Rise above the two moods

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RISE ABOVE THE TWO MOODS

 

By Swami Sivananda

 

In vedanta there are only two kinds of moods - joy, exultation or

exhilaration and grief or depression. Now there is joy and five

minutes later there is depression - the currents alternate. They

belong to the sad Urmis (six waves, i.e. grief, delusion, hunger,

thirst, decay and death). People of gloomy moods attract gloomy

thoughts from others and from the akasic (etheric) records in the

psychic ether. Persons with hope, cheerfulness and confidence attract

similar thoughts from others - they are always successful in their

attempts. People with negative moods of depression, anger and hatred

do positive harm to others - and great damage in the thought world.

 

Try to eradicate depression through prayer, meditation, counter-

thoughts of joy, chanting Om, self-enquiry and singing divine songs.

There are various causes for depression - cloudy day, associating

with evil persons, indigestion, influence of astral spirits and

revival of old impressions of depression. When you get into a talking

mood - practise mouna (silence) at once. When you are in a mood of

hatred, develop the opposite virtue, love, and the mood will pass

quickly. When you feel selfishness arise, do selfless work. When you

are in the mood of separateness, mix with others - through service,

love, kindness and forgiveness. If you feel lazy, do some active work.

 

A liberated being is free from all moods - he has become their

master. In atman (self) there are no moods, there is only pure

consciousness. Identify with Atman and you will easily destroy all

moods. However, there is one good mood - the meditative mood. When

this manifests, immediately give up reading, writing, talking etc.,

and begin to meditate. Watch for this kind of mood - when meditation

comes by itself, without effort.

 

Laugh and smile. How can a mind that is dull and gloomy think of God?

Try to be happy always. Happiness is your very nature. The spirit of

cheerfulness must be cultivated by all aspirants.

 

With the growth of the mind, the pains will increase. But with its

extinction there will be great bliss. Having mastery over the mind,

free yourself from the world of perceptions in order that you may be

of the nature of jnana or wisdom. Though surrounded by pleasurable or

painful objects which disturb the equilibrium of your mind, remain

rock-like, and receive all things with equanimity.

 

(Source: http://sivanandaonline.org/html/ )