shree swami samarth: Silencing the monkey of Mind 3 : Tapas or Austerit...

shree swami samarth: Silencing the monkey of Mind 3 : Tapas or Austerit...: Tapas or Austerity   Shiva in the Circle of Fire also known as Natraja   The next Niyama to follow Saucha (clean...

Silencing the monkey of Mind 3 : Tapas or Austerity

Tapas or Austerity

 

Shiva in the Circle of Fire also known as Natraja

 

The next Niyama to follow Saucha (cleanliness) and Santosha (contentment) (check the previous blogs) is Tapas or Austerity. Now austerity in strict sense is often interpreted as strict religious practices of chanting, fasting, rituals, observation of silence etc. The body is passed through severe tests to withstand hardships in order to reach the ultimate goal of salvation or nirvana. Nevertheless, the physical hardships do not necessarily silence the monkey of our mind. Our mind is so fickle that it reverts back to thinking unnecessarily despite severe austerities inflicted on the body. So  tapas is beyond physical hardship, it is most importantly training of mind to still.

Tapas means to set habits of mind, to establish a mind culture so that it behaves and stills itself. It has to be obviously practised in a structured way to show the desired results. Just the way we train children to adapt to socially acceptable behaviour through education and nurture, Tapas is a mental discipline of teaching mind to stop thinking and to connect to our inner self.

We are told if you fast on a particular day of the month or on a particular occasion our prayers will be fulfilled. Our rational mind wonders how fasting will lead to fulfilment.  A practical, rational and modern approach to understand this process is to train our mind through tapas or austerities to fulfil our desires.  How is this done then?

In our daily life, we always have a burning desire to achieve something or to possess something. At some point in life women always dream to have lots of diamond jewellery or all clothes and bags made by Chanel. Men on the other hand, want to have a Ferrari or Jaguar. We can buy some diamonds but we cannot always buy all new high fashion from Chanel or our dream wheels.

Positive thinking principles teach us nothing is impossible if there is internal fire or a burning desire to achieve or possess something. In reality we might not get a Jaguar or Ferrari  which such cravings but we will able to reach some level of financial success through our intense desires. Tapas is all about these burning desire. To direct tapas into our inner self is an art. We tend to ignore the tremendous volcanic energy present in our inner self. Our mind so preoccupied with thoughts that we fail to discover the potential of our inner self which is often covered with clouds. Tapas teaches us to move the clouds of obscurity covering our inner self and make it shine brightly like the sun.

In meditation you have enter into the deep recesses of your mind and nurture it with positive affirmation of your goals or desires, some examples could be  “ I can do it” or I am the best person for this job”, or “ I am the happiest man”, “ I am most successful person in this industry”, “ I can buy this”, “I will own biggest shopping mall in the town”  Let these affirmations seep in every cell, every part of your body to such an extent that one day your thoughts and feelings will merge. That is the moment when your inner self will be connected to you, that spark of awakening will enable you to conquer the world.

Reflect and think about moments when your thoughts and feelings were one. They could be simple ones like getting the dream job you wanted which made you feel out of this world with happiness or when you were in love and  your beloved accepted your proposition or you won an award or recognition for something you worked hard. Remember the feelings on such occasion or some other occasions when you were thinking and you got what you wanted. That is the merger of thought and feeling, which is also the  moment when you are connected to your inner self. It is important to understand this concept only then you will be mindful of the awakening taking place.

This practise has to be embedded into your life style keeping into mind the previous steps of Niyama (saucha and santosha), so that tapas is in sync and in coherence with the previous steps. It is not so easy said and done. This requires perseverance as there is no short cut. Practising tapas is not like making two minute noddles. It requires constant training of mind. Mind has to be taught again and again to look inside to find your inner self. This search is also a search of divinity. Your inner self is your God who will guide you to climb the ladder of success material or spiritual. Not to forget this happens when there is heartfelt desire such as I want it at any cost.

We are familiar with the image of Shiva as Natraja, Shiva dancing in the circle of fire. This symbolism is interesting.  Circle is wholeness and fire is purification.  Purification here is the purification of mind to reach the wholeness of our self. The  tandav or the dance of Shiva also symbolizes the sufferings, disappointments, failures  we have to confront in life which are like hot  fire,  we have to pave our way through them, conquer them. Just because we suffer loss of a family member, lose money, lose job etc. we cannot stop living, we have to face it and find a way out in the circle of fire.

