Quotes on Practice
”The difficulty is not so much, as it might first appear, to work on the mind and body, but rather to recognize the field of true happiness and to let go of our deep-rooted clinging to outward happiness. Through continuous practice and detachment, the mind will recognize this reality and be gradually calmed and made steady.”
“By daily practice of the first four limbs of Yoga — Yama, Niyama, Asana, and Pranayama, increasing mastery over body and mind is achieved. In this regard, breathing, posture, inward directing of the senses, and focusing on a single object will establish a solid foundation for the effective practice of meditation.”
“Pranayama is a very effective means of attaining a peaceful stage of mind because we are unable to control the mind directly. Mind and breathing are intimately connected.”
“We can also use the body to steady the mind by practicing Asanas, particularly Padmasana . Body and mind are also deeply interrelated; if the body moves, the mind will also waver.”
“Calming the mind with Asana and Pranayama will prepare us for Pratyahara [avoidance of certain things], a very important step towards the practice of meditation.”
“Once Pratyahara is established, we can then move into Dharana. The binding or imprint on the mind of a particular impression is called Dharana, the state where our mind, instead of going astray perceiving thousands of objects, is drawn toward one particular object.”
“The best time for the practice of meditation or any spiritual Sadhana is Brahmvela – two hours before sunrise. At this time, nature is at peace, quiet and pleasant. The mind is also peaceful after a night of sleep.”
“After finishing your day’s work, wash your hands and mouth, or even take a quick shower, sit in a quiet place and practice meditation before taking food.”
“Meditation should be practiced in a calm and open place. The ground should not be uneven. There should not be any discomfort while sitting for meditation. A blanket or a yoga mat should be used for Asanas. It would be better if there is greenery and trees and plants all round, provided the place is calm.”
“Yoga is the cessation of the modifications (or functioning) of chit (mind), the practice of Yoga will calm down the turbulent thoughts of a ceaselessly seeking mind and its ripples of attachment and enmity.”
“As pure consciousness and bliss, Atma is always present in its original and pristine condition. Our task is to remove the dirt of the mind or Sanskaras , and calm down the thoughts by regular practice of Yoga, particularly Dhyana-Yoga (the yoga of meditation).”
“Pratyahara is the first step towards the inward journey. If the beginning steps go astray, the following steps will also be misdirected. Unless we completely disconnect our senses of perception from the outside world, we cannot succeed in our inward journey.”
“In common language, Dharana can be said to make the mind still or to tie it to a stake. The particular object of focus can be internal or external, but it should be pure. In the beginning, it will be better to practice Dharana on external objects because of the natural external tendency of our senses.”
“The place chosen for meditation or for any practice of Yoga should be level, unpolluted, clean, attractive, and peaceful.”
“The best time for meditation is Brahma Muhurata, i.e., at four o’clock in the morning, before the sun rises. Everything remains peaceful and pleasant at this time.”
“The main object of meditation is to calm down the fluctuations of the mind. There is a deep connection between mind and breath. When the mind is unsteady, such as in anger, breathing accelerates. Since we cannot easily control the mind, it is easier to calm it through the process of breathing.”
“The technique of Dharana-meditation on thoughts is the same as the one on breath. On closing eyes gently, see the incoming and outgoing thoughts with the mind's eye and with a feeling of detachment. Let any thought come. See these thoughts calmly, as if you are seeing the movement of people and travelers on the road while sitting near a window. While seeing the thoughts, you will realize how absurd and meaningless they are.”
“There is a proverb in English, “Cleanliness is next to Godliness” i.e., in order of importance, cleanliness comes next to God.”
“… … … for the realization of the state of Budha or Brahma, we also have to be pure within and without and experience unity in diversity. This body has been accepted as the temple of God. Then, how can we please Him by keeping it impure?”
“A practitioner of Hatha Yoga commences this journey from the body whereas the practitioner of meditation Yoga commences it from the mind.”
“The purification of mind ultimately leads to purity of character. Therefore, the practice of Yama and Niyama in the yoga of meditation leads to purity of character.”
“People can perceive truth when it is experienced in their consciousness by analyzing their actions with regard to positive or negative results. Every action needs to be examined in this way objectively, i.e., from the standpoint of a disinterested observer. Honesty in evaluating one’s own actions is imperative. These actions need to be seen “as they are” without trying to justify them.”
“Every day, one should do this self-study when he or she wakes up or after a meditation. Seekers need to remember, evaluate, and realize their actions and behavior, sequence by sequence, from yesterday morning to the present moment. When this is completed every day then seekers should choose a positive action or a behavior that brings on happiness, peace, and success in their lives, in their professions, or in their social circles. They should also choose to reject the negative actions or behaviors that cause pain and failure in their lives, in their professions, or in their social circles. It is important that they always remember to follow up and adopt the positive change found by their analyses in order to materialize success in their life”
“Giving is neither a luxury nor a social obligation, but the very necessity of our growth to perfection. The act of giving peels off the layers of ignorance from our small self to unveil the self-effulgence of the higher Self deep within us.”
