doubts on the path to perfection

[Guest guest]

dear fellow members

 

hari om

 

what swami abhedananda has said is very true and but it would be very helpful to me if he or the others could clearly explain to me the science of controlling the mind (concentration of the mind)in a practical way and brief manner, although it is a very expansive subject.

the goals which he has brought to our notice are very nice to hear but are they really achievable??

they seem more like lofty ideals than achievable targets.

plz clarify.i am not doubting the goals per se,and that might be the way back to our pristine and pure nature, but is it practical is what i want to ask.

 

i also wish to seek answers to a nagging doubt regarding one of swamiji's sentences which is "we cannot see outside what we are not inside"

 

he usually gives an example of a child which is present in the room as a robbery takes place and does not 'see' any robbery since it does not know what is robbery?

and then he talks about an older person,say a man who is witnessing the event of robbery, but is able to recognise an act of robbery taking place.

my question is whether the man can actually unlearn the process he has gone through his life,come to a purer state like that of a child??.

 

i would like any fellow member of the group to dispel my doubt.

 

Varun Ramasubramanian

[Guest guest]

Dear Varun,

The book, From the Unreal to the Real, is most accessible and very clear in its

discussion of some of the questions you have asked; here are some relevant

quotes:

 

" All obstacles can be counteracted when the mind is brought under control. When

it is lazy, invigorate it. When it is distracted, bring it back to calmness.

When attached, be aware. When it is establised in equipoise, do not distract

it. Do not linger on the bliss that comes from a lower state of attunement. All

(these) obstacles come from the inability of the mind to rest on God or Reality.

One should go forward with sincerity and earnestness. "

 

And again:

 

" The mastery of meditation is a slow process and has to be realized steadily and

patiently. God and the soul are eternal; there should be no hurry or

restlessness. Time is eternal and opportunity is eternal. As soon as the

impatience of the mind is removed through these thoughts, illumination will come

in the twinkling of an eye. "

 

(pp.264-265, From the Unreal to the REAL, by Swami Bhashyananda)

 

With prayers in Holy Mother,

Sister Judith, Hermit of Sarada

[Guest guest]

Swami Abhedananda has written a book " Spiritual Unfoldment " and one

chaper contains methods of " concentration and Meditation " .

Swami Vivekananda's Raja Yoga also deals with this subject. Some

other Swamijs of the Ramakrishna Order have written books on this

subject.

All these books contain advice and methods. Each of us have to

practice to control the mind. It does not happen overnight and it is

not easy.

But practice makes a man perfect.

Best regards

 

 

On 6/17/05, Varun Ramasubramanian <greatsage7 wrote:

> dear fellow members

>

><snip>... WE HAD TO SNIP OUT THE TAIL END OF PREVIOUS MESSAGE. CAN ALL LIST

MEMBERS ENSURE THAT TAIL END OF MESSAGES ARE TAKEN OUT BEFORE POSTING ANY

MESSAGES? JAY

[Guest guest]

Dear Varun,

I am glad that you found the excerpts from the book ~From the Unreal to the

Real~ by Swami Bhashyananda helpful. You have asked about ordering it; the book

is published by Sri Ramakrishna Math. It is available from the Math online at

www.sriramakrishnamath.org and also in the US from www.vedanta.com. The Gospel

of the Holy Mother is also available from www.vedanta. com.

 

With prayers in Holy Mother,

Sister Judith, Hermit of Sarada