self realization

[Guest guest]

The most important objective is to realize the Atman within. The

means to attain it are chanting the names of God and self-control

that is the control of the activities of the five senses and of the

mind, and meditation. If you observe each thought as it arises in the

mind and subsides in its Source, the mind will come under control and

will become quiet. It is the duty of ideal men to live with mind

restrained in this manner.

 

What is that you should attain and where is it? (As you practice

control of the mind as stated above), you should turn your attention

to the Source itself from which thoughts arise and practice fixing

your mind there (that is to say, to bring the mind back to the point

of concentration, whenever it is distracted, reduce progressively the

frequency of such interruptions and focus the mind in the Source).

This practice is called (in yoga

terminology) "Dharana,Sthambanam," or concentration. Gradually the

distractions will be eliminated completely and the mind will stay

fixed at one point (i.e., flow uninterruptedly towards the object of

meditation viz., the Source of thought). When this is accomplished

and it extends continuously or unbrokenly, it is called "Dhyana" or

contemplation. When this practice becomes perfect (and reaches its

culmination when the mind is transcended, i.e., its subjective nature

of self awareness disappears as it were, and the subject-object

relationship dissolves resulting in their fusion in Consciousness,

whose content is only the Source which is object of meditation), it

is called "Samadhi". Every one should adopt this discipline of

Samadhi Yoga (if spiritual progress is to be achieved). Our aim is to

realize (in this way) the Supreme Being who is called "That" (in the

Vedanta texts) which is Pure Awareness. The goal of human birth is to

realize this Most High who is inside the body. So let us not waste

even a moment of our days, but devote all the time to the

enquiry "who am I" and in this way realize Him.

 

WHAT IS THE NATURE OF THIS ENQUIRY? IT IS TO REALISE "I AM NOT THE

BODY, NOR THE Pranas (life breath), nor mind, Buddhi and other

internal organs". Intuition of that Knowledge (Pure Consciousness)

which is the Witness of even Buddhi (the discrimininative and

deciding faculty), that exists beyond the knowledge obtained through

the five senses (with which we cognise the physical world) is

Absolute Bliss. This is the Supreme Being. Let us try to realize it!