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 | Heavenletters™, bringing
Earth closer to Heaven.
HEAVEN is here to reach every soul on earth to reawaken:
* Our connection to God *
* Our
belief in ourselves *
* Our awareness of our shared worthiness to God *
* Peace on Earth *
God is always bringing
us closer to Him. | Heavenletter
#5286 Like Dew on the Grass, May 16, 2015 God said: Beloved Child of Mine, I hear you weep. It seems you have settled into some
kind of perpetual sadness. I hear your thoughts that say: “I have so much, so very much, to be grateful for, and
I weep. I weep because I weep. I remember when I used to leap out of bed, almost being unable to wait until the day would
begin. Now I am not eager for the day to begin. I am eager for the day to be over so I can sleep into oblivion. I know that
life is beautiful. I haven’t forgotten that, yet my heart aches with I know not what.” I speak to your heart
now that sits back with a shawl over its head and cries. Beloveds, consider this time of sadness as dew on the morning
grass. You do not have to think that you are supposed to be sad or that you are not supposed to be sad because of it. There
is nothing wrong with being sad. Like dew on the grass, sadness will evaporate. Consider sadness as a lovely ribbon
of life. You put the ribbon on, and you take the ribbon off. Sadness is not such a big deal as the world would make it. Or
perhaps someone braids the ribbon in your hair and pulls too tight. Still the ribbon of sadness does not stay entwined with
you forever. You know sadness leaves. It has left you before. And if sadness comes back, well, then, let it be. Sadness
seems to be part of human life on Earth. Rains come. Snows fall. And there is a January thaw, and spring comes back, and tears
are dried. Crocus buds open. Grass grows. Sadness does not have to be, but so what if it does hang around for a while? Who
are you to say that sadness isn’t supposed to be? Sadness is not a constant of life, yet its head pops up and
sometimes it lingers. You are sad because you are sad, yet it isn’t required that your sadness increases when you realize
you are sad, so very sad. Sometimes in the world, you perspire from heat, and sometimes you shiver with cold, and sometimes
you weep tears that are not of joy. What is the meaning of this? There is no great meaning in sadness. It just means you are
sad. You don’t have to stay in sadness, nor do you have to fly from it as though sadness were a very very bad
thing. Sadness has its good qualities. You can consider your tour of sadness like waiting in line somewhere. You do get to
the head of the line, and waiting is over, and now it’s your turn not to wait in line. What has happened? Not that much.
One minute you were standing in the line of sadness, yet, all the while, you were moving forward in the line. While you are
sad, you are moving out of sadness, though let Me remind you that you don’t have to run away from sadness as though
sadness is a wolf that will eat you up. Sadness can be like a solace to you. Better to feel than not to feel. It doesn’t
matter what you are feeling sad about. Look not for a cause. Look not for an explanation. Your intellect does not have to
take over. Sadness is a passing thing. No need to make a federal case of it. You can look at it this way: Who would
not be sad when he is purportedly on leave from Heaven? What recompense can you receive to equal Heaven? Will you admit
that you feel a little less sad now? Probably because I have made sadness a quality that does not have to be banished. Sadness
can walk along beside you until it leaves. Consider that sadness is a release on the order of hiccups. Sadness has its seasons,
and then it is gone. When it is gone, you are no worse for wear. You climbed a hill, and now you come down the hill into the
valley where the sun shines brightly, and sadness goes on its merry way, and, suddenly, it’s spring. |
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The Magnification
of the Soul by Archangel Metatron
| | The Magnification of the Soul
by Archangel Metatron Channelled through Natalie Glasson- 15th May
2015- Sacred School of OmNa
Dear beloved ones, I wish to greet you with the news that the Crucifixion
energies which anchored in December 2014 are now beginning to decrease in their volume and presence within your being and
reality. The energies flowing from the Creator labelled by us as Crucifixion energies held the purpose of encouraging and
supporting you in releasing old cycles which had been re-patterning in your life for some time, even throughout numerous past
lifetimes. Old cycles and aspects of yourself were asked to be released and erased eternally in order to allow the greater
aspect of your soul to step forth into embodiment. The Crucifixion energies encouraged issues which required to be resolved
to rise to the surface to be recognised, allowing you to understand yourself more fully, while purifying and preparing yourself
for a greater soul embodiment.