Similarly, dancing in the circle of fire was not easy for Shiva, the fire was hot and it was burning. His forehead sweated with heat. Shiva here is none other but an individual who keeps dancing to achieve the wholeness of his inner self. Like the circle of fire we are trapped in pain and suffering in our life, we confront downfall, misery, loss.   Practice of tapas will equip us to face trying times and emerge triumphant. It will teach us who we are and what our real identity is.

In our life we cannot get anywhere without tapas. Tapas will transform your life in harmony with your inner self which will manifest into living in harmony with nature and environment. You will have better skills to deal with competition, aggression, sorrow and suffering at work and home.

Meditative technics which could help:

1.    Sit down in calm relaxed position on a mat facing north-east.

2.    Burn incense or candles to create a soothing atmosphere

3.    Close your eyes and turn the vision inside. Breathe in and breathe out telling yourself your goal in life “I am the most successful person in this universe” or  “I have everything that life needs”. Breathe in these affirmations and breathe out these affirmations. Time for 10 minutes and do it with focus. Each time you say this statement make sure it penetrates every part of your body, every cell of your body.

4.    Meditate for 20 minutes focusing on your breath. Be mindful of every rise and fall of your abdomen with each breath. If other thoughts invade your mind, push them aside and concentrate again on rise and fall of your breathe in your abdomen.

5.    Keep siting in silence and peace feeling your inner self and just breathing in and breathing out saying to your “I am that” (which means I am the Absolute self)

For believers each in breath and out breath say Om Shri Swami Samarth or Om Namah Shivah

For non-believers for each in breath and out breath say I am the Absolute self or I am that.

 Niharicca

My sincere prayers that Swami Maharaj takes you to your inner self.

References:

1.    Image:http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collectiononline/search/39328

2.    Swami Shankaranda,2003 in Consciousness is Everything: Yoga of Kashmir Shaivaism. Shaktipat press.

3.    http://yogatherapies.com.au/my-musings/tapas-the-internal-fire/

 

Silencing the Monkey of Mind 2

Silencing the Monkey of Mind 2

 

Santosha or contentment

Once you have cleansed your thought process by Saucha or purity, the second big Niyama or Discipline is Santosha or Contentment. This is hardest to achieve and sometimes impossible. How does one define contentment? It is a state when mind is happy. The state of happiness is different for every individual. For a child a lolly or a toy can lead to contentment, for people in love, a glance of their lover could lead to contentment, for someone trying to immigrate overseas the arrival of their visa to foreign land could lead to this state, for a shopkeeper, increase in  sale of his products would lead to contentment. Therefore, it is evident that contentment is not same for everyone. It is also important to note that one cannot be content in face of death of loved family member, in poverty, in a diseased state or in loss of job.

Man is on constant search of contentment or happiness and unfortunately that happiness eludes him. He tries to find happiness by getting a good job, a big house, travelling overseas for holidays, having buying power to buy branded stuff etc. Unfortunately, these materialistic toys do not give everlasting contentment. In spite of having a house, a car, branded goods, hefty bank balance and what not one still feels there is something lacking and there is need for more. Thus, the search is endless which can lead to a diseased state of body as our mind is constantly preoccupied to buy happiness in form of tangible objects.

Patanjali in his yoga sutra says we attach ourselves to pleasures  which makes us search for happiness in pleasure and are forever deceived. He says “happiness is a basic need of human being yet it is not available easily”. Our search for happiness is like the Musk deer. This animal in the Himalayan region emits a glandular substance which has beautiful fragrance. However, the musk deer runs everywhere looking for the source of fragrance not knowing that it comes from his own body. Our craving for happiness is similar to a musk deer. We try to find happiness in objects of desire but in vain they do not give us any contentment, we keep buying things, worrying about what we do not have only to be deluded.

So the solution is to turn this search inwards. This can happen only with meditation.  For doing meditation one does not have to give up worldly life. We can perfectly keep doing what we are doing but try to find some time at the beginning of the day or  the end of the day to sit down in quietude, in loneliness and turn our vision inwards. It is a simple practice, it is also achievable but it requires perseverance. Once you taste the nectar of connecting to your inner self it is so intoxicating that you will like to spend more and more time in solitude. However, to bring oneself to do this practice is a real challenge. Nevertheless, if your goal in life is to be content or be happy than you will definitely give this a serious thinking. A few simple steps would help:

Early morning is the best time but these days we are late risers so night time is also not bad.

