New Year's Resolutions/Saadhnaa 2

[Guest guest]

Blessed Self, aspirants<br><br>The Spiritual

Diary is a list of 25 items that you check off each

day. The list could down the left side of a page with

space to the right for entries for each day of the

week. Over time, it gives you a sense of progress and

accomplishment as well as identifying those areas in which you

need to place more attention.<br><br>One thing to note

is that the self-punshment mentioned in items 16-19

is not to be abusive. It could be as simple as

missing a meal, not taking cream or sugar with your tea,

or missing your favourite TV show of the week. The

intent is to condition the mind to your new

regime.<br><br>1. How many hours did you sleep?<br>2. When did you

rise from bed?<br>3. How many malas of Japa?<br>4. How

long did you chant Kirtan?<br>5. How many mantras did

you write (Lakhita Japa)?<br>6. How long in

Pranayama?<br>7. How long in Asanas?<br>8. How long in physical

exercise?<br>9. How many hours of Mouna (complete

silence)?<br>10. How many Gita Slokas did you read?<br>11. How

long in the study of religious books?<br>12. How many

hours in useless company?<br>13. How long in company of

the wise (Satsanga)?<br>14. How much in selfless

service?<br>15. How much given to charity?<br>16. How many lies

told and with what self-punishment?<br>17. How many

times angry, how long, and with what

self-punishment?<br>18. How many times failed in Brahmacharya (celibacy)

(mental as well as physical)?<br>19. How many times

failed in control of evil habits and with what

self-punsihment?<br>20. Fasted which days?<br>21. How long spent in

Meditation?<br>22. What virtures are you developing?<br>23. What

vices are you eradicating?<br>24 What Indriya (sense)

is troubling you most?<br>25. What time did you go

to bed?<br><br>My personal favourite is 12. It is

interesting how one's concept of 'useless company' changes.

And, of course, it is not the people that are useless,

it is the activities that you do with them that are

useless or not.<br><br>Good luck.<br><br>Om namah

Sivaya<br><br>Omprem