Now is the time for greater soul embodiment, now is
a period of magnification of your soul in manifestation within your physical being and reality. The Crucifixion wave of light
may return to further purify and cleanse your being, however in the coming five months there is a most beautiful vibration
unfolding from the core of the Creator for all to bathe within and accept into all aspects of their being. Those who require
to work with the Crucifixion energies for a lengthier period, as they focus on releasing core deep seated issues which have
been influencing their realities in limiting ways, will continue to do so supported by the energies of magnification to create
a powerful release and inner healing. Those who have let go of all cycles which were appropriate to release will allow themselves
to be embraced in the glistening shimmering light of the magnification. Please note not all cycles of limitations could be
released during the period of the Crucifixion energies, many people simply held core cycles which they needed to discard,
other limitations may remain to be released with divine timing.
The energies of magnification
are flowing from the core of the source of the Creator, this is a vibration of amplification from the Creator, it is likened
to an empowering love shared with all. It has the ability to enlarge, develop and expand your energies, being, spiritual evolution
and reality upon the Earth. You might say that now is the time to think big, to contemplate, perceive and recognise yourself
and your reality beyond limitations and restrictions, beyond the boundaries and constraints you place upon yourself and your
reality. The energies the Creator brings forth allows for all that you are now as well as all you focus upon being, to be
intensified, encouraged and to manifest for your experience. This means that it is an important time to be focused, to recognise
yourself in the way you wish to be, wish to live and be recognised or perceived. It is also a wonderful opportunity to fine
tune your manifestation skills, recognising within your mind, emotions and creations any areas which are misaligned with the
Creator. The magnification energies from the Creator can even support deeper healing experiences as you focus upon yourself
healed or free from the constraints you create for yourself through false beliefs or disbelief in yourself. It is a time for
you to focus upon that which you truly are; if you require healing, peace, abundance, support or love then it is appropriate
for you to recognise yourself already experiencing these natural aspects of your being, so they may be magnified by the Creator,
therefore embodying and cementing the truth of your being within your consciousness, awareness and recognition of yourself.
The magnification energies in many ways allow for the continuation of releasing old cycles which no longer serve your reality
and spiritual evolution because they encourage you to focus on your truth, that which you wish to be or recognise yourself
to be beyond illusion or limitations, thus encouraging you to recognise the natural expansion of your being. Everything will
be magnified and amplified; this doesn’t mean that there is a need to be fearful of magnifying that which you do not
wish to experience. There is simply a greater need to focus upon your soul’s further embodiment within your being and
reality, which will naturally create a healing, rejuvenation and ascension within your being.
The energies of magnification
flowing from the core and source of the Creator born from vibrations of empowered love are being directed to the Crystalline
Kingdom which is known for its pure abilities of intensification and amplification. The Crystalline Kingdom which is the spirits
of all crystals as a soul on the inner planes, are filtering the energy through their being and consciousness, acting as a
space of anchor for the energy on the inner planes. Many Ascended Masters and light beings are gathering within and around
the Crystalline Kingdom to witness this beautiful blessing. Within the Crystalline Kingdom there are both beings existing
as crystal shapes and points as you know and recognise on the Earth, as well as in energetic body form. At the centre of the
Crystalline Kingdom there is a mammoth energetic crystal point which receives and filters energies from the Creator. This
crystal has beams of light like roots which extend to all aspects of the Creator’s universe and is connected to all
aspects of the Creator, including yourself and planet. The energies of magnification are flowing through this mammoth crystal
as energetic crystalline beings surround and support the flow, also distributing the light across the universe of the Creator
for all to receive. The Crystalline vibrations are most likened to the magnification vibrations of the Creator and this is
why the Creator’s vibrations have been attracted to anchor in this sacred kingdom.
The Crystalline Kingdom have
a purpose of anchoring the energies of Magnification into the Crystalline Grid of Mother Earth to bring cleansing, healing
as well supporting the Earth in its ascension. The Crystalline Kingdom also holds the purpose of anchoring the energies of
Magnification in the Crystalline Grid within each human body and physical being upon the Earth. Supported by the energy of
Magnification the Crystalline Kingdom are rejuvenating the Crystalline Grids of all so quicker frequencies and greater expanded
consciousness may be collected and anchored into the Crystalline Grids of the Earth and Humanity. In truth, empowered love
will be anchored into your being and the Earth encouraging all to recognise and become a source of empowered love.
