Guest guest Posted January 3, 2002 Report Share Posted January 3, 2002 jai Gurudev, dear all, In this new year, may you all make a small resolve to try to follow atleast some of the instructions give below as per ur conveniences... But always keep in mind the following things given below so that whenever situations permit you can do that... TWENTY IMPORTANT SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTIONS By H.H. Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj 1. Get up at 4 a.m. daily. This is Brahmamuhurta which is extremely favourable for meditation on God. 2. ASANA: Sit on Padma, Siddha or Sukha Asana for Japa and meditation for half an hour, facing the east or the north. Increase the period gradually to three hours. Do Sirshasana and Sarvangasana for keeping up Brahmacharya and health. Take light physical exercises as walking, etc., regularly. Do twenty Pranayamas. 3. JAPA: Repeat any Mantra as pure Om or Om Namo Narayanaya, Om Namah Sivaya, Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya, Om Saravanabhavaya Namah, Sita Ram, Sri Ram, Hari Om, or Gayatri, according to your taste or inclination, from 108 to 21,600 times daily. 4. DIETETIC DISCIPLINE: Take Sattvic food, Suddha Ahara. Give up chillies, tamarind, garlic, onion, sour articles, oil, mustard, asafoetida. Observe moderation in diet (Mitahara). Do not overload the stomach. Give up those things which the mind likes best for a fortnight in a year. Eat simple food. Milk and fruits help concentration. Take food as medicine to keep the life going. Eating for enjoyment is sin. Give up salt and sugar for a month. You must be able to live on rice, Dhal and bread without any chutni. Do not ask for extra salt for Dhal and sugar for tea, coffee or milk. 5. Have a separate meditation-room under lock and key. 6. CHARITY: Do charity regularly, every month, or even daily according to your means, say six paise per rupee. 7. SVADHYAYA: Study systematically the Gita, the Ramayana, the Bhagavata, Sri Vishnu-Sahasranama, Lalita-Sahasranama, Aditya Hridaya, Upanishads or Yoga Vasishtha, the Bible, Zend Avesta, the Koran, the Tripitakas, the Granth Sahib, etc., from half an hour to one hour daily and have Suddha Vichara. 8. BRAHMACHARYA: Preserve the vital force (Veerya) very, very carefully. Veerya is God in motion or manifestation—Vibhuti. Veerya is all power. Veerya is all money. Veerya is the essence of life, thought and intelligence. 9. PRAYER SLOKAS: Get by heart some prayer-Slokas, Stotras and repeat them as soon as you sit in the Asana before starting Japa or meditation. This will elevate the mind quickly. 10. SATSANGA: Have Satsanga. Give up bad company, smoking, meat and alcoholic liquors entirely. Do not develop any evil habits. 11. FAST ON EKADASI: Fast on Ekadasi or live on milk and fruits only. 72 12. JAPA MAALA: Have Japa Maala (rosary) round your neck or in your pocket or underneath your pillow at night. 13. MOUNA: Observe Mouna (vow of silence) for a couple of hours daily. 14. SPEAK THE TRUTH: Speak the truth at all cost. Speak a little. Speak sweetly. 15. Reduce your wants. If you have four shirts, reduce the number to three or two. Lead a happy, contented life. Avoid unnecessary worry. Have plain living and high thinking. 16. NEVER HURT ANYBODY: Never hurt anybody (Ahimsa Paramo Dharmah). Control anger by love, Kshama (forgiveness) and Daya (compassion). 17. DO NOT DEPEND UPON SERVANTS: Do not depend upon servants. Self- reliance is the highest of all virtues. 18. SELF-ANALYSIS: Think of the mistakes you have committed during the course of the day, just before retiring to bed (self-analysis). Keep daily diary and self-correction register. Do not brood over past mistakes. 19. FULFIL DUTIES: Remember that death is awaiting you at every moment. Never fail to fulfil your duties. Have pure conduct (Sadachara). 20. SURRENDER TO GOD: Think of God as soon as you wake up and just before you go to sleep. Surrender yourself completely to God (Saranagati). Om Santih Santih Santih! This is the essence of all spiritual Sadhanas. This will lead you to Moksha. All these Niyamas or spiritual canons must be rigidly observed. You must not give leniency to the mind. Affectionately Jai Gurudev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2002 Report Share Posted January 8, 2002 Birendra there r some negative effects associated with just the pronunciation of Om. I don't know if gurudev has ever advised to chant Om alone >3. JAPA: Repeat any Mantra as pure Om or Om Namo Narayanaya, Om Namah >Sivaya, >Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya, Om