SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0001 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| FULFILMENT STRENGTHENS DESIRE ||

If a desire comes and if you fulfill it , that Samskara which caused that desire , gets more strengthened .

The implication is that by fulfilling a desire , the desire never ends .

You can never put an end to desires by fulfilling them .

Just as the hungry flames will not subside by any amount of ghee poured in it , similarly the desire gets strengthened by fulfillment .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0002 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| FULFILMENT STRENGTHENS DESIRE ||

Non-cooperate with the mind . Do not fulfill desires , when they arise in the mind . It is the nature of the mind to desire . Mind and desire are synonymous .

Non-fulfilment of desire is the only way of attaining mastery over the mind .

Countless desires may arise ; be silent .

Do not say , " Come along , I will fulfill it . " It is only when you make the mistake of saying , " I am the mind " , " I am desiring " , you commit a blunder .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0003 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| MASTERY OVER MIND ||

Only when the mind is purified , it becomes your guide . Till then non-cooperate with it .

Then the mind will cease to be the mover of the human , and the human will become the mover of the mind . You should be the independent mover of the mind . Then you become Manojit or Indriyajit . That is what an aspirant has to become .

The law is , desires never perish by fulfilling them .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0004 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| MASTERY OVER MIND ||

The desires that come on the surface of the mind have their roots in the subconscious , and in as much as the roots are hidden , you will have to do daily the digging of the mind , and delving to the root of these desires .

Set apart a time when there is no external distraction , sit in a secluded place and feel that you are the witness of the mind .

Just allow the mind to wander for a while and see how it behaves and try to delve within .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0005 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| MASTERY OVER MIND ||

All our time we are engaged in drawing the mind outward . Now make the mind go inward and try to see within yourself what is going on .

It requires regular practice , or else we will be thinking we are looking into the mind , but in the processes , we would be drifting with the mind .

You should delve inward and introspect . You must do twofold process .

One is diverting the mind's rays inward , and when you go inward , focus keenly on a certain part of your mind and analyse it , dissect it .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0006 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| MASTERY OVER MIND ||

We should not go inward with partiality . If you are studying the mind , be impartial , because this introspection is done with the purpose of ejecting out all that is undesirable and supplying all that is required .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0007 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| MASTERY OVER MIND ||

If after studying the mind , you are full of self-satisfaction , if you are satisfied with whatever is there in the mind , such introspection and self-analysis will serve no purpose .

You should have a critical attitude .

Otherwise , the benefit of introspection and self-analysis will be lost .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0008 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| ERADICATION OF DEFECTS ||

If as a result of your introspection , you find in your mind certain traits which are not desirable , you should find out the means of removing those defects .

Self-justification , self-approbation , are not what is meant by introspection . Once you find out your defects , be practical .

Have some effective device to remove the defects .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0009 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| ERADICATION OF DEFECTS ||

You should find out how to make the best capital out of what you have discovered in your moments of self-introspection and Sadhana .

Thorough purification can only come , if there is detailed , impartial introspection , followed by practical measures to remove the defects .

This introspection should be done daily .

Daily you should throw out some rubbish from within the mind .

This is the process of purification .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0010 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| IMPORTANCE OF DETAILS ||

There are two more important steps that one has to take in living the divine life .

Each Sadhaka should bear in mind that divine life is to be lived in small details . If you are divine in small details , you can be divine in big things .

You cannot afford to be undivine in small actions and expect to be divine fundamentally .

If your Yoga becomes practical in little things , then great achievements will come as a matter of course .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0011 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| IMPORTANCE OF DETAILS ||

Some Sadhakas think that details do not matter much . They think that it does not matter if they use harsh words occasionally . The Sadhaka thinks ,

" There is no harm in uttering a harsh word. I am quite calm inwardly. GOD wants only the heart . "

But a calm heart cannot come unless every word of yours is full of love and compassion .

The heart is made up of only the sum-total of all little actions and words .

It is not possible to have a wonderful heart inside , and indulge in every type of actions and words .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0012 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| IMPORTANCE OF DETAILS ||

Every action goes to form one's character even as every drop goes to form the ocean . Day-to-day movements of the human constitute the very essence of divine living , the very essence of Yoga and Vedanta .

One should not commit the mistake of being content with the idea that by merely having a great idealism , it will manifest itself as perfect goodness in one's actions , words and thoughts .

Unless you are careful in your day-to-day life and mould your life in accordance with your idealism , it cannot bear fruit .

If you are careful that the broad principles of divine living are observed , the edifice will come by itself .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0013 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SELF-RESTRAINT ||

What are those broad principles ?

Truthfulness , compassion , purity — these have to cover your entire life down to the minutest details .

Your whole life , at least in the beginning , should be characterised by restraint .

You should restrain your tongue . Do not think that you can eat anything and say anything and meditate well .

If you think so , you are deceiving yourself .

Yoga is not a toy , which you can easily take and play with . It is like an iron-fort , lodging well-equipped soldiers .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0014 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SELF-RESTRAINT ||