You may wish to visit the
Crystalline Kingdom standing before the giant crystal point with the Crystalline Beings and Inner Plane Beings during your
sleep state or meditation time to download and absorb the energies of magnification supported and anchored by the pure energies
of the Crystalline Kingdom. This only requires an intention; you may also wish to invite me, Archangel Metatron, to transport
you to the Crystalline Kingdom to witness this beautiful miracle and expression from the Creator for all to receive.
With these new heightened
vibrations of the Creator anchoring into the Earth and your being, I, Archangel Metatron, invite you to focus in three areas.
First focus upon receiving and absorbing the energies of magnification into your being and reality, this can be achieved simply
with an intention while focusing upon inhaling deeply knowing you are breathing the supreme light into your entire being.
You may also wish to use this invocation:
‘Archangel Metatron, please support
me now in connecting into and receiving with perfect ease the energy wave of Magnification flowing from the Creator. I open
myself fully to be magnified and amplified as I now allow myself to recognise the pure loving truth of my being and my reality,
confidently knowing the beauty I am to receive, recognise within me and experience due to these powerful energies.
Archangel Metatron, please
support me in connecting my entire being with the Crystalline Kingdom. I am ready to receive the expression of the Creator’s
Magnification Energies from the Crystalline Kingdom and invite the Crystalline Beings to support my ability to receive and
experience the Magnification energies with ease.
I now invite my soul forth to embody further
into my physical body, reality, emotional body, mental body and entire being. Beloved soul this magnification is to support
you in merging and synthesising your essence more fully and absolutely with my/ our physical form. The magnification of my
being will be a magnification and embodiment of my soul’s beauty and truth within the physical. I am present and ready
for this shift to take place within my being and reality, knowing I am supported and my experiences will be of beauty and
greater love. Thank you.’
Secondly I wish to encourage you to focus upon your
soul bringing attention to the embodiment of your soul. As often as you can remember, invite your soul to synthesis its essence
and love with your entire being. You may wish to affirm and resonate with the affirmation: ‘I am now the beautiful embodiment
of my soul in action upon the Earth.’ By simply reminding yourself of your soul you can encourage a further embodiment
which will mean that your soul will be magnified within your being and reality by the Magnification energy thus there is no
need for you strive to be all you wish to be, there is simply a need to recognise it within your being as eternally present.
The third focus I, Archangel
Metatron, wish to encourage is a focus and attention upon that which you wish to experience and manifest for yourself and
reality. With the greater presence of your soul, you may find yourself feeling happier, joyous and more accepting of
divine opportunities entering into your reality thus encouraging you to bring your focus to experiences which heighten your
light and love quotient.
You will be able to recognise experiences aligned with your soul as they will create
feelings of deep and content happiness. Allowing yourself to focus upon your own inner happiness means you are then
presenting this to the Creator to be magnified and amplified within your being, thus aligning you with your truth, soul and
the Creator more fully and completely.
Please allow me to support you as you awaken to
your truth and allow the beauty of your being, soul and essence to be magnified.