“The regular and systematic practice of pranayama helps gain the state of purity where the mind is not disturbed. There is no contemplation of the past and future and one remains in the present. This helps in staying mentally and physically happy and healthy.”
“When practicing Meditation, one witnesses and observes the thoughts arising and questions “To whom are the thoughts arising?” To me, not to the body. As each thought arises, one should inquire with diligence: “To whom has this thought arisen?” The answer that would emerge would be “To me.” Thereupon, if one inquires “Who am I?,” the mind will go back to its source, and the thought that arose will become quiet. This practice should be never done more than 30 minutes per day.”
“One should practice until one does not get affected by likes and dislikes, or by positive and negative experiences of illusion. Until one becomes a witness to this divine drama and is not part of the drama anymore.”
“... it is important to keep the physical body clean at all times and especially in preparing for meditation, as the body is essentially the temple of god. It is thus a good habit to clean the body before meditation, particularly in the morning, by attending to the body’s natural needs and taking a shower or a bath according to one’s preference.”
“The cleanliness of stomach and bowels is vital to maintain maximum health and prevent sickness. In fact, the majority of physical diseases are caused by the poor condition of the stomach and bowels. More specifically, constipation is to be avoided. If you feel constipation on any day, do not eat any solid food. You should only take warm water, tea, milk or light soup. A regular bowel movement is essential to prevent diseases and maximize your spiritual practice.”
“Examining again our own experience, we can remember that when we have experienced some great satisfaction or happiness in fulfilling one of our cherished desires, be it in a relationship, a victory in a contest, or a professional achievement, we did experience greater calmness as a result of that deep satisfaction.”
“Our task is then to open the mind to that field of bliss in order to make the mind still, but our inveterate habit of looking outward in the world of the senses to obtain happiness is the greatest hindrance towards calming the mind so that it can recognize, by itself, where true happiness lies.”
“Calming the mind with Asana and Pranayama will prepare us for Pratyahara, a very important step towards the practice of meditation.”
We disconnect these senses from the outside world by the scientific method of Pratyahara to be able to perform the inward journey.”
“What matters is that the mind has to eventually merge or become one with the subject meditated upon.”
“By daily practice of the first four limbs of Yoga — Yama, Niyama, Asana, and Pranayama, increasing mastery over body and mind is achieved. In this regard, breathing, posture, inward directing of the senses, and focusing on a single object will establish a solid foundation for the effective practice of meditation.”
“Pranayama is a very effective means of attaining a peaceful stage of mind because we are unable to control the mind directly. Mind and breathing are intimately connected.”
“We can also use the body to steady the mind by practicing Asanas, particularly Padmasana . Body and mind are also deeply interrelated; if the body moves, the mind will also waver.”
“Calming the mind with Asana and Pranayama will prepare us for Pratyahara [avoidance of certain things], a very important step towards the practice of meditation.”
“Once Pratyahara is established, we can then move into Dharana. The binding or imprint on the mind of a particular impression is called Dharana, the state where our mind, instead of going astray perceiving thousands of objects, is drawn toward one particular object.”
“The best time for the practice of meditation or any spiritual Sadhana is Brahmvela – two hours before sunrise. At this time, nature is at peace, quiet and pleasant. The mind is also peaceful after a night of sleep.”
“After finishing your day’s work, wash your hands and mouth, or even take a quick shower, sit in a quiet place and practice meditation before taking food.”
“Meditation should be practiced in a calm and open place. The ground should not be uneven. There should not be any discomfort while sitting for meditation. A blanket or a yoga mat should be used for Asanas. It would be better if there is greenery and trees and plants all round, provided the place is calm.”
“Yoga is the cessation of the modifications (or functioning) of chit (mind), the practice of Yoga will calm down the turbulent thoughts of a ceaselessly seeking mind and its ripples of attachment and enmity.”
“As pure consciousness and bliss, Atma is always present in its original and pristine condition. Our task is to remove the dirt of the mind or Sanskaras , and calm down the thoughts by regular practice of Yoga, particularly Dhyana-Yoga (the yoga of meditation).”
“Pratyahara is the first step towards the inward journey. If the beginning steps go astray, the following steps will also be misdirected. Unless we completely disconnect our senses of perception from the outside world, we cannot succeed in our inward journey.”
