Meditation
1. Meditate on the all-pervading air, ether, light, expansive sky, expansive ocean in the beginning to render the mind subtle and fit for abstract meditation. 2. Meditate on abstract virtues, viz., mercy, generosity, magnanimity, courage, patience, peace, balance, poise, etc. Possess these virtues also to the maximum degree. Become an embodiment of these virtues. Have the mental image 'Om Courage, Om Mercy.' Repeat these formulae several times daily. 3. Meditate on the following. Take up one...
Prayer For A KarmaYogin
By Sri Sankaracharya Atma tvam girija matih sahachara pranah sareeram griham Puja te vishayopa bhoga rachana nidra samadhi sthitih Sancharah padayoh pradakshina vidhih stotrani sarvagiro Yadyat karma karomi tat tat akhilam Shambho tavaradhanam. Repeat the Sloka at the end of your meditation. Thou art Atma Buddhi is Thy consort, Parvathi who is born of mountain the Pranas are Thy attendants this body is Thy house the action of sensual enjoyment is Thy worship deep sleep is the establishment of...
Mitahara
Take wholesome, Sattvic food half-stomachful fill the quarter-stomachful with pure water and allow the remaining quarter free for expansion of gas. This is Mitahara, the ideal food for Yogins. This is the ideal for all who want to preserve health. This is quite hygienic and is in harmony with the dietetic principles of modern medical science. This is Mitahara prescribed for Yogis. Nathyasnatastu Yogoasti na chaikantamanasnatah Na chaathisvapnaseelasya jagratho naivacharjuna. Verily, Yoga is not...
Practice Of Concentration
Fix the mind on some object either inside or outside the body. Keep it steady there for some time. This is concentration. You will have to practise this daily. Purify the mind first through the practice of right conduct and then take to the practice of concentration. Concentration without purity is of no use. There are some occultists who have concentration but they have no good character. This is the reason why they do not make any progress in the spiritual path. He who has a steady posture...
Sukhasana
Any comfortable Asana in which you can sit for a long time is Sukhasana. You must be careful to keep the head, neck and the trunk in one straight line. The above three Asanas are intended for Japa and meditation. There are several other Asanas that are intended for keeping up Brahmacharya and good health and for awakening Kundalini. Sirshasana is the king of all Asanas. Spread a four-fold blanket. Rest the head inside the locked fingers and slowly raise the legs up. Then slowly bring down the...
Duties Of Womanhood
From time immemorial Sita, Savitri, Damayanti, Nalayani, Anasuya and Draupadi have been regarded as sacred ideals of Indian Womanhood. They are sublime and exemplary characters who have exalted womanhood to the height of divine perfection. Modern women should draw inspiration from their lives and try to tread their path. As long as such characters continue to exercise their influence upon the lives and character of Indian ladies, so long they will be looked upon with admiration and reverence by...
Pranayama
Pranayama or control of Prana, is the means to an end. It helps purification of the nerves and causes Nadi Suddhi. It awakens the mystic, serpent power, Kundalini Sakti. Puraka is inhalation of breath. Kumbhaka is retention. Rechaka is exhalation of breath. The practice of Pranayama should be systematic and well-regulated. The ratio between Puraka, Kumbhaka and Rechaka is 1 4 2. If you inhale for a period of 12 Matras, you will have to do Kumbhaka for a period of 48 Matras, then the Rechaka...
Recipes For Brahmacharya
On Ekadasi days or on alternative Sundays. one hour one hour half an hour 2. Siddhasana Pranayama Milk and fruits Uddiyana Bandha Keep the mind fully occupied by Reading, gardening and Kirtan. Atma Vichara, Meditation 15 minutes 4. Trataka gazing on OM or Lord Krishna 10 minutes Maha Mantra Bhajan half an hour Krishna Mantra Japa half an hour Badam and Misre in the early morning . Huxley's Nervigor Syrup with formates one tea-spoonful with four tea-spoonful of water twice daily after food. You...