In love and truth, Archangel Metatron
Read More |
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17 May Posted: 16 May 2015 02:24 AM PDT Importance of Guru Bhakti Here is bhakti yoga in a nutshell. Select an ishta devata (a favourite deity)
- either Siva, Rama, Krishna, Vishnu, Dattatreya, Gayatri or Sakti - according
to the advice of your guru, or your own inclination. Get the proper mantra (a mystic formula). Then keep a picture of that
particular deity in front of you in the meditation room. For six months gaze steadily at the picture from fifteen seconds
to fifteen minutes. Concentrate on the figure, without winking, until the tears flow profusely. Study the scriptures constantly - the
Bhagavad Gita, the Ramayana, the Narada Bhakti Sutras and the Sandilya Sutras. Live for one year in a holy place. Pass through
the course of Nava Vidha Bhakti (nine devotional practices). Repeat your mantra constantly. Sleep only for three hours. Select
an attitude suitable for you madhurya sakhya, dasya or vatsalya (lover beloved, friend, servant or mother child). Make ungrudging,
unreserved, true, perfect self-surrender to God. Pray from the bottom of your heart. Prayer can move mountains. Prayer can
reach a realm wherein reason can hardly enter. Have devotion to one ideal. Bhakti must be unswerving, one pointed, single minded devotion. Slowly develop anuraga
prema, priti, viraha (pain of separation from God), bhava, and maha bhava (stages or states of God love). In maha bhava the
devotee is unconscious of his body and the world. He is absolutely merged in God. From lower bhakti the devotee passes on
to higher (para) bhakti. A devotee gets progressive emancipation after passing through salokya, sampiya, sarupya and sayujya
mukti stages in emancipation or liberation. After enjoying lower mukti a devotee finally attains kaivalya moksha the
same state as that of a jnani. An earnest seeker with perseverance can realise God within two or three years. I assure you
emphatically. So make a sincere effort and watch the results. Follow Lord Krishna's instructions, given in the Bhagavad Gita
and described as: macchitta, yukta, matpara- with the mind totally
absorbed in God, united with God, with God as the goal and ideal.  | Raja Yoga, Message 24 Posted: 15 May 2015 10:00 PM PDT The section ‘Meditation Exercises’ resumes now ---------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Repeat OM mentally. Keep the meaning
of OM always in the mind. Feel that you are the all-pervading, infinite Light. Feel that you are the pure existence-knowledge-bliss
absolute, all-pervading Atman — the eternally pure, eternally free Brahman. Feel you are consciousness. Feel that you
are the indivisible, all-full, homogeneous, peaceful, infinite, eternal, unchanging Existence. Every atom, every molecule,
every nerve, vein and artery should powerfully vibrate with these ideas. Your heart, head and soul should feel that you are
the subtle, all-pervading intelligence. This feeling should be kept up continuously. Negate the body idea
when you repeat OM mentally. When you chant OM feel: Infinity am I ... OM OM OM All Light am I ... OM
OM OM All Joy am I ... OM OM OM All Glory am I ... OM OM OM All
Power am I ... OM OM OM All Knowledge am I ... OM OM OM All Bliss am I ... OM OM OM 5.
Meditate on OM as silence, as an embodiment of peace. Feel: "I am an embodiment of peace or silence." This is abstract or
subtle meditation. It is vedantic nirguna meditation (or ahamgraha upasana). Meditate on OM as an embodiment of bliss. Feel:
"I am an embodiment of bliss." This is also abstract meditation. Do you see clearly the difference now between the two forms
of meditation — one on OM and the other on 'I'? The first kind of meditation will prepare you for the practice of the
second kind of meditation. Meditate that the single letter, the supreme light — the pranava
OM — is the origin or source of the three letters, A, U and M. Inhale the air through ida or left nostril for the space
of sixteen matras, meditate on the letter A during that time; retain the air for the space of 64 matras, meditate on the letter
U during that time; exhale for the space of 32 matras and meditate on the letter M during that time. Practise this again and
again in the above order. Begin with two or three times and gradually increase the number to twenty or thirty times according
to your capacity and strength. To begin with, keep the ratio 1:4:2. Gradually increase the ratio to 16:64:32. The practitioner
will get great peace of mind and inner strength. Kundalini will be awakened. He will soon enter into nirvikalpa samadhi. Association
with OM is to become one with the thing signified. Try to identify yourself with the all-blissful Self when you think or meditate
or chant OM, and negate the five sheaths as illusory adjuncts created by illusion. Shut out all mundane
thoughts. They may again and again recur. Again and again generate thoughts of the pure Self. Associate ideas of purity, perfection,
freedom, knowledge, immortality, eternity, infinity, etc., with OM. Repeat OM mentally. This is the meaning. During meditation
you should feel that you are all purity, all light, all-pervading existence, etc. Meditate on the Self daily. Think you are
different from mind and body. Feel: 'I am all-pervading consciousness.' Constant effort with zeal and enthusiasm is indispensable.
