The Spiritual Diary

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The Spiritual Diary is a whip for goading the mind towards

righteousness and God. If you regularly maintain this diary you will

get solace, peace of mind and make quick progress in the spiritual

path. Maintain a daily diary and realise the marvellous results.

 

1. When did you get up from bed?

 

" Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. "

You must get up at 4 a.m., and practise Japa and meditation. The

meditative state of the mind will come by itself without exertion at

this period.

 

2. How many hours did you sleep?

 

Sleep for six hours is quite sufficient for every individual. Go to

bed at 10 p.m., and get up at 4 a.m. Napoleon Bonaparte believed in

only four hours of sleep. Too much sleep makes a man dull and

lethargic. Too much sleep causes premature decay and weakens the

brain-power. Those spiritual aspirants who want to do rigorous

Sadhana should reduce the sleep gradually. For three months reduce

the sleep by half an hour. During the next three months go to bed at

11 p.m., and get up at 4 a.m. In this way you can conquer sleep and

become one like Arjuna or Lakshmana.

 

3. How many Malas of Japa?

 

Japa is an important limb of Yoga. In this Kali Yuga, Japa and Kirtan

are effective Sadhanas for God-realisation. Japa results in Samadhi

or communion with God. Japa is the repetition of the name of the

Lord. There are three varieties of Japa, viz., Vaikhari (verbal),

Upamsu (whispering), and Manasic (mental). Have a Japa Mala (rosary)

round your neck or in your pocket or underneath your pillow at night.

Use a Mala of 108 beads. A Mala is a whip to goad the mind towards

God. The fruits of Manasic Japa are ten thousand times more than

Vaikhari or Upamsu. Always try to do mental Japa when you are busy in

daily activities. Make it a point to repeat the Mantra some thousand

times and record the number in the diary.

 

4. How long in Kirtan?

 

Repetition of God's name enables the devotee to feel the divine

presence, the divine glory and the divine consciousness within

himself and also everywhere. How powerful is God's name! When one

sings His name or hears its sound, he is unconsciously raised to

sublime spiritual heights. He loses his body-consciousness. He is

immersed in joy and drinks deep the divine nectar of immortality.

Sankirtan is singing God's name with Bhava and Prema or divine

feeling. Sankirtan brings Darshan of God or attainment of divine

consciousness easily in this Kali Yuga.

 

5. How many Pranayamas?

 

Pranayama is 'control of breath'. Sit in Padmasana, Sukhasana, or any

other comfortable pose, with an empty stomach. Close your eyes. Close

the right nostril with the thumb. Draw in the air very very slowly

through the left nostril. Now close your left nostril with the little

and right fingers, and retain the breath as long as you can

comfortably keep. Then very very slowly exhale through the right

nostril after removing the thumb. Again draw in the air through the

right nostril retain it as long as you can and exhale through the

left nostril very slowly. This is one Pranayama. To start with, do

five Pranayamas in the morning and evening and gradually increase to

10 or 20. This is Sukhapurvaka-easy, comfortable Pranayama.

 

6. How long did you perform Asanas?

 

Asana is the first stage of Ashtanga Yoga. Padmasana and Siddhasana

are intended for doing Japa and meditation. Do not often change the

Asana. Stick to one and gradually increase the period to even three

hours. Sirshasana, Sarvangasana and other exercises are intended for

maintaining good health. They remove various diseases. These Asanas

will awaken the Kundalini Sakti. Perform the Asanas when the stomach

is empty or light. Early morning and evening are very good for the

practice of Asanas. Practise the Asanas in well-ventilated room or on

the sandy beds of rivers, open airy places, or seaside. During the

practice repeat your Ishta or Guru Mantra.

 

7. How long did you meditate in one Asana?

 

Sit in Padmasana or Sukhasana in your meditation room. Early morning

between 4 and 6 is the best period for contemplation and Japa. You

can have another sitting in the night also. Take your seat before the

picture of your Ishta Devata. Look at the picture steadily for a few

minutes. Repeat some Stotras mentally. Then close your eyes and

visualise the picture. Repeat the Ishta Mantra mentally. Sit for

meditation for half an hour in the beginning and try to increase the

period to three hours by gradual daily practice. When you sit on your

Asana for meditation, do not shake the body. Try to keep up one

current of thought of God.

 

8. How many Gita Slokas did you read or get by heart?

 

Study of scriptures is Kriya Yoga or Niyama. It purifies the heart

and fills the mind with sublime and elevating thoughts. Gita is a

unique book for Svadhyaya. It contains the essence of all the Yogas

and the cream of the Vedas. You can devote half an hour to three

hours for this purpose according to the time at your disposal.

 

9. How long in the company of the wise (Satsanga)?

 

The glory and power of Satsanga or association with the wise, Saints,

Yogins, Sannyasins and Mahatmas, is described in detail in Bhagavata,

Ramayana, and other holy scriptures. Even a moment's company is quite

sufficient to overhaul the old vicious Samskaras of the people.