Instructions On Japa
Have Suddha, Sattvic Bhava when you repeat the Mantra. Repeat the Mantra at least 21,600 times daily, to correspond with the 21,600 Soham breaths. You must do the Japa regularly. The shorter the Mantra the greater is the concentration. Of all the Mantras, Rama, Rama, Rama is the best. It is easy to repeat also. If you are tired of repeating the Mantra at one stroke, have three or more sittings from morning 4 to 7, evening 4 to 5 and night 6 to 8. Repeat the Mantra very quickly for some time and...
Mantra For Japa
Select any one of the following Mantras. Repeat it with concentration from 10 to 50 Malas from 4 to 6 a.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. regularly, everyday. Om Kling Krishnaya Govindaya Gopijana Vallabhaya Svaha Om Sri Rama, Jaya Rama, Jaya Jaya Ram Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Deities Ganapati Lord Siva Lord Narayana Lord Krishna 3. Sri Sita Ramachandrabhyo Namah 3. Sri Ramachandra Saranam Prapadye
What Should Ladies Do
I want to say a word on the devotional nature of Hindu ladies. In India, religion is maintained by the ladies only. There is peculiar religious instinct in them. Hindu ladies are highly devotional. They infuse the religious spirit in the males through their daily conduct and practical life. They get up in the early morning, wash the house, take bath, do Japa, make a small temple in their house and keep there pictures of the Lord and Pooja vessels, etc. They keep the place sacred and in the...
Trataka
Trataka is one of the Shat Karmas in the light of Hatha Yoga philosophy. Trataka also plays a very prominent part in Raja Yoga and Jnana Yoga. Trataka is focussing of one's own energy towards an object or thing or an idea and observing every detail and dissecting, analysing, consciously and subconsciously drawing to itself every possible bit of information regarding it both within and without. Trataka lies at the base of will-power. This is a preliminary Sadhana for a Yogic student. A Jnani...
Sundaramoorthy Nayanar
True Devotion, Inaction in action Parvati asked Lord Siva Oh Jagat Pathi. Oh Lord of the Universe. How is it you like very much Sundaramoorthy, when he is leading a lascivious life. This seems to me a mystery. Kindly explain this, my Lord. Sundaramoorthy was a Tamil saint who wrote several Tevaram songs in Tamil. He had a concubine. He was living always in her house. But his mind, the Choranari was immersed in Brahman. A Choranari while engaged in the affairs of her house, thinks of her...
Section XI MANTRA YOGA SADHANA
Mantra Yoga is an exact science. Mananat trayate iti mantrah by the Manana constant thinking or recollection of which one is released from the round of births and deaths, is Mantra. Every Mantra has a Rishi who gave it to the world a Mantra, a Devata, the Bija or seed which gives it a special power, the Sakti and the Kilakam or the pillar. A Mantra is Divinity. Mantra and its presiding Devata are one. The Mantra itself is Devata. Mantra is divine power, Daivi Sakti, manifesting in a sound body....
Gandha Baba Benaras
Gandha Baba is also known as Swami Vishuddhananda. He has got a Siddhi to bring in any kind of scent you want. He will take a small piece of paper, squeeze it and produce lavender scent or any scent you want. He also demonstrated the power of the sun's rays of giving sweet scent to ordinary oil kept in a phial in the sun. He also showed how by the rays of the sun ordinary cotton could be converted into sweets Rasagullas . He demonstrated at the request of some of the European tourists the power...
Change The Angle Of Vision
For a scientist a woman is a mass of electrons. For a Vaiseshic philosopher of Rishi Kanada's school of thought, she is a conglomeration of atoms, Paramanu. Dvianu, Trianu two atoms, three atoms . For a tiger she is a prey. For the passionate husband she is an object of enjoyment. For a crying child she is an affectionate mother, who will give it milk, sweets, and other comforts. For a jealous sister or sister-in-law she is an enemy. For a Viveki or Vairagi a man of discrimination and...