Abhyasa Practice 3

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Abhyasa (Practice)

 

 

D. Why do thoughts of many objects arise in the mind

even when there is no contact with external objects?

 

M. All such thoughts are due to latent tendencies. They appear only to the individual consciousness (jiva) which has forgotten its real nature and become externalized. When particular things are perceived, the enquiry 'Who is it that sees them?' should be made; they will then disappear at once.

 

 

D. Since the Self is free from the notion of

knowledge and ignorance how can it be said to

pervade the entire body in the shape of sentience

or to impart sentience to the senses?

 

M. Wise men say that there is a connection between the source of the various psychic nerves and the Self, that this is the knot of the heart, that the connection between the sentient and the insentient will exist until this is cut asunder with the aid of true knowledge, that just as the subtle and invisible force of electricity travels through wires and does many wonderful things, so the Force of the Self also travels through the psychic nerves and pervading the entire body, imparts sentience to the senses, and that if this knot is cut the Self will remain as it always is without any attributes.

 

 

D. What is dhyana (meditation)?

 

M. It is abiding as one's Self without swerving in any way from one's real nature and without feeling that one is meditating. As one is not in the least conscious of the different states (waking, dreaming etc.) in this condition, the sleep here is also regarded as dhyana.

The excellence of the practice (sadhana) lies in not giving room for even a single mental concept (vritti).

 

To be continued

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE MAHARSHI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January/February 2003Vol. 13 - No. 1

 

 

 

Produced & Edited byDennis HartelDr. Anil K. Sharma

 

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