Help on the Quest for Self-realization-Reminders-31

July 28, 2006

On having the right attitude to sadhana

(sadhana: spiritual practice / the means by which liberation is

attained).

6 If you regard Brahman, your own real nature, as something

different from you, it will feel shy, separate from you and slip

away.

7 Any effort to reach reality, thinking it to be different

from oneself, will cause the non-dual experience, wherein one abides

as reality, to go extremely far away.

8 Do not falter, even for a moment, believing that you face

insurmountable obstacles [on the path], but remain vigilant in the

unfailing and guaranteed method you have adopted-that of not

forgetting the Self.

Bhagavan: All thoughts such as "attainment is hard", or "Self-

realization is far from me", or, "I have got many difficulties to

overcome to know the reality," should be given up as they are

obstacles; they are created by this false self, ego.

9 It is harmful to regard as important the ecstatic

experiences of a mind that has not clearly known reality through the

saki (power) of Siva.

What constitutes effective sadhana?

10 The foremost of all sadhanas is silence of the mind; this

is what true devotees should practice.

Bhagavan: Silence is of four kinds: silence of speech, silence of

the eye, silence of the ear, and silence of the mind. Only the last

is pure silence, and it is the most important.

11 How useful can those paths be that do not clearly reveal the

Self, even though they speak clearly about other things?

12 Your duty is only to pay attention to what is already

existing. All other sadhanas are just a great dream.

13 The many different sadhanas are harmonized when the sadhaka

(spiritual aspirant) first comes to know and discover the truth of

his real nature.

14 The most appropriate form of practice, the best sadhana that

you can do, is enquiring into yourself and remaining steadfastly as

the Self.

FROM "PADAMALAI", EDITED BY DAVID GODMAN, PAGES 231 AND 232

Recommended Posts