Guest guest Posted July 8, 2006 Report Share Posted July 8, 2006 Hare Krishna , 1. Allow expression of remorse, be modest and show shame for misdeeds . Recognize errors, confess and make amends . Sincerely apologize to those hurt by words or deeds . Resolve all contention before sleep . Seek out and correct faults and bad habits . Welcome corrections as a means of personal improvement . Do not boast, shun pride and pretension . 2. Nurture contentment, seeking joy and serenity in life. Be happy, smile and uplift others . Live in constant gratitude to God for providing health, friends and belongings . Don't complain about what is not possessed . Identify with the eternal . Keep the mountain-stop view that life is an opportunity for spiritual progress . 3. Be generous to a fault, giving liberally without thought of reward . Donate one tenth (tithe , dasaamsa) of gross income as God's money to temples, asrams and atmic organizations . Approach temples with offerings. Visit Gurus with gifts. Feed and give to those in need. Bestow time and talents without seeking praise. Treat guests as God . 4. Cultivate unshakeable vedic faith . Believe firmly in God .Trust in the words of vedic masters ,scriptures and traditions. Practice devotion to inspire experiences that build advanced vedic faith . Be loyal to the lineage. Shun those who try to break vedic faith by argument and accusation . 5. Cultivate devotion through daily worship and meditation . Set aside a separate room in the house as God's shrine. Offer flowers, fruits or food daily. Learn a simple puja and the chants. Meditate after each puja . Visit a shrine before and after leaving the house. Worship with heartfelt devotion, clearing the inner channels to God . 6. Eagerly listen the scriptures, study the teachings and listen to the wise in the lineage. Select a Guru, follow his path and do not waste time exploring other ways. Read, study and above all listen to readings and dissertations by which wisdom flows from knower to seeker. Avoid secondary texts that preach violence. Revere and study the revealed scriptures, the vedas and agamas. 7. Develop a spiritual will and intellect with Guru's guidance. Strive for knowledge of God to awaken the light within . Discover the hidden lesson in each experience to develop a profound understanding of life. Through meditation cultivate intuition by listening to the still small voice within by understanding the subtle sciences, inner worlds and mystical texts . 8. Embrace religious vows, rules and observances and never waver in fulfilling them . Honour vows as spiritual contracts with soul, unity with God and Gurus. Take vows to harness the instinctive nature. Fast periodically . Perform pilgrimage yearly. Uphold vows strictly ( be they marriage, non-addiction , tithing , loyalty to a lineage ,vegetarianism or nonsmoking ) . 9. Chant holy mantras daily, reciting the sacred sound, word or phrase given by the Guru. Bathe first quiet the mind and concentrate fully to let japa harmonize purify and uplift . Heed instructions and chant the prescribed repetitions without fail . Live free of anger so that japa strengthens higher nature . Let japa quell emotions and quiet the rivers of thought . 10. Practice austerity. serious disciplines, penance and sacrifice. Be ardent in worship, meditation and pilgrimage. Atone for misdeeds through prayaschitta such as 108 prostrations or fasting. Perform self denial giving up cherished possessions, money or time. Fulfill austerities at special ties, under Guru's guidance ,to ignite the inner fires of self transformation. Om Shanti !!! Raju Easwaran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.