Obstacles - Boredom

[Guest guest]

Yes, I agree, one needs to be crazy about

God-realization to achieve it. <br><br>In a recent conversation a

sadhak brought up another obstacle - Boredom. Lack of

interest or enthusiasm towards practice.<br><br>Some of

the reasons that I have observed are -<br><br>1. "The

honeymoon is over" syndrome. Often, with many students, no

matter what path, the initial enthrallment seems to be

followed by "boredom" or even dissatisfaction. Over a

period of time, then reach out for what they then are

told is a "better" technique. From technique to

technique one keeps moving on, never allowing one to do its

entire job. The period, of course, differs from person

to person. <br><br>Often, after the initial phase of

sadhna, students experience so much of benifits, that

their life does a total overhaul and get so full of new

and spiritually fufilling experiences and they don't

get any "time" for practice. Or, they reach a

plateau, which in turn, takes away the excitement of the

new. This may be due to unrealistic and impractical

expectations built during the intial stages of learning. In a

culture of instant gratification, quickfixes, feel-good

remedies, and a paradigm of "what you see is what you get",

it is easy to get impatient when the rose-colored

early expereinces begin to give way to trials and

tribulations. <br><br>2. It may also be due to the fact that

regular practice begins the process of cleansing the

channels through which the prana flows, with the ultimate

goal of allowing the continuous free flow of the

Kundalini energy. During that cleansing process, many

deeper level issues surface allowing opportunities for

their removal. <br><br>Some sugggestions that work for

me and those who have followed them -<br><br>1 Keep

in mind that highs, lows and plateaus are part of

the course, and no matter what one does they will

change. Nothing is permanent, except the final abiding

dissolution in God consciouness. (maybe or at least I don't

know what is beyond) <br>2. Re-evaluating one's goals

to make sure they are realistic.<br>3. Sticking with

the techniques that one is initated in, at least for

a while instead of jumping from one to another. In

an attempt to hasten the process, or overcome a lack

of enthusiasm, one is often tempted to change Gurus.

Instead, it is important to go deeper into the practice,

allowing whatever needs to surface and working with them

till they leave.<br>4. Using external tools which

physically create an environment that is harmonious to one's

practice. I use chanting cds and/or incense, which work

immediately for me. I also use certain pranayam techniques

that help me refocus quickly and bring me back to the

state of mind where I am not fighting the urge to give

up. <br><br>My favorite analogy is that of a toddler

learning how to walk. Practice, practice pratice, with

joy, and constant awareness, knowing that walking is a

natural part of one's life. <br><br>Have any of you faced

boredom as an obstacle to your practice? What works for

you? What are some of your experiences? Do share your

thoughts on this very important issue for all sadhaks.

<br><br>_/\_ Tat twam asi<br><br>Uma

[Guest guest]

Dear Uma,as always your posts are very

illuminating and informative.i have been away for a week and

am behind in reading!*grin*<br>I wasnt initiated

with an specific,physical 'techniques',<br>nor am I

guided by a physical guru.I have very little physical

knowledge of religion and/or techniques.All I have learned

I have learned through the trials and tribulations

and joys and raptures of my daily life.Much that I

have learned has slipped from my awareness and become

integrated into the person I am today.All my life I have

searched to understand.Even as a young child I sought to

understand the nature of that I saw and heard.My first

sentence being'whats that!*grin*<br>Today I still have

that question forefront in my mind,'whats that?what

makes everything tick as it does.And constantly I am in

awe of everything!!<br>The order,the harmony.<br>the

very stillness of the wind sings in my

soul<br>rustling my branches that are forever reaching <br>even as

my blossoms live and fall and return in spring,my

roots are forever reaching and holding me to a

foundation even as my branches continue to reach and flex in

the wind.<br>One day perhaps,I will find a physical

guru,or probable techniques.Until that day I will

continue to be guided by the inner urgings of the Holy

Spirit,gently guiding with a mothers Love and comfort.I trust

what will be will be as it always has been..and

is,evolving in the love and soul of God,and for the good of

all.<br>I do get frustrated at times and am easily

excitable.I have not yet learned this action

word,'detachment'<br>How does one become 'detached'once one realizes we

are all attached to one another and all of heaven and

nature,in God?<br>How does one become still,while all else

sings?<br>Do gurus find students or do students find

gurus<br>and do either have need of the other and what is this

action word'need?'<br>Many Thanks<br>Maranatha!

[Guest guest]

>>How does one become 'detached'once one

realizes we are all attached to one another and all of

heaven and nature,in God?<<<br><br>There are 2

ways that I know of by which one can get

detached.<br>1. Thro' the path of enquiry (vichara)<br>2. Thro'

the path of devotion (Bhakthi)<br><br>Path of enquiry

or vichara

:<br>------------------------------<br><br>Thro' vichara one must try to

identify all that is the

Self from all that is non-Self. This process of

discrimination or dispassion (vairagya) is done thro' the

process of 'Neti Neti' or 'Not this, Not this'. i.e. one

must continue to eliminate things that are non-Self ,

until one comes to a point where the thing cannot be

eliminated. That which cannot be eliminated, is the ONE or

Self or God. <br><br>Ramakrishna Paramahamsa used to

say, one must be as detached as a maid who works in

the house of her master. She loves the kid she has to

take care of. she does all the work in the house, she

enjoys the luxuries of the house, yet in her heart she

knows that none of these are hers. Hence, she remains

unattached. So too must we have in one corner of the heart,

that all we see around, are not the Self and eliminate

them. <br><br>2. Path of Devotion or Bhakti :<br>There

is another path thro' which one can get detached,

and that is the path of devotion which is not as dry

as the path of vichara. <br>In this path, one

surrenders everything to the Lord. <br><br>One must realise

why one is attached to a particular thing.<br>Why

does a person claim ownership of a thing or of another

person? To control it or them. And why does he want to

control it? Usually because he wants to be the enjoyer of

it. For example, a child claims ownership of a piece

of candy so he can control it. Why does he want to

control it? So he can enjoy the taste of it. He can't

enjoy the taste unless he has control over it-unless he

can pick it up and put it in his mouth. To "buy" a

piece of candy from a store is to transfer the

ownership from the store to the customer. After a customer

has paid for the candy, he is given control over it.

He isn't allowed to control it until he owns it;

only then can he do with it as he pleases.

[Guest guest]

Thank You for your reply Svcs.<br>'to be detached like a maid'*grin*<br>I shall

begin thinking with the mind of a maid<br>inChrist<br>M