Hari
Om
Monday is AUM-day; in search of meditation.
The text being referenced for the next few weeks is "The Art Of Contemplation". Obtaining the booklet for yourself would be a good move. Use it as
your prompt, your guide - even as a note book; don't fear to scribble points
for yourself within the pages! The exercises might be looked at separately; but
there is a 'step-ways' progression, so best to begin at the beginning!
EXERCISE
4
Having
established that one of the best ways of burning out the old and useless
vaasanas is to replace them, initially, with more useful and positive ones,
such as taking up spiritual saadhana. The saadhana given focus in the current
teaching is to chant mantra in the mind. Train the mind to always fall back to
mantra when not being employed in more immediate and purposeful work.

Let
your mind keep the mantra of your choosing occupy your mind in those last
moments before sleep. The moment you become awake, let the mantra be the first
thing to mind. Let the first verbal words of the day be the mantra.
You
will be surprised how quickly the mind accepts and wants to carry out this
exercise! It is like 'sugar' for the mind. More and more you will find the mind
is willing to follow your instruction.
The
rising discipline is an important one to establish for maximum spiritual
benefit. The old adage "early to bed and early to rise makes a man health
and wealthy and wise" holds validity! Whilst that is a maxim which arose
from the Western model, it equates very well to the teaching of the Rsis. On
waking, don't lie and drift into nonsense. Immediately rise from the bed, all
the time with the mantra (or the morning prayers) being recited, mentally or
verbally. Make your ablutions and then settle in your seat of meditation. Gaze
upon your altar or item of focus and begin your prayer and meditation saadhana.

Any
animal which has known freedom, fights to regain that freedom when it has been
caught. The mind is no different! Till now we have not understood that our mind
has been roaming like a wild animal, but we begin to put on the harness of
control, it will fight back. Do not be daunted. Keep at it. After a time, the
mind will find that even if it escapes for a while into the old distractions,
they no longer hold the lustre which was thought to be there. The true gleam is
found in the kernel of the Self.
Resolve
to have your chosen mantra in mind as you sleep and as you rise.