You Will Feel A Big Change If You Go Outside

To: anandamargauniversal1@yogasamsthanam.net
From: "Bhakti Bhusan" BB2248@yahoo........
Date: Fri, 10 May 2013 07:34:45
Subject: You Will Feel A Big Change If You Go Outside

Baba

This entire email is composed of 3 parts:
(1) Posting: You Will Feel A Big Change If You Go Outside;
(2) Trailer Quote: Health Guideline: Body Pain;

(3) Prabhat Samgiita #906;

Each section is demarcated by asterisks (***).

== YOU WILL FEEL A BIG CHANGE IF YOU GO OUTSIDE ==

Namaskar,
Whenever opportunity allows, I review my sadhana diary to remind myself of blissful experiences as well as to evaluate what difficulties I am having.

One problem was that when I sit for meditation in my sadhana place, which I made in the corner of my study, then so many distractions and obstructions crop up and divert my mind. For instance, I hear the kids playing, or the phone rings, or the neighbor stops by, or so many things occur.

After some analysis I came to the conclusion that doing sadhana in the house itself is very difficult. So I pondered, "What is the reason behind this? And how can I overcome it?."

Then I recalled one story that I heard long ago from one senior sadhaka.

FIELD WALK WITH BABA IN THOSE JAMALPUR DAYS

(AS TOLD BY A SENIOR SADHAKA)

It was around 10 pm on a spring (phalguna) night. There were three of us along with Beloved Baba. Baba was teaching us about how to manage sadhana and spiritual life while maintaining one's family existence. This was a big issue those days.

Baba told that in the past yogis were leaving the society and family and going away from their town and village and living in the Himalayas where they were doing long sadhana and dhyana etc.'

Baba was saying that, naturally then the general public thinks that sadhana is not possible while maintaining family life and living in the house. And He furthermore said that leaving the society and family is not practical. Our Ananda Marga process of sadhana is easy; you can do it anywhere. There is no need to go to the Himalayas.

Baba continued. For instance, it is not so difficult to go out from the house and sit in one lonely place nearby. Doing sadhana in any isolated place under a tree or in a field or in any natural place will be much better than doing meditation in the house. And if it is nighttime, then one need  search any special place - because during the night there are many lonely and dark places.

Only Baba emphasized how the place should surely be a little isolated, clean, and have plenty of fresh air. Being in an open-aired environment allows for more oxygen and that helps greatly with concentration. Stale air inside the house invites drowsiness and causes one to fall asleep in sadhana. So fresh air and oxygen are critical elements for doing sadhana outside. And most importantly, whatever spot is selected, it should be away from the house and petty interruptions. These were the key parameters that Baba laid down.

Baba concluded by telling that then the quality of sadhana will be improved.

SOME PERSONAL EXPERIENCES

After reflecting on this Baba story, I changed my approach. Now whenever I get time I go outside my house to practice my sadhana. I only face difficulty when it is pouring down rain. Otherwise I like to go out.  And I always find that sadhana is far better outside in comparison to practicing sadhana in the house where there are interruptions and disturbances.

Even if my house is quiet, still my mind gets diverted from my sadhana, especially when I open my eyes and look towards my books, files, and personal items. Whereas, in a lonely field outside and away from the house, such obstructions are not there.

Sometimes when I find that going to a more isolated spot is difficult then I just sit behind the house in the garden or outdoor patio / courtyard etc. Because just being outside is far better than being inside with all those distractions.

MY OWN EXPERIENCES

With each and every step I found that by my concentration improved and the devotional flow in sadhana was enhanced, by Baba's grace.

All in all, sadhana was far easier because when the mind is restless then merely sitting in one posture and closing eyes is difficult whereas when sadhana is good then time passes quickly.

Although doing cemetery sadhana is best, but when it is difficult to go there then I go to any other place outside the house is conducive. It might a deserted field, or some small forested area, or some many place in a natural surrounding without any human disturbances. All those places are very good.                          