Repeat mentally the above ideas incessantly. Meditate on OM till you attain samadhi. If your mind gets distracted by rajas
and tamas, practise concentration and meditation again and again. "Having made one's body or the lower
self the lower fire stick, and pranava (OM) the upper, by the friction of continued practice of meditation one should see
God (Atman) hidden within." —Svetashvatara Upanishad OM (pranava) is a ferry-boat for men
who have fallen into the never-ending ocean of mundane life. Many have crossed this ocean of samsara with the help of this
ferry-boat. You can also do so if you will meditate constantly on OM with meaning. Enter the ship of OM.
Start the propeller, the current of Brahma bhavana (I am Brahman, I am the immortal, all-pervading Self). Sail smoothly in
the ocean of samsara with the help of constant meditation. Have the anchor of discrimination. Whenever the tempest of desires
blows vehemently, whenever there is the fear of the ship being shattered by the iceberg of worldly infatuation, get ready
to wear the lifebelt of enquiry into the nature of the Self and land safely in the marvellous city of existence, knowledge,
bliss Absolute. Meditation on Soham 'Soham' means 'He I am' or 'I am He', 'I am Brahman'. 'Sa' means 'he'.
'Aham' means 'I'. This is the greatest of all mantras. This is the mantra of paramahamsa sannyasins. This signifies the identity
of the individual soul and Brahman, the Supreme Self. Soham is only OM. Delete the consonants 's' and 'h'.
You get OM. Soham is modified OM. Some like 'soham' better than 'OM', because they find it convenient and easy to associate
it or mix it with the breath. Further, there is no effort in doing japa of this mantra. The natural breath remains one with
this mantra. If you simply concentrate on the breath, if you simply watch the breath, that is quite sufficient. Meditation
on 'soham' is the same as meditation on OM. Some repeat the compound mantra 'hamsah soham, soham hamsah' — 'I am He;
He am I'. Before you practise meditation on 'soham', you must practise the neti-neti (not this, not this) doctrine. You must
negate or deny the body and the other sheaths by repeating "I am not this body, mind or prana. I am He, I am He. Soham, soham." Repeat
this mantra mentally. You should feel with all your heart and soul that you are the all-pervading omnipotent, all-blissful
Brahman. This is important. Then only will the full benefits of meditation or japa of this mantra be realised by you. Mere
mechanical repetition will not help you much. It has its own benefits — but maximum benefits can only be realised in
feeling. Feeling is Self-realisation. If the intellect tries to feel, 'I am Brahman, I am omnipotent' and the
sub-conscious chitta tries to feel, 'I am a clerk in the chief Court; I am weak; I am helpless. What shall I do for money
for my daughter's marriage? I am afraid the judge will fine me', realisation is not possible. You must destroy all wrong impressions,
all false imaginations, all weaknesses, all superstitions and all vain fears. Even if you are in the jaws of a tiger you must
powerfully roar "Soham, soham, soham, I am not this body". Then only are you a real vedantin. Even if you have nothing to
eat, even if you are in the roll of unemployment, you must say with great force and power, "Soham, soham". You have been spoiled
by the mind and by ignorance. It is they that have brought you to this limitation through identification with this body. Pierce
the veil of ignorance. Tear the five sheaths. Remove the curtain of nescience, which is a great nuisance. Rest in your own
essential state of existence, knowledge, bliss Absolute through the force of meditation on 'soham' mantra. The
jiva or the individual soul is repeating this mantra 21,600 times within twenty-four hours. Even during sleep the soham-repetition
goes on by itself. Watch the breath very carefully and you will know this. When you inhale, the sound 'so' is produced. When
you exhale, 'ham' is produced. This is termed ajapa-japa because it is done without moving the lips along with the breath.
Repeat 'so' mentally when you inhale, 'ham' mentally when you exhale. Practise this for two hours in the morning and evening.
If you can repeat for ten hours, it is all the better. Study Hamsa Upanishad. The repetition of the
compound mantra 'hamsah soham — soham hamsah', creates a very deep impression. The late famous Sri Seshadri Swami of
Tirunvannamalai used to meditate on this compound mantra. Even when he moved alone in the streets and bazaar, he repeated
it. We say 'God is love, love is God.' Similarly, repetition of 'hamsah soham — soham hamsah' intensifies the force
of the mantra. The aspirant gets more internal strength from the Atman. His conviction grows stronger. This sort of repetition
corresponds to the repetition of the mahavakya, 'Aham Brahma asmi', 'Brahmaivahamasmi', 'I am Brahman, Brahman am I'. 'Analhaq'
of the sufi-fakirs corresponds to soham of the paramahamsa-sannyasins. Guru Nanak highly extolled this mantra. You
must practise meditation for full twenty-four hours when you advance on the path. You will find real rest during meditation.