•  A 2 hours gap after dinner is always recommended before meditation.
• Sit down on a mat in a quiet place, turn off the TV, phone, music etc
• Light a lamp (tea light or oil lamp).
• Burn some incense
• If you believe in God have a picture of your divinity in front of you
• Close your eyes and surrender yourself to God or to your higher self before promising to start a fitness regime for your mind
• Breathe in to the count of four and breathe out to the count of eight (for believers Inhale saying Om and Exhale saying Shri Swami Samarth in the mind) for 10 times.
• Focus your attention on your heart chakra and feel the rise and fall of your tummy with your breathing process or keep chanting Om Shri Swami Samarth with same rhythm of your breathing.
• Sit for 15 minutes and come out refreshed.

Mind you miracles will not happen in one day. Keep doing the practise regularly without fail. Give more time on the weekends. If on the weekends there are social commitments, take some time out before these commitments and go refreshed for the party. Remember in life we have to strive hard for everything. To train your mind to look inward in also one such task that requires consistent practice.

Over the period of time the some noticeable changes would be:

• control over anger
• abandonment of consumerism and preference for simple life
• happiness in whatever we possess or whatever situation life puts us in, we  will always find courage
• ability to think clearly and make better decisions.

 It does not cost any money to invest in meditation, in fact you will see that happiness you tried to find spending hundreds  of dollars just comes free of cost if you turn that pursuit inwards.

May Shree Swami Samarth give you success in your endeavour to find everlasting happiness.

 

References:

1. Byrant, Edwin. 2009, The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, North Point Press, New York
2. http://findyourmiddleground.com/tag/story-of-the-musk-deer/.
3. http://satsang-foundation.org/?page_id=80
    
    

Silencing the monkey of mind: 1

 

Silencing the monkey of mind:  1.

Our mind is like a monkey it bounces from one thought to another. If you ever sit quietly and observe your thought process, you will realise our thoughts are like a tree which follow a linear pattern and shoot off to different branches. The result is we have unnecessary thoughts to and fro in our mind. How to calm this monkey of our mind then?

The main focus of  yoga is calming the mind as Patanjali’s yoga sutra begins with an aphorism: “yog chitta vritti nirodha” which means yoga means calming down the turbulence of the mind. Is that easy? It is certainly not but it can be achieved through certain habits of minds or niyamas as stated by Patanjali. Modern psychology talks about habits of mind as problem solving strategy to be successful in reasoning and thinking. In meditation habits of mind are the habits we cultivate to train our mind to calm down. Patanjali the great author of yoga sutra has talked about this process in his eight limbs of yoga. These eight limbs are eights steps toward making our life meaningful and getting in touch with our inner self.  The eight limbs are yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharan and dhyana.

 Out of the eight limbs let us have a look at the second one Niyama before any other.

Niyama consists of :

Saucha: purity

Santosha: contentment

Tapas: austerity

Svadhaya: self study

Ishvara pranidhan: devotion to God.

The first step to stillness of mind is Saucha or purity. What does purity imply? Purity means not just clean house, clean environment, clean body but also clean mind. How to achieve this purity of mind? For the mind to be pure we must first have clean surroundings. So first clean, declutter and reorganise the house by putting everything in its place. Once the eyes see everything in order, mind will be able to think in an orderly manner. However, whatever we see in the outer world is limited therefore, we have to endeavour to reach the inner world which has more mysteries to share. But the path to the inner world is through the outer world so by getting mind over matter let us try a few things mentioned below.

• Firstly, it is a good idea to open all the doors and windows of the house and let in fresh air once in a day.
• Secondly, while mopping your house use sea salt in the water to clean as sea salt has great capacity to clean negative energy.
• Thirdly, if you light a lamp or burn incense every evening before your altar, keep this practise going as fire brings in positive energy and for people it works on cleansing the lower chakras of the body by eliminating anger, envy, frustration, helplessness etc.
• Ring a bell or cymbals or clap in every corner of your house in the evening to ward off negative energy. In this process do not forget to chant OM SHREE SWAMI SAMARTH. It takes less than five minutes to this.
• Shree Swami Samarth has also advocated the practise of Agnihotra  havan at sunrise and sunset which is a powerful cleanser of the environment, body and mind but that might be difficult in today’s busy life. However, it can be done on the weekends.