The only problem I face is I tell my family members that I am going out for sadhana for a 1/2 hr or so, but always I come very late. Sometimes 1 hr delay, sometimes two, and sometimes even 3 hrs delay. The reason is that by Baba's grace I become absorbed in my meditation and forget about the time. Then my family members become upset with me being delayed in taking my food. However, now they have gotten habituated and they no longer worry if I am late etc, rather they are also going out for meditation on some occasions.

A FEW MORE TIPS AND REFLECTIONS:

WHY TO GO & WHERE TO GO

Doing sadhana in a conducive environment is very important. Some critical disturbances that arise in a collective family and / or joint family living environment include: the noise from the television or radio etc, the smells emanating from the kitchen, general talking amongst family members, etc. In that case it is important to leave the house and do sadhana outside.

However, just going anywhere outside will not do. For instance, if you go to a famous or popular local park, then you will encounter all kinds of problems from those visiting there to play games and sports, or have a picnic, or play an instrument etc. In that case, there are a few options. Try going to that same park in the off-hours when it is not so crowded such as in the early morning or in the later part of the evening etc. During lunchtime also it might be quiet. Another option is to seek out a different place that is less known, perhaps just a small patch of trees somewhere etc. It need not be some grand park; any simple location can work. The key factor being that the outdoor location should be an isolated, quiet place. But it needn't necessarily be far from the home. Finding a place locally that is close by is best.

Once you have selected your spot, then spread your tarpaulin or ground cloth. Then place your sit pad or mat on top of the tarp. Then get seated in the proper asana and begin sadhana.

POSITIVE EFFECT IN PUBLIC

One more aspect I can say is that before I began doing outdoor sadhana, the people in my village mistakenly thought that Ananda Margiis did not to puja at all. They were thinking that way because Ananda Margiis do not participate in idol worship related with different temples, mosques, and church rituals or pujas or ceremonies.  i.e. Durga puja, Kali puja, Ganesha Puja, Shiva Puja, Sarasvati Puja, Laksmii puja, Rama Puja, Krsna Puja and hundreds of Gods and Goddesses related dogmatic rituals, etc.  So dogmatic people had the belief that Ananda Margiis don't do anything, and that we may be atheists.

But when I started doing my sadhana outside the village under some tree, then the negative feelings they held about Ananda Marga vanished because in their own way they thought, "Ananda Margiis are doing something, remembering God."

And in those predominantly materialistic societies where yoga has recently become popular, if people know or see you going to do meditation outside, they may inquire about learning or at the very least come to understand that yoga is not just about twisting the body but includes meditation as well.

So these are a few of the public / social benefits of outdoor meditation

BABA DESCRIBES HIS OWN EXPERIENCE OF DOING SADHANA

OUTSIDE IN THE MOUNTAINS

Here Baba recounts His own experiences of doing sadhana outside.

"I used to go for a walk nearly every day in the mountains east of Jamalpur. I used to sit on the second mountain. One after another, several small and large mountains run parallel to each other. The summit of the second mountain was the highest place among them. I used to arrive there in the middle of the afternoon and stay there until about eight at night." (1)

Here Baba talks more about His experience of doing sadhana outside:

"I was sitting on the peak. It was the bright lunar fortnight...In front of me, that is to the west, on the slope of the mountain, was a dense ga'b forest...The mountain in front of me was completely bare...I was probably the only person for several miles, completely alone...the peak that I was seated on..." (2)

Thus, by doing meditation outside we are following Guru's divine example.

BENEFITS OF SECLUDED SADHANA

As sadhakas, we are greatly benefited by going on and doing proper sadhana in an isolated place. Sadhana will be better. i.e. time, length, and quality of sadhana will be multiplied. Baba Himself says that an isolated place is very conducive to spiritual practice.