Saravanabhavaya Namah, Sita Ram, Sri >Ram, Hari Om, or >Gayatri, according to your taste or inclination, from 108 to 21,600 >times daily. >4. Eating for enjoyment is sin. Enjoyment is not sin. Getting attached to food may be. >5. Have a separate meditation-room under lock and key. Why under lock and key ? >12. JAPA MAALA: Have Japa Maala (rosary) round your neck or in your >pocket or underneath your pillow at night. I have read in patrika or was told by shastriji that one shouldn't wear mala with which one does Guru Mantra. One may wear it only when e has to go some very very imp work. "THIS E-MAIL MESSAGE ALONG WITH ANY ATTACHMENTS IS INTENDED ONLY FOR THE ADDRESSEE and may contain confidential and privileged information. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are notified that any dissemination, distribution or copy of this communication is strictly Prohibited. If you have received this message by error, please notify us immediately, return the original mail to the sender and delete the message from your system." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2002 Report Share Posted January 8, 2002 , "Goel, Anurag (CORP, GEITC)" <anurag.goel@g...> wrote: > > > Birendra there r some negative effects associated with just the > pronunciation of Om. kahan par liya bhaiya. i read this in vivekannda's complete works -treatise on raj yog. please do always give reference. even on the site somewhere, and dainik vidhi it is recommended to chant aum 3 times before you start. id 3 good and 300 too many? > I don't know ording to your taste or inclination, from 108 to 21,600 > >times daily. > > > > > >4. Eating for enjoyment is sin. > > Enjoyment is not sin. Getting attached to food may be. > > > >5. Have a separate meditation-room under lock and key. > > Why under lock and key ? see the underlying idea is that every place has it's vibrations/ a holy place acquires positive vibrations of tapasya for years etc. vivekananda also recommends setting a room apart for meditation. have no unholy thoughts in that room. keep it clean keep flowers and bun incense. for lesser mortals like me, a separate corner in the room is also good. > > > >12. JAPA MAALA: Have Japa Maala (rosary) round your neck or in your > >pocket or underneath your pillow at night. > > I have read in patrika or was told by shastriji that one shouldn't wear mala > with which one does Guru Mantra. One may wear it only when e has to go some > very very imp work. > with that i agree. i do not like to keep anything on my body. our lives eating habits etc are not so pious. if you have to criticize people (which i must_) it is better to do it without the mala in my neck to remind me that i am making a mistake. wishes jaigurudev anu > > > "THIS E-MAIL MESSAGE ALONG WITH ANY ATTACHMENTS IS INTENDED ONLY FOR THE > ADDRESSEE and may contain confidential and privileged information. > If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, > you are notified that any dissemination, distribution or copy of this > communication is strictly Prohibited. > If you have received this message by error, please notify us > immediately, return the original mail to the sender and delete the > message from your system." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2002 Report Share Posted January 8, 2002 >> >5. Have a separate meditation-room under lock and key. >> >> Why under lock and key ? >see the underlying idea is that every place has it's vibrations/ a >holy place acquires positive vibrations of tapasya for years etc. >vivekananda also recommends setting a room apart for meditation. have >no unholy thoughts in that room. keep it clean keep flowers and bun >incense. for lesser mortals like me, a separate corner in the room is >also good. Its always good to give clear messages otherwise people will add keeping a room under a lock and key as a spiritual practice. Thats what has happened over time explanatiion for the spiritual practices have died and this is how supertition became strong. "THIS E-MAIL MESSAGE ALONG WITH ANY ATTACHMENTS IS INTENDED ONLY FOR THE ADDRESSEE and may contain confidential and privileged information. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are notified that any dissemination, distribution or copy of this communication is strictly Prohibited. If you have received this message by error, please notify us immediately, return the original mail to the sender and delete the message from your system." