Swami Sivananda Vani

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TWENTY IMPORTANT SPIRITUAL INSTRUTIONS

 

1. Get up at 4 a.m. daily. This is Brahmamuhurta which is extremely

favourable for meditation on God.

2. Asana: Sit on Padma, Siddha or Sukha Asana for Japa and

meditation for half an hour, facing the East or the north. Increase

the period gradually to three hours. Do Sirshasana and Sarvangasana

for keeping up Brahmacharya and health. Take light physical

exercises as walking, etc., regularly. Do twenty pranayamas.

3. Japa: Repeat any Mantra as pure Om or Om Namo Narayana, Om Namah

Sivaya, Om Namo Bhagavate Vaasudevaya, Om Sri Sarvavanabhavaya

Namah, Sita Ram, Sri Ram, Hari Om, or Gayatri, according to your

taste or inclination, from 108 to 21,600 times daily.

4. Dietetic Discipline: Take Sattvic food, Suddha Ahara. Give up

chillies, tamarind, garlic, onion, sour articles, oil, mustard,

asafoetida. Observe moderation in diet (Mitahara). Do not overload

the stomach. Give up those things which the mind likes best for a

fortnight in a year. East simple food. Milk and fruits help

concentration. Take food as medicine to keep the life going. Eating

for enjoyment is sin. Give up salt and sugar for a month. You must

be able to live on rice, Dhal and bread without any chutney. Do not

ask for extra salt for Dhal or sugar for tea, coffee or milk.

5. Have a separate meditation-room under lock and key.

6. Do charity regularly, every month, or even daily according to

your means, say six paisa per rupee.

7. Svadhyaya: Study systematically the Gita, Ramayana, Bhagavata,

Vishu-Sahasranama, Lalita-Sahasranama, Aditya Hridaya, Upanishads or

Yoga Vasishtha, the Bible, Zend Avesta, the Koran, the Tripitakeas,

the Granth Sahib, etc., from half an hour to one hour daily and have

Suddha Vichara.

8. Preserve the vital force (Veerya) very, very carefully. Veerya is

God in motion or manifestation – Vibhuti, Veerya is all power.

Veerya is all money. Veerya is the essence of life, thought and

intelligence.

9. Get by heart some prayer-Slokas, Stotras and repeat them as soon

as you sit in the Asana before starting Japa or meditation. This

will elevate the mind quickly.

10. Have Satsanga. Give up bad company, smoking, meat and alcoholic

liquors entirely. Do not develop any evil habits.

11. Fast on Ekadasi or live on milk and fruits only.

12. Have Japa Maala (rosary) round your neck or in your po9cket or

underneath your pillow at night.

13. Observe Mouna (vow of silence) for a couple of hours daily.

14. Speak the truth at all costs. Speak a little. Speak sweetly.

15. Reduce your wants. If you have four shirts, reduce the number to

three or two. Lead a happy, contented life. Avoid unnecessary worry.

Have plain living and high thinking.

16. never hurt anybody (Ahimsa Paramo Dharmah). Control anger by

low, Kshama (forgiveness) and Daya (compassion).

17. Do not depend upon servants. Self-reliance is the highest of all

virtues.

18. Think of the mistakes you have committed during the course of

the day, just before retiring to bed (self-analysis). Keep daily

diary and self-correction register. Do not brood over past mistakes.

19. Remember that death is awaiting you at every moment. Never fall

to fulfil your duties. Have pure conduct (Sadachara).

20. Think of God as soon as you wake up and just before you go to

sleep. Surrender yourself completely to God (Saranagati).

 

OM Santih, Santih Santih!

 

This is the essence of all spiritual Sadhanas. This will lead you to

Moksha. All these Niyamas or spiritual canons must be rigidly

observed. You must not give leniency to the mind.