20 Important Spiritual Instructions

These twenty instructions contain the very essence of all Yoga Sadhana. Karma, Bhakti, Jnana, and Raja Yoga will all come to one who follows them whole-heartedly. They are the unfailing keys to quick and effective development and culture of the physical, mental, moral and spiritual self of man.

1. BRAHMAMUHURTA

Get up at 4 a.m. daily. This is Brahmamuhurta which is extremely favorable for Sadhana. Do all your morning spiritual Sadhana during this period from 4 a.m. to 6:30 or 7 a.m. Such Sadhana gives quick and maximum progress.

2. ASANA

Sit on Padmasana (lotus pose), Siddhasana (adept's pose) or Sukhasana (any pose you like) for your Japa and meditation for half an hour, facing east or north. Increase the period gradually to three hours. Practice Sirshasana (headstand) and Sarvangasana (shoulder stand) for maintenance of health and Brahmacharya. Take light physical exercises as walking, etc., regularly. Do twenty rounds of easy, comfortable Pranayama (breathing exercises). Do not strain yourself while doing Pranayama.

3. JAPA

You can repeat any Mantra (sacred syllable), such as pure Om or Om Namo Narayanaya Sri Ram, Sita Ram, Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram   Om Namah Sivaya, Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya, Om Saravanabhavaya Namah Hari or Gayatri  (a sacred Vedic Mantra, according to your taste or inclination, from 108 times to 21,600 times daily. Devotees of Christ may repeat the name Jesus or Hail Mary, Mother of Jesus. Parsis, Sikhs and Muslims may select a name or Mantra from the Zend Avesta, Granth Sahib or Koran respectively.

4. DIETETIC DISCIPLINE

Take Sattvic food. Give up chillies, tamarind, garlic, onion, sour articles, oil, mustard, Observe moderation in diet (Mitahara). Do not overload the stomach. Give up those things which the mind likes best for a fortnight once or twice in a year. Eat simple food. Milk and fruits help concentration. Take food as medicine to keep the life going. Eating for enjoyment is a sin. Give up salt and sugar for a week or a fortnight. You must be able to live on rice, dhal and bread without any pickle. Do not ask for extra salt for dhal, and sugar for tea, coffee and milk. People taking a non-vegetarian diet should try their best to gradually give up flesh-eating as completely as possible. They will be immensely benefited.

5. MEDITATION

Have a separate meditation room under lock and key. If this is not possible then a corner of the room should be set apart with a small cloth screen or curtain drawn across. Keep the room spotlessly clean.

6. SVADHYAYA

Study systematically the Gita, Ramayana, Bhagavatam, Vishnu-Sahasranama, Lalita-Sahasranama, Adityahridaya, Upanishads, Yoga Vasishta, Bible, Imitation of Christ, Zend Quran, the Tripitakas, the Granth Sahib and other religious books from half an hour to one hour daily, and have Suddha Vichara (pure thoughts).

7. ELEVATE THE MIND

Learn by heart some prayer - Slokas (prayer verses), Stotras (hymns) and repeat them as soon as you sit in the Asana before starting Japa or meditation. This will elevate the mind quickly.

8. BRAHMACHARYA

Preserve the vital force (Veerya seminal energy) very, very carefully. Veerya is God in motion or manifestation. Veerya is all power. Veerya is all money. Veerya is the essence of life, thought and intelligence. This instruction is not for bachelors only. Householders also must follow it as far as possible. They must be extremely moderate in their marital connections with their spouse. This is very important.

9. CHARITY

Do charity regularly, every month, or even daily according to your means. Never fail in this item. If necessary forego some personal wants but keep up this charity regularly.

10. HAVE SATSANG

Give up bad company, smoking, meat and alcoholic liquors entirely. Have constant Satsang (association with holy people). Do not develop any evil habits. Deliberately exert to develop positive virtuous qualities.

In these days Satsanga?

Satsanga has degenerated in these days. It has dwindled into some kind of mental recreation or amusement. Mere Vedantic gossiping for one hour in the evening between Sannyasi and householders with a mixture of some idle, worldly talk, some politics, some scandal-mongering and backbiting, some silly giggle, guffaw and namby-pamby sentimental outpourings in vague platitudes is labeled as Satsanga. The minds of the Sannyasin who does Satsanga and the hearers remain in the same state even after a course of Satsanga for several years. There is no elevation and spiritual progress.

When Sadhus and Sannyasins move in the world, they should show an exemplary life of Vairagya to the householders. They should get from the householders the bare necessaries of life only. They should not mix with them very freely. They should live in a solitary place outside the village or town. They should conduct spiritual classes in a serious manner. They should not talk on worldly matters in the interval. They should not bring in too many stories that excite laughter. They should not cut jokes. There must be solemn serenity. The whole audience must be spellbound. There must be pin-drop silence. Then only the householders will be influenced. They will feel they have got something from the Satsanga.

11. FAST

Fast on Ekadasi, (11th day of the Hindu lunar fortnight) or live on milk and fruits only. Christians must fast on alternate Sundays, Muslims on alternate Fridays, and Parsis on a suitable day every fortnight.

