Swami Sivananda Vani

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ROOT OUT ATTACHMENT

 

Atman is Brahman or absolute or infinite or supreme being. It is

existence absolute, knowledge absolute and bliss absolute. It is

eternal, perfect, pure, self-luminous. It is selfdelight and

selfknowledge. It is bodiless, formless (nirakara) and attributeless

(guna-less). It is allpervading, allfull, imperishable. It has

neither beginning nor end. It exists in the present, the past and the

future. It is svayambhu (selfexistent). It is the source for the body

and the mind, prana (life), indriyas (senses), vedas and the

universe. No one can deny it because it is the self of all beings.

Selfishness retards spiritual progress. If anyone can destroy his

selfishness, half of his spiritual sadhana (practice) is over. No

samadhi or meditation is possible without the eradication of this

undesirable, negative quality. Aspirants should direct their whole

attention in the beginning towards the removal of this dire malady by

protracted, selfless, disinterested service.

 

Never say 'my body', 'my wife', 'my son', 'my house'. Attachment is

the root cause for the miseries and sufferings of this world.

Discipline the mind carefully. The old habits will creep in destroy

them at the very root. Lead the life of mental nonattachment. This is

the masterkey to open the realm of Brahmic bliss. Nonattachment is

dispassion or indifference to sensual enjoyments.

 

It is the mind that creates the ideas of 'Iness' and 'mineness'. It

is the mind that links the body and the jiva (soul) and creates

intense deha adhyasa (bodyconsciousness) and the man thinks, " I am

the body " . If the binding link in the mind is destroyed you can

remain wherever you like you can roam peacefully, in any part of the

world, unattached like water on the lotus leaf. Nothing can bind you.

The whole mischief is wrought by the mind.

 

Introspect. Look within. Try to remove your defects. This is real

sadhana (practice) you will have to do it at any cost. Intellectual

development is nothing. But the former needs a great deal of struggle

for many years as many vicious habits have to be rent asunder.

Keep up the unbroken current of meditation. Avoid mixing. You will

soon get over bodyconsciousness. A little more drastic sadhana is

needed for a month unbroken silence. Do not allow inertia or

laziness to overpower you.