Know thyself

SRI S\ilAMI SIVANANDA

Bom on the Sth September, 1887, in the illustrious
family of Sage Appayya Dikshitar and several other
renowned saints and savants, Sri Swami Sivananda had a
natural flair for a life devoted to the study and practice of
Vedanta. Added to this was an inborn eagerness to serve all
and an innate feeling of unity with all mankind.
His passion for service drew him to the medical career;
and soon he gravitated to where he thought that his service
was most needed. Malaya claimed him. He had earlier been
editing a health journal and wrote extensively on health
problems. He discovered that people needed right knowledge
most of all; dissemination of that knowledge he espoused as
his own mission.
It was divine dispensation and the blessing of God upon
mankind that the doctor of body and mind renounced his
career and took to a life of renunciation to qualify for
ministering to the soul of man. He settled down at Rishikesh
in 1924, practised intense austerities and shone as a great
Yogi, saint, sage and Jivanmukta.
ln1932 Swami Sivananda started the Sivanandashram.
In 1936 was born The Divine Life Society. In 1948 the
Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy was organised.
Dissemination of spiritual knowledge and training of people
in Yoga and Vedanta were their aim and object. In 1950
Swamiji undertook a lightning tour of India and Ceylon. In
1953 Swamiji convened a'World Parliament of Religions'.
Swamiji is the author of over 300 volumes and has disciples
all overthe world, belonging to all nationalities, religions and
creeds. To read Swamiji's works is to drink at the Fountain of
Wisdom Supreme. On l4th July, 1963 Swamiji entered
Mahasamadhi,
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CONTENTS
Cltapter I
NECTAR DROPS.
SPARKS OF TRUTH
Chapter II
WORDS OF WISDOM
Cltapter III
HINTS FOR SELF-CULTURE.
Chapter IV
ESSENCE OF RELIGION
Chapter V
LIGHT ON LIBERATION
CULTIVATE FAITH
THE GREAT TRUTH
CONDITIONS PRE-REQUISITE
THE ROLE OF SANNYASINS
YOGA FOR MODERN MAN
ll
l6
47
22
34
58
58
59
60
62
63
REAL RELIGION 65
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WOMEN SHOULD BE TRAINED
PEARLS OF WISDOM.
Chapter VI
SPIRITUAL LESSONS.
THE ROYAL ROAD TO REALISATION. .
REAL UNITY AMONG RELIGIONS
THE CALL DIVINE
Chapter VII
ESSENCE OF YOGA
Chapter VIII
GARLAND OF YOGA
Chopter IX
THE GOAL OF LIFE.
Chapter X
GOD-REALISATION
DIVINE LOVE
GURU GITA
DIVINE QUALITIES.
TRUE KNOWLEDGE
66
67
82
86
7l
75
77
80
96
97
98
99
101
90
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Chapter XI
RULES OF DIVINE LIFE
WHAT IS VIRTUOUS LIFE?
WHAT IS GOD?
THE GREAT BHUMA EXPERIENCE . .
Chopter XII
KARMA YOGA
BHAKTI YOGA
RAJA YOGA
JNANA YOGA
Chapter XIII
YOGIC ALPHABETS
ESSENCE OF SADHANA
SADHANA TATTVA
106
109
ll0
lll
114
n7
120
124
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130
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m{0lv m$]il

Ghagtct I
NECTAR DROPS
l. In this formidable ocean of Samsara, you have only
one boat to voyage to the other shore of Immortality-the
company ofSages.
2. When you are assailed by temptations and surging
waves of turbulent mind, you have only one refuge here-the
lotus feet of Saints.
3. In this peaceless world, men and nations can
rediscover peace and bliss only at the fountain source of
Eternal Wisdom-the Men of God.
4. In the dark wildemess of the daily battle of life,
only the light of a Self-realised Mahapurusha can show you
the path to love,light and Peace.
5. Ifyou want to enjoy peace and happiness, practise
this simple Sadhana. Adapt, adjust and accommodate' Lack
of this divine quality of adaptability is the cause for
disharmony, quarrels, riots and wars.
6. It is not so easy as it looks outwardly. You should
crush and powder your ego if you wish to develop
adaptability. It is this Rajasic self-assertive nature that
disturbs the equilibrium and creates disharmony.
7. Only if you bend, can you drink water from the tap.
Only if you are humble, will you be able to drink the water of
peace, bliss and harmonY.
8. A humble man alone can conquer the whole world.
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t2 KNOW THYSELF
9. Only a man who is humble will be able to adapt,
adjust and accommodate.
10. There is infinite Sakti in Ram Nam. Ram Nam is
the solution for all the troubles that have beset the mankind of
this Atomic Bomb Age.
I l. A disciplined man achieves success in all
undertakings.
12. But, for success in the spiritual life, self- discipline
is most essential. Without discipline you cannot make any
progress in the path.
13. Even ifyou are poor and have no food to eat, even
at the point of a bayonet, sing Chidananda Hum and feel that
you are the Immortal, Infinite Atman. you will derive fresh
energy, great divine power.
14. Divine Life will descend only when there is
serenity.
15. Just as you remove a pebble from the shoe and thus
relieve yourself, you will have to drive off the Vritti which is
disturbing you. Then only will you really reach the Realm of
Peace and Bliss.
16. If you are established in one virhre, others will
come by themselves.
17. He who wants to attain God-realisation should
discipline his tongue, take simple Sattvic food and fast on
Ekadasi.
18. If you eat a good dinner, only sleep will come, not
the prayerful mood. Therefore, discipline the tongue.
19. It is no use meditating for half an hour and then
spending the rest of the day in gossip. All the Sattva that you
generate during meditation will be wiped out.
NECTAR DROPS
20. To ovcrcome hatred, the best thing to do is to
substitute it by love; hatred will die by itself. Positive always
overcolnes the negative.
21. Death is ever waiting to devour you all. That
tomonow will never come;wake up now, friends.
22. P..:eal education is that which makes you realise
your Self or Atman.
23. Real education is that which helps you to control
the mind and the senses and to lead the Divine Life and
realise the Satchidananda state.
24. Real education is that which helps you annihilate
egoism, which enables you to attain immortality.
25. Real education is that which helps you to attain that
final beatitude which is the summum bonum of your
existence.
26. Merely hearing lectures or studying books will not
help you in making you into a Superman' You will have to
practise.
27. lna pure heart which is serene, which is free from
passions and sense-appetites, will the divine light descend.
28. You should know the science of controlling the
Indriyas. On account of Rajas the Indriyas always move
towards the objects.
29. A.little bit of money and family will make you
forget the real goal.
30. The mind is so framed and constituted that it does
not believe in transcendental experience. It makes you feel
that there is nothing beyond this sense-experience.
31. Let the mind wander. It does not matter. Go on
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doing Japa and Kirtan. The Lord is so gracious. Go on with
your Kirtan. This added strength will help you. peace will
come gradually.
32. Renunciation of Vasanas, and egoism,
renunciation of Kartritva Buddhi, Bheda Buddhi that puts a
barrier between rnan and man-alone constitutes real
renunciation.
33. The object which tantalises you now, loses its
charm the moment you get it. So would every object in the
world lose its charm the moment it is got.
34. When you get knocks and blows in the daily battle
of life then the mind is duly tumed towards the spiritualpath.
35. Be regular in your Japa. Try to get up early in the
morning. Practise a little pranayama. Meditate. you will
attain Moksha.
36. Kirtan is the easiest, cheapest, quickest, surest and
safest way to attain God-realisation. It will fill your heart
with Prem and strength.
37. The Message of Vedanta is the Message of Unity,
Oneness of Consciousness.
38. You must be established in the repetition of the
Mantra to such an extent that even in dream your mind will be
repeating the Mantra.
39. Without the Grace of the Lord, anger, lust and
greed can never be destroyed by mere human effort.
40. You can thin them out; you can reduce their force
through Sadhana. But you cannot destroy them, without His
Grace.
4l. Cultivate dispassion mentally towards things
NECTAR DROPS
mundane and dwell ever in meditation on the Atman' Then
only willyou grow in Bhakti.
42. Congregational prayer generates a mighty current'
You will enter into Bhava Samadhi quickly.
43. Without newspapers you cannot live! And, what do
you find in the newspapers? They are filled with nothing but
sensational news. They excite you' Study the Yoga-vasishtha
and the Gita. The mind is elevated.
44. Control the mind, control the senses and enquire
into the nature of the Atman or your real Self. That is your
primary duty.
45. You have an ill-regulated life and go on blindly
from day to day repeating the same old actions.
46. Those who think that they are doing injustice to the
world through their aspirations for Self-realisation have not
yet gone above the credulity of childhood.
47. lf you find mercy and humility in a person, then
alone can you know that person is a Sadhu. His Heart will
melt at the suffering of others'
48. The Sadhu need not deliver lectures on Panchadasi'
He need not necessarily be able to deliver eloquent
discourses on the Gita. He may not be able to comment for
three hours upon a single (Brahma) Sutra. But a sweet aroma
will emanate from him. This will attract everyone to him'
This will give you Santi and an inner bliss when you
approach him.
49, A man without mercy, love and humility cannot
realise the Self.
50. The Lord cannot manifest Himself in a
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sin-hardened heart; it must melt like butter before He can
reveal Himself.
51. Without purification of the heart, no progress in
Sadhana is possible. Therefore do Japa, sing Kirtan, do
untiring selfless service, be generous; give, give, give.
SPARKS OF TRUTH
52. Mayaassumes various forms. Ego assumes various
shapes. Just as water takes the form ofthe vessel into which it
is poured, the ego adjusts itself to all circumstances and
persists in its work.
53. This ego is your terrible enemy. It wages guerilla
warfare with you. Beware. Beware. Beware.
54. You can eradicate this ego through Japa, Kirtan
and selfless service, ifyou are sincere.
55. Sincerity! It is a very rare virtue. Sincerity is
combination of several virtues. Truthfulness,
straightforwardness, simplicity, absence of vanity, courage,
fearlessness, tenacity of puqpose, love and humility-all go
to form sincerity.
56.Your money belongs to the Lord. you have no
business to keep more than what you need. How can you
accumulate wealth, when your God in the form of the poor
man is starving? How can you take food four times and tffin,
when the beggar-Narayana is starving outside the door?
These are the tests of spiritual progress.
57. You should remain under a Guru. Serve him. There
is no greater Sadhana than service of the Guru. The Guru will
teach you the appropriate Sadhana for improving you.
58. Life and death are both processes ofmore and more
NECTAR DROPS
fresh experience in the progress of evolution tending towards
the fruition of the wishes of the experiencer.
59. Life is a scene where the individual puts on the
dress of the form of a certain amount of desires which can be
fulfilled in the special environment afforded by it.
60. Death is the time when the individual goes behind
the screen and puts on a new dress to appear in another scene
of life in order to fulfil another quality of desires which
cannot find the required atmosphere for fruition in the
present life, but demand a fresh suitable environment.
61. There is a science by knowing which the unseen
becomes seen, the unheard becomes heard, and the unknown
becomes known, the untaught becomes taught. This is the
science of sciences. When you leam that science alone shall
you attain the immortal abode of eternal bliss and perennial
jov.
62. Real education is that which enables you to kill this
Iittle ego and pulverise this egoism.
63. The Atman is extremely subtle. The senses are
subtle. Prana is subtler than the senses; mind is still subtler;
even beyond this mind, and most subtle, is the Atman. That is
your real nature. That education which enables you to realise
this nature of your Self is real education.
64. Mango is not sweet; it is the imagination that
makes it sweet.
65. There is no real pleasure in the objects. You simply
project your own imagination on the objects and imagine that
they are pleasure-giving.
66. The dog catches hold of a bone and starts biting it;
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l8 KNOW THYSELF
blood oozes out of its own palate; it imagines that the blood
comes from the bone and bites it harder.
67. Even the pleasure of the whole world is a drop
when compared to the bliss that you will get from within,
from the Atman, through meditation, by withdrawing the
Indriyas and by fixing the mind on the Atman, by regular
introspection, reflection and meditation.
68. In deep sleep there were no objects. There were no
likes and dislikes (Raga-Dvesha). Yet you enjoyed peace and
happiness.
69. Do not be deluded by the senses and the body.
They are your real enemies.
70. Death is waiting to devour you all. Try to do
Sadhana now itself.
71. Sensual pleasures are like the pleasure derived
from itching.
72. Wake up now. Open your eyes. Make yourself
steady so that you will meet Lord Yama with a cheerful face.
73. The whole world is suffering; but not one has the
heart to share what he has with others. Share. Give. The joy
that you will get from such actions is indescribable.
74. Humility is a fundamental virtue.If you don't find
humility and mercy in a man, reject him; there is no
saintliness in him.
75. The self-assertive Rajasic nature is so vehement. It
will never allow you to be humble.
76. So many desires will affect your body. Don't be
proud of the hot blood that runs through your veins.
77. Be regular in your Japa and Kirtan. Ram Ram Ram
NECTAR DROPS
Ram Ram. It will give you power and strength. It will
produce harmony in your mind. Rajas and Tamas will be
destroyed. Good Samskaras will be embedded in your mind.
78. Don't join the various 'isms; let these 'isms come
and go. But you take part in the 'isms because you are carried
away by emotion. Godless 'isms cannot succeed. The
foundation of society is God. Godless 'isms cannot thrive for
a long time. God is the basis for everything.
79. He who has faith, he alone can be happy. He is the
real man.
80. Self-restraint, Japa, Kirtan, Sattvic diet, getting up
at 4 a.m., all these things will make you a superman.
81. Don't overload your stomach. Take your food
when you are really hungry. Thus enjoy good health.
82. You must practise Asanas. Asanas have immense
advantage over the other forms of exercise. They tone up the
intemal organs and the nervous system.
83. Sannyasa is the stage of life when you can destroy
Maya.
84. Only if you maintain a spiritual diary will you be
able to regulate your programme of life. Only then will you
be able to eradicate the evil qualities within you and cultivate
noble virtues.
85. There is no need to listen to more and more
lectures. You have heard enough. When will you practise?
Listening to lectures is a mere intellectual amusement.
Practice is difficult. Start practising today.
86. Listening to lectures has become a disease
nowadays. When you listen to a lecture, there is a little bit of
nervous excitement and titillation. But unless you put the
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20 KNOW THYSELF
instructions into practice, the lessons will be lost upon you
and you will be the same person.
87. Peacefulness, fearlessness, contentmeut and
cheerfulness-and seeing some lights in concentration and
meditation-indicate your advancement in the spiritual path.
88. This is a world of Dvandvas. There will always be
peace and war, good and evil, happiness and misery. You
cannot have perfection in this imperfect world.
89. Study of scriptures is an indispensable and
effective auxiliary in Sadhana.
90. Vedanta prescribes Nishkamya Karma Yoga for
the purification of the mind, and Jnana Sadhana for the
removal ofthe veil of ignorance. Sankirtan does all these; it is
endowed with all these powers.
91. Samadhi will come by itself to a man whose heart
is purified by constant, untiring selfless service.
92. You should not give up your Sadhana, your Japa,
Kirtan, prayers, whether or not there are indications of the
descent of Lord's Grace. Go on with your Sadhana.
93. Your prayers are bound to be heard by the Lord one
day.
94. The Absolute or Brahman, Eternal or Infinite,
Atman or the Thing-in-itself, or the Substance or Essence,
call it by any name you choose, cannot be demonstrated,
because He is Infinite.
95. This little frail intellect cannot perceive Him who is
infinite. How can the finite "I" perceive the Infinite Self? The
Bhuma, the Unconditioned, is beyond Time, Space and
Causation.
96. You cannot see your own eye-lashes. You cannot
NECTAR DROPS
see a thing which is at a distance. The eye, the Indriya of
perception is a finite instrument. it can see only things which
are very near. The mind, intellect and ego, as also the senses,
are effects. Effects cannot perceive the Cause, the Causeless
cause, the Supreme Brahman, the Unconditioned, Bhuma,
which is beyond time, Space and Causation, which is the
Substratum of everything which is the basis of the world.
97. Nobody denies his own existence. It is a logical
absurdity to deny one's own existence. You feel that you
exist for ever; this clearly proves that the Atman or your self
is Immortal and Eternal.
98. There is no pleasure in sense-objects. You can
experience bliss only when the mind is turned inwards.
99. Your mind runs outside because of desires and
because you have forgotten your essential nature. Desires are
imperfections; that is the reason why you experience pain,
through lack, through want. When there are desires in the
mind, when there are imperfections, there is no sense of
fullness.
100. He who is intelligent, who has got discrimination,
searches within for the joy of the soul.

Ghaptcr lI
WORDS OF WISDOM
l0l. This Atman is deathless. Just imagine for a
moment you are dead. What do you see now? You see the
dead body lying before you. Therefore, you do exist even
then! This clearly proves that you are eternally present. You
can never imagine that you are non-existent. That Existence
is your own Self.
102. Behind these names and forms, behind these
physical phenomena there is the noumenon;behind all these
Govemors, Dictators and ministers, there is one Supreme
Governor, one Supreme Minister.
103. In the army, discipline is insisted upon. In college,
there is discipline. Even so, you should discipline your body
through Asanas and Pranayama, and discipline the mind by
cultivation of various virtues.
