I want to begin, but where?
I feel the pull toward something deeper and I have no idea what to actually do.
Begin with the Katha: arise, awake—and the path is a razor's edge, so do not expect it to be easy. Then take the two words Krishna gives Arjuna and Patanjali repeats: practice, and non-attachment—and Patanjali's three conditions: long, uninterrupted, earnest. Ramakrishna: pick one path and stick to it with all your strength; you can reach the roof by stairs or a rope or a bamboo pole, but not by switching between them. Sarada Devi: do japa, work, don't find fault, be patient; everything will happen in time. Vivekananda: nothing is done in a day—religion cannot be swallowed as a pill. Sri Aurobindo: aspiration is an act of will and you can always aspire; not getting discouraged when there is no immediate result is the single most important thing. The Mother: expressing an aspiration gives it force. Neem Karoli Baba: use any mantra—use it, use it. The Tao: a thousand li begins under your foot. And Bharathi's four-line prayer, which is a complete beginner's programme: firmness in the mind, sweetness in speech, good thoughts, and that what you reach for comes to hand. Our Journeys page has structured paths; the Practices page has the smallest possible first steps.
Courage and love are the only indispensable virtues; even if all the others are eclipsed or fall asleep, these two will save the soul alive.
An aimless life is always a miserable life. Every one of you should have an aim. But do not forget that on the quality of your aim will depend the quality of your life.
You must stick to one path with all your strength. A man can reach the roof of a house by stone stairs or a ladder or a rope-ladder or a rope or even by a bamboo pole.
Continue to pray without losing heart. Everything will happen in time.
Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this Divinity within by controlling nature, external and internal.
A person who cannot keep still for a short daily rite will not keep still for meditation. Ritual is how the mind is trained before it can be freed.
மனதில் உறுதி வேண்டும்,
வாக்கினிலே இனிமை வேண்டும்;
நினைவு நல்லது வேண்டும்,
நெருங்கின பொருள் கைப்பட வேண்டும்Firmness in the mind I need, / sweetness in speech I need; / good thoughts I need, / and what I reach for should come to hand.
Manadhil uṟudhi vēṇḍum, / vākkinilē inimai vēṇḍum; / ninaivu nalladhu vēṇḍum, / nerungina poruḷ kaippaḍa vēṇḍum
Love everyone and tell the truth.
I waited patiently and very long on My Guru and served him. This Saburi will ferry you across the sea of this mundane existence.
Always try once more, no matter how many times you have failed.
उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत् ।
आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः ॥
Let a person lift themselves by themselves; let them not lower themselves. For the self alone is the friend of the self, and the self alone is its enemy.
असतो मा सद्गमय ।
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।
मृत्योर्मामृतं गमय ॥
From the unreal lead me to the real. From darkness lead me to light. From death lead me to immortality.
அகர முதல எழுத்தெல்லாம் ஆதி
பகவன் முதற்றே உலகு.
As the letter A is first of all letters, so the primal Lord is first of all the world.
நமச்சிவாய வாஅழ்க நாதன்தாள் வாழ்க
இமைப்பொழுதும் என்நெஞ்சில் நீங்காதான் தாள்வாழ்க
Hail Namashivaya! Hail the feet of the Lord! Hail the feet of him who does not leave my heart for the space of a blink!
Vivekananda's sitting practice
- Practise twice a day, morning and evening. He said half an hour of each would “make you another person.”
- Sit erect, holding chest, neck and head in a straight line, in whatever posture is easiest for you.
- Before anything else, send goodwill outward. In his words: mentally repeat, “Let all beings be happy; let all beings be peaceful; let all beings be blissful.”
- Take a deep breath, fill the lungs, and slowly let it out. Continue slowly and rhythmically.
- Tell the body it is strong; tell the mind it is strong. Then sit in that strength, quietly, for the rest of the time.
- Expect nothing in a day. “It requires hard and constant practice.”
What is the smallest thing you could do tomorrow morning, before anything else?
Other questions