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SIVANANDA YOGA FAQ ~~~ Frequently Asked Questions
Q 1: Swamiji, when the grace of Guru and God is there, why is the mind still
not controlled?
A: There must be Purushartha also. Only when you do Purushartha, the grace will
come. A professor will not answer the questions for you and make you pass. The
Gita says, "Uddharet Atmanatmanam". One should raise oneself. Grace only helps
one to raise oneself. Everybody should work out his own salvation. You may ask,
"What is grace then?". If an aspirant gets letters from his preceptor, clearing
his doubts, that is grace. If an aspirant comes here, takes Ganges bath and
hears the lectures here, that is grace. Many people are thirsting, even
croropathis (those who possess crores of rupees) are thirsting to come and bathe
in the Ganges, but all do not get a chance of coming and having their wish
fulfilled. If good books are available for Svadhyaya (study), it is grace. If
one enjoys good health for doing Sadhana, that is grace. If God so wishes, He
can give Mukti to the whole world in an instant; but He does not do so. Grace
descends only when there is Purushartha.
Q 2: Is it advisable to do meditation after meal at night? A Grihastha is so
much disturbed in the evening that he scarcely gets time to meditate?
A: After a sumptuous meal, generally, people feel drowsy. You may imagine that
you are meditating, but it may be purely sleep in a sitting posture. If you
follow the rules of Mitahara and take meals before 7 p.m., you can sit and
meditate from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Meditation at night, a second sitting, is absolutely necessary. If you do not
have sufficient time at night, you can meditate even for a few minutes, say, ten
or fifteen, before going to bed. By so doing, the spiritual Samskaras will
increase. The spiritual Samskaras are valuable assets or priceless treasures for
you. Further, you will have no bad dreams at night. The divine thoughts will be
carried during sleep. The good impressions will be there.
Q 3: What are the three Doshas, or faults in the mind?
A: They are Mala or impurities such as lust, anger and greed, Vikshepa or
tossing of the mind or mental oscillation, and Avarana or the veil of ignorance.
There is a muddy lake covered with moss. The wind is blowing hard. Now, the lake
is the mind. The muddy condition represents Mala. The agitation of the waters
that is set up by the wind corresponds to the Vikshepa in the mind set up by the
vibration of Prana. The moss that covers the surface of the water represents the
veil of ignorance..
Previous FAQs at http://www.sivananda.org/teachings/faq/faq.html
Bhava or mental attitude is more important and not the object on which you
meditate. -
- Sri Swami Sivananda
Q 1: Swamiji, when the grace of Guru and God is there, why is the mind still
not controlled?
A: There must be Purushartha also. Only when you do Purushartha, the grace will
come. A professor will not answer the questions for you and make you pass. The
Gita says, "Uddharet Atmanatmanam". One should raise oneself. Grace only helps
one to raise oneself. Everybody should work out his own salvation. You may ask,
"What is grace then?". If an aspirant gets letters from his preceptor, clearing
his doubts, that is grace. If an aspirant comes here, takes Ganges bath and
hears the lectures here, that is grace. Many people are thirsting, even
croropathis (those who possess crores of rupees) are thirsting to come and bathe
in the Ganges, but all do not get a chance of coming and having their wish
fulfilled. If good books are available for Svadhyaya (study), it is grace. If
one enjoys good health for doing Sadhana, that is grace. If God so wishes, He
can give Mukti to the whole world in an instant; but He does not do so. Grace
descends only when there is Purushartha.
Q 2: Is it advisable to do meditation after meal at night? A Grihastha is so
much disturbed in the evening that he scarcely gets time to meditate?
A: After a sumptuous meal, generally, people feel drowsy. You may imagine that
you are meditating, but it may be purely sleep in a sitting posture. If you
follow the rules of Mitahara and take meals before 7 p.m., you can sit and
meditate from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Meditation at night, a second sitting, is absolutely necessary. If you do not
have sufficient time at night, you can meditate even for a few minutes, say, ten
or fifteen, before going to bed. By so doing, the spiritual Samskaras will
increase. The spiritual Samskaras are valuable assets or priceless treasures for
you. Further, you will have no bad dreams at night. The divine thoughts will be
carried during sleep. The good impressions will be there.
Q 3: What are the three Doshas, or faults in the mind?
A: They are Mala or impurities such as lust, anger and greed, Vikshepa or
tossing of the mind or mental oscillation, and Avarana or the veil of ignorance.
There is a muddy lake covered with moss. The wind is blowing hard. Now, the lake
is the mind. The muddy condition represents Mala. The agitation of the waters
that is set up by the wind corresponds to the Vikshepa in the mind set up by the
vibration of Prana. The moss that covers the surface of the water represents the
veil of ignorance..
Previous FAQs at http://www.sivananda.org/teachings/faq/faq.html
Bhava or mental attitude is more important and not the object on which you
meditate. -
- Sri Swami Sivananda