104. Great discipline is necessary for this spiritual life,
because the prize is immortality, Satchidananda.
105. He is the wise man who has real education as to
the nature of the world, the nature of the mind.
106. Real education makes you rest in your own
Svarupa. Real religion is transcendental, beyond the mind
and the senses.
107. Real education destroys egoism, it reduces or
thins out the Vasanas; it leads to Mano-nasa and
Tattva-jnana. When the Vasanas are destroyed through Japa,
Meditation and Kirtan, you will rest in yonr own Svarupa.
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WORDS OF WISDOM
108. Work without egoism; work as an instrument of
the Lord. Then actions will not taint you. You will attain
God-realisation quickly. This is the secret of Karma Yoga.
109. As soon as you sit for meditation, chant
OM-Deerga Pranava. It will give you Santi (peace of mind)
and create inner harmony.
I10. For a man of discrimination, all sensual pleasures
are like the pleasure derived from scratching itch.
l1l. You should be regular in your Sadhana.
Regularity is of paramount importance. You will be regular
in your Sadhana, if you have a programme of life.
l12. The atomic bomb can destroy only a small area.
The message of Vedanta will annihilate the whole world
(worldliness) at one stroke, in the twinkling of an eye.
ll3. Vedanta is an aroma that emanates from the
Self-realised Sage.
I14. When you see a poor man lying on the roadside,
do you rush to his help, do you attend to his needs, and do you
offer your own cup of milk to him? Does your heart melt at
the suffering of others? Through untiring, selfless service
alone can your heart be purified. Then Atma-Jnana will come
by itself.
l15. No one has a programme of life; no one retires
from the world and resorts to seclusion and meditation, even
after he retires from service. Tell me frankly: have you got a
programme of life?
116. Brahmacharya Ashram is intended to develop
self-restraint and purity; Grihastha Ashram for the
development of many virtues--charity, generosity,
fearlessness.'Abhayam Sattvasamsuddhi.' Abhayam: you
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should be fearless. People are afraid of cats in the night
nowadays. When all your sons are fixed up in life, you should
retire into seclusion-Vanaprastha. You should do intense
Sadhana. Formally renounce the world and acquire
Atma-Jnana through Sannyasa.
ll7. Two things frighten you and prevent you from
taking Sannyasa-attachment and lack of power of
endurance.
I18. Many people nowadays suffer from constipation;
if they practise a little Pranayama, their constipation will
vanish.
I19. If I come near you and utter the word Bichchu
(scorpion), you at once jump up. When I say Rasagulla, your
mouth waters. When I say 'You are a donkey,' you get
enraged. What is there: have you developed four legs? When
such is the power of mere words, what a great power must
there be in the Lord's Name?
120. How many million times you have thought and
felt 'I am the body.' Similarly, you will now have to generate
a current of the same intensity and assert 'I am neither mind
nor body; immortal Self I am.' Ten million times you should
now assert 'I am the all-pervading Atman.' Then the Atmic
side of the balance will go down.
l2l. Maya is the jugglery-power which hides the Real
and makes the unreal appear as real.
122. Maya is that force which makes us feel that the
world is real.
123. lnthat Supreme Reality which is behind all names
and forms you rest every night. But you forget in the
morning. This is Maya.
WORDS OF WISDOM
124. Every bit of sense-pleasure is the womb of pain.
125. The consequences are restlessness, craving and
depression. For some time you enjoy; there is depression
later. It is only Bhranti Sukha (lllusory pleasure).
126. Real renunciation is renunciation of desires,
renunciation of egoism and cravings, renunciation of
Kartritva Abhiman.
127. Raga-Dvesha constitutes this world.
128. Sadhana is fixing the mind on the Lord. It gives
you freedom, peace, bliss and immortality.
129. Lightness of body, lightness of mind,
cheerfulness-all these indicate that you are progressing in
meditation.
130. Be regular in your meditation. Take light, Sattvic
food. Shed tears for the separation from the Lord, not for the
death of any man or relative.
131. All that you perceive through the senses, all that
you know through the mind, are evanescent half truths, to
depend upon which would be to disappoint yourselves
miserably.
132. This is the lesson to be remembered, if you want
real success in this life. The man who becomes a slave to the
senses is lost, is ruined.
133. Strive incessantly to develop noble character, for
virtuous character is the basis of all achievement.
134. That which is seemingly unpleasant and painful
in the beginning is productive of lasting benefit later.
135. Through struggle alone the lower nature is
overcome.
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136. Unless you are freed, you cannot free others.
137. Therefore free yourselves from the bondage of
Samsara, from the clutches of ignorance and desire. Desire is
the cause of the transmigration of the individual soul.
138. Snap this thread of the series of births and deaths
through self-abnegation, self-surrender, self-restraint and
Self-knowledge.
139. Radiate the light of the Divine Life everywhere.
Bring in the light of Divine Life into all yourpublic activities,
into the towns and into the villages. May the light of sublime
ideals and of divine living permeate into the field of
education.
140. Practise Japa, Kirtan, Meditation and prayer;
cultivate divine virtues; eradicate evil qualities or traits. Only
then will you grow in spirituality.
l4l. The real education alone will give you
immortality, peace, bliss and supreme knowledge. That real
education is Brahma Vidya.
142. You must keep a spiritual diary. Gradually
through keeping a spiritual diary, through self-analysis,
introspection-in introspection one portion of the mind
studies another portion of the mind-watching the mind as a
witness, you can find out the defects that lurk in your own
mind, and you can mould your character.
143. A tree exists. A table exists. You can reduce this
table to ashes; and yet it exists. Existence or Sat is the
Reality.
144. There are fluctuations and changes in the mind,
but the Atman which is the Witness, silent Sakshi, pure
Consciousness, is not affected by the taints of the mind.
WORDS OF WISDOM
145. When your ignorance is rent asunder, when you
transcend the Indriyas and the mind, just as the rivers join the
sea and become one with it, you also will become united with
Supreme Self.
146. In honey which is collected by the bees from
various flowers, there is no separate existence for the juice of
various flowers; there is but one homogeneous mass of
sweetness. Even So, all animals, human beings,
plants-everything will return to the Atman. There is no
caste distinction there. It is homogeneous wisdom, percnnial
joy. That is your essential nature.
147. Dispassion is most essential;dispassion is mental
non-attachment. Vairagya should be born of discrimination.
148. Not by works, not by progeny, but by
renunciation alone is that Immortal Bliss attained.
149. Just as rivers give up their names and forms and
become one with the ocean, the Liberated Soul rests in the
Supreme Self.
150. Equip yourself with all the qualifications and
virtues that are necessary. Then only will you be benefited by
Upadesha of the Sat Guru. You may study all the books in the
library. You may be a genius. All that is useless. Genius only
thickens the veil of ignorance. You should have
discrimination.
151. He whom God chooses alone becomes the
Adhikari for the path of Jnana Yoga. God chooses those who
are humble, serene, merciful, compassionate, who possess all
divine virtues.
152. Brahrnacharya is the foundation of the edifice of
Yoga.
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28 KNOW THYSELF
153. Discipline your tongue. Adjust your diet. You
must know the technique of generating pure thoughts. Pray,
meditate, do Japa, Kirtan. Study sacred scriptures. Have
Satsanga. Enquire 'Who am I?' All these things will help you
to entertain sublime thoughts. This is the ancient culture.
154. You must have Asana-jaya if you want really to
practise Yoga Sadhana. You must be able to sit in one Asana
for three hours. This is conquest over Asana.
155. Shyness is a barrier in material and spiritual
progress.
156. Equip yourself with all the qualifications which
will make you immortal. This is your foremost duty. All
other duties are secondary.
157. Do untiring, selfless service. Then your heart will
be purified.
158. Beware, beware, beware. Do not be carried away
by this external false glittering.
159. He is very near to those who are yearning for
liberation, who are endowed with discrimination, dispassion
and other virtues; He is distant for those who are
self-indulgent, who are sunk 1000 fathoms deep in sensual
pleasures.
160. Man is a triune being. He feels, thinks and he acts.
All these three must be developed harmoniously-the heart,
the head and the hand.
16l. Even if the Absolute cannot be seen by the
physical eyes, there is another eye, the eye of intuition, the
Jnana-Chakshu, through which you can behold the Inner
Atman.
162. Kundalini will awaken by itself by doing Kirtana,
WORDS OF WISDOM
by the Mantra Sakti of the Maha Mantra. Kirtana will destroy
Mala, Vikshepa and Avarana.
163. If you eat less, especially at night, you will not
feel drowsy during your morning meditation.
164. For the vast majority of persons in this world, the
Yoga of Synthesis alone is suitable.
165. Even if a scavenger does his duty with the right
attitude, he can attain the Lord. That is the supreme principle,
the operative tenet of Hindu Philosophy.
166. The world is your best training ground. The world
is your teacher.
167. The background of thought of a grandmother is
her grandchildren. The devotee must have a background of
thought of Sri Rama or Krishna, his Ishta Devata, orNirguna.
This practice will take you to the goal and destroy all names
and forms.
168. Keep a Mantra note-book, a small Gita and a
rosary in your pocket. Write a few Mantras, study a few
Slokas and roll a few beads, wheneveryou find leisure during
the day. Utilise all leisure hours profitably.
169. In Yoga you will find that an aspirant is required
to cultivate Maitri, Karuna, Mudita and Upeksha. These
qualities are necessary for ensuring Chitta-Prasada or peace
of mind.
170. Friendliness, compassion, complacency and
indifference towards wickedness-these remove all the evil
Vrittis of the mind and purify the heart for the attainment of
Supreme Peace.
l7l. The ego must be thinned out; the self-assertive
29
30 KNOW THYSELF
Rajasic nature should be transformed. Only then can we
achieve real brotherhood.
172. Service should be rendered with Atma-bhava,
with the attitude that there is one all-pervading
Consciousness in all, without egoism, without expectation of
fruits, having a balanced mind.
173. Universal brotherhood is the first step to
Universal Selfhood.
174. He beholds the one Self in all beings who has
knowledge of the Self, through untiring selfless service.
175. Mutual understanding and goodwill-these are
all rare because they are possible in only those in whom the
Supreme Love has melted all barriers that separate man from
man.
176. When you are free from cravings and Trishnas,
from desires and yearnings, when you have crushed egoism
and abandoned the idea ofdoership and enjoyership, you will
attain That Supreme Peace.
177. When egoism is destroyed through untiring
selfless service, the mind will move towards the Atman
within.
178. Within you is hidden God; within you is immortal
Soul. Kill this little I, die to live, lead the divine life.
179. Within you is the fountain of joy; within you is
the ocean of bliss. Rest peacefully in your own Atman and
drink the nectar of immortality.
180. Within you is the hidden God,like butter in milk,
the oil in the seed.
l8l. Even if you possess the whole world you cannot
have Supreme Peace, because of fear, anxiety, decay and
WORDS OF WISDOM
death. By stuffing yourself with all sorts of dishes, you get
dyspepsia.
182. If you remove Raga-Dvesha, where is the world?
It is the two currents of Raga and Dvesha that constitute the
world.
183. If your bank balance is nil, if the bank fails, you
get nervous breakdown. Your strength depends upon your
bank balance, not on the inner Atman or Supreme Self.
184. Even when you have nothing to eat, even if you
are clad in rags, you can enjoy inexpressible bliss if you
equip yourself with the four means, if you are regular in your
meditation on the Atman in the early moming.
185. 'I am the all-pervading immortal Atman.'
'Sivoham. Satchidananda Svarupoham.'
186. Approach a teacher. Listen to him. Constantly
reflect on his teachings. If you hear of a truth once, you
should reflect on it ten times, and then meditate. Then you
will reach the Supreme Bliss.
187. Forget not your goal. Perennial joy and
immortality are your essential nature. You have taken this
human birth in order to attain this goal.
188. It is through the practise of this Karma Yoga that
the Divine Light will descend on you. Then will your
individual soul become one with the Supreme Soul, even as
rivers join the ocean and become one with it.
189. You are not the body composed of the five
elements. Again and again remember this. Meditate on this.
Abhyasa is the secret ofsuccess.
190. A man has bungalows, children, food, wealth, all
that the world could offer him; yet he does not have Santi. He
3l
32 KNOW THYSELF
tries to imitate the Akhanda Ekarasa of the Atman by
repeatedly gratifying the sensual desires. But he is not able to
get the Akhanda Ekarasa. It can be had only in God.
l9l. You may deliver lectures for hours on the
platform. But the truth will be directly revealed unto you only
if you have such devotion to the Guru. He who has obtained
Divine Grace alone will understand this.
192. More learning means more ignorance, more
egoism. This is what you will get from books. He who has
Suddha Buddhi, Pure Reason, alone can acquire that
Supreme Knowledge.
193. Wealth and position cloud the understanding.
Wealth intoxicates; position intoxicates; they put a veil. He
who studies with the help of a Guru, who has got a purified
heart, who has equipped himself with the four-not with four
lakhs ofrupees, but with the four means to salvation: Viveka,
Vairagya, Shad-Shampat and Mumukshatva-he alone can
truly understand the Upanishads.
194. Burning Vairagya is neccssary. When a man has
put some chilly-powder in your eyes, do you relish a mango,
do you get any satisfaction out of sweets? You want only a
doctor to be called, who can remove the foreign matter from
the eyes. Such a buming desire you must have for realising
God.
195. You must practise the Yoga of Synthesis. The
inner enemy is so powerful that you will have to attack him
with various weapons.
196. What is your background of thought? You should
have a new Sattvic background ofthought, and this is your
real asset.
WORDS OF WISDOM
197. If your prayers are not heard, wait for some time.
God is all-merciful. He will certainly listen to you. your
prayer must come from your heart. Then He will take care of
you.
198. Live truthfully, remain cheerfully, rejoice
whole-heartedly, realise perfectly and rest peacefully in your
own Atman.
199. Work becomes meditation. you can meditate for
half an hour in the morning and then keep up the current
throughout the day.
200. It is diffrcult to kill ego. The easier way is to
attempt to transform the ego.
33
Ghaptct III
HINTS FOR SELF.CULTURE
201. An iron sword takes away the life of so many'
You bring it in contact with the philosopher's stone and you
find that it is tumed into gold. Then it loses its harmful
nature. Even so, you have to transform this ego and make it
Sattvic so that it will lose it's poisonous nature.
202. Craving for children, wealth, property,
motor-cars-all these are attended by a number of other
cravings and worries. Therefore you should grow wise and
develop mental detachment and Vairagya for objects.
203. One thing is certain here-all must die' One thing
is certain here-youth fades away. One thing is certain
here-you are caught up in the wheel of birth and death and
suffer from various diseases- One thing is certain
here-sadhana alone can transmute your nature into
Divinity and help you to attain God-realisation.
204. Maya is tempting you in a variety of ways. The
fisherman puts a little bait on the hook' It is not out of love for
the fish that he does so. It is not out of compassion. It is not to
appease the hunger of the fish. His motive is to catch the fish'
The fishes on account of their desire to eat, jump towards the
hook. They are killed. A hunter spreads a net and throws a
few grains. It is not to feed the birds, but in order to catch
them and to kill them. Even so, Maya wants to catch the poor
Jiva. Therefore, She has put a little bit of polish, a little
pleasure-coating in the objects. The objects are pleasure
centres only for the deluded man who has no understanding,
(34)
HINTS FOR SELF-CULTURE
who has not got the subtle, sharp intellect to know the Truth
himself, who is caught in the Samsaric wheel, just as the birds
are caught up in the net.
205. He who has discrimination and dispassion, who
has studied Adhyatmic books, who has prayed constantly,
who has had Satsanga, is able to cross this Samsara.
206. Lectures are not meant for hearing, for
intellectual amusement, for nerve titillation. Whatever you
have heard you will have to put into practice in your daily
life.
207. If you are a sincere aspirant, thirsting for
God-realisation, you will soon attain the Goal.
208. One young man went to a teacher and asked him
for immediate Self-realisation. The teacher took him to a
river and immersed him in water. The boy was panting for
breath; he felt suffocated. After a few seconds the teacher
took the boy out of the water and asked him: 'Do you have
the same desire for God as you had for breath when you were
inside the water? Then only you will realise Him here and
now'.
209. God is a question of supply and demand. Do you
really thirst for His Darshan? Are you spiritually hungry for
God-realisation? Then God-realisation is before you in the
twinkling of an eye.
210. The little intellect can work only in sensual
grooves. It cannot explain the 'why' and 'how' of
transcendental problems of life. It is only intuition which
transcends reason, but does not oppose reason, which will be
able to take you to God.
35
3 KNOW THYSELF
6 2ll. ParaBhakti and Jnana are
one. Both the paths lead
to the same goal.
212. See no evil, hear no evil, talk no evil, think no
evil. This is easy to say; but difficult to practise. Put it into
practice.
213. Pranayama is very important. It purifies your
lungs and you will not suffer from asthma and tuberculosis'
214. You should discipline yourself. In the army
nowadays it is a default if any one gets an attack of malaria. If
any one gets malaria, it means he has neglected the rules of
hygiene; therefore he is punished. Such should be your
discipline, too.