"It cannot be denied that the noise of the bustling world is a hindrance to intuitional practice and makes solitude very desirable." (3)

"It is desirable to practise various lessons of sa'dhana' alone, in a lonely place." (4)

So everyone will have their own experience about better and better sadhana, when they start doing in an isolated place.

These days the opportunity for sadhana is far greater than it was in the past. Such obstacles in the society are no longer present which made it very difficult in past ages to do sadhana. We should be vigilant to take advantage of and utilize this unique opportunity.

REALIZE THE SUPREME ENTITY IN ONE LIFE

"Later on, with the further development of philosophy and science the number of impediments and obstacles faced by humans became fewer than those which the ancient humans faced while moving along the path of spirituality during the days of backward science and philosophy. The people of today do not have to labour quite as hard as Vaishishta and Vishvamitra had to do in order to discover the way to move ahead, because modern science and philosophy today are valuable aids to human progress. The people of today are able to realize the Supreme Entity in one life, or maybe in 15 to 20 years, for which they had to practice penance for lives together in the past." (5)

Here again Baba guides us:

"Spiritual progress is the only real progress. Those who deem mundane or psychic movement to be true progress are misguided and are wasting their time. Whatever [mundane thing] Ka'l Purus'a giveth with one hand He taketh with the other." (6)

NOTHING IN THIS UNIVERSE IS PERMANENT

   "This quinquelemental universe is a relative truth, a changing reality, a passing phenomenon – a passing flow of constantly changing events. It rests on the three pillars of the relative factors – time, space and person. Space is always changing. It is composed of countless atoms and molecules. With the change in the movement of atoms and molecules, space also changes. That is why numerous rich and beautiful cities of the past are now buried under the earth. Many splendid palaces and mansions, many churches, temples, mosques and synagogues, and many pyramids have been reduced to rubble. With the constant change in the flow of time, how many major changes have occurred in the universe? Similarly, with the change in time and space, people also change. A small two-year old child becomes a smart and active twenty-five year old youth. And the same energetic youth becomes an infirm, inactive, old person in due course. Thus, nothing in this universe is permanent. Many gigantic animals in the past have become totally extinct from the surface of the earth. Royal pomp and opulence, the pride of power, the vast knowledge of mighty scholars have become things of the past, thrown into the dustbin of history. Many objects emerged in the past, remained on earth for a short time, and then disappeared according to the inexorable law of nature."
   "The only eternal truth is Parama Puruśa. He is anadi, beginningless, endless, all-pervasive; an entity beyond the scope of time, place and person. He is the only eternal, undecaying, imperishable, immutable entity. He is the Supreme Source from which the inanimate, plant and animal worlds have emerged. He is the starting-point and the culminating point of everything. Hence, wise people should utilize their physical, psychic and spiritual power to realize that Supreme Omni-Telepathic Entity to become one with Him." (7)

WITHDRAWING THE MIND FROM DEGRADING TENDENCIES

IS CALLED PRATYÁHÁRA YOGA

"You must bring about a revolutionary change in the flow of your judgment and thought, and see how, after overcoming your fascination with external colour, your mind becomes tinged with the His glorious colour. In Ananda Marga Sadhana, the method of withdrawing the mind from degrading tendencies, and absorbing oneself in the colour of the Great, is called Pratyáhára Yoga (the yoga of withdrawal) or Varńárghyadána (the offering of colours). All people have a particular attraction for one or another object or activity and as soon as they become attracted to an object, then their minds become coloured with the colour of that object. You can withdraw your mind from the colour of that object and dye yourself in His colour by offering Him the captivating colour of the object that has attracted you: this is the real Pratyáhára Yoga. The word Pratyáhára means “to withdraw” – to withdraw the mind from its object." (8)

