Swami Shivapadananda Daily Reading - Day 48
Taken from Mother Radha's notes, written at Swamiji's feet.
An excerpt from a book by Swami Yatiswarananda
In spiritual life you need to follow a definite routine.
[Sw.S] But when there are rules and regulations you will say that you are not free.
Book: You must be conscious and alert, wide-awake. If you do not like this you will have to whip your mind. Read with concentration, with a definite purpose. When you get up from reading, is the mind better? Sit again. Never allow the mind to sleep. All is habit. You must have the habit that will wake you up in time for meditation. Spiritual food is necessary for the mind. After meditation, sit and reflect. Joy comes from meditation. It protects the mind from the sudden onslaught of worldly thoughts. You must consciously minimise the tension of the nerves - not through sleep, but through self-surrender. Then the mind becomes passive. Consciously minimise the tension of the nerves and this leads to peace.
Relax before meditating. Never read worldly fiction on going to bed. To sleep you must have holy thoughts. Think that your mind is getting merged in divine light. Fill it with divine thoughts. Worldly thoughts have a bad effect. In the evening peacefully dwell on the Divine Form, the Divine Name - this gradually transforms the mind.
Last thing at night and first thing in the morning look at a picture of the Lord. If you wake at night, do Japa [repetition of God's name] without strain. Japa and sleep must not be connected. Before going to bed do 108 or 1008 times japa. Never stop until you reach the number you say. When you stop, think about God and his lilas [literally: divine play/s]. Think you are sleeping in God's lap, otherwise when you do japa you will fall asleep. Do not excite the senses before sleep.
[Sw.S] Ramakrishna said: I have made the mould, now you must shape yourself in it.
An excerpt from a book by Swami Yatiswarananda
In spiritual life you need to follow a definite routine.
[Sw.S] But when there are rules and regulations you will say that you are not free.
Book: You must be conscious and alert, wide-awake. If you do not like this you will have to whip your mind. Read with concentration, with a definite purpose. When you get up from reading, is the mind better? Sit again. Never allow the mind to sleep. All is habit. You must have the habit that will wake you up in time for meditation. Spiritual food is necessary for the mind. After meditation, sit and reflect. Joy comes from meditation. It protects the mind from the sudden onslaught of worldly thoughts. You must consciously minimise the tension of the nerves - not through sleep, but through self-surrender. Then the mind becomes passive. Consciously minimise the tension of the nerves and this leads to peace.
Relax before meditating. Never read worldly fiction on going to bed. To sleep you must have holy thoughts. Think that your mind is getting merged in divine light. Fill it with divine thoughts. Worldly thoughts have a bad effect. In the evening peacefully dwell on the Divine Form, the Divine Name - this gradually transforms the mind.
Last thing at night and first thing in the morning look at a picture of the Lord. If you wake at night, do Japa [repetition of God's name] without strain. Japa and sleep must not be connected. Before going to bed do 108 or 1008 times japa. Never stop until you reach the number you say. When you stop, think about God and his lilas [literally: divine play/s]. Think you are sleeping in God's lap, otherwise when you do japa you will fall asleep. Do not excite the senses before sleep.
[Sw.S] Ramakrishna said: I have made the mould, now you must shape yourself in it.