There is no necessity for sleep. Your duration of life is counted really by so many 'soham' breaths in the
light of yoga. It is not really made up of so many years. By the practice of pranayama, you save the soham-breaths and thus
can prolong your life. In the beginning of your practice simply watch the breath every now and then. Meditate on soham
for one hour in a closed room with feeling and meaning. You can watch the breath with silent soham-repetition while sitting,
standing, eating, talking, bathing, etc. This is an easy method of concentration. Soham is the breath of
life. OM is the Soul of breath. If you concentrate on the breath you will notice that the breath is gradually becoming very,
very slow when concentration becomes deep. Gradually the repetition of 'soham' will drop when there is deep concentration.
The mind will become very calm. You will enjoy. Ultimately you will become one with the Supreme Self. Benefits
of Chanting OM Brahman
is compared to the swan Hamsa. An adept in yoga who bestrides the swan — i.e. contemplates on OM — is not affected
by influences of karma or by tens of millions of sins. Whoever does japa of this mantra in the morning, destroys the sins
committed during the day. Whosoever recites OM morning and evening becomes free from the sins, however sinful he may be. He
derives the good effects of the recitation of all the Vedas. When a sacrificial rite or the like
is found defective, it will be rendered perfect by the utterance of this powerful mantra 'OM' at the end. With OM all acts
of sacrifice, study of sacred scriptures, spiritual discipline and meditation are commenced. If the doer of sacrifices remembers
OM, all obstacles that stand in the way of success of the sacrifices are removed. You already know that
radio waves travel seven times throughout the whole world in one second. Mysterious indeed! Have you ever thought of this?
Have you ever thought of the efficacy of the vibrations of this mysterious chanting of OM? The vibrations of this OM chanting
have travelled throughout the world and have brought solace to those depressed, sad persons who are filled with gloom and
despair. It has given strength to many unselfish workers in the world. It has infused a new spiritual life, vigour and vitality
in the very hearts of enthusiastic youths, the future hope of India, a glory and blessing to the world at large. It has a
great deal changed the vicious impressions that are embedded in the sub-conscious mind of one and all. Whenever
you feel depressed, whenever you get a little headache, take a brisk walk and chant OM while walking. While chanting OM feel
that your entire being is filled with divine energy. Chanting OM is a potent, easily available tonic and specific for all
diseases. It is a panacea or sovereign remedy for all ailments. Try this prescription yourself and feel the miraculous effects
of this divine medicine. Just as you take medicine twice or thrice, take recourse to chanting of OM twice or thrice. Brahman
or Atman is one with OM. Chanting of OM means going near to the source and tapping the cosmic energy which is inexhaustible.
When you chant OM, feel: "All health am I". All pathogenic or disease-causing germs are destroyed or burnt by the vibrations
of OM. You can chant OM while sitting on any comfortable seat in your room for the purpose of regaining, maintaining or improving
your health. Drive out evil thoughts by chanting OM. Draw inspiration, power and strength by singing OM.