VIDEHALIINA : IF THERE IS NO LOVE FOR PARAMATMA

"There are also some people who have correct Esana [longing] but don't have correct direction. They know that Parama Puruśa is the goal but they don't have the real direction. It is said that spiritual practice should not be performed studying from books. For it, Preceptor is essential. Reading the book or hearing from other if a man starts doing Sadhana, that too is dangerous because in that case a clear conception about the goal is not formed. Hence one does not know where one is going. The boat is sailing but the sailor does not know where the boat will go to. The sailor will get exhausted ultimately and will have some accident in the long run. In that case when such persons die, the state after death is known as Videhaliina. Their existence is not finished herein, but their feelings remain in the ideational world as an abstract. This too is as dangerous as Jada Samadhi. The difference between Jada Samadhi and Videhaliina is that in the former there is a folly because of a hidden desire but in the latter there is no folly but the correct direction could not be had. Hence everybody should know that without direction nothing should be done. Everything should be done with proper direction, proper guidance. As for instance, people utter loudly the word revolution, revolution, but revolution does not mean putting buses and trains on fire or removing the railway lines. This causes damage to government and government is people's. Therefore it is a damage to the people themselves. All these are destructive approaches. The persons who do such destructive approaches lack in knowledge. Just like that, in Sadhana if some hodge-podge is made, it means the lack of knowledge. Because of this, both the individual and the society are harmed. So this is Videhaliina. Hence Videhaliina is sure to be there if there is no love for Paramatman." (9)

Namaskar,
at His lotus feet,
Bhakti Bhusan


REFERENCES
1. Shabda Cayanika - 1, p. 93
2. Shabda Cayanika - 1, p. 94
3. Elementary Philosophy, p.125
4. Guide to Human Conduct, p.40
5. A Few Problems Solved - 3
6. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 12, p.158
7. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell - 4, Prápta Vákya and Ápta Vákya
8. Subhsita Samgraha - 3, Vibration, Form and Colour
9. Subhasita Samgraha - 20, Astitva and Shivatva

The section below demarcated by asterisks is an entirely different topic,
completely unrelated to the above material. It stands on its own as a point of interest.

*******************************************
Health Guideline: Body Pain

"Rheumatism occurs when the vayu bodily air is disturbed due to excess of poisonous acids in the body...When a person's system becomes acid-dominated rheumatism is the consequence. Hence the more a patient takes alkaline types of food, the better. If three-fourths of the food is alkaline, it will cure rheumatism completely within a very short time. All kinds of sweet and sour fruits and roots, are good for a rheumatism patient. Fasting with lemon juice and water on Ekadashi, Purnima and Amavasya days must be observed." (Yogic Treatments, p.44)

Note: For those who are not aware, here below is what rheumatism is.

"Swelling and contractures of the muscles or of different joints, acute pain or deformity of the swollen parts, etc., are the symptoms of this disease." (Yogic Treatments, p. 43)

*******************************************

Prabhat Samgiita #906

"Eso tumi a'ma'r ghare, baso hiya'r a'sane..." (P.S. 906)

Purport:

O' Parama Purusa please come to my humble abode and sit in the inner core of my heart. For ages and ages, I have been longing for You. O' Divine Entity, in one lonely place, in my mind I have prepared a thousand petal lotus for You to sit - and I have decorated it with the love of my heart. 

O' Supreme One, for such a long time I have been coming and going onto this dusty earth. In Your system of brahmacakra there is no leisure time for taking rest. Those who have come will one day go, and those who have gone will one day come. So there is no period of rest in Your continuous cycle of brahmacakra. Always one is either coming or going. 

O' Parama Purusa, O' Baba, by Your grace, in one golden dawn, my spiritual journey started - in my mind, in my mind. While moving towards You on this spiritual path, from time to time I go astray and lose the way. I am incapable of walking properly; that is why I go off the path. Please forgive me; and please bless me by showering a wee-bit of Your cosmic grace & bring me back onto the right path.  

Baba, please come in my heart. In my Guru cakra, I have prepared a thousand petaled lotus for You. Please grace me by coming...