215. Practise Asanas. Practise Suryanamaskaras.
Practise Pranayama. Repeat the Suryanamaskara Mantra
daily. Surya will give you strength, vim, vigour and vitality.
216. The man who has adaptability and serenity will
shine, will have a brilliant career.
217. Truth is utterly public. It cannot be hidden even if
one would try to do so. Truth persists and is expressed even in
the extreme of untruth. The extreme of Truth is the Absolute.
Untruth is a shadow of Truth. The world is untruth and the
Absolute is Truth. The world is represented by ego; the
Absolute is represented by the noumenon Being. Truth alone
triumphs, not falsehood.
218. The Atman or Brahman is beyond the reach of the
mind and the senses. These are finite, frail instruments. The
eye cannot see the eye-lashes, though it can see other objects.
It cannot see objects beyond a certain distance from it' The
infinite cannot be reached by the finite eye. Such is the case
with the other instruments of perception, too. We can
HINTS FOR SELF-CULTURE
however, infer the existence of the Supreme Being by certain
empirical facts.
219. You cannot deny your own existence. you always
feel 'l am'; 'Aham Asmi'. He who says that the Atman is
Sunya himself asserts his own existence; the denier of the
Atman exists! You cannot deny your own existence-the
existence of the one who denies the existence of the Self.
220. To live merely for the collection of a number of
earthly things, a motor car, a bungalow, some silk suits and
fashionable hats and ties and shoes, a wrist watch, a radio and
some silver teacups, is but a low and childish ideal. These
things of the dust soon vanish away like a passing dream.
221. You are familiar with the question asked at the
shop, 'Is this foreign make or merely Indian?' because you
want to purchase that which is more durable, not that which
will be spoiled quickly. How much more necessary then is
this to apply this wise maxim for the more important task of
living your life?
222. Purity of conduct and a high moral character are
the real marks of a man.
223. lt is not human form alone that bestows upon us
the status of a Man. But it is purity, moral courage and
heroism that go to make up true Manliness.
224. ln the beginning, struggle hard for sometime to
leam the art ofcontrolling your senses.
225. Be moderate in everything-eating, drinking,
talking, sleeping, mixing and moving. Excess in indulgence
brings harmful reaction.
226. Include in your daily programme a little Japa,
meditation, reflection, self-analyses, introspection,
37
38 KNOW THYSELF
self-correction, concentration, will-culture, regular exercise,
some Asanas, Pranayama, Surya-namaskaras. Then only will
you develop harmoniously all parts of your personality'
227. Take a little food. Do not overload your stomach'
Don't go to cinemas. Get up at 4 a.m., and practise Japa and
Kirtan. See your mother in all ladies' Be regular in your
Sadhana. You will be able to observe Brahmacharya while
living in the world.
228. The degree of fearlessness, of Santosha and of
peace in you is the degree ofyour progress in Sadhana: not
ieeing lights or getting Siddhis. Previously you got initated
at a mere word; now you are able to put up with insults. That
shows you are progressing in Sadhana.
229. Live in seclusion in your own house. Give up
reading of newspapers. The newspaper fills your brain with
the whole world. The mind becomes a big market. Thoughts
of God will not enter such a mind.
230. People often complain that they do not have any
progress even though they practise Japa and meditation' It is
t""ur." there still exist within them the under-currents of
Vasanas and Trishnas.
231. Sacrifice your own life in the service of others'
232. Desirelessness will make you immortal and
blissful. Desirelessness is the road to eternal peace and
wisdom.
233. Withdraw the senses from the objects. Control the
mind. Sit in solitude and meditate ceaselessly on the Self or
the Absolute that abides in your heart.
234. Walk bravely and steadily on the spiritual path in
accordance with the teachings of your Guru or spiritual
HINTS FOR SELF-CULTURE
preceptor. Your eye which is covered by the cataract of
ignorance will be cleansed by the collyrium of your Guru's
nectarine instructions.
235. You have created your own bondage through
your desires, attachments, egoism and cravings, and you cry
for emancipation. You are like the spider which weaves a
web and gets entangled in it.
236. You have become a beggar ofbeggars on account
of your desires. You have bound yourself by identifying
yourself with the illusory, impermanent body, mind, Prana
and the senses.
237. Know your real divine nature. Come out of this
earthly rut. You are lions, not sheep. You are real emperors,
not beggars. You are children of God. Amrita-Putra, not
weaklings tied to this perishable earth.
238. Culture is the key to the realms ofpeace, harmony
and progress. It is lack of culture that misguides humanity
into chaos, wars and hatred.
239. A man who puts on a beautiful suit, who smokes
cigarette and goes to cinema and clubs is called a cultured
man!No.
240. A really culrured man is one who is ethically
perfect. Culture is the process of conversion of the animal
nature in man through the human, into the Divine.
241. Real culture removes the veil that hides man's
essential, divine nature. That culture is rigorous
self-discipline. That is real education.
242. Eiltcation should aim at perfecting the student
and enable him to manifest the Divinity that is hidden in him.
243. Real culture, real education, lies in the practice of
39
40 KNOW THYSELF
Yoga. Yoga enables you to develop your body, mind, heart,
will and spirit harmoniously.
244. Yoga Asanas and Pranayama, which will purify
the body and mind, will remove all diseases and will help in
concentration and meditation.
245. Worldly pleasures are like scratching for itching.
Do not trust your intellect when it tells you that there is
pleasure in the objects.
246. lf you want to get a microscope lens, you will
have to grind, grind and grind. If you want to realise that
infinite Brahman, you will have to practise, practise and
practise.
247. Yo:ucan win the hearts of all through adaptability'
248. Asanas keep the spine elastic. You will be ever
young.
249. When you withdraw the senses from the objects,
when you tum the mind inwards, then you will find the
Atman, not otherwise.
250. You should never have your meditation room by
the side of the kitchen. The smell of Sambhar and Chutney
will raise Sambhar and Chutney-Vrittis in your mind and you
won't be able to meditate at all.
25 l. You want money, and God-realisation, too. That'
is not possible. Moha for this world must be destroyed if you
want God.
252. If yonput water in a broken pot, it will leak away.
Similarly, if you have no Vairagya, all the wealth of Sadhana
that you acquire will leak away.
253. A Yogi is he whose life itself is a translation of
Yoga.
HINTS FOR SELF-CULTURE 4I
254. You should get up in Brahmamuhurtha and
meditate. This is the best time for divine contemplation. The
mind is calm. It is like a blank sheet of paper. You can mould
it in any way you like. The worldly currents of Raga-Dvesha
have not entered it at this time.
255. The whole essence of spiritual life is contained in
these few words: BE GOOD and DO GOOD. Practise this;
you have become a Jivanmukta.
256. You can then deliver the Message of Vedanta
which alone can unite all religions and creeds on a common
platform. Vedanta is a religion of love.
257. Love and Prem can stop all wars and can
transform the people who manufacture atomic bombs.
258. When all 'pathies,' fail, it is Namo-pathy that is
our last resort.
259. He who has no adaptability will not be able to do
any real service.
260. There are many wiseacres, but few are wise. He is
a man of wisdom who is ever balanced in the pairs of
opposites, serene and merged in his own consciousness.
Glory be to him.
261. Unattached service does not mean indifferent
work. Selfless actions are not soul-less, heart-less actions.
You should put your heart and soul in all that you do.
Remember always that you are serving the Lord Himself in
all.
262. KarmaYoga is skill in action. It is a great art. You
have to take as much interest in each act that you perform
daily as an artist takes in his dearly-loved paintings.
263. Joy is to the pure. Peace is to the sinless.
42 KNOW THYSELF
Happiness is to the virtuous. Perfection is to the knower.
Immortality is to the Sage. Therefore, O Children of Light,
purify your heart, be righteous, do virtuous actions and attain
Immortality in this very birth.
264. Take the fullest advantage of this human birth.
Have a rich inner divine life. May divine Grace illumine your
spiritual path. May the divine Power actuate you to perform
great noble and selfless actions. May the divine Grace
transform you into Divinity.
265. Observe Mauna for a short while. This will curb
the impulse of speech. You will not be easily agitated by
harsh words. You will have a balanced mind. Mauna is very
necessary for spiritual progress. The organ of speech must be
well disciplined.
266. Sleep always disturbs the aspirant. Take light
food at night; dash cold water on the face when sleep tries to
overpower you; stand up, and do Japa standing for some
time; practise Bhastrika-these practices will drive off
sleepiness during meditation.
267. Dharma is the eternal law on which the universe
rests and by which the universe is governed.
268. Dharma controls the pulse of the nation, of the
world, of the universe.
269. Divine Life is Dharma. A perfectly moral and
ethical life is Dharma. Loving all equally as one loves one's
own self is Dharma.
27O. A strictly virtuous life, rooted in absolute justice
and based on a spiritual sense of values and a spiritual
outlook on life is Dharma.
HINTS FOR SELF-CULTURE
271. The mark of Dharma is Achara or good conduct.
Achara is the mark of the good.
272. That which brings well-being to man is Dharma.
273. Morality is the gateway to religion. He who leads
a moral or virtuous life attains freedom, perfection or
Moksha.
274. Good conduct is the root of material and spiritual
prosperity.
275. There is one life, one consciousness in all beings.
This is the foundation of right conduct. This is the foundation
of ethics.
276. lf you want success in life, if you want to
influence others, if you want to progress well in the spiritual
path, if you wish to have God-realisation, you must possess
an unblemished or spotless character.
277. Character is a mighty soul-force. It is like the
sweet flower that wafts its fragrance far and wide.
278. Personality is character only.
279. O Jijnasu, all is well with him whose heart is
turned towards the Real. He indeed is miserable that seeketh
what really is not.
280. A virtuous life and a clean conscience give a great
deal of comfort to man while living and at the time after his
death also.
281. Drinking, smoking and many other vices exist
because man does not know how to relax.
282. Guard your mind as a miser guards his treasure.
Find out for yourself the doors through which Satan tries to
enter your mind; keep a special watch over there.
43
44 KNOW THYSELF
283. Keep a watch over your eyes. Let them not look
here and there. As you walk on the road, keep them fixed on
the ground a few yards ahead ofyou. Keep a watch over your
ears.
284. A study of Gita will produce in you a thirst for
leading the Divine Life and for attaining God-realisation.
285. You are not prepared to expose your own defects
nor even to admit them. If someone finds out your defects
and mentions them, you are annoyed.
286. But you are ready to superimpose bad qualities on
others. This is the nature of the self-assertive, Rajasic mind. It
feels: 'Everyone should listen to my opinion, and do as I say.'
Ifyou wish to crush this evil nature, you should always think:
'He knows much better than I'; you should respect
everybody. Then you will evolve rapidly; and you will grow
in divinity.
287. Wherever Ram Nam is recited there is Vaikuntha.
288. Wherever people are engaged in selfless service
to the poor, the sick, the needy and the suffering, there is
Vaikuntha.
289. Wherever people meditate on the One,
All-pervading, Immortal Atman, the Self that pervades all
and in which everything dwells, there is Vaikuntha.
290. Generosity is the key to cosmic consciousness.
291. All religions teach man to acquire virtue. Only
certain non-essentials differ.
292. Every religion says'There is One Supreme Being
or God, call Him by whatever name you like, Brahman,
Allah, God, Jehovah, Substance, Self-luminous, self-existent
HINTS FOR SELF-CULTURE
Light of lights, eternal Peace and Bliss.' That is thc nature of
the Atman or Brahman or God.
293. Every religion says that through purifying your
heart you willbe able to realise this God. For the purification
of your heart, various methods are prescribed.
294. Your strength is based on bank balance! This
bank balance will not last for ever. When this bank balance is
lost, you lose your balance of mind, too. You should know
that Sciencc that will enable you to keep the mind ever
balanced in all adverse conditions.
295. When the mind moves towards the Atman, the
Indweller, you derive ineffable peace and bliss.
296. The more you meditate, by withdrawing the
mind, the more perfectly will you be established in your own
Atman, which will give you ever-lasting Peace, eternal Bliss.
297. Egoism is a barrier that separates man from man,
that separates you from the one Pure, Common
Consciousness. Annihilate the egoism and realise the Self.
298. Raga-Dvesha play havoc in the world. They
assume four forms. They are in the expanded state in worldly
people. For nothing at all, they get upset, they get angry.
Sometimes they assume a hidden form. The husband is
quarrelling with his wife,-the child comes, the father kisses
it-now the hatred or the anger is temporarily overlapped by
this love for the child; anger is hidden and love manifests
itself. This is called the Vichchinna Avastha. In those who
practise Yoga-Sadhana, Raga-dvesha assume the Tanu
Avastha; they are thinned out. In the Yogi who rests in
Samadhi, they die out, Dagdha Avastha.
45
46 KNOW THYSELF
299. Raga can be destroyed by Vairagya or dispassion.
Dvesha can be dcstroyed by the cultivation of cosmic love.
300. Every day, side by side, along with your duties,
practise meditation. This is your foremost duty. This should
not be neglected on any account.
301. You have shed tears which would fill an ocean. In
childhood you wept, in youth you wept, in middle age you
are weeping, and in old age you will weep still more. yet, you
are not attempting to free yourself. How many calamities and
sorrows you have passed through! Yet the desire for attaining
Supreme Peace does not arise in you.
Chaptct N
ESSENCE OF RELIGION
302. Do not be duped by these glittering objects of
sensual enjoyment; by this passing youth you will have to sit
and repent and weep.
303. Enquire 'Who am I?'; know the Sell and be free.
Serve, love, give, purify, sing, meditate, realise. Be good, do
good; be kind; be compassionate. This is the teaching of all
religions.
304. Ram Nam destroys Rajas and Tamas and fills
your mind with Sattva.
305. Practise Satyam, Ahimsa and Brahmacharya.
This is the foundation of Yoga and Vedanta.
306. The man who does not appreciate music and who
does not appreciate the harmony of sounds is fit to be put into
prison. He has a hard heart.
307. God does not look for your external marks. He
looks for your Bhavana.
308. If you destroy your egoism, and do unreserved
Atma-nivedana to the Lord, He will play on this body-flute
nicely and bring out melodious tunes.
309. Divine Life is a synthesis of service, devotion and
knowledge.
310. It is not a dry philosophical doctrine. It is the
Yoga of Synthesis which is eminently suited to the people of
this age.
3 t l. It is practical religion. It enables you to converse
(47)
48 KNOW THYSELF
with God daily, hourly, minute after minute. In such
communion lies supreme goodness, eternal joy and
immortality.
312. Kindle the fire of faith and devotion in your heart.
You will discover on this very earth the Kingdom of God, full
of happiness and prosperity.
313. Live in God and make others live in God every
moment, through Kirtan, through Japa, through regular
meditation and Satsanga.
314. Divine Life means a thorough transformation of
your lower nature and becoming divine.
315. Live a life of service, Kirtan, Japa and meditation.
Disseminate spiritual knowledge to all. That is the greatest
service you can render to man. It is the greatest charity that
you can do.
316. It is only when man and woman both lead the
Divine Life will there be harmony in the house, peace in
society and prosperity on earth. Both man and woman will
then be able to march forward towards the
Goal-God-realisation.
317. Religion must be practical. Religion is not a
subject for discussion on the club table.
318. All religions have come from one source. There is
no religion for God; but He has given us different paths to
suit different types of people, who are in different grades of
evolution.
319. All religions point to the same goal. All religions
ask you to control the mind, to control the senses, to find out
the one, common Consciousness that is hidden in all these
names and forms.
ESSENCE OF RELIGION
320. When the senses are withdrawn from the objects,
when the mind is stilled and the intellect transcended, the
inner eye of intuition is opened and man sees everything as
God.
321. Universal Love is the golden key to the realm of
the Unity of Existence.
322. Similarly, Lord Krishna, Lord Jesus, Lord
Buddha, Lord Mohammed, Lord Zoroaster, Confucius
-all
of them have delivered the same Message of Love and Unity,
only in different words to suit their audience.
323. All the paths, though seemingly different from
each other, lead the aspirant to the same Goal.
324. Try to find out the good in all religions. Every
religion has produced the greatest seers and saviours. Yotr
should respect all saints belonging to all religions.
325. Real religion is transcendental, beyond the mind
and the senses. Real religion is the attainment of
God-consciousness, Self-realisation.
326. Every religion has come from God. There is no
religion for a Sage. Every religion is good.
327. Religion should enter your bone and every cell of
your being. Then you will enter into the realm of Universal
Religion, the religion of love, the religion of Vedanta, of
oneness and unity.
328. Patience is a fundamental virnre. You sit for
meditation; you get up after ten minutes. You are impatient.
Cultivate patience. Then only will you become a dynamic
body of sincere workers, radiating joy, peace and bliss, the
message of Love, of Unity, of Oneness.
329. lt you have a cup of milk and a hungry man is
50 KNOW THYSELF
walking along the road, you must run, not even wait for him
to come and ask you-and offer him the milk and yourself go
without it.
330. Do not wait for opportunities to knock at your
door; look for opportunities.
331. If you find a sick man on the road, you must stop
your car and take him to the hospital. Such service does not
need much money. Serve with your body. Do not lose even
one opportunity.
332. Thousands of people are in distress. Cheer them
up; sing a song; give them a message of hope.
