Spiritual discipline in daily life

[Guest guest]

"Amma, these days, I am not able to find time to do my

Sahasranama (recital of the 1000 names of the Divine

Mother) daily,”

 

Sounds familiar? Read on..

 

Jai Ma!

Ravi

 

 

Spiritual discipline in daily life (News from

Washington Jul 18th)

 

After the momentous occasion of Guru Purnima and an

eventful three days in Chicago, Amma’s tour made its

way to the nation’s capital city of Washington D.C.

Held at the Sheraton hotel, the program started on the

morning of Wednesday, the 16th of July.

 

Sadhana or spiritual discipline is an essential part

of a person who is on the path to God. The spiritual

practice that we adopt as a part of our daily routine

helps us to advance spiritually, maintain our faith

and even transcend the effects of our negative karma

(past actions). Knowing the benefits of such a

discipline many amongst us resolve to do sadhana and

start on a spiritual discipline. But oftentimes, the

rigors of modern life catch up with us and we find

ourselves unable to continue the sadhana with our

initial vigor.

 

This was the case of one very devoted son of Amma who

came for darshan on one Wednesday night. Seeing his

sad face Amma asked him if something was worrying him.

“Amma these days, I am not able to find time to do my

Sahasranama (recital of the 1000 names of the Divine

Mother) daily,” he said unburdening his unhappiness in

Amma’s arms. Amma smilingly said for all to hear, “In

spite of your busy schedule, you find time to eat out

at restaurants. If you did not find time to do the

Sahasranama, could you not have done ‘Japa’(chanting

of mantra)? Japa can be done at any time of the day,

while in the shower, while wearing your clothes or

while driving to work, without much attention to the

cleanliness of the body. Cleanliness of the mind is

what is important.”

 

“Remember, if you pay a visit to the coal shed, you

will come out with a layer of soot on you. Similarly

if you immerse yourself in worldly luxuries, they will

leave a mark on your spiritual life. If you visit a

perfume factory instead, you will leave with the

fragrance of perfume on you. In a similar fashion, try

to keep good company, immerse yourself in good

activities and participate in satsang (group prayer).

These will help you develop detachment also.”

 

“Sadhana is very important in spiritual life – it will

help you to keep your faith. Once you stop your

spiritual practices, it will be very difficult to

restart that discipline again. Once a person’s

permanent teeth fall off, they will not grow back

again. Similarly, a man who has turned bald will not

be able to re-grow the hair on his head naturally. In

the same way, a spiritual discipline that is lost once

becomes very difficult to restore. Son, so you should

be careful. Be alert and do your sadhana regularly,

without fail” Amma concluded.

 

Then seeing the remorseful tears in the eyes of the

devotee, the mother in Amma relented. “Amma says this

for your own good. Sometimes I have to be tough to

make you understand,” she said lovingly. “Do you

remember, how in the battlefield of Kurukshetra (in

the ancient Indian epic Mahabharata, Kurukshetra was

the war fought between, the good(Pandava brothers) and

the bad (Kaurava brothers).), Lord Krishna had to be

really tough with Arjuna to make him adopt the right

course of action? Similarly, Amma has to be tough with

her children sometimes to bring them back on the right

path.”

 

Amma says that the love the Guru has for the disciple

cannot be surpassed. Amma’s love for her children is

limitless. Out of the compassion born from that

boundless love, she keeps a sharp watch over her

children, correcting their errant behavior when the

need arises.

 

Like a mother hen that brings every straying chick

under the safety of her wings, Amma brings every one

of her children back under her protection, guiding

them lovingly back onto the path of right action.