of association, law of relativity, law of continuity, etc.,

operate in the mental plane or thought-world. Those who practise

concentration should thoroughly understand these laws. When the mind

thinks of an object, it may think of its qualities and its parts

also. When it thinks of a cause, it may think of its effects also.

 

If emotions disturb you during concentration, do not mind them. They

will pass away soon. If you try to drive them, you will have to tax

your will-force. Have an indifferent attitude. The vedantin uses the

formulae: "I don't care. Get out. I am a saksi (witness of the mental

modifications)" to drive the emotions. The devotee simply prays and

help comes from God.

 

Train the mind in concentration on various subjects, gross and

subtle, and of various sizes, small, medium, and big. In course of

time a firm habit of concentration will be formed. The moment you sit

for concentration the mood will come at once quite easily. When you

read a book, you must read it with concentration. There is no use

skipping over the pages in a hurried manner. Read one page in the

Gita. Close the book. Concentrate on what you have read. Find out

parallel lines in Mahabharata, Upanishads and Bhagavatam. Compare and

contrast.