Fwd: Inner Silence - an Extraordinary Spiritual Practice

January 19, 2009

Hare Krsna. Gradually, step by step, with full conviction, one should become situated in trance by means of intelligence, and thus the mind should be fixed on the Self alone and should think of nothing else. BHAGAVAD GITA 6:25 By proper conviction and intelligence one should gradually cease sense activities. This is called pratyahara. The mind, being controlled by conviction, meditation, and cessation of the senses, should be situated in trance, or samadhi. At that time there is no longer any danger of becoming engaged in the material conception of life. In other words, although one is involved with matter as long as the material body exists, one should not think about sense gratification. One should think of no pleasure aside from the pleasure of the Supreme Self.

This state is easily attained by directly practicing Krsna consciousness. The point here is that through pure intellect and pure aim, the sadhak can slowly, and gradually, go beyond this world that is in the form of activities and objects. One must not be hasty; because by being hasty the spiritual practice is not great. Besides Supreme Consciousness in the form of Existence, Consciousness and Bliss, there is nothing else. Become firm on this point and there after do not think of anything. Paramatma is innately solid Existence, Solid Consciousness and Solid Bliss. "Ghan" means "Solid" Just as rock and glass are solid. There is no needle that can stick into it. But Paramatma is even more solid than rock and glass. Because in rock and in glass, fire can penetrate, but in Paramatma, nothing can enter. If one contemplates on such a solid Paramatma then in fact on

the contrary, he becomes distant from Paramatma ! Therefore wherever he is, there itself (leaving aside sleep and laziness), both from within and without, develop a nature to be silent, to be still. This is a very easy and an extraordinary spiritual practice. There will be immense peace with this, and all sins and passions will be destroyed. To raise one's self from the mundane and get beyond it, means to become free from pairs of opposites - likes and dislikes, elation and dejection, happiness and sorrow etc. Just like when you are walking on the street, then some places there are stones and other places there are sticks, other places there is garbage and papers, but we have nothing to do with any of them, similarly, with any activity or object, we will have nothing remaining with it - "naiva tasya krtenaatho naakrteneha kaschan" (Gita 3:18). Remain indifferent, neutral and ever impartial. Learning to remain

impartial is a skill. If a sadhak remains impartial and does all work, then he becomes detached from the world. If there is a gain or a loss, if there is respect or disrespect, if there is joy or sorrow, if there is praise or blame, with all these, remain ever impartial, indifferent, then Paramatma will be attained. If however instead, he experiences likes / dislikes, elation / dejection, joy and sorrow, then he will become the experiencer, the enjoyer and not a Yogi "Equanimous" . An enjoyer of sense pleasures can never attain salvation. Therefore Tulsidasji has said - "Tulasi mamata Raam saun, samataa sab sansaar Raag ne rosh, ne dosh dukh, das bhaye bhav paar." (Dohaavali 94)"aaruruksormuneryog am karma kaaranamucyateyogaaroodhasya tasyaiva samah kaaranamucyate. " (Gita 6:3) "To the contemplative soul (muni), who desires to attain to the height of Karmayoga (in the form of equanimity), action

without motive, is said to be the means. For the same person when he masters Yoga, serenity (tranquility of mind) is said to be the means to God Realization.