Get one-pointedness of mind by doing japa of OM. Melt the mind in Brahman by meditating on OM and rest in your own essential
nature. Such is the greatness and glory of OM, the name or symbol of Brahman. If you put unshakable
faith in the glory of this name you will be freed from the bondage of births and deaths. If you perform any action with the
utterance of OM in the beginning, middle and end, you will attain perfection and success in the action. May
that OM guide you, protect you, elevate you, take you to the goal and free you from the round of births and deaths. PRACTICE
OF SAMYAMA "The
three (dharana, dhyana and samadhi) together constitute samyama." (III-4) Samyama is the name given
to the combined practice of dharana, dhyana and samadhi at one and the same time. These three constitute the internal (antaranga)
sadhana of raja yoga, along with pratyahara. The first four — yama, niyama, asana and pranayama — are the external
sadhana. Real raja yoga commences with pratyahara, with the internal sadhana. Samyama constitutes the actual practice of raja
yoga. Dharana, dhyana and samadhi directly bring samadhi, while yama, niyama, asana, pranayama and pratyahara purify the body,
prana and senses. By the conquest of samyama comes the stage of cognition. As samyama becomes firmer and firmer,
so does the knowledge of samadhi become more and more clear — this is the fruit of the practice of samyama. Samyama
should become very natural, then knowledge flashes. Samyama is a powerful weapon for the yogi. Just as the archer aims at
the gross objects first and then takes to subtle objects, so also the yogi does samyama on gross objects and then takes to
subtle objects. He does a great deal of practise and ascends the yoga ladder rung by rung. Through the practice
of samyama you can enter into the truth about the thing meditated upon. You can come face to face with the real nature of
things. You can get various siddhis and psychic faculties. By doing samyama on the sun the yogi
gets knowledge of the worlds. Samyama on the moon gives him knowledge of the stellar system. Samyama on the pole star reveals
to him the truth about the movement of the stars. The yogi gets the strength of an elephant if he does samyama on an elephant.
By practising samyama on his own body, he is able to dematerialise the physical body and move about invisibly. By
samyama on the signs (of others), comes the knowledge of their minds. By samyama on the relation of the ear and ether, comes
divine hearing. By samyama on the relation between ether and the body, the yogi, attaining the lightness of cotton, attains
the power of passage through ether (air). By samyama and direct perception of the samskaras, (impressions and tendencies)
comes the knowledge of previous births. By samyama on the distinctive relation between sattva (purity) and Purusha (soul)
comes the powers of omnipotence and omniscience. By samyama on the chakra (plexus) of the navel, comes
the knowledge of the body. By samyama on the chakra at the pit of the throat, comes the removal of hunger and thirst. By samyama
on the light of the head, comes the darshan of siddhas. Only one more samyama I would particularly
mention and ask you to practise. That is samyama on virtues like love, friendliness, etc. Then you will be able to radiate
these virtues and thereby transform others by infusing these virtues into them. Samyama on the innermost
self is the goal of the practice of raja yoga. All other samyamas will only give you some siddhis which will pave the way
to your downfall. Beware of them. Proceed cautiously along the path to the goal. Meditate on the Self. Enter into samadhi.
Attain Atma-jnana. OBSTACLES Obstacles in Meditation "Disease, dullness, doubt, carelessness, laziness, indolence,
worldly-mindedness or sensuality, mistaken notion or illusion, missing the point, instability causing distractions of the
mind; these are the obstacles." (I-30) An intelligent and comprehensive understanding of the various obstacles
that act as stumbling blocks in meditation is indispensable. Then alone will the aspirant find it easy to conquer them one
by one. Just as the sailor sails in and out of a harbour along a dangerous coast with the help of a pilot, so also the aspirant
with the help of a detailed knowledge of these obstacles and the methods to conquer them will be able to steer clearly in
the ocean of spirituality. Hence, I will give a very lucid exposition of the various obstacles and the effective methods to
conquer them. The real and serious obstacles to meditation are from within only. They do not come from outside. Attachment
to objects, dullness of intellect or understanding, ill-directed argument leading to misinterpretation of texts and clinging
obstinately to the belief that the Atman is susceptible to suffering grief and enjoying happiness, are obstacles in meditation.