Service to Mahatmas purifies the mind of passionate men rapidly.

Satsanga elevates the mind to magnanimous heights. Study of books

written by realised persons will also be tantamount to Satsanga.

 

10. How many hours did you observe Mouna?

 

Monna means vow of silence. Energy is wasted in idle talking and

gossiping. Mouna develops will-power. Mouna checks the impulse of

speech. It is a great help for the observance of truth and control of

anger. Emotions are controlled and irritability vanishes. Observe

Mouna at least for one hour or two hours a day. During Mouna, sublime

thoughts should replace worldly thoughts and Japa should be done.

 

11. How long in disinterested selfless service?

 

The practice of Nishkama Karma Yoga destroys sins and impurities of

the mind and causes Chitta Suddhi or purity of Antahkarana. Knowledge

of Self dawns in a pure mind. Knowledge of Self is the only direct

means to freedom. Nishkama Karma Yoga is selfless service to

humanity. The important point is to serve humanity without any

attachment or egoism. The central teaching of the Gita is non-

attachment to work. Sri Krishna says: " Work incessantly. Your duty is

to work but not to expect the fruits thereof. " Do vigorous service

for some time. You will grasp the spirit of Nishkama Karma.

 

12. How much did you give in charity?

 

When you walk along the road or street, keep always some loose coins

in your pocket and distribute them to the poor. Be liberal. Feel that

you are enjoying in all the bodies. Your heart will expand. You will

begin to realise unity or oneness. You will become more generous. Do

regular charity of one tenth of your income. Performance of virtuous

actions is the beginning of spiritual life.

 

13. How many Mantras did you write?

 

Maintain a Mantra notebook. Write your Ishta Mantra, Guru Mantra or

Maha Mantra for half an hour in this notebook. You should preferably

do this item of Sadhana just before the commencement of the household

duties. You should observe Mouna or silence while writing the Mantra.

There should be perfect calm and quietude. You should concentrate on

the writing alone. In Mantra writing, the eyes, the hands and the

mind are all engaged. There is no restriction of language. If this

practice is continued with sincerity, the aspirant gets concentration

easily and much internal peace and happiness.

 

14. How long did you practise physical exercise?

 

Physical culture or the development of the body is as much important

as the development of the mind, will, or memory. If the body is not

kept strong and healthy, vigorous and active, no culture is

possible. " Mens sana in corpore sano " is a wise saying which means-a

sound mind in a sound body. There are different kinds of physical

culture. You will have to select one according to your capacity,

taste and temperament.

 

15. How many lies did you tell and with what Self-punishment?

 

Srutis emphatically declare: " Satyam Vada-Speak the

Truth " . " Satyameva Jayate Nanritam-Truth alone triumphs but not

falsehood " . A truthful man is absolutely free from worries and

anxieties. He has a calm mind. He is respected by all. If you observe

speaking the truth for twelve years, you will have Vak-Siddhi. Then

whatever you speak will come to pass. Speak the truth. Truth is

Knowledge. Truth is Bliss. Truth guides you in all your actions.

Write in bold types the words: " Speak Truth " on cardboards and hang

them in different places in your house. This will remind you when you

speak a lie. You will check yourself at once. Punish yourself by

fasting if you tell a lie and record the lies in the diary. Gradually

the number of lies will decrease and you will become a truthful man.

 

16. How many times and how long of anger and with what self-

punishment?

 

Anger is an enemy to peace. It is a modification of lust. When a

desire is not gratified, a man becomes angry. He loses his memory and

understanding. Control anger by the practice of Kshama, love and

killing egoism. Drink a little water when you become angry. It will

cool the brain and calm the excited nerves. Repeat " Om Santi " several

times. If you find it extremely difficult to control anger, leave the

place immediately and take a walk for half an hour. Pray to God. Do

Japa. Meditation gives immense strength to destroy anger and other

obstacles.

 

17. How many hours did you spend in useless company?

 

The so-called friends are real enemies. You cannot find even a single

unselfish friend in this universe. Be careful. Friends come to have

idle talks with you and they waste your time. They want to pull you

down and make you also worldly. Do not be carried away by the flowery

speech of such friends. Cut off connections ruthlessly. Live alone at

all times. Trust in that immortal friend who dwells in your heart. If

you cannot have positive Satsanga of Mahatmas, have indirect Satsanga

with books written by realised Sages, Saints and Bhagavatas.

 

18. How many times did you fail in Brahmacharya?

 

No spiritual progress is possible without the practice of celibacy.

Veerya is a dynamic force. It should be converted into Ojas-Sakti.

Those who are very eager to have God-realisation should observe

unbroken celibacy strictly. Observe the vow of Brahmacharya strictly.

 

19. How long in study of religious books?

 

Be regular in the study of religious books, Ramayana, Bhagavata, Yoga

Vasishtha and other good books, for Svadhyaya. If you reflect on the

ideas of Gita and fix the mind on these ideas, this itself is a form

of lower Samadhi. Svadhyaya is an auxiliary for concentration.

