by Swami Yatiswarananda

Everything must be clear and definite in spiritual life. The first thing to be done by every aspirant is to fix a definite routine and stick to it at all costs.

Some people are afraid that such a rigid regimen will make their life mechanical. That is not true. The beginner especially cannot afford to do without a definite routine. That is the only way to discipline a wayward will. We should plan our waking hours -- how to discharge our daily duties, what to do with the spare time, what thoughts we should have, etc. The life of spiritual aspirant must be conscious and alert. Minimize your unconscious thinking and activities. Be more and more wide awake.

Habits are to be formed and strengthened. Then spiritual life becomes easier and loses much of its initial strain. Strictly preserve your fixed hours. Then meditation becomes possible even when the mind is restless. There should be perfect regularity in the hours of your spiritual practice, because only thus does the mind grow accustomed to it. And under all circumstances a certain minimum is to be kept up regarding one's daily japa and meditation. Don't breakfast in the morning until you have finished a fixed minimum of japa or study. The duration of spiritual practice should be slowly and steadily increased in the case of a beginner. In the case of an advanced aspirant, there will be an undercurrent of devotion in the mind which enables him to keep a part of the mind busy with devotional practices at all times, whatever he may happen to do outwardly. Before that state is reached, the greatest regularity concerning the hours and method of spiritual exercises is to be observed by all aspirants most scrupulously.

We are not yet sensitive enough. We do not yet clearly recognize our own motives. Sometimes we allow our mind to find nice plausible explanations for our actions and thoughts, and deceive us.

Tell your mind, "Let me see if you break down," if it complains against the great strain of spiritual practices. If we try to lead the higher life, we should not mind even if we die in the attempt. And the mind will go on revolting and complaining for a long time. It will say, "Look here, today you have had very little sleep. This may be bad for your nerves. Take care that you do not have a nervous breakdown. Stop your practices for a day or two."

Just give your mind some good kicks in such a case, whip it nicely, be very hard with this bad mind. Just as a horse gets whipped by its rider when it does not move, so you give your mind a good thrashing if it revolts. If we are not prepared to find time for our daily spiritual practice, we can never progress. Many people never seem to have realized this fact at all. We must minimize all unnecessary waste of time in futile thinking, gossiping, aimless activities, wandering, etc. Then we will get plenty of time for our spiritual practice. With a few minutes of random meditation a day nothing can be achieved. Time is to be saved as much as possible, and we should never spend too much physical energy in unnecessary occupations. At present there is too much useless waste of physical energy, too much mental restlessness. Whirlpools are everywhere. Break the whirlpools if you want to find the right mood for intense spiritual practice.

***************************************************************************************************

The above instructive article is very appropriate for our spiritual progress. It should be read again and again until we grasp the essential points for application in our present life. Put immediately in practice what must be done without delays or excuses. A small step taken is infinitely superior and useful than millions of steps and hopes that remain only in the imagination or in wishful thinking.

Make this determination at the beginning of Abhyasyoga and leave the rest to the Almighty Creator. Start prayerful study of the Gitaji as directed and it will lead to Self-Realization Moksha through all necessary steps which the Lord alone knows and has already prepared for you. Arise! Awake! And Rise to the Supreme Goal!

-- Swami Radhanandaji