Any one of these is quite sufficient to interfere with the attainment of real knowledge. Therefore, cultivate dispassion,
sharpen the intellect and give up perverted logic. Identify yourself with the pure Atman. If you are careless and
non-vigilant, if you are irregular in meditation, if your dispassion wanes, if you yield even a bit to sensual pleasure, the
mind will continue to go downward like a ball dropped upon a flight of stairs. When sedge is displaced on the surface of a
lake, it closes in again at once; even so, the world closes in even upon a wise man if he stops his meditation and sadhana
even for a short time. Just as water leaks out into the rat holes in agricultural fields, so also energy is wasted
in wrong channels through attraction for objects, under-currents and lurking subtle desires. Suppressed desires also will
manifest and harass you. You will unconsciously become a victim of those desires. Therefore, be careful, be alert, be regular
in your meditation. Scents, soft beds, novel reading, dramas, theatres, cinemas, vulgar music, dancing, flowers,
company of women and rajasic diet all excite passion and cause disturbance of the mind. Too much salt, too many chillies and
too many sweets cause intense thirst and disturb meditation. Too much talking, too much walking, too much work and too much
mixing disturb the mind in meditation. Dullness is indisposition of the mind to work. In a state of dullness a
person is unfit to do any practice on account of inexperience in the line and the lack of tendencies (samskaras) of previous
births. Dullness, laziness, etc., can be eradicated by pranayama, asana and active habits. Doubt is whether it is this or
that; such indecisive notion is doubt. The yogi is not able to proceed further in the path of yoga. He will doubt whether
all that is said in the yoga scriptures is true or not. This can be dispelled by right knowledge, discrimination and right
thinking, study of scriptures and by the company of spiritually advanced souls. Worldly-mindedness is that tendency of the
mind which unceasingly longs keenly for one or the other kind of sensual enjoyment on account of attachment. This is destroyed
by looking into the faults of worldly objects and worldly life (such as impermanence, disease, death, old age, miseries, etc.)
by constant company of dispassionate mahatmas (satsang) and study of books on dispassion. Mistaken notion or illusion
is mistaking an undesirable state for the most desirable one, due to illusion. This is also removed by the company of yogis.
Missing the point is going astray from the right path to samadhi and falling into the clutches of siddhis. Missing the point
and instability are removed by developing more dispassion and doing constant and intense sadhana in seclusion. Instability
is that fickleness of the mind which does not allow the yogi to remain in the state of samadhi, even though he has reached
it with great difficulty. Maya is powerful. There is many a slip between the cup and lip. (These obstacles do not come to
those who do japa of OM.) When slight difficulties appear, do not stop the practice. Find out suitable
means to eradicate the obstacles. Plod on till you get the highest asamprajnata samadhi. Success is bound to come if you are
sincere and steady in your practice. Know things in their proper light. Do not be deluded. Emotion is mistaken
for devotion; violent jumping in the air during group chanting for divine ecstasy; falling down in a swoon on account of exhaustion
from too much jumping, for bhava samadhi (super-conscious state attained through intense divine emotion); rajasic restlessness
and motion for divine activities and karma yoga. A tamasic man is mistaken for a sattvic man; movement of air in rheumatism
in the back for ascent of kundalini; deep sleep for samadhi; building castles in the air for meditation and physical nudity
for jivanmukta state. Learn to discriminate and become wise. Vikshepa is tossing or oscillation of
the mind. This is an age-old habit of the mind. This is distraction of the mind. All seekers generally complain of this trouble.
The mind never stays at a fixed point for a long time. It jumps hither and thither like a monkey. It is always restless. This
is due to the force of rajas. Tratak, meditation, chanting of OM and pranayama will remove tossing of the mind. It is better
to have a combined method. This will be more effective. When you take your seat for meditation you
want to get up soon, not on account of pain in the legs, but on account of impatience. Conquer this undesirable negative quality
by gradually developing patience. Then you will be able to sit for three or four hours at a stretch. A weak
aspirant, though he may be strong in concentration, is overcome by idleness; but a strong aspirant, if he is weak in concentration,
is over-powered by tossing of mind. Concentration and energy should, therefore, be well-balanced. Meditate,
meditate. Concentrate, concentrate, my dear friends. Never miss even a single day owing to laziness. Life is short, time is
fleeting and obstacles are many on the spiritual path. Conquer them one by one by exertion and
prayer. If you are sincere you will succeed. (a) Physical Obstacles Disease is the first obstacle in yoga.
Diseases are generated in the body through sleeping in the daytime, late overnight vigils, excessive sexual intercourse, moving
in crowds, checking of the urine and excreta, laborious mental work, lack of regular exercise, irregularity in taking food
and unwholesome food that cannot agree with the system. Diseases can be removed by the practice
of asana, pranayama and physical exercises, meditation, dietetic adjustment, fasting, purgatives, enema, bath, sun-treatment,
sufficient rest, etc. First diagnose the case and find out the cause for the disease and then try for a remedy; or consult
a doctor. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The section ‘Physical Obstacles’ will continue next Saturday. 
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