333. The basis of lasting unity of all humanity is
religion of Pure Love.
334. Karma is infallible, immutable and Divine.
335. A pure heart melts at the suffering of others.
336. Do not think that Sankirtan is in any way inferior
to Raja Yoga.
337. Life is short; time is fleeting. Apply yourself
diligently to Yogic Sadhana.
338. Remember that the pleasure-centres are only
wombs of pain.
339. For a man of discrimination everything is pain.
340. Once you get real peace and bliss by regular
meditation in the early morning, then you will find it
impossible to take the mind away from the lotus feet of the
Lord, you will not like to miss a day's meditation.
341. Unattached to the things of this world, you will be
enjoying the Atmic Bliss within, which is the life you will
have to lead in this world. That is Divine Life.
ESSENCE OF RELIGION
342. First you must have a strong conviction that you
will get etemal bliss, everlasting joy, which the mind is
hankering after, in your own Atman only, and that you can
get only pain here. Otherwise, you can have no progress in
the spiritual path.
343. lf a man places before you a very delicious dish
and says 'I have added a little bit of arsenic (poison) in it',
will you touch it even if you are hungry? You dare not. Even
so, you must think that in all the objects of the world a little
arsenic has been added.
344. There is danger everywhere for the heedless.
345. A fisherman puts a worm on the hook; it is not out
of compassion for the hungry fish. He wants to catch the fish.
A hunter throws a few grains on the net, not on account of his
love for the birds and his desire to feed them, but to catch
them and kill them. Even so Maya puts a little bit of sugar
coating on the bitter quinine pills of sense enjoyments. The
Jiva is deceived.
346. Asannyasin is one who has no money of his own,
but who operates on the cheques and banks and purses ofthe
whole world.
347. If you feel all are manifestations of the Lord, you
will not try to cheat any one.
348. Nothing in the world can conquer you if you are
rooted in righteousness, ifyou have the Lord Himselfon your
side. Stick to truth. Stick to Dharma.
349. Throw away worldly power and riches as broken
pieces ofglass.
350. If you are rooted in Ahimsa, your very presence
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52 KNOW THYSELF
will radiate love. A look or a glance from your eyes will
convert a butcher into a saint.
351. Practice of Asanas even for five minutes daily
will go a long way in maintaining your health.
352. Health is the greatest asset. Health is wealth. This
health is ensured by the practice of Asanas, Pranayama and
Suryanamaskara.
353. Belief in God and faith in Him alone can bestow a
stable firm character on a student.
354. Only if the teacher is virtuous will the students be
virtuous. Ineligious parents produce irreligious children.
Ineligious teachers can produce only ineligious students.
355. Only religion points to you the way to control the
mind and to discipline the senses.
356. That place is Vaikuntha where His Names are
sung and the Lord is worshipped. That place is Kailasa where
there is generosity, simple-mindedness, humility and other
divine virtues. That place is Satyaloka where truth is spoken
and practised. That place is Brahma-Loka where people live
in a dynamic awareness of the unity of Godhead.
357. You should be ever peaceful, blissful and
contented. These are the marks of a lover of God.
358. Collective Sadhana and mass prayers and Kirtan
have a tremendous elevating effect. In a minute all are
transported to elysian heights of bliss and peace.
359. Satsanga with advanced Sadhakas, saints and
Yogis is the greatest boon on earth.
360. What can be achieved by ages of Tapas and study
can be achieved in a very short time by Satsanga.
ESSENCE OF RELIGION
361. The lop-sided system of education nowadays
goes on battering this strong fortress and tempts the woman
away from her glorious sphere of activity through baits of
equality with man.
362. Non-cooperation is the most ancient weapon that
the Sages of India taught the people for attaining spirinral
independence.
363. Do you know the technique of this
non-cooperation? It is non-cooperation with the mind, the
lower, impure mind which prompts you to do all sorts of evil
acts.
364. It you fast on a sacred day, the prayer mood
comes by itself. You should fast completely on Ekadasi. At
first it looks forbidding. Later, when you enjoy the bliss of
meditation, then you will eagerly look forward to the
Ekadasi-day.
365. The religion of Vedanta is the religion of love, the
religion of the heart, the religion of oneness.
366. Only when you perceive something other than
your Self, do you subject yourselfto fear.
367. The education of girls is a fundamental question
on which everything rests. The progress and prosperity of a
community or a nation depends entirely on the education of
its women.
368. Only the right type of education of women can
raise India to her original sublime condition.
369. Sadhana is a means to attain this goal of human
life. Without Sadhana no one can achieve the purpose of life.
Sadhana means any spiritual practice that helps the Sadhaka
or aspirant to realise God.
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54 KNOW THYSELF
370. Abhyasa and Sadhana are synonymous terms.
This Sadhana differs in different individuals according to the
capacity, temperament and taste. Everyone must do some
kind of Sadhana to attain the state of final beatitude.
371. If you follow the path of devotion, you should do
Japa, read the holy scriptures such as Bhagavata or
Ramayana. You should practise Navavidha Bhakti. You
should observe Vratas, do Anushtana, offer prayers and
Manasic Puja. You should also serve humanity, for the Lord
dwells in all beings.
372. Those who take up the path of Vedanta or Jnana
Yoga should acquire first the Four Means-Viveka,
Vairagya, Shad Sampat and Mumukshutva. Then they
should approach a Brahma Nishta Guru and hear the truth
from him. Through such hearing, reflection and meditation,
they will attain Atma Sakshatkara.
373. Sadhana is the road to peace, to happiness, to
prosperity and immortality.
374. Yoga is not something that is completely
divorced from daily life. On the contrary, Yoga and daily life
must be made to merge into each other.
375. Yoga is cessation from thinking of particulars,
annihilation of the feeling of separateness or individuality,
existing as ONE and UNIFIED with all. Yoga is the
dissolution of thought in eternal awareness, pure
consciousness without objectification, knowing without
thinking, merging finitude in infinity.
376. Only those Sadhakas whose minds are purified by
vigorous service and Sadhana, will be benefited by a life of
solitude.
ESSENCE OF RELIGION
377 . True religion is not a set of rituals, nor bundle of
dogmas. True religion is the religion that appeals to every
man, that should be practised by every man, that is common
to all, universal, and that leads one and all to the same goal.
378. What is most important is the practice of a
religion that has high morality and ethical perfection as its
basis, and selflessness and cosmic love as its manifestations.
379. To serve and not wait to be served is the secret of
harmony, joy and human well-being.
380. Shifting the emphasis from privilege to duty is the
golden key to peace, plenty and prosperity.
381. A solemn determination to do one's duty, and the
cultivation of a spirit of selfless service, are the brick and
mortar that are indispensable for every selfless worker,
Karma Yogi.
382. Ifyou are not attached to the fruits ofyour action,
if you do your work for work's sake, then you do not
accumulate any more Karma for the next birth.
383. Selfless service is the direct road to
Self-realisation.
384. The secret ofselfless service is to concentrate all
your attention on serving, on performing your duty, and
leaving the privileges to take care of themselves and not to
long for them.
385. Selfishness and cravings for privilege fatten the
ego and thus take you farther from the divine.
386. Share what you have with others. Feel that your
own Self pervades all beings. See your own Self in everyone
you see. These should be the great Mantras that every man
and woman of the land should constantly repeat.
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56 KNOW THYSELF
387. Difficult it is to understand the nature of the
Absolute. Still more difficult is the Sadhana for its
attainment. But everything is easy for an aspirant who is
endowed with a pure heart, buming dispassion, intense
longing for liberation and indomitable vigour in Sadhana.
388. The Lord is easily attainable through the path of
devotion.
389. To know Him in truth, you have to completely
crush your ego; and Bhakti or one-pointed devotion to the
Lord is the easiest method of achieving this Herculean task,
for in this method the Sadhaka has the benefit of the Lord,s
Grace quickly descending on him. The final, slender (though
extremely strong) thread of egoism is cut asunder by the
Lord's Grace.
390. Even a stone will melt sometime; but this ego is as
hard as ever.
391. Another and a very potent antidote to the poison
of egoism is Karma Yoga; Karma Yoga with Bhakti as its
basis. Think of Siva always. Meditate on Siva always. Repeat
mentally Siva's Name always. And doing all actions always,
amidst the intensest activity, if you take refuge in Siva,
through His Grace, you will attain the Supreme Abode of
Siva. It is impossible for embodied beings to remain doing
nothing.
392. To be engaged in action, without the attitude of
Yoga, is to feed the egoism, to strengthen the bonds that bind
you to Samsara.
393. Ahamkara or egoism is your arch enemy. It is
born of ignorance. The real secret of divine life lies only in
the renunciation of this dire egoism.
394. His thoughts would be pure, his speech sweet and
his actions divine. That is the mark of a Karma yogi.
ESSENCE OF RELIGION
395. There is only one golden-key to the mansion of
egolessness. It is total unreserved self-surrender to the Will
of the Lord. It demands a pure, kind heart, transformed by
service and devotion.
396. The spiritual aspirant is never helpless. The entire
existence is supporting him in his arduous struggle, for he is
searching for something which is true to all. One may dislike
a certain thing of the world, but Truth can be hated by none. If
all the fourteen worlds were to face him in battle, the spiritual
aspirant would count them for a straw. For he is the Immortal
Spirit, he knows that, the ruler of the heaven and earth, and
the universes at large. You have nothing to fear, friend, God
is ever with you.
397. The might of thought and the strength of feeling
melt into the glory of Experience. The finite is dead and the
Infinite is bom at the very same moment. The birth of day and
the death of night are simultaneous.
398. Faith is even more vital to you than breathing
itself.
399. Without faith you cannot live for a minute' In
faith does the world exist. Even blind faith is preferable to
doubt, scepticism and atheism.
400. The man of blind faith will soon stumble upon
truth and it willgive him a new vision. But a sceptic will go
forth from darkness to greater darkness to his own ultimate
ruin.
401. Mind, too, is so framed that if you do not feed it
on the positive side meditation, it will either project the world
of diversity (through Vikshepa Sakti) or merely go to sleep
(through its Avarana Sakti). You will sink into Tamas.
57
Ghaptet V
LIGHT ON LIBERATION
402. A person's conception of God, his mode of
meditation on Him, colours his activity during the day.
403. Action is not binding. It is the motive that is
binding.
404. Selfless service is not only not binding, it is
positively liberating.
405. By enjoying all sorts of comforts at otherpeople's
expense without giving anything in return, you are only
amassing more Karma, binding yourself more and more fast
to the wheel of Samsara.
406. Maya clouds man's understanding and at the
slightest relaxation ofone's efforts, selfishness creeps in.
407. Maya divides man from man. This division
creates selfishness.
CULTIVATE FAITH
408. Faith in God must be restored. It is lack of this
faith and man's unconditional surrender to Science that is the
cause of almost all the human ills.
409. Minus faith in the Higher Power, God, man easily
slips into the bestial kingdom; selfishness, lust, greed,
violence, etc., result.
410. Intellect should not be trusted. It is finite and frail.
It is impotent when man is assailed by temptations; it is put
(s8)
LIGHT ON LIBERATION
out of action when man is under chloroform or intoxicants; it
is absent in deep sleep. Everyone should acquire the eye of
intuition; intuition transcends but does not contradict pure
reason. Intuition can be developed through faith, devotion,
and purity of heart.
411. Purity of heart is to be achieved through
meditation, prayer, Japa, Kirtan, Svadhyaya or study of
sacred scriptures, and most important of all, selfless service
to humanity.
412. Japa of Lord's Name is your real wealth'
Everything else will pass away. The bungalows, the bank
balance, the cars and gardens, do not constitute your real
wealth. They will not give you peace of mind. You cannot
purchase peace of mind. You can have peace and bliss only in
Him. fo Vai Bhuma Tat Sukham. Remember this always'
413. You should feel that you are only a trustee for the
wealth you possess. Then only will you acquire the real
wealth of God's Grace.
414. Faith heals, faith creates, faith works wonders,
faith moves mountains. Faith is the sacred light for finding
God. Faith makes the weak strong and the timid brave' Faith
makes the impossible possible. Therefore have unflinching
perfect faith in the Lord.
THE GREAT TRUTH
415. A thing is only a force whirling in a particular
direction. One Being is separated from the other due to the
difference in the method of whirling of the Universal Force'
Man is different from a tree because the two are different
processes of the movement of the Eternal Force. This Force is
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60 KNOW THYSELF
imperishable, etemal. When two beings have a slightly
similar movement of these forces or atoms or electrons, they
become friends; when they are identical in movement they
merge into one another and form one Being. The whole
universe is only a diverse movement of the One Energy.
When the whirling of this Force becomes in a common way
then the whole world collapses into etemal Existence.
416. Emperor of emperors art Thou-of the Elysian
Empire behind all these physical phenomena. Thou art the
silent witness of the rise and fall ofkingdoms, of the joys and
follies of the earth, ever merged in the consciousness of thy
essential, undivided, immortal Nature. That thou art, O
Jijnasu!
417. Through meditation and Japa you can alter your
destiny.
418. If you surrender your individual will at the altar of
the Divine Will, you instantly transcend all Karmas and you
instantly burn up all Samskaras and Vasanas. you become
divine.
419. Let everything that you see remind you of Him.
420. Existence is One. It is hidden in all beings like
butter in milk, like fire in wood, like electricity in the wires,
like oil in the seed.
421. He who is endowed with discrimination and
dispassion,-he is the King ofkings, because he has acquired
the supreme inexhaustible wealth which no dacoits can rob of
him.
CONDITIONS PRE.REQUISITE
422. People whose mind is impure, who are full of
LIGHT ON LIBERATION
jealousy and other evil qualities, who are petty-minded,
cannot realise God.
423. Through the practice of Pranayama, Upasana,
worship and prayer, you can remove the oscillation or
fluctuation of the mind; then the mind becomes fit for the
higher practices of concentration and meditation and for
entering into Samadhi.
424. Dive deep into the chambers of your heart and
regain the Atmic pearl which the dacoit-mind has robbed you
of.
425. The Higher Self is your friend, guide and
philosopher; it guides you with its shrill small voice of
conscience. The lower mind is your enemy-it keeps you
bound to the wheel of Samsara.
426. Remember this; your duty is to purify your heart
and to make it fit for the reception of Divine Light.
427. So long as your individuality lasts, you cannot
realise Him.
428. The Lord is gracious. He has given you countless
opportunities to evolve and attain Him. He has assured us in
the Gita that whenever there is decay of righteousness, He
manifests Himself. He comes to us in various forms. He
comes as our spiritual preceptor. One who has realised Him
partakes of His Power and Grace. For a Sadhaka the Guru is
as good as God Himself.
429. The Guru can shower his Grace upon you all; and
he can enlighten you. He is the visible representative of the
Lord. But you must serve the Guru, Prostrate to Him,
surrender yourself to him and through enquiry, you must
obtain from him the Knowledge of the Self.
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62 KNOW THYSELF
430. Only non-essentials differ; but the essentials or
fundamentals which will mould you and develop you into a
Superman and make you marge in the One Common
Consciousness are the same in all religions.
431. It is only some petty-minded people who have not
understood the real essence ofreligion, that quarrel.
432. No religion is superior to another. All religions
take you to the same goal, the summum bonum, that is
Existence-Knowledge-Bliss Absolute, and give you
freedom, perfection, immortality and perennial joy. Religion
must be lived daily.
433. Vairagya did not necessarily mean running away
to the forest.
THE ROLE OF SANNYASINS
434. Sannyasins and Bhikshus are the very life-breath
of a nation. Without men of renunciation and spiritual leaders
there can be no peace or happiness in the world.
435. No doubt the path of renunciation is a thomy one;
it is the razor's edge. But there will always be brave, heroic
men of discrimination and dispassion who will be fired with
the zeal to renounce the world and lead the life of Nivritti and
attain Self-realisation.
436. But it is the duty of an enlightened society to
support such men of renunciation and to help them in every
possible way in their quest of truth.
437. They, in their tum, would serve the society and
give men and women the priceless spiritual food.
438. It is the duty of saints and elder Sannyasins to
protect spiritually thirsting aspirants.
LIGHT ON LIBERATION
439. Nothing on earth gladdens a saint's heart as
finding a real thirsting aspirant'
YOGA FOR MODERI\ MAN
440. The Yoga of Synthesis with a stress on one
system is the most suited Yoga for the present age.
441. Always repeat the Name of the Lord. Merely
doing one or two Maalas of Japa will not do. All the day you
should repeat His Name. Then alone will His Grace descend
upon you and save you. This is a very easy form ofSadhana'
442. Sewice will give you opportunities for analysing
yourself and finding out the impurities that lurk in you'
443. When you have some sweetmeats, distribute them
to others' children first, before giving them to your own
children. This is the way to develop the heart.
444. Give to the scavenger the fruits that you would
take yourself. Do not give him stale plantain fit only to be
tlrown away.
445. Without cleansing your mind, you cannot
understand Vedanta. Some people foolishly go on repeating
'Soham, Soham'. What do they understand by Soham? They
think that the body is the Atman' What else can they
understand? Their mind is full of dirt. They do not practise
Karma Yoga and Bhakti Yoga. They speak derisively of
these; they jump to Jnana Yoga. In the end, they achieve
nothing at all.