Once your surrounding is clean, you can think better and then it is time to declutter the mind of all the negative thoughts clinging to us. Some steps which can help are as follows:

1. Getting up in the morning sitting for 5 minutes on the bed chanting OM SHREE SWAMI SAMARTH mentally can be refreshing and will set the rhythm in the body.
2. Then  do netra snan(explained in previous blog)
3. In the shower while cleansing the body,  the process of cleaning of mind can be incorporated by letting go all the negativity, forgiving all the people who have done you harm.
4. Once out of shower continue chanting OM SHREE SWAMI SAMARTH while getting ready for work and once ready to leave, it is a good idea to ask for peace and happiness to all and peace to yourself as well.
5. At night before sleeping send peace and happiness to the universe and tell your inner self you are very happy and at peace. Before falling to sleep make sure you chant OM SHREE SWAMI SAMARTH making this a daily routine. 

Saucha or purity does not mean you have to stop eating meat or onions or fast. Saucha is all about our thought process. Sometimes we have no control over our thinking because there are external factors which instigate us to lose control. Nevertheless, we have to endeavour to purify our thought process. Saucha is also about how you can make your heart selfless, compassionate, altruist. It is a complex process and takes time to achieve. Remember in Yoga the focus is internal we have to focus towards the inner world because there is more depth in the inside world. Declutter your mind of negativity, anger, jealousy and judgement. During this practise if negative thoughts invade mind  either at work or home or something enrages you, remember to chant mentally OM SHREE SWAMI SAMARTH which will dispel this negative energy.

Always remember every thought has energy and Science has proved that energy cannot be destroyed…therefore, the thoughts that you have  are energies so why not have thoughts which are positive and healing.

OM SHREE SWAMI SAMARTH is a magic mantra and once you get into this practice  Swami will declutter your mind, you will feel lighter and be successful in your Sadhana

There are numerous ways of practising Saucha…..this is just an outline which one can adopt it to one’s own ways. You can then extend it to other things for example, like getting rid of tinned food or microwaved food…. eat fresh food….etc.

The best part of Swami Bhakti is we have freedom to choose what suits us best. Nevertheless, follow your own path repeating OM SHREE SAMARTH incessantly.

 

 

 

shree swami samarth: What is a woman? Is a woman merely a womb or mo...

shree swami samarth:

What is a woman? Is a woman merely a womb or mo...:   What is a woman? Is a woman merely a womb or mother or daughter or wife? IT is a question one can ever find any answer. There are...

 

What is a woman? Is a woman merely a womb or mother or daughter or wife? IT is a question one can ever find any answer. There are preconceived notions set by the society about what a woman is and those notions have been deeper inside the human psyche which reinforces misguided messages when it is a question of her role in the society.

To me a woman is an individual, she has opinions, she has rights to assert herself, she can take decisions and in no way her life has to be shaped or sacrificed for her benefit of her partner or husband. In a relationship, it is two people who make it work and under no circumstance because she is a woman, all the responsibility of the household duties and children are to burdened on her shoulder. Because she is woman she is in no way responsible to give up her career to look after the children alone. It is a responsibility of both in that relationship.

It is strange that in changing times, a woman still has to make her individuality voiced in the society. She has to keep reminding people, “I am a human being and I have right to live.”  It is a shame that even modernized western culture has not given her what she deserves.

The purpose of this website is to create awareness of violence, abuse, belittling and unfair treatment meted on woman. IT is for all those who feel embittered in relationship, cannot raise their voice, feel helpless and are caught in a day to day verbal abuse or blatant violence.

It is a small initiative by group of women in Melbourne’s South-Eastern suburbs. We have an email address on which you can communicate to us about problems you face in relationships.

This initiative, at the moment, is at a very basic stage but assures you privacy at all times in distress.  Once you communicate us we will try our best to give you required support to make your life better

We cannot change the society the way we want but at least create awareness that every woman in this world has to respected, she is a human being and not a machine or a punch ball.

Contact for women in distress: second_sex@yahoo.com

 

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