“In common language, Dharana can be said to make the mind still or to tie it to a stake. The particular object of focus can be internal or external, but it should be pure. In the beginning, it will be better to practice Dharana on external objects because of the natural external tendency of our senses.”
“The place chosen for meditation or for any practice of Yoga should be level, unpolluted, clean, attractive, and peaceful.”
“The best time for meditation is Brahma Muhurata, i.e., at four o’clock in the morning, before the sun rises. Everything remains peaceful and pleasant at this time.”
“The main object of meditation is to calm down the fluctuations of the mind. There is a deep connection between mind and breath. When the mind is unsteady, such as in anger, breathing accelerates. Since we cannot easily control the mind, it is easier to calm it through the process of breathing.”
“The technique of Dharana-meditation on thoughts is the same as the one on breath. On closing eyes gently, see the incoming and outgoing thoughts with the mind's eye and with a feeling of detachment. Let any thought come. See these thoughts calmly, as if you are seeing the movement of people and travelers on the road while sitting near a window. While seeing the thoughts, you will realize how absurd and meaningless they are.”
“There is a proverb in English, “Cleanliness is next to Godliness” i.e., in order of importance, cleanliness comes next to God.”
“… … … for the realization of the state of Budha or Brahma, we also have to be pure within and without and experience unity in diversity. This body has been accepted as the temple of God. Then, how can we please Him by keeping it impure?”
“A practitioner of Hatha Yoga commences this journey from the body whereas the practitioner of meditation Yoga commences it from the mind.”
“The purification of mind ultimately leads to purity of character. Therefore, the practice of Yama and Niyama in the yoga of meditation leads to purity of character.”
“People can perceive truth when it is experienced in their consciousness by analyzing their actions with regard to positive or negative results. Every action needs to be examined in this way objectively, i.e., from the standpoint of a disinterested observer. Honesty in evaluating one’s own actions is imperative. These actions need to be seen “as they are” without trying to justify them.”
“Every day, one should do this self-study when he or she wakes up or after a meditation. Seekers need to remember, evaluate, and realize their actions and behavior, sequence by sequence, from yesterday morning to the present moment. When this is completed every day then seekers should choose a positive action or a behavior that brings on happiness, peace, and success in their lives, in their professions, or in their social circles. They should also choose to reject the negative actions or behaviors that cause pain and failure in their lives, in their professions, or in their social circles. It is important that they always remember to follow up and adopt the positive change found by their analyses in order to materialize success in their life”
“Giving is neither a luxury nor a social obligation, but the very necessity of our growth to perfection. The act of giving peels off the layers of ignorance from our small self to unveil the self-effulgence of the higher Self deep within us.”
“The regular and systematic practice of pranayama helps gain the state of purity where the mind is not disturbed. There is no contemplation of the past and future and one remains in the present. This helps in staying mentally and physically happy and healthy.”
“When practicing Meditation, one witnesses and observes the thoughts arising and questions “To whom are the thoughts arising?” To me, not to the body. As each thought arises, one should inquire with diligence: “To whom has this thought arisen?” The answer that would emerge would be “To me.” Thereupon, if one inquires “Who am I?,” the mind will go back to its source, and the thought that arose will become quiet. This practice should be never done more than 30 minutes per day.”
“One should practice until one does not get affected by likes and dislikes, or by positive and negative experiences of illusion. Until one becomes a witness to this divine drama and is not part of the drama anymore.”
“... it is important to keep the physical body clean at all times and especially in preparing for meditation, as the body is essentially the temple of god. It is thus a good habit to clean the body before meditation, particularly in the morning, by attending to the body’s natural needs and taking a shower or a bath according to one’s preference.”
“The cleanliness of stomach and bowels is vital to maintain maximum health and prevent sickness. In fact, the majority of physical diseases are caused by the poor condition of the stomach and bowels. More specifically, constipation is to be avoided. If you feel constipation on any day, do not eat any solid food. You should only take warm water, tea, milk or light soup. A regular bowel movement is essential to prevent diseases and maximize your spiritual practice.”
“Examining again our own experience, we can remember that when we have experienced some great satisfaction or happiness in fulfilling one of our cherished desires, be it in a relationship, a victory in a contest, or a professional achievement, we did experience greater calmness as a result of that deep satisfaction.”
“Our task is then to open the mind to that field of bliss in order to make the mind still, but our inveterate habit of looking outward in the world of the senses to obtain happiness is the greatest hindrance towards calming the mind so that it can recognize, by itself, where true happiness lies.”
“Calming the mind with Asana and Pranayama will prepare us for Pratyahara, a very important step towards the practice of meditation.”
We disconnect these senses from the outside world by the scientific method of Pratyahara to be able to perform the inward journey.”
“What matters is that the mind has to eventually merge or become one with the subject meditated upon.”