446. Understanding will come only when the mind is
purified of its dross through selfless service and Upasana'
iherefore, I say again-serve, love, purify, meditate and
realise.
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64 KNOW THYSELF
447. lt is the individual peace that paves the way
towards the universal peace.
448. The Yoga of Synthesis alone is suitable for this
modem age.
449. The four Yogas are inseparable. Service purifies,
expands the heart. Service unifies, Love unifies. Without
service and love you cannot dream of attaining Advaitic
realisation even in crores of lives. Bhakti yoga is the
fulfilment of Karma Yoga. Raja Yoga is the fulfilment of
Karma Yoga and Bhakti Yoga. Jnana yoga is the fulfilment
of Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Raja yoga.
450. Do not think that you are very wise and that you
have understood everything; you know nothing, my friend.
You are deceived. There is an ocean yet, and you have not
tasted even a full drop.
451. If He begins to give with His infinite hands, how
much will you be able to receive with your two hands? And if
He begins to take away with His infinite hands, how much
will you hide away from Him with your two hands?
452. Real peace and blessedness can never be got from
perishable objects of this transitory world of vanishing
names and forms.
453. There is no true joy in the imperfect experience of
extemal life beset with pain, sorrow, disappointment,
disease, decay and death.
454. The inner tranquility of the soul, the fullness of
inward bliss (which constitutes your real nature) and the
unalloyed joy of rich Atmic experience alone can give you
ultimate satisfaction and rest.
LIGHT ON LItsERATION
REAL RELIGION
455. Religion teaches you the right way to this
unalloyed joy and blessedness.
456. Thus to be full of bliss, to manifest Love and
Oneness in your day-to-day life constitutes true religion.
457. Unity and Universal Love form the very essence
of religion.
458. Yoga is that science that leads you on to
Self-realisation.
459. Yoga aims at bestowing upon you the
transcendental consciousness of Satchidananda, of
tranquility, infinity and immortality.
460. The world is wicked, not for want of truth but for
lack of true followers.
461. Spiritualising of life does not mean that you
should abandon your family and all activities.
462. Yirya or the vital force in man, the Prana and the
mind form an interdependent trio.
463. Thus you will now see that Pranayama wisely and
carefully practised is a thing that helps you to control and
preserve the vital force and also to subdue and curb the
restless mind.
464. Pranayama thus helps to sublimate the grosser
aspect in man and to facilitate the process of concentration
and meditation through the controlled mind.
465. lt also helps in the transformation of the qualities
in the aspirant from the lower animal into the higher divine
by the eradication of Tamas, control of Rajas and
establishment of Sattva in the practitioner.
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66 KNOW THYSELF
466. The Wisdom of the East has solved the 'riddle of
life,' the 'riddle of Universe,' and it boldly proclaims, 'O
man! Know thyself and be free.' This Wisdom is the
crowning glory of the religion of the Vedas. It is sublime,
lofty and soul stirring. Acquire this Wisdom and attain
Immortality.
467 . lf you have firm determination and if you have
full faith in God, the razor's edge will be transformed into a
flower-bed.
468. The tongue is a double-edged sword. You should
use it with the utmost caution.
469. Renounce the fruits of all your actions. Be not
attached to the actions; do not long for reward. Then you will
experience Santi or peace.
470. Do not mistake inertia for inner peace. Do not
mistake dullness for even-minded tranquility.
471. Do not waste Sundays. Give up reading
newspapers. Newspapers do not give you Santi. They only
fill your mind with all sorts of information that disturbs your
mind.
WOMEN SHOULD BE TRAINED
472. The society in which only one-half (Man) has
been spiritually inspired and guided is like a bird flying with
one wing. It can hardly move an inch forward. So also it is
only when both Man and Woman lead the Divine Life will
both of them be ableto march forward with bold and gigantic
strides to the Great Goal-God-realisation.
473. ln spite of the many inroads into Indian culture of
alien materialistic ideologies, India has been able to maintain
LIGHT ON LIBERATION
the essential structure of Her ancient civilisation. This is
because, the Indian cradle song has been one of spirituality. It
is the mother that is responsible for indelibly carving out on
the baby's mind the spiritual impressions. Glory to the Indian
mother, the maker of saints and sages.
414. The mother should be awakened to the true
purpose of LIFE so that she may lead the DIVINE LIFE
herself, lead her children too and enable them to lead the
DIVINE LIFE. The family whose members lead the DIVINE
LIFE is really a blessed family of DEVAS.
PEARLS OF WISDOM
475. Education should be a living process of touching
and awakening in the young student's heart the latent
spiritual faculties and potentialities.
476. Even if you repeat'HARI' once, Himalayan sins
will be bumt in the twinkling of an eye, and you will attain
Mukti.
477. lfyou have a poor constricted heart, ifyou cannot
joyously feed a poor man who comes to your door for a little
food, you cannot expect to have God-realisation.
478. You can completely eradicate all evil qualities
through self-punishment.
479. Whenever you fail in your resolve, punish your
self. Fast for a day; or give up a night meal. Do more
Japa-fifty Maalas for each lapse. Devise your own
self-punishments. The more rigorous the punishments, the
faster will the evils disappear.
480. The Spiritual Quest of mankind finds its
culmination in the Sage. With Danda and Kamandalu the
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Sage walks out of his house, to let the glory of his forefathers
be known throughout the world.
481. The helm of the ship of your life is in your own
hands.
482. The impulse to throw the blame on circumstances
is a trick of the mind. It is a weapon of Maya.
483. Nothing succeeds like success.
484. No one can achieve Moksha for your sake. No
one is standing in the way of your attainment of salvation,
either.
485. There is no easier way of giving up a bad habit
than giving it up.
486. Even though you have not actually given up the
evil habit, you will find that when you indulge in it, you will
begin to experience, first a greatly decreased pleasure, then
an indifference and, in due course, repulsion. The habit will
drop away.
487. ltis most important that you should be regular in
your morning and night reflection (Vichara). This Vichara is
your sheet-anchor. Without it, you will drift away, and the
habit will continue to hold sway over you.
488. Just as a Sub-Judge wants to become a District
Judge, a District Judge wants to be promoted as a High Court
Judge and a High Court Judge to get another promotion to the
rank of a Supreme Court Judge, so also in Sadhana you
should always aim higher and higher and aspire for higher
and higher grades of spiritual attainments.
489. O Man! Follow your own religion, but stick to its
fundamental spiritual ideals. Draw up a progralnme for your
life, and that shall constitute the preparation for the joumey
LIGHT ON LIBERATION
towards Divine Life. You do not live on earth for the sake of
talking about the WHY, WHAT and HOW of God and
religion, but to lead a virtuous spiritual life with a broad
feeling, careful understanding, devotion to Truth and
tolerance towards all beings.
490. Religion is meant to steer the ship of evolution
across the cycle of birth and death. It is not intended for the
purpose of discussion, argument and logic. It is meant for
being and doing.
491. The fundamental point of all religions is
selflessness. This is the beginning of Divine Illumination.
The golden rule of every religion is "Do unto others as you
wish to be done by."
492. For a thirsting aspirant who is full of
discrimination and buming dispassion and who is endowed
with the six-fold virtues and devotion to the Guru, God is
very near.
493. Brahman is the greatest reality like the apple in
the palm of your hand, to those who are endowed with the
Four Means.
494. Good and evil have existed from Anadi-kala, the
very beginning of creation.
495. The very first words you teach the child should be
the Lord's Names. The very first idea that you put into the
boy's mind should be spiritual and moral.
496. To the young boy you should teach the glory of a
spiritual life, the purpose of morality, the principles of
cleanliness, hygiene and health.
497. Obstinacy should be met by firmness spiced with
love; ignorance should be met by knowledge coated with
69
70 KNOW THYSELF
compassion; idiocy should be countered with intelligence
coupled with kindness.
498. Kindly do not forget. Only if you are religious
will your children be religious.
499. You should be regular in your Japa, Kirtan and
Dhyana. If you neglect these, you will lose Brahma-Tejas;
and your children will imitate you and become worse
meterialists. If you are spiritual, your sons will grow into
Yogis and Jnanis.
500. A Guru is extremely essential in the spiritual path.
You must daily worship your Guru. You must first invoke his
blessings before commencing your daily Sadhana or any
important function. Then all your efforts will be crowned
with success.
501. Renunciation is the Atomic Bomb which instantly
reduces the citadel of Desire and ignorance to ashes.
Ghaptet VI
SPIRITUAL LESSONS
502. Japa, Kirtana, meditation, study of religious
books, Satsanga or company with the wise, Yogis, Sages and
Sannyasins, introspection, selfless service-all these will
help you to eradicate the vices that lurk in you and to
cultivate virtuous qualities.
503. The more powerful the enemy, the greater the
varieties of weapons that you use. The inner enemy is the
most powerful; you must adopt various methods to subdue
him.
504. Tamas and Rajas, which are the pillars of
Samsara, are pulled down through the practice of the Ten
Canons.
505. Asana gives you control over the Rajasic
impulses; and at the same time it forms the foundation of the
grand structure of Antaranga Sadhana or the Inner Yoga
process.
506. Pranayama brings you face to face with the Life
Principle or Prana. Control of Prana gives you an insight into
its motive force.
507. The consciousness which had so long been
flowing outward collects itself and flows back into its
source-the Purusha within-and this is Dhyana.
508. If you turn the searchlight of Knowledge on this
mind, it will disappear just as darkness will disappear when
the lamp is brought.
(71)
72 KNOW THYSELF
509. You must be a psychologist, too, if you want to
lead a happy and healthy life and if you want to progress in
the spiritual path.
510. Emotional unbalance leads to all sorts of nervous
troubles and physical illness also. That is the reason why a
real Sannyasin, even though he is starved, homeless and
friendless, is happy and full ofvigour. He has inner strength.
5l l. Once you cultivate a healthy habit of engaging
your body and mind in useful activities, you will find you are
more peaceful, more healthy and you have more time for
Sadhana.
512. Forget the past; ignore the future. Live in the
present. The future will take care of itself.
513. Application and completion make the impossible
possible.
514. Do not vascillate. Let no task frighten you' Men
of vascillation have never achieved anything. Application,
faith and perseverance make the impossible possible.
515. See what great preparations you make for the
reception of a King, a Governor or a big leader. How nicely
you sweep the roads, how beautifully you decorate your
houses? How much more preparation is necessary for
receiving in the temple of your heart the Lord of the
Ijniverse, the Govemor of the Universe?
516. Love of God is liberating. It will lead you to
perennial bliss and immortality.
517. It is Bhakti which will bring about an Eternal
Union between you and the Supreme Lord of the Universe.
518. Anything that is achieved through undivine
means and methods is doomed to crumble down ultimately.
SPIRITUAL LESSONS
519. Cultivate Love in the garden of your heart by
removing the foul weeds of jealousy, revenge, pride and
selfishness.
520. Be in tune with the Divine. The salt of life is
selfless service. The bread of life is universal love. The water
of life is purity of thought, word and action.
521. Not to do evil deeds, not to cause the slightest hurt
even to the least ofthe creatures, is the eternal teaching ofall
the saints and prophets.
522. All creativity and constructive process is worked
out by evolution. Evolution leads to Real Life. It results in
permanent achievement. Therefore, strive to evolve through
strengthening the constructive factors of goodness and love.
523. Devotion is ingrained in everyone. So also love.
Without devotion and love life cannot exist. Even the
confirmed atheist is devoted to his atheism.
524. Even the most cruel-hearted man loves something
or the other. But, essentially, this devotion or love needs
culturing. Only then does it flower into a glorious blossom.
525. lf you are an embodiment of virtue, you will
attain Him in the twinkling of an eye.
526. Even Himalayan sins are washed away if you
repeat His Name once.
527. If you carefully analyse, you will find that all the
vices that man is a prey to, spring from faithlessness.
528. Sadachara or right conduct, cultivation of divine
virtues take you nearer to God.
529. To serve others is virtue; to injure others is sin.
530. Water kept in a leaky vessel will soon be drained
74 KNOW THYSELF
away; even so, Sadhana without Vairagya will have no
effect.
531. Be true to yourself.
532. Karma Yogins should have a copy of the
Bhagavad Gita always in their pocket.
533. Names and forms are unreal. But do not run away
from them.
534. Equipped with discrimination, this unreality
helps you to know the Real.
535. Share what you have with others. You will enjoy
peace and bliss; you will get inexhaustible spiritual wealth.
536. If you see God in everyone, if you have cosmic
love, ifyou have a generous heart, then and then alone can
you do real service to the world
537. Ajo Nityah Sasvatoyam Purano,-if you dwell on
the meaning of this one verse, and meditate constantly on it,
you will attain immortality. You can get over Deha Adhyasa
or wrong identification with body, which is the result of
Anadi Avidya or beginningless ignorance.
538. This identification with body is the cause for all
our miseries and troubles and tribulations in our life.
539. The goal of life is Self-realisation. Never forget
this.
540. You know it is not good to be selfish;yet you are
selfish. This is Maya.
541. Sometimes the husband and the wife quarrel in
the house, on account of some friction and lack of
psychological unity of hearts; the husband wants to abandon
SPIRITUAL LESSONS
the wife, renounce the world and embrace Sannyasa. Again
she smiles; and he clings to her like a leech. This is Maya'
542. If you get Santi, you will get other virtues.
543. In dream you have no experience ofthe body; the
body remains as a log of wood. In that there is a clue that you
are distinct from the physical body.
544. ln deep sleep there is no functioning of the mind
either. This clearly proves that you are distinct from the mind
also. \
545. Your essential nature is peace. Because, what do
you enjoy in deep sleep? Peace.
546. ln a place where there is no play of the
Raga-Dvesha culrents, where there are no objects-in deep
sleep-you enjoyed peace.
547. lf you can annihilate the mind by Sadhana and
deep meditation and a knowledge of the nature of the mind,
you can enjoy that peace and bliss in the waking state.
548. Destroy Rajas and Tamas by the practice of
Pranayama. You will be filled with Sattva. Then alone will
you be able to practise Enquiry and Vichara, and attain the
Goal of Life.
549. Remember: nothing in this world can give you
lasting peace, mental Santi.
550. Sin is only a mistake committed by a baby-soul in
the process of his evolution to Godhead.
THE ROYAL ROAD TO REALISATION
551. Raja Yoga prescribes the eight-fold practices to
achieve Moksha. Yama-Niyama pave the way. Asana and
75
KNOW THYSELF
Pranayama enable you realise the truth about life. You go
beyond the pairs of opposites. You no longer cling to
individualistic living. Abhinivesa is rooted out. Pratyahara
and Dharana take you beyond Raga-Dvesha. Dhyana
dissolves the ego or Asmita. Finally, in Nirvikalpa Samadhi,
the veil of ignorance is torn and you are liberated.
552. Yama andNiyama annihilate the impurities of the
mind. Asana, Pranayama and Pratyahara steady the mind and
make it one-pointed. Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi remove
the veil of ignorance and lead to liberation.
553. All the systems of Sadhana, all Yogas and all
systems of Yogic self-culture are agreed that the essential
pre-requisite for an aspirant for Self-knowledge is
dispassion.
554. Desire must be crushed; for it is desire that feeds
the mind and fattens it.
555. Beware! You should not be led away into the
bye-lanes of Siddhis. Pursue your goal without ever being
distracted.
556. Continue your Sadhana till the ego vanishes and
ignorance disappears, and there is no perception ofduality or
multiplicity.
557. Essentially all the religions try to teach man to
acquire the Bliss of the Atman through purification of his
lower nature and by gradually building up the superstructure
of the higher divine life upon the firm basis or foundation of
perfect morality.
558. All religions are eternally based upon the firm
foundations of good life or the divine life.
559. In every religion the common fundamentals teach
SPIRITUAL LESSONS
man to be good, to do good, to be kind, to be pure, to be
compassionate towards all creatures, to see no difference
between man and man, to unify all in one loving spiritual
embrace; they teach man to see God in every face, to always
engage oneself in spontaneous, loving, selfless service unto
all creatures, to regard this service as worship of the Lord,
who is seated in all beings as the Indweller and the Inner
Controller.
560. The religious instinct or religious feeling is the
strongest and the deepest of all feelings in man.
561. Lead a life of self-restraint, service, devotion,
spirituality and meditation.
562. The aspirants of today need not renounce the
world and run to the forest in search of a Guru. Some will, no
doubt, do so; and they will eventually act as the spiritual
guides to the rest of humanity. The vast majority would,
however, have to learn at home and practise Yoga in their
daily life, to learn and apply the technique of transforming
their daily actions into Yoga Sadhana.
563. You should have perfect control over your
impulses. The three impulses-the impulse of speech, the
impulse of thought, the impulse of action-enslave you; they
drain your energy and make you weak-willed. They drag you
here and there and disturb your peace of mind. By controlling
them, you will acquire immense strength, you will have
abundant energy for carrying on your spiritual practices'
REAL UNITY AMONG RELIGIONS
564. People merely talk of religion. They are not
interested in practising it, in living it.