12. JAPA MALA

Have a Japa Mala (rosary) around your neck or in your pocket or underneath your pillow at night. This will remind you of God. Twirl the beads during your leisure. You should repeat the Name at all times, whatever task you may be engaged in.

13. OBSERVE MOUNA

Observe Mouna (vow of silence) for a couple of hours daily. Do not make gestures and inarticulate noises during the period of silence.

14. DISCIPLINE OF SPEECH

Speak the truth at all cost. Speak a little. Speak sweetly. Always utter encouraging words. Never condemn, criticize or discourage. Do not raise your voice and shout at little children or subordinates.

15. BE CONTENT

Reduce your wants. If you have four shirts, reduce the number to three or two. Lead a happy, contented life. Avoid unnecessary worry. Be mentally detached. Have plain living and high thinking. Think of those who do not possess even one-tenth of what you have. Share with others.

16. PRACTICE LOVE

Never hurt anybody. Ahimsa Paramo Dharmah (Non-injury is the highest virtue). Control anger by love, Kshama (forgiveness) and Daya (compassion). Serve the sick and the poor with love and affection. This is service of God.

17. BE SELF RELIANT

Do not depend upon servants. Self-reliance is the highest of all virtues.

18. HAVE SELF-ANALYSIS

Think of the mistakes you have committed during the course of the day, just before retiring to bed (self-analysis). Keep a daily spiritual diary and self-correction register as Benjamin Franklin did. Maintain a daily routine and resolve-form. Do not brood over past mistakes.

19. DO YOUR DUTY

Remember that death is awaiting you at every moment. Never fail to fulfil your duties. Have pure conduct (Sadachara).

20. REMEMBER GOD

Think of God as soon as you wake up and just before you go to sleep, and at all other times whether engaged in any work or not. Repeat His Name always. Surrender yourself completely to God (Saranagati).

This is the essence of all spiritual Sadhana. It will lead you to liberation. All these spiritual canons must be rigidly observed. You must not give any leniency to the mind.

Hinduism conceives of god as Brahma the creator, Vishnu the sustainer and Shiva the destroyer. All three elements co-exit. To create, knowledge is important. So Lord Brahma’s spouse is saraswati. To sustain, wealth is necessary, so Lord Vishnu’s spouse is Lakshmi. To destroy, the ingredient required is strength, so. Lord Shiva’s spouse is Shakti. Festival all three are invoked and worshipped in the form of Saraswati, knowledge, Lakshmi, wealth and Shakti, strength.

The Most Important is

Kheer-Parottah Birds

The moment a Sannyasin begins to ask from householders several things frequently, he loses his respect and influence. He is forced to leave the place immediately. Some shameless Sannyasi live as parasites amongst householders for months together. They are Kheer-Parottah birds. They are not real Sannyasins. In the coming census report, the authorities should be very careful in forwarding their reports. These persons should not come under the category of Sadhus and Sannyasins. They are professional beggars in coloured garb, like the wolf in the skin of a lamb. There must be a genuine record of true Sannyasins. What is the use of swelling the number of Sadhus and showing a figure of 74 lakhs of Sadhus? You will not find more than 2,000 good, cultured Sannyasins who are useful to themselves and to the country at large. A real Sadhu or Sannyasin is like a glorious sun. He shines during day and night.

A Caution To Ladies

Ladies are very easily duped by the so-called Gurus, Swami, and Acharyas. Ladies are very simple-minded and credulous. They are very easily attracted by sweet music and melody. They fall easy victims to melodious sounds. These Gurus try to hoodwink naive womenfolk. They easily influence them and trap them without any difficulty. They make them their tools or instruments. They exploit them and fill their stomachs and move about in silken clothes and pump shoes. Householders have not got the least sanction from scriptures to make lady disciples. Those who make lady-disciples for the sake of earning a decent livelihood are worms that revel in filth. There is no Prayaschitta for these hypocrites. They are thrown mercilessly into the hell.

There are kaula guru: 80+ who just seats the female disciple on his lap then smile and say we are supposed to have sex but am I not too old? This is symbolic consumption. This too is another path. In India Many such peoples are behind the bar Though they accumulated so much of property and millions of Followers.

Ladies should Wake up now! Open your eyes. You are all educated now. Use your reason. Do not be carried away by mere lectures and music. Beware of posing Gurus. Never make a householder as your Guru. Never get Diksha from him. You will weep in the end and reap a bad harvest if you do so. That man whom you select as your Guru should be of an exemplary and spotless character. He should be absolutely selfless and be free from lust and greed. He should be free from all sorts of worldly taints. He should have knowledge of the Vedas and scriptures. He must have inner spiritual strength and Self-realization to elevate you and lead you in the spiritual path.

Husbands should not allow their wives to take anyone as their Guru: without proper scrutiny or thorough examination and understanding of the person whom they want to take as Guru:. If they really feel so much for taking a Guru:, they should select one after careful study and enquiry and after living with him for a long time. Husband and wife should not have different Gurus. Fighting comes in. They should have a common Guru.