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 9, 2002 Report Share Posted January 9, 2002 Jai Gurudev, Dear Anurag, well what anu answered was true and iam answering those other things which were left out, iam really not having much time , pls forgive my ... > > Birendra there r some negative effects associated with just the > pronunciation of Om. > I don't know if gurudev has ever advised to chant Om alone i dont know abt any negative effects or nor heard of any, if you know,write it down with reference, basically this is an article by realised soul, and i have posted as it is, and only one thing that i read somewhere and which people should note of chanting of OM is ,that this is a moksha mantra suited for SANNYASIS, so probbably not advisable for Grishtashram people, but you can always do the Gayatri/ or say HARI OM instead of saying OM alone.i heard in one cassette/shivir of Gurudev telling HARI OM 3 times before starting some sadhana... > > > > > >4. Eating for enjoyment is sin. > > Enjoyment is not sin. Getting attached to food may be. Article only stated that food should be eaten just for the purpose of living(taken as medicine) , what you are telling is true one should not eat food for pleasure because the pleasures always cause bondage/attatchment. Article nowhere directly states that enjoyment is sin, but still its a good point you raised, are you guilty of enjoyment or what? basically anything that binds should be shunned either its good or bad, but i think Lord will not mind our enjoymnets aslong as we behave responsibly and reasonbly according to the situation demands, for EX, i dont go to restaurants or eat food in luxury hotels just like that on my own,but if the situation arises,in which i have to go with my near and dear ones , i wont hesitate to do so... so act according to your enviroment... besides the observation of rules should get strict and intensified as one withdraws oneself in the pursuit of our Inner self, till then awakened responible behaviour / awakened effort, persistently should be welcomed by lord. Dont think of sin and other things ... it has a very negative effect on the being. > >12. JAPA MAALA: Have Japa Maala (rosary) round your neck or in your > >pocket or underneath your pillow at night. > > I have read in patrika or was told by shastriji that one shouldn't wear mala > with which one does Guru Mantra. One may wear it only when e has to go some > very very imp work. Again this is an article by some realised soul given for genral public , one has to follow what Gurudev has said , but i dont see the rule in any way contradicting what shastriji has told.... as author might assumed that every day might be important, though he may have not stated explicity in the instruction or work on each day is as important as the work on any critical day, but the thing we should observe is both tell that if any thing is imp the mala should be with you, so having mala has its own positive vibrations beside, it need not be worn, it is ok to be in the pocket also... love Jai Gurudev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 9, 2002 Report Share Posted January 9, 2002 Yes I too have read somewhere that chanting of OM is meant for paramahamsa sannyasins(I think that the reference was Swami Sivananda). But I recall that no illeffects will result as the benefits are vairagya, renunciation oriented- not quite suited for grihasthis. But OM chanting can also remove fear. It should be chanted in the right way- AAAA should orinigate in the navel, UUUU should originate in the chest and MMMM should be in head. The MMM would make the head vibrate and give a resonant feeling. Aum Namasivaya, Vijay --- birendra_m <birendra_m wrote: > Jai Gurudev, > Dear Anurag, > > > well what anu answered was true and iam answering > those other things > which were left out, iam really not having much time > , pls forgive > my ... > > > > > Birendra there r some negative effects associated > with just the > > pronunciation of Om. > > I don't know if gurudev has ever advised to chant > Om alone > > > > i dont know abt any negative effects or nor heard of > any, if you > know,write it down with reference, basically this is > an article by > realised soul, and i have posted as it is, and only > one thing that i > read somewhere and which people > should note of chanting of OM is ,that this is a > moksha mantra suited > for SANNYASIS, so probbably not advisable for > Grishtashram people, > but you can always do the Gayatri/ or say HARI OM > instead of saying > OM alone.i heard in one cassette/shivir of Gurudev > telling HARI OM 3 > times before starting some sadhana... > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >4. Eating