77
78 KNOW THYSELF
565. If Christians lived by the Sermon on the Mount, if
Buddhists followed the Noble Eightfold Path, if Muslims
truly followed the teachings of the Prophet, and the Hindus
shaped their life in accordance with the teachings of the Lord,
of saints and sages, there will be peace everywhere.
566. It is the vanity of man that goads him to reform
society without first reforming himself.
567. When two vain people meet, there is friction and
quarrel.
568. In the name of religious reform there is more tall
talk, vain discussion and quarrel in the world today.
569. There have been so many 'isms;now they want to
add one ry1s1s 'is6-universalism. Thereby you will only
bring into being one more fighting element.
570. What is needed is proper education of the
followers of all religions.
571. Everyone should be encouraged to practise his
own religion and strive to attain the goal, and not to interfere
with others' beliefs. This is true universalism.
572. For a man of Vichara there are no boundaries at
all in this world.
573. Lust for power is at the root of all the wars.
574. A mere idea, a mere vibration in the air, an
illusory tempting bait of name and fame-they are at the
bottom of all wars.
. 575. Every leader thinks that he has got world peace in
his pocket. When he pulls it out, you find that it is a fresh
move for war.
SPIRITUAL LESSONS
576. Vedanta or the religion of Oneness of Existence
alone can unite the nations of the world.
577. lf all the leaders of the world practise the
universal religion of the heart, the religion of cosmic love and
selfless service, there will be abiding peace on earth.
578. You find that the Truths of Vedanta are echoed in
all the scriptures of all the religions of the world.
579. Vedanta teaches you the religion of oneness. It is
a religion of the heart.
580. The blind cannot lead the blind. The reformer has
to reform himself first
581. Reform should start with the individual' Then
society will reform by itself. No 'ism can bring any change
overnight.
582. No political 'ism can ever solve the problem, and
bring about peace.
583. Reform yourself. Society will reform itself.
584. Get worldliness out of your heart. The world will
take care of itself.
585. Remove the world out of your mind, the world
will be peaceful.
586. If each man strives heart and soul to practise
religion, to do Sadhana and to attain God-realisation, he will
have very little time to create qualrels' Automatically there
will be peace on earth.
587. A Bhakta will not disturb your faith, but will
show you the path and guide you from where you are to
where you wish to be. A reformer will violently shake your
79
80 KNOW THYSELF
belief, put all sorts ofalien ideas into your head and lead you
to ruin.
588. Reformers should reform themselves.
589. Your heart should expand. You should cultivate
cosmic love. That is the secret of peace, harmony and unity.
THE CALL DIVINE
590. It is very difficult to get a human birth which is the
means of attaining the goal of life. Being born in this human
body, you should lead a life of devotion to the Lord. In the
human body only will you have "Vichara Sakti,, (power of
discrimiriation) and devotion.
591. This body is impermanent. It perishes soon. It
brings pain of various sorts. Give up the efforts for securing
happiness and comfort for this body. If you do not attempt at
Self-realisation even after attaining a human birth, your life
goes in vain, you are wasting your life and you are a slayer of
Atman. You will again hnd again be caught in the wheel of
birth and death.
592. A harmonious development of the body, mind
and soul alone can enable you to fulfil the glorious role for
which you have taken this birth here; you can attain
Self-realisation.
593. Pray to the Sun to illumine your intellect and
enable you to lead the Divine Life.
594. Make-haste. Rise above lust, greed, selfishness
and all worldly taints. Hear the clarion call of the Lord, the
Indweller of your heart. He is waiting there with outstretched
hands to make you one with HIM. Hurry up. Abandon all
SPIRITUAL LESSONS
foolish mundane pursuits. Therefore make haste in the
realisation of God.
595. Sankirtan is the easiest, surest, quickest, safest
and cheapest way to attain God-realisation. Now, therefore,
sing the Lord's Names with faith and devotion.
596. No Yoga is inferior to another. In this Kali yuga
for the vast majority of persons, the Yoga of Synthesis is
more suitable.
597. Sadhyam or God cannot be attained except by
Sadhana.
598. The spiritual path is rugged, thorny and
precipitous. It is too long. The feet may become tired and
bruised. The heart may pant. But the reward is very great.
You will become Immortal. Persevere. Plod on diligently. Be
on the alert. Be agile and nimble. There are resting places on
the path. Hear the small inner voice within. It will guide you,
ifyou are pure and sincere.
599. Do not think that some one else will do the
Sadhana for you. Do not imagine that a drop of water from
the Kamandalu of a Mahatma will give you Samadhi
instantly.
600. Even as the man who is thirsty should drink water
himself; even as the hungry man has to eat the food himself;
you will have to practise Sadhana yourself if you want to
attain God-realisation.
8l
Chaptct Vll
ESSENCE OF YOGA
601. Renunciation of objects is very necessary, no
doubt; but without first renouncing the ego, this mere
extemal renunciation is of little value.
602. Sacrifice ofone's ego in the fire of selfless service
unto humanity is a great Yajna.
603. To pray for another is charity. To serve another
with the body is charity. To be kind and loving is charity. To
forgive and forget some harm done to you is charity. A kind
word said to a suffering man is charity.
604. Tapas is control of body, mind and speech.
605. Control your senses through Sama, Dama,
Titiksha. Control your mind through Vichara and Viveka.
Control your speech through the practice of Mauna,
Mita-Bhashana and Madhura-Bhashana. This is Tapas.
606. Sadachara or good conduct that is based on
truthfulness is the very basis of religion.
607. The prime process of religion is to turn a bad man
good and raise the good man to the heights of Godliness.
608. The Guru will be the one man in the world in
whom you will refuse to see evil. That is the first step. That is
the key to the realm of Cosmic Consciousness.
609. Guru is the sacred altar at which you can willingly
and lovingly sacrifice your ego.
610. Everyone is God clothed in human garb. This
must be recognised.
(82)
ESSENCE OF YOGA
6ll. Man has been overpowered by materialism. He
has no idea of Dharma. He has voluntarily thrown away his
protector, Dharma. Therefore he suffers.
612. ln the restoration of Dharma lies the peace of the
world.
613. Nama Smarana! Constant remembrance of the
Lord is the only easy Sadhana for God-realisation.
614. The universality of religion does not lie in the
rituals, external marks or traditional observances, nor in the
personal apparel and social customs adopted by followers of
particular aspects of religious life.
615. All the religions and faiths that ever existed and
exist today are but slightly varying processes for the
development and consummation 'of this fundamental
universal urge towards the one Infinite Source and Origin of
all life.
616. Real religion is the method of awakening and
making manifest this Soul-consciousness.
617. Universality is the greatest characteristic of true
religion. This fact is not affected by the vote or opinion of the
non-discriminating man.
618. Real religion awakens man to the consciousness
of the unity of all existence and a perception of one Spiritual
Essence that pervades everywhere and indwells every being.
619. To bestow the highest perfection, the highest
knowledge and the highest bliss of Self-Experience is the
meaning of life.
620. Control the tongue and the other Indriyas. Then
your Atma-Bala will increase.
621. Do not abandon your Japa and Meditation
83
KNO\\''IIIYSELF
because the mind wanders from the Lakshya. Let it run; but
you go on with your Japa. In due course, if you are regular,
the mind willbecome steady.
622. Go on doing the Japa, with or without the proper
Bhavana. The Mantra itself will purify your heart and will
enable devotion to flower in it. The Bhavana also will come.
623. When you are absolutely desireless, when all your
senses are withdrawn, when your Buddhi is centred in the
Inner Self, then you are a Sage.
624. Religion binds the wandering mind to the Lotus
Feet of the Lord.
625. Religion shows the way or path for attaining
God-realisation, for the moulding of our character and
cultivation of divine virtues such as humility, tolerance,
adaptability and magnanimity which are necessary for
attaining the Eternal Wisdom or the Wisdom of the Self.
626. Give up newspaper reading; the world will
gradually recede from you, and in course of time you will
realise that the world has not essential existence.
627. God is the supreme panacea which will cure you
of your old-standing disease of birth and death.
628. Think what is good, speak what is good, do what
is good. You will soon enter the Kingdorn of Immortal Bliss.
629. Contentment is the richest treasure; peace of mind
is the rarest jewel; truthfulness is the best friend.
630. A potter moulds the clay; a goldsmith moulds the
gold; and a blacksmith moulds the iron; but an aspirant
moulds his mind.
63 l. Just as the Himalaya stands unmoved by storms,
ESSENCE OF YOGA
so the sage stands unmoved by praise or censure, respect or
disrespect, gain or loss, victory or defeat.
632. Selfless service is the greatest purifying force on
earth. It is through such service that preparatory purification
is wrought-so vitally and indispensably essential for the
experience of a wider consciousness and a higher life. All
endeavour to attain perfection and obtain bliss is bound to be
futile and abortive, if it is not based on the sound foundation
of ethical development and moral stability, which are to be
acquired mainly through a period of eamest and
whole-hearted service in some form or other. This forms the
melting process of the base ore of the egoistic self in man. It
is a process absolutely necessary for the emergence of the
pure gold ofprogress, peace andjoy in life. To fancy oneself
fit for meditation and seclusion from the start is to put the cart
before the horse.
Chaptct YlIl
GARLAND OF YOGA
633. SADHANA
Don't forget God.
Don't fail to get up at 4 a.m., and do
Japa and meditation.
Don't fail to maintain a daily diary.
Don't fail to do Nitya-Karmas.
Don't fail to do charity.
Don't fail to discharge your duties to parents.
Don't waste any opportunity.
Don't depend upon servants.
Don't be a slave to the Indriyas.
Don't move with worldly-minded people.
Don't count the time.
634. BRAHMACHARYA
Don't waste your Veerya (semen).
Don't procreate too many children.
Don't cast lustful look at women.
Don't mix with the opposite sex.
Don't attend cinemas and read novels.
635. RIGHT CONDUCT
Don't covet others property.
Don't revenge.
Don't hate or condemn anybody.
(86)
_
GARLAND OF YOGA 87
Don't blame or speak ill of others.
Don't displease anybody.
Don't use bad words.
Don't develop evil-habits, such as
smoking, drinking liquor, etc.
Don't argue unnecessarily.
Don't utter falsehood on any account.
Don't exaggerate.
Don't travel without ticket.
Don't give destructive suggestions.
Don't have any secrets.
Don't envy others.
636. VAIRAGYA
Don't forget the miseries of the world.
Don't try to get comforts.
Don't forget death.
Don't care for the morrow.
Don't write letters.
Don't read newspapers.
Don't try to redress your troubles.
Don't possess anything.
637. DISCIPLINE
Don't talk too much.
Don't laugh too much.
Don't waste even a single second.
Don't overload your stomach.
Don't remain idle at any time.
Don't think too much of a disease.
Don't disobey the laws of Nature.
88 KNOW
Don't fast THYSEL
too much. F
Don't exert too much.
Don't fail to observe Mauna.
638. WAY TO PEACE AND HAPPINESS
Don't expect, don't hope.
Don't keep in the heart any injury done by others.
Don't compare.
Don't mix with rich people.
Don't build castles in the air.
Don't plan your future.
Don't brood over the past.
Don't get angry on any account.
Don't expect any retum for your services or help.
Don't multiply your acquaintances.
Don't be familiar with anybody.
Don't squander your wealth.
Don't think too much of yourself.
Don't make mountains out of little moles.
Don't be extravagant.
Don't make much of trifling things.
Don't forget God.
639. WAY TO WORLD PEACE
Educate the religious sense of the people,
Educate the moral sense of the people,
Educate the heart ofthe people,
Educate yourself at the
Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy,
Educate your mind to realise unity,
Educate your mind to behold the one Self in all,
GARLAND OF YOCA 89
Educate your mind to
discriminate
between right and wrong,
Educate your mind to be dispassionate,
Educate your mind to be desireless,
passionless, egoless and selfless,
Educate your mind to see only the good in all,
Educate your mind to practise the teaching,
"Be good, and do good."
640. WHAT IS PRAYER
Prayer is depending on God for help in distress.
Prayer is asking God for enlightenment.
Prayer is communion with God, through single-minded
devotion.
Prayer is asking for peace from God
when the soul is restless.
Prayer is surrendering oneself to God completely.
Prayer is giving an opportunity to God
to comfort the devotee.
Prayer is making friendship with God.
Prayer is melting the mind and ego in silence in God. Prayer
is thanks-giving to God for all His blessings' Prayer is
expecting God to decide
what is best for you when you are in a dilemma.
Prayer is asking God to purify the heart
and make you abide in Him for ever.

Ghaptet D(,
THE GOAL OF LIFE
641. Every man in the world is restless and is striving
for some thing, what, he does not know. Sages declare that
this is solely due to the loss of the companionship of the soul.
642. The more you forget your Soul, the more are your
miseries. You cannot have real happiness in this world. The
real Santi is only in the Bhuma.
643. Bhuma is unconditioned. Beyond time. Beyond
space and causation. Bhuma is freedom-freedom from the
trammels of the flesh, freedom from the hicks of Maya,
freedom from the plays of delusion.
644. Bhuma is perfection, beyond all limitations.
Bhuma is infinite fullness. Bhuma is the Etemal Absolute.
645. Peace is within. Search for peace within the
chambers of your own heart through one-pointed
concentration and meditation.
646. If you do not find peace within, you will not find it
anywhere else. The Goal of Life is the attainment of peace
and not the achievement of power, name, fame and wealth.
647. Pwify, serve, love, give and live in Truth. Feel
always and everywhere the indwelling and All-pervading
presence. Realise the Self.
648. Rest in the magnanimous ocean of peace, in the
stupendous sea of silence. Drink the nectar of Immortality.
649. Spiritual life is neither life merely inside the
(e0)
THE GOAL OF LIFE
world nor life simply outside it. It is the life in the
transcendental Being.
650. Spiritual life is the life in the Self which is the
Supreme Lord of all who is inside and outside everything'
651. Spiritual life can be lived "in" the world, but it is
"beyond" the world, for it is not of the world. Live this
eternal life. O Mumukshus! Live this glorious life.
652, The Atman is the Life and Light of the Universe'
Live in It. It shines and therefore everything shines. It is free
and therefore all strive for freedom.
653. Know the source of Freedom, the root ofBliss and
be free. Towards this end strive; dedicate your life to this one
supreme and only purPose.
654. The world is a chaff compared to this majestic
essence, which is the goal of your life; it is darkness before
the splendour of the Divine Being; it is ignorance in relation
to the knowledge of God.
655. It is real death in the life of that real life, in the
Truth of all truths. March on with the help of this light and be
free.
656. The experience of the glory of spiritual life is
preceded by the negation of the narrow life in the body and
the mind. Therefore transform yourselves completely'
657. Transfigure your entire being through service,
through devotion, through meditation, through knowledge'
658. Pierce the veil of delusion; go beyond the dark
picture of Maya, through recognising in all the resplendent
Basis of Brahman upon which the drama of the universe is
staged.
9l
KNOW THYSELF
659. Service breaks the ego, opens the heart, expands
the consciousness and deepens the spirit.
660. Love softens the hard personality, melts the mind
and takes you to God.
661. Meditation exalts you to superhuman nature and
reveals to you the treasure ofwisdom within, the wisdom that
is not given to the worldly.
662. The wisdom of meditation transcends the
intellect, the wisdom that man cannot hope to attain until he
casts off the shell of his individual ego.
663. By meditation man surrenders himself to the
Infinite light, the wondrous light which the spiritually blind
do not behold.
664. Sadhana is spiritual movement consciously
systematised. To restrain the senses, to withdraw the mind, to
be aware of the Divine presence is the essence of Sadhana.
665. To speak the truth at all costs, to love all as one,s
own self, to be pure in thought, word and deed, to be
contented and cheerful and above all, to be undeluded, to be
ever vigilant and to remember God ceaselessly, is the gist of
spiritual life.
666. Spiritual life is the only glorious life. Remember
the essential unity of spirit, the oneness of life in all.
667. Nations are formed. Sections are raised. Wars are
waged. Humanity is eager for competitive race. parties rival
each other. But this is not in conformity with Truth.
668. Your real glory is in life of Unity and peace.
Break down separations. Build up Unity. This is glory. There
is no glory in this mundane region, this joyless world which
is infected with change, decay and death. Destruction and
THE GOAL OF LIFE
sorrow have not a single being untouched. Everything will
pass away.
669. The only Substance, the Reality that endures
forever is God or Brahman. You can call him by any name'
He is the sole existence'
670. Remember that all that you see in this world and
get attached to is the object of your own imagination' Open
yorr .y"t. AII this is pure consciousness' All this is
undivided and immortal consciousness.
671. Where is father, where is mother, where is wife,
where are children? Where is society, where are nations?
You are moving and breathing in the mass of universal
consciousness.
672. Thete is no way in this world to get eternal
happiness and supreme satisfaction' You do not know where
lies the cause of misery and suffering' You do not know
where lies the source of real knowledge and bliss' Assert
your real birthright, the Freedom of Self-realisation'
673. You are neither the body nor the mind' You are
the All-pervading Atman. There is neither disease nor sorrow
in Atman. Detach yourself from the body and be happy'
674. Meditate. Go to the Divine Source. Tap the peace
there. It will flow incessantly. Drink the nectar of
Immortality. Through different experiences you know the
shallow nature of the world. Now you are fully aware of the
worthless nature of the sensual objects. You are developing
dispassion slowly.