Svadhyaya will check mind-wandering also.

 

20. How many times did you fail in the control of evil habits and

with what self-punishment?

 

There are some who are unconscious of their bad habits and many who

do not recognise them as bad. If they recognise them to be bad, then

the correction is very simple. Alcohol is a strong devil, which if

once enters the system of a man will never leave him. Then comes,

smoking. Another evil habit is betel-chewing. Drinking of strong tea

and coffee often develops a bad habit. Novel reading, visiting

cinemas, sleeping in the daytime, using slang terms and abuses, etc.,

are some of the evil habits. First realise that you have got an evil

habit and intensely desire that you should give it up at any cost.

Then your success has already come. Giving up any bad habit at once

is better. Use your subconscious mind for eradication. Establish new

healthy habits and develop your will. There is nothing impossible

under the Sun.

 

21. How long you did concentrate on your Ishta Devata (Saguna or

Nirguna Dhyana)?

 

Concentration can be done only if you are free from all distractions.

Concentrate on anything that appeals to you as good or anything which

the mind likes best. The mind should be trained to concentrate on

gross objects in the beginning and, later on, you can successfully

concentrate on subtle objects and abstract ideas. Regularity in the

practice is of paramount importance.

 

Gross Forms: Concentrate on a black dot on the wall or a candle-

flame, a bright star, moon, on the picture of Om, Lord Siva, Rama,

Krishna, Devi, or your Ishta Devata in front of you with open eyes.

 

Subtle Forms: Sit before the picture of your Ishta Devata and close

your eyes. Keep a mental picture of your Ishta Devata at the space

between the two eyebrows, or heart (Anahata Chakra); concentrate on

Muladhara, Anahata, Ajna or any other internal Chakra; concentrate on

the divine qualities such as love, mercy, or any other abstract

ideas, Sat Chit Ananda, purity, perfection, peace.

 

22. How many days did you observe fast and vigil?

 

Keeping wide awake throughout the night is called vigil. You will

derive incalculable benefit if you practise vigil on Vaikuntha-

Ekadasi, Sivaratri, Gokulashtami day (the birthday of Sri Krishna).

Complete fasting helps to control the sleep. Control of sleep by

taking recourse to tea is not desirable. You will not gain spiritual

strength as you depend upon an extraneous drug. During fasting avoid

company. Live alone. Utilise your time in Yogic Sadhana. After a

fast, do not take any heavy food. Milk or some fruit-juice is

beneficial.

 

23. Were you regular in your meditation?

 

Never miss a day in meditation. Be regular and systematic. Regularity

in meditation is of paramount importance. The meditative state will

come by itself at the appointed time. Take Sattvic food. Fruits and

milk will help mental focussing. When the mind is tired, do not

concentrate. Give it a little rest.

 

24. What virtues are you developing?

 

Develop that virtue in which you are hopelessly lacking. Courage,

mercy, universal love, nobility, Kshama, contentment, frankness and

honesty must be developed one by one. Take up one virtue every month

and meditate on that virtue regularly. You will manifest that virtue

in your character. If you develop one important virtue, all other

virtues will cling to you. If you have humility and courage, all

other virtues will come of their own accord. You should spend daily

some time, say half an hour, for development of virtues.

 

25. What evil quality are you trying to eradicate?

 

The development of virtuous qualities will itself remove the negative

qualities. But it is better to make a positive attempt also in the

eradication of the evil qualities. Then the progress will be rapid.

It is a double attack on the enemy. If you remove lust or anger or

egoism, all other evil qualities will disappear by themselves. All

evil qualities are the attendants of egoism. All vices originate from

anger. If these are destroyed, all sorts of vices will vanish.

Therefore, concentrate your attention in killing egoism or anger.

 

26. Which Indriya is troubling you most?

 

Discipline of the Indriyas is a very important point. If the Indriyas

are turbulent, you cannot have concentration. Watch every Indriya

carefully and curb it by suitable methods, such as fasting, Mouna,

Tratak, celibacy, renunciation of articles, Dama and Pratyahara.

Curbing of Indriyas means curbing of mind. They cannot do any

independent work without the direct help of the mind. Celibacy checks

the genitals; Mouna will control the organ of speech; Tratak controls

the eyes. Sufficient practice for a long time is necessary. Then the

Indriyas become emaciated and thin and are starved to death.

 

27. When did you go to bed?

 

Sleep is nature's tonic, for healthy living. The more sound sleep one

has, the more healthy he would be. Hours of sleep depend upon your

physical or mental capacity for resisting fatigue. Without a

sufficiency of sleep, you will not have efficiency. The amount of

sleep required varies with age, temperament and amount of work.

According to an old adage there should be six hours' sleep for a man,

seven for a woman and eight for a fool. As age advances, people

require more sleep. Avoid going late to bed. Do not take drugs to

induce sleep. If you do not get sleep, take a brisk walk in the open

air for fifteen minutes and then go to bed. You will have refreshing

sleep.

 

(Source: Essence of Yoga by Sri Swami Sivananda)