for enjoyment is sin. > > > > Enjoyment is not sin. Getting attached to food may > be. > > > > Article only stated that food should be eaten just > for the purpose of > living(taken as medicine) , what you are telling is > true one should > not eat food for pleasure because the pleasures > always cause > bondage/attatchment. > > > Article nowhere directly states that enjoyment is > sin, but still its > a good point you raised, are you guilty of enjoyment > or what? > basically anything that binds should be shunned > either its good or > bad, but i think Lord will not mind our enjoymnets > aslong as we > behave responsibly and reasonbly according to the > situation demands, > > for EX, > i dont go to restaurants or eat food in luxury > hotels just like that > on my own,but if the situation arises,in which i > have to go with my > near and dear ones , i wont hesitate to do so... so > act according to > your enviroment... > > > > > besides the observation of rules should get strict > and intensified > as one withdraws oneself in the pursuit of our > Inner self, till then > awakened responible behaviour / awakened effort, > persistently should > be welcomed by lord. > > Dont think of sin and other things ... it has a very > negative effect > on the being. > > > > >12. JAPA MAALA: Have Japa Maala (rosary) round > your neck or in > your > > >pocket or underneath your pillow at night. > > > > I have read in patrika or was told by shastriji > that one shouldn't > wear mala > > with which one does Guru Mantra. One may wear it > only when e has to > go some > > very very imp work. > > Again this is an article by some realised soul given > for genral > public , one has to follow what Gurudev has said , > but i dont see the > rule in any way contradicting what shastriji has > told.... > > as author might assumed that every day might be > important, > though he may have not stated explicity in the > instruction > > or work on each day is as important as the work on > any critical day, > but the thing we > should observe is both tell that if any thing is imp > the mala should > be with you, so having mala has its own positive > vibrations beside, > it need not be worn, it is ok to be in the pocket > also... > > > love > Jai Gurudev > > > > > > > > > Send FREE video emails in Mail! http://promo./videomail/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2002 Report Share Posted January 10, 2002 Jai Gurudev Dear anurag, i want to once again tell you that u made a very good observation, the articlei posted was by the sivananda was just the gist which was summarised at the end of original bigger article, and i just happened to take the summary and post as it is, so i really didnt obeserve the thing that you were observing.i cant post the whole article becos its too long... from now onwards i will be looking for such things,trying to add more explanation, whenever i feel its not clear,under any case if i fail to observe or if u feel that certain point should be more elaborated , pls do let me know, its hard to keep every one in perspective, though i will try to but i may miss as i am a limited being ,please do correct me as and when you feel you dont want to agreee either for personal or public benfit.THIS IS A REQUEST NOT TO ANURAG ONLY BUT OTHER MEMBERS ALSO, IF I AM MISSING SOMETHING OR SOMETHING HAS TO BE CLARFIED PLS LET ME KNOW. THEN ONLY POSTING WOULD MAKE SOME SENSE. WHAT IS THE USE IF I POST ARTICLE THINKING PEOPLE WOULD UNDERSTAND, BUT IN REALITY THAT IS NOT THE CASE. I ONCE AGAIN REQUEST EVERYBODY TO LET ME KNOW WHERE THINGS ARE NOT CLEAR IN ANY ARTICLE BY ANYBODY. PLEASE TRY TO MAKE AN ATTEMPT IN THAT DIRECTION love Jai Gurudev , "Goel, Anurag (CORP, GEITC)" <anurag.goel@g...> wrote: > > > >> >5. Have a separate meditation-room under lock and key. > >> > >> Why under lock and key ? > > >see the underlying idea is that every place has it's vibrations/ a > >holy place acquires positive vibrations of tapasya for years etc. > >vivekananda also recommends setting a room apart for meditation. have > >no unholy thoughts in that room. keep it clean keep flowers and bun > >incense. for lesser mortals like me, a separate corner in the room is > >also good. > > > Its always good to give clear messages otherwise people will add keeping > a room under a lock and key as a spiritual practice. Thats what has happened > over time > explanatiion for the spiritual practices have died and this is how > supertition became strong. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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