6T5. Never entertain the idea: "I am a sinner'" Roar, "I
am Siva. I am Siva. Sivoham. Sivoham." Sin is only a
mistake committed during the course of evolution'
93
94 KNOW THYSELF
676. The struggling soul will have to commit mistakes
as a child learns walking by falling down several times. Sin is
a relative term. Atman is beyond virtue and sin. Virtue and
sin are mental creations only.
677. Your present ailment is a Karmic purgation. It has
come to make you remember Him more and more. To instil
mercy in your heart, to strengthen you and to enable you to
develop the power ofendurance.
678. Thou art dear to the Lord Vaasudeva. That is the
reason why He gives troubles. Understand His mysterious
ways. Out of sight but not out of mind.
679. The All-merciful God resides in the chamber of
your heart. He is quite close to you. you have forgotten Him.
But He still cares for you. He is thy immortal Friend.
680. Troubles are God's blessings in disguise. He
wants to mould your body and mind as fit instruments for His
unhampered play or Lila.
681. Throw away the load that you are carrying on
your shoulder unnecessarily on account of your egoism. Give
up your self-created responsibilities. Have perfect faith in
Him. All miseries will come to an end.
682. Believe me. Sincerely pray, ,,I am Thine, My
Lord. All is Thine. Thy Will be done.,,The gulf of separation
will vanish now. You will attain His Grace and be free from
all troubles.
683. Develop the power of endurance. Be prepared to
give up the body for a noble cause. Fearlessness is an
important qualification for an aspirant. Renunciation of
desires and egoism, "I-ness" and ,,mine-ness,, is the true
renunciation.
THE GOAL OF LIFE 95
684. The simplest means for the purification of the
mind and realisation of God is always to remember Him and
feel His presence everywhere. Repeat His Name'
685. The Ten Commandments of Divine Life: 1'
Practice truthfulness, non-violence and celibacy' 2' Be good'
Do good. 3. Be tolerant. Be kind to all' 4. Bear insult' Bear
injury. 5. Serve all. Serve the Lord in all. 6. Share what you
have with others. 7. Give, Purify, Meditate, Realise' 8' Think
rightly. Act rightly. 9. Behold the One Self in all; see God in
every face. 10. Feel "I am the All-pervading Self''
Chaptet X
GOD.REALISATION
686. God is the source of all happiness. He is an
embodiment of peace, wisdom, and Bliss. He is Truth, Love,
Beauty and Goodness. All beings abide in Him.
687. God is one. God and His laws are one. God is
Love and Law. God is pure Spirit. God is the path and the
goal. God alone is your real father, mother, friend and Guru.
Realise God now and here and be happy for ever.
688. The deeper a man's love of God is, the greater is
his spirirual knowledge in due proportion to his capacity and
depth of love. The final consummation of the love of God is
union with God. Love of God is inbom in a man by virtue of
his spiritual evolution.
689. To realise God is your duty. God-realisation is
your birth-right. Develop strong yearning for
God-realisation, have confidence in yourself. Be
self-controlled. Be fiery in your determination. Stick to your
resolves tenaciously. Cultivate a strong faith in God. Do total
self-surrender and obtain His Grace.
690. See God in all beings and things. See the world as
a manifestation of God. It is not necessary to abandon the
world in order to have a vision of God, because world itself is
a manifestation of God. The world is nothing but the
expression of God's love. It is Virat purusha.
691. Japa is the recitation of Lord's Name. Japa is an
important Sadhana for God-realisation. Japa yoga is the
(e6)
GOD.REALISATION
easiest, qllickest, safest and surest way of attaining the goal in
the present age. Repeat 200 Maalas of Japa daily. Do more
mental Japa. Practice of Yoga brings the devotee face to face
with God.
DIVINE LOVE
692. God is Love. Bhakti is the experience of this
Divine Love. Do your duty in a spirit of worship. Perform all
actions in an attitude of prayer. Your heart should overflow
with Divine Love at the sight of any object in the world. Then
alone you will become an ideal devotee.
693. Understand Life's supreme purpose. Seek the
Eternal. Realise the underlying Essence. Have intense thirst
for liberation. Die to live. Discipline the mind. Have
self-control. Learn to be wise. Make best use of this human
birth. Realise the oneness of existence.
694. Knock within. Search within. Look within. Gaze
within. Within you is the Immortal Soul. Aim at Perfection.
Fight Life's battle bravely. Live wisely. Strengthen your
resolution. Become one with the Eternal. Have tenacity of
purpose. Climb the peak of perfection. Attain life's goal.
695. God is very close to you. He abides in your heart,
closer is He than the breath, nearer than hands and face. He is
your very Self or Atman. Strive to know God. Seek the
company of sages. Lead a life of selfless service,
renunciation, dispagsion, prayer and meditation. Have
self-conquest. Control the mind. You will attain perfection
and peace.
696. True and sincere surrender unto God is the
essence of Bhakti. 'I am Thine. All is Thine. Thy Will be
98 KNOW THYSELF
done, my Lord'. This is the best Saranagati Mantra or prayer.
Seek His Will. Do His Will. Surrender to His Will. You will
become one with the Cosmic Will.
697. The Divine Grace is life's greatest treasure. If
there is self-sunender, there is inflow of Grace. Lord's Grace
will descend in proportion to the degree of surrender, the
more the surrender, the more the Grace. Supreme Love
comes only by the Grace of God. Grace of God will make you
stick to the spiritual path.
GURU GITA
698. Salutations, adorations, prostrations to Guru,
Guru is Brahma, Guru is Siva, Guru is Vishnu, Guru is father,
Guru is mother, Guru is real friend. Serve him with all Bhava,
wet with Bhakti. He will teach you Brahma Vidya, show the
divine path. Service of Guru is a great purifier.
699. He who has a Guru knows Brahman. A Guru
alone can remove doubts, pitfalls and snares. One who has
surrendered himself to his Guru, one who serves the Guru
whole-heartedly, one who has marvellous Guru-Bhakti,
knows no grief, no solTow, no fear, no misery, no ignorance
and he instantly attains God-realisation.
700. To get rid of selfishness is most difficult. Only if a
disciple makes a firm, fiery determination to uproot
selfishness and follows his determination by constant
grinding, then alone selfishness will go by the Grace of the
Guru.
701. Those who attempt to control the mind without
Guru's help are like merchants who have not secured a good
pilot for their vessel. The spiritual path is thorny and
GOD-REALISATION
precipitous; temptations will assail you, there may be
downfall; so approach the teacher who has tread the path.
Close your eyes and meditate on the form of your Guru, and
recite his holy name. Meditation on Guru gives bliss, inner
strength, peace of mind and joy.
702. The Grace of the Guru will itself in a mysterious
manner enable the disciple to perceive directly the Brahmic
principle within, though it is impossible for the spiritual
preceptor to point to Brahman as this or that, or for the
disciple to understand how it is priorto his directperception.
703. Ifyou are elevated in one's presence, ifyou are
inspired by his speeches, if he is able to clear your doubts, if
he is free from lust, greed, anger, and ifhe is selfless, loving
and l-less, take him to be your Guru.
704. Serve your Guru with whole heart and soul. Love
your Guru without any expectations. Give one tenth of your
income to your preceptor. Meditate on the lotus-feet of Guru.
You will realise in this very birth. This is the secret of
Sadhana.
705. All that a Guru can do is to tell his disciple the
method of knowing the Truth or the path that leads to the
disclosure of intuitional faculty. He will clear your doubts,
remove pitfalls and snares and inspire you. He cannot give
you Samadhi. You will have to place each step yourself in the
rung of the ladder of Yoga. Do not expect a miracle from
your Guru to put you in Samadhi.
DIVINE QUALITIES
706. Truth: Have ceaseless devotion to Truth. Be
ready to sacrifice your all for it. You will develop a strong
99
100 KNOW THYSELF
will. You will become fearless. You will draw immense
strength and courage from the Atman or the Supreme Self
within. You will attain Self-realisation. The man who can see
his own faults as he sees those of others will soon become a
great soul.
707. Ahimsa: Ahimsa is a wonderful quality of the
heart. It is a rare virtue. It transmutes a man into divinity. He
who is established in Ahimsa is God himself. The power of
Ahimsa is greater than the power of the intellect. Ahimsa is
supreme love. Ahimsa is soul-force. Practice of Ahimsa is
practice of divine life. Ahimsa is a weapon not of the weak
but of the strong.
708. Righteousness: To speak the truth, to practise
Ahimsa, not to hurt the feelings of others in thought, speech
and deed, not to speak harsh words to any one, not to abuse
others or speak evil of others, and to see God in all living
beings is righteousness. If you loose your wealth nothing is
lost. If you loose your health, something is lost; but if you
loose your character, everything is lost. Therefore posses
very high character, at any cost. If you entertain noble
thoughts, sublime ideals and holy activities, you will have a
magnanimous character. You will have a magnetic
personality. You will be a centre ofjoy, power and peace.
709.. Courage-strength: You should possess
strength, mental strength and spiritual strength' The man who
is sweet, who is kind, who is free from initability, who is
adaptable, who is humble, who knows the science of how to
enter into the hearts of others (through constant service with
love and humility) can be happy and peaceful.
7 I 0. Titiksha: Titiksha is a condition of wisdom' It is a
means for acquiring knowledge. Be calm, serene and poised
GOD.REALISATION
always. Never get excited or nervous. Stand as firm as a rock,
composed and unruffled. Never become impatient. When
you are calm, you can get help and strength from within.
When you are calm and tranquil, you can hear the still inner
voice. Adjust yourself well. Adjust yourself to the
temperaments and mentality of others with whom you mix.
This is the secret of happiness. Bear difficulties patiently.
Adjust the mind to all circumstances and places. Then only
you can be really strong. You should try to love all, even your
worst enemy who wants to destroy you. Do not be afraid of
insult, disrespect, dishonour, abuse or harsh words. Wear
them as ornaments on your body.
7ll. Contentment: Contentment is the best of all
virtues. A contented mind is a continued feast. A man of
contentment is always peaceful and serene.
712. Love and mercy: Root out vices. Plant virtues.
Develop mercy, unselfishness, sympathy, pure Cosmic Love,
patience, mercy, peace etc. Lead an ideal life in God. Be
good. Do good. He who has renounced selfishness and he
who is endowed with courage, fearlessness, patience, mercy
and cosmic love is alone fit for attaining Immortality or
Self-realisation.
TRUE KNOWLEDGE
713. ln the perfect nameless, formless void, in the
unlimited expanses of bliss, in the region of matterless,
mindless joy, in the realm of timeless, spaceless stillness, in
the Infinite zone of speechless, thoughtless peace, in the
transcendental abode of sweet harmony, I united in the
Supreme Effulgence.
714. The thought that we are one or two vanished. I
l0l
102 KNOW THYSELF
crossed the sea of birth for ever. This is all due to the Lord,
who danced in Brindavan with rhythmic jingle, who raised
Govardhan as umbrella for the cowherds.
715. Live with a definite purpose' Do not roam about
aimlessly. Climb the ladder of knowledge steadily and reach
the summit of the temple of Brahman or the sweet abode of
Immortality.
716. In the spiritual path there are constant failures and
setbacks. Repeated endeavour, constant vigilance and
undaunted perseverance are essential.
717. Fight with the mind bravely. March fighting with
the lower instincts and impulses with an undaunted heart.
718. Struggle hard. Be courageous. At the end of the
battle you will attain the illimitable domain of eternal bliss,
the immaculate, imperishable Seat of Brahman.
719. Hard enough it is to puriry the lower nature.
Difficult it is to practise concentration and meditation, but
vigilance, perseverance, constant persistence, steady efforts,
company of the wise, resolute will, strong determination will
obviate all the difficulties and render the path easy and
smooth.
72O. The Divinity within you is stronger and closer
than anything else that is without you. Therefore be not afraid
of anything. Rely on your inner SelF-the Divinity within
you. Build up your character. Tap the source and look within.
721. Improve yourself. Purify the heart. Develop the
Divine nature. Eradicate the evil traits. Endeavour every
moment of your life to practise all that is worthy.
722. Chlldren of Light! Life is but the unfolding of the
latent capacities of the Soul. Why should you prolong the
GOD-REALISATION
bondage unnecessarily? Why should you not claim your
divine birthright now, in this very moment?
723. Delay means prolonged suffering. You can get rid
of this suffering any moment. This is within your power. Do
it now. Stand up. Do vigorous Sadhana and attain your
birthright, the etemal freedom.
724. May the Light of lights guide you in the path
Eternal every moment of your life. May success be yours!
May you attain God-realisation in this very birth, and then
put an end to all misery and suffering.
725. The wealth of this world, the knowledge of this
objective universe, friends, relatives, wife and children,
bungalows, motor cars and cities, gardens, parks and hill
stations all are jugglery of Maya.
726. Food, drink, coffee, biscuits, puddings, cakes and
lemon-squash, hotels, restaurants and clubs, position, title,
diplomas and colleges-these are false, illusory and
deceptive.
727. They are shadow, bubble and dream. Wake up,
friends, at once! Realise the Immortality and be happy for
ever.
728. What is Jnana? Unity is Jnana. Balance is Jnana.
Equality is Jnana. "I am pure consciousness" is Jnana. "l am
the Self in all beings" is Jnana. It is oneness. It is the identity
of Jiva and Brahman.
729. lf you want to enter Samadhi quickly, cut off all
connections with friends, relatives etc. Observe the vow of
absolute silence for one month. Live alone. Take very light
but nutritious food. Live on milk alone.
103
104 KNOW THYSELF
730. Now plunge into deep meditation. Dive deep.
Have constant practice. You will be immersed in Samadhi.
731. Be cautious. Use your commonsense. Do not
struggle violently with the mind. Allow the divine thoughts
to flow gently in the mind.
732. '\ wandered and searched and then I found Him
out at last in the silence of the rnind. He is the wonder of
wonders. He is the nectar that never satiates."
733. He is knowledge's end. He is the great primal
Being. He is sweet celestial honey that destroys old age and
death. He is the endless primeval Light.
734. He is the medicine sweet that confers
Immortality.
"I call Him a mass of Sweetness.
I call Him the milk of Wisdom.
I call Him the Ocean of Bliss.
I call Him the Old Man of the Upanishads.
I call Him the Silent Sleeper in the Sea."
735 Whenever you have difficulties, whenever you are
puzzled,whenever you are in a dilemma, reflect the formula:
'God is everything. God does everything. God is just. God
does everything formy own good.' Yourworries will vanish.
You will find peace at once. Practise and feel.
736. To serve God and mammon at the same time is
impracticable. You will have to sacrifice one or the other.
737. You cannot enjoy the bliss of Self and sensual
pleasures in one and the same cup. You cannot have light and
darkness at the same time. If you want to enjoy spiritual bliss
you will have to renounce the sensual pleasures.
GOD-REALISATION
738. Testing a Guru is highly difficult. Don't use your
intellect here. Have faith. The real aspirant is quite free from
all such questions and doubts.
739. Divine Life is perfect life according to the laws of
Truth. Divine Life'is life Immortal in which the ideal state of
perfection and expansion of the Self in the Infinity and
eternity is attained.
740. Divine Life is life in tune with Infinite. It
represents the synthesis of the fundamentals of all religions.
It represents the principle of Dharma. It has no creed of its
own, but it represents the essence of all creeds.
741. Divine Life is a means to attain the true ideal of all
beings, viz., God-realisation. It lays emphasis on each
individual perfecting himself. It teaches you how to control
your mind by concentrating all your attention on the inner
Atman.
742. Divine Life means a good life together with
self-discipline and an inner awareness of the Atman.
Entertain divine thoughts, do virtuous actions. This is the
gateway of Divine Life.
743. Right conduct, self-conquest, compassion,
benevolence, pursuit of truth, service of humanity,
meditation, and self-enquiry, this is good living; this is
Divine Life.
744. Divine Life aims at harmony, peace and concord
with your fellow beings. Radiate goodness of heart all
around. This is Divine Life.
l0s
Ghaptet Xl
RULES OF DIVINE LIFE
For an aspirant's success in spiritual life it is essential
that he should develop certain cardinal virtues. Virtue is
strength, power and key to peace. (The following eighteen
virtues are very beneficial.)
745. Serenity is to be tranquil within. Let the inner
peace radiate through a serene countenance. A serene
countenance is peaceful, smiling and serious and does not
betray any violent emotions.
746. Regularity is to be regular in your daily habits,
work and spiritual practices. You will be free from worry,
anxiety, haphazard and shabby-work. You will do the right
thing at the right moment.
747. Absence of vanity: Do not boast of your birth,
position, qualifications and spiritual attainments. Remember
the evanescent nature of all things phenomenal. Praise
others. See good in all. Treat even the lowest creature as your
equal and with respect.
748. Sincerity: Let your words agree with your
thoughts. Let your actions agree with your words. Let there
be harmony among your thoughts, words and actions.
749. Simpticity: Be artless. Be simple in your speech.
Do not twist words and topics. Be plain; avoid diplomacy,
cunningness and crookedness. Be simple in your dress. Be
simple in your food. Develop a child-like nature.
750. Veracity: Be truthful. Stick to your promises. Do
(106)
RULES OF DIVINE LIFE
not exaggerate. Do not twist facts. Think twice before you
speak. Speak truthfully, speak sweetly, be precise in what
you say.
75 l. Equanimity: Be calm. Bear insult patiently. Bear
injury, suffering, failures and disrespect calmly. Do not be
elated by praise, pleasure, success and honour. Look upon
both with equal vision. Behave alike towards friends and
foes. Never let anything disturb your inner peace.
752. Fixity: Rememberthat you can achieve nothing if
you are fickle-minded. Choose your goal or ideal. Always
remember that. Never let it go out of your mind for a moment.
753. Non-irritability: Irritability is precursor of
violent outburst of anger. Watch for the disturbance in the
mental equilibrium. Quell them then and there. Do not allow
them to assume greater proportions. Then you will attain the
state ofpeace and love.
754. Adaptability: Understand well the nature of the
people with whom you come in contact. Adjust your mode of
approach to them. Adjust yourself in such a way as to be
pleasing in them. Joyfully bear with the eccentricities of
other people. Always react in a harmonious manner. Serve all
and love all. Have the feeling that the Lord is in all as the self
of all.
755. Humility: Respect everybody. Bow with folded
hands before everybody. Do not talk in loud voice before
elders and venerable persons. Look at the toes while you
walk. See the Lord in all and feel that you are His servant and
so the servant of all. Consider none as inferior to you.
756. Tenacity: This is the natural friend of fixity.
Once you have fixed your aim and chosen your path, stick to
t07
108 KNOW THYSELF
it. Do not waver. Be steadfast. Never compromise on your
fundamental principles.
757. lntegrity: Develop an integral personality. Tie all
loose ends of your character. Become a man of high moral
principles. Lead a life of righteousness.
758. Nobility: Shun mean-mindedness as drug and
poison. Never look at the defects of others. Appreciate
everyone's good qualities. Be dignified in bearing. Never
stoop to low thoughts, words and actions.
759. Magnanimity: Take a broad view of things.
Ignore the fault of other people. Be great and high-minded in
whatever you do. Avoid silly talks and childish prattles. Let
not the mind dwell on little things and insignificant things.
760. Charity: Give, give and give. This is the secret of
abundance. Radiate thoughts of good-will and love. Forgive
other people's faults. Bless the man that injures you, share
what you have with others. Disseminate spiritual knowledge
to one and all. Use material wealth, knowledge, spiritual
wisdom that you possess, as a divine trust for the benefit of
His children.
761. Generosity: In whatever you give, be liberal.
Have a large heart. Do not be stingy. Take delight in the joys
of other people, in making them happy.
762. Purity: Be pure at heart. Eradicate anger and
greed and other evil tendencies. Be pure in your thoughts.
Think of God always. Think of the well being of all. Be pure
in your words. Never utter a vulgar, harsh or unkind word. Be
pure in body; always keep it clean. Keep your dress and
surroundings clean. Observe the rules of physical, mental,
moral and spiritual hygiene.
RULES OF DIVINE LIFE
WHAT IS VIRTUOUS LIFE?
'163. He is virtuous who has no liking for what is
agreeable and no dislike for what is disagreeable, who
practises self-restraint, who regards pleasure and pain as
same, who injures no creature and destroys no life.
764. He is virtuous who is devoted to the well-being of
all, who can give his all and sacrifice his very life for others.
765. He is virtuous who is endowed with great
courage, who follows all the duties laid down in the
scriptures and who is an universal benefactor.
766. He is virtuous who is ever ready to work for the
well-being of others, who has truth for his refuge, who gives
but does not take and who has mercy.
767. He is virtuous who adores elders past as well as
present, who adores God and guests, who fears no obligation
of retuming to this world after death and has no fear of the
next world.
768. He is virtuous to whom good conduct is always
dear, he is always a promoter of virtue and cannot be seduced
from virtue.
769. A virtuous man is perfectly fearless. He is
tranquil, serene. He is mild. He always follows the right path.
He is always adored by the good.
770. He is free from lust and anger. He is not attached
to any worldly object. He has no pride. He observes excellent
vows. He always commands respect.
771. He never acquires virtue for the sake of wealth
r09
ll0 KNOW THYSELF
and fame. He acquires it only because he knows it as a duty
like that of supporting the body.
772. Fear, anger, restlessness and sorrow do not live in
him. He carries no external garb ofreligion formisleading his
neighbours and fellowmen.
773. He observes no mystery. He is perfectly
contended. He has no error of judgment originating from
covetousness. He always follows truth and sincerity. He
regards all impartially.
WHAT IS GOD?
774. There is a living, unchanging, etemal
consciousness that underlies all names and forms and that
holds all together, that is God.
775. God is the unseen Seer, the unheard Listener, the
unthought Thinker, the unknown Knower. He is Absolute
Power and Infinite Awareness. He is the Etemal behind all
instabilities, the Supporter of all functions and phenomena.
776. The realisation of Oneness in all existence,
manifested or unmanifested, is the goal of human life. This
unity already exists. We have forgotten itthrough ignorance.
777 . Theremoval of the veil of ignorance, this idea that
we are confined within the mind and the body, is our chief
effort in Sadhana.
778. To realise the unity, we must give up diversity.
We must constantly keep the idea that we are the
All-pervading Self.
779. There is no room for desire here, because in unity
there is no emotional attraction, but steady persistent calm
and eternal Bliss.
RULES OF DIVINE LIFE
780. Desire for liberation is termological inexactitude.
Liberation means attainment of the state of infinity' It already
exists. It is our real nature.
781. There can be no desire for a thing which is our
nature. All desires for progeny, wealth, happiness in this
world or the next and lastly even the desire for liberation
should be completely annihilated and all actions guided by
Pure and Disinterested Will.
782. If you accept that there are more than one eternal
Truth, then none of them can be free.
THE GREAT BHUMA EXPERIENCE
783. t merged myself in great unending joy.
784. lswam inthe ocean of Immortalbliss. I floated in
thc sea of Infinite peace.
785. Ego melted, thought subsided. Intellect ceased
functioning. The senses were absorbed. I remain
unawakened to the world.
786. I saw myself everywhere. It was a homogeneous
experience.
787. There was neither within nor without, there was
neither this nor that,there was neither he,you or she.
788. There was neither time nor space, there was
neither subject nor object, there was neither knower nor
knowledge nor knowable.
789. How can one describe this transcendental
experience?
790. Language is finite, words are impotent.
791. Realise this and be free.
lll
tt2 KNOW THYSELF
792. I did Japa of OM. I chanted OM. I sang OM. I
meditated on OM. The individuality slowly dissolved. I
faded into the infinite Being.
793. The loss of personality is no extinction. It is only
true, whole, etemal life. It is Bhuma experience.
794. This exalted state is utterly beyond words. It is not
a confused state. It is a state of ineffable Bliss and Joy.
795. lt is the clearest of the clear. It is the surest of the
sure. It is like the apple in the palm of the hand.
796. Deathhere is a ridiculous impossibility. Immortal
elixir flows here perennially. Wisdom shines in profound
effulgence. Perfect peace reigns supreme. This is Samadhi.
797. Essence of Sadhana: Serve, love, give, purify,
meditate, realise. Be good. Do good. Be kind. Be
compassionate. Be honest. Be sincere. Be truthful. Be bold.
Be pure. Be virfuous. Develop the four means. Enquire ,Who
am I?' Know the Self and be free. This is the essence of
Sadhana.
798. Serve the sick. Serve the poor. Serve the
down-trodden. Feel that you are serving your own Self or the
Lord. This will purify your heart in a moment.
799. Love all. Share what you have with all. Give,
give, give. Become rich at heart by giving all that you have.
Expand your heart. This is the key to Cosmic Consciousness.
800. Moksha or liberation is not a thing to be attained.
It is already there. You will have to know that you are
identical with the Supreme Reality, through intuition.
Samadhi is intense awareness of the Reality. It is the highest
intuition. It is an experience of fullness. It is all-bliss,
all-peace. It transcends duality of all kinds. He who
RULES OF DIVINE LIFE
experiences Samadhi becomes wise and illumined; he
radiates peace and becomes immortal and shines as a
beaconlight to the whole world.
801. Revelation, Intuition, Ecstasy, Samadhi,
Samyagdarshan, Aparoksha Anubhuti are all synonymous
terms,
l13
Ghagtet lll
KARMA YOGA
802. Work is worship of the Lord.
803. Karma Yoga is the Yoga of selfless action,
without agency and expectation of fruits.
804. Karma Yoga removes the impurities of the mind.
It is a potent purifier of the heart.
805. Karma Yoga prepares the mind for the reception
of Divine Light, Divine Grace, Divine Knowledge.
806. See God in every face. Behold the Lord in all
creatures.
807. Share what you have with others. Serve the saints
and sages.
808. Serve the sick. Serve the poor. Serve your parents.
Serve your motherland. Serve humanity in general.
809. Scrutinise always your inner motives. Destroy
selfish motives.
810. Work without egoism. Cultivate the Nimitta
Bhava. Feel that you are an instrument in the hands of the
Lord.
8l l. Surrender always your actions and their fruits to
the Lord.
812. Have equal vision and balanced mind in pleasure
and pain, gain and loss, success and failure.
813. Develop nicely adaptability. Serve always with
Atma-Bhava and Narayana-Bhava.
(r 14)
KARMA YOGA
814. Sing Sitaram, Radheshyam or Hare Rama while
you work. Remember the Lord always.
815. Give up Abhimana of all sorts. Kill the
Vairagya-Abhimana, Seva-Abhimana, Tyagi-Abhimana,
Kartitva-Abhimana, male-female-Abhimana, doctor-judgeAbhimana.
816. Do not expect even thanks or appreciation for
your work.
817. Do actions as your duty, duty for duty's sake.
818. Never say: "l have helped that man." Feel and
think "That man gave me an opportunity to serve."
819. Watch for opportunities for service. Never miss
even a single opportunity.
820. Cultivate amiable, loving, social nature,
generosity, catholic nature. Kill selfishness. Control the
senses. Practise self-restraint, tolerance, sympathy and
mercy. These are the qualifications of a Karma Yogi.
821. Bear insult, injury, harsh words, criticism, heat
and cold.
822. Ifyou are a doctor, treat the poor free ofcharge. If
you are a teacher or a professor, give free tuition to poor
boys. Give them books free.
823. Keep Twelve Tissue Remedies or some
household remedies and treat the poor.
824. lt anyone is suffering from acute pain, shampoo
the painful part. Feel you are shampooing the body of the
Lord.
825. Do not make any difference between menial and
respectable work.
I ls
l16 KNOW THYSELF
826. Keep always some smallcoins in your pocket and
distribute them to the poor and the decrepit.
827. Feed the poor. Clothe the naked. Comfort the
distressed. Remove glass pieces from the road.
828. There are three kinds of Karma, viz., Sanchita,
Prarabdha and Agami or Kriyamana.
829. Sanchita is the accumulated store-house of
actions of previous births. Prarabdha is that part of Karma
which has given rise to your present birth. Agami is current
action.
830. Sanchita is destroyed by Brahma-Jnana. You will
have to enjoy the Prarabdha. Agami has no binding force as
there is no agency or egoism in the sage.
831. Do not be attached to the work itself. You must be
able to give it up at any moment.
832. As you sow, so you reap. Virtue gives you
happiness. Vice gives you pain.
833. You are the master of your destiny. You sow an
action, reap a habit. You sow a habit, reap a character; you
sow your character and reap a destiny. Destiny is your own
making. Abandon desires and change your mode of thinking.
You can conquer destiny.
834. Think you are man; man will you become. Think
you are Brahman; Brahman will you become. This is the
immutable divine law.
835. If there is no agency, if there is no selfish motive,
action becomes an inaction.
836. Shastras and saints conect you. Your own pure,
clean conscience will point out to you what is right, what is
wrong. Follow them and do the right.
KARMA YOGA
837. An egoistic man alone thinks: "I am the doer."
Really it is the Guna or Prakriti or the sense that does the
action. Atman is actionless, Akarta, Nishkriya.
838. Practise your Svadharma, your Varnashrama
Dharma unselfishly, without egoism. You will attain
purification of heart. Knowledge of Brahman will dawn in
your heart.
BHAKTI YOGA
839. God is love. Love is God. God is nectar. God is
Prem.
840. Bhakti is supreme love towards God. It is love for
love's sake. The devotee wants God and God alone. There is
no selfish expectation here.
841. Bhakti is the greatest power on this earth. It
gushes from one's pure heart. It redeems and saves. It
purifies the heart.
842. Devotion is the seed. Faith is the root. Service of
saints is the shower. Communion with the Lord is the fruit.
843. Bhakti is of two kinds, viz., Apara Bhakti (lower
type of devotion) and Para Bhakti (highest Bhakti or
Supreme Love). Ringing bells and waving lights is Apara
Bhakti. In Para Bhakti, there is no ritualistic worship. The
devotee is absorbed in God.
844. In Supreme Love, the devotee forgets his self
entirely. He has only thoughts of God.
845. Para Bhakti and Jnana are one. Bhakti melts into
wisdom in the end. Two have become one now.
846. Bhakti grows gradually just as you grow a flower
tt7
I l8 KNOW THYSELF
of a tree in a garden. Cultivate Bhakti in the garden of your
heart gradually.
847. Faith is necessary for attaining God- realisation.
Faith can work wonders. Faith can move mountains. Faith
can take you to the inner chambers of the Lord, where reason
dare not enter.
848. Japa, Kirtan, prayer, service of saints, study of
books on Bhakti are all aids to devotion.
849. Sattvic food is a help to devotion. Take milk,
fruits, etc.
850. Evil company is an enemy of devotion. Give up
evil company. Take recourse to Satsanga or company of the
saints.
851. Pray to the Lord thus: "O Adorable Lord of
Compassion and Love! Give me faith and devotion. Let my
mind be ever fixed on Thy Lotus Feet. Let me have constant
remembrance of Thee. Let me sing Thy glory always."
852. The Name of the Lord is your sole refuge. It is
your prop, shelter and abode. Name is divine nectar. Name
and Nami are inseparable.
853. Keep a picture of the Lord and concentrate on
it-the face or feet or the whole picture. Then visualise the
picture in your heart or the space between the two eye-brows.
854. Repeat your Ishta Mantra-Om Namah Sivaya,
Om Namo Narayanaya, Om Namo Bhagavate
Vaasudevaya-mentally, sometimes verbally when the mind
wanders.
855. The five kinds ofBhavas are: Santa Bhava, Dasya
Bhava (master-servant relation), Vatsalya Bhava (father-son
KARMA YOGA
relation), Sakhya Bhava (friendship), Madhurya Bhava (the
relationship of lover and beloved).
856. Bhishma had Santa Bhava; Hanuman had Dasya
Bhava; Jayadeva and Gauranga had Madhurya Bhava, the
Gopis had Sakhya-Bhava; Arjuna and Guha had Sakhya
Bhava; Yasoda and Vishnuchittha had Vatsalya Bhava.
857. Have any kind of Bhava that suits your
temperament. Develop it again and again.
858. Practise the nine modes of devotion or Nava
Vidha Bhakti, viz., Sravana (hearing the Lilas of the Lord),
Kirtan (singing His Name), Smarana (His remembrance),
Padasevana (service of His Feet), Archana (offering
flowers), Vandana (prostrations), Dasyam (servant-Bhava),
Sakhya (His friendship), and Atmanivedana (self-surrender).
859. Say unto the Lord: 'I am Thine, all is Thine, Thy
Will be done'. Feel you are an instrument in the hands of the
Lord, that the Lord works through your mind, body and
senses. Offer all your actions and the fruits of the actions unto
the Lord. This is the way to do self-surrender.
860. Do Anushtana frequently. Live on milk and fruits
for a week. Observe Mauna or silence and do Japa and
meditate in an intense manner.
861. Manasic Puja or mental worship is great help for
increasing devotion and attaining concentration. Offer
flowers, incense, etc., mentally to the Lord.
862. Consider your house as a temple of the Lord,
every action as service of Lord, the light that you burn as
waving lights to the Lord, every word you speak as the Japa
of the Lord's Name, your daily walk as perambulation of the
Lord. This is an easy way of worshipping the Lord.
u9
t20 KNOW THYSELF
863. Shall I wash Thy Feet with holy water, O Lord?
The very Ganga flows from Thy Feet. Shall I give You seat?
Thou art all-pervading. Shall I wave lights for Thee? Sun and
Moon are Thy eyes. Shall I offer flowers to Thee? Thou art
the essence of flowers. This is Para Puja.
864. Feel the presence of Lord everywhere. He dwells
in the chambers of your heart, too. He is in the breath in the
nostril; He glitters in your eyes. He is nearer to you than your
jugular vein. Behold Him in every face.
865. Horripilation (Romancha), tears from the eyes
(Asrupat), Kampana or twitching of muscles, Svarabhanga
(choking of the voice) are marks or Lingas of devotion.
866. A realised Bhakta is free from lust, egoism,
mine-ness, hatred, jealousy, greed. He sees God in all beings,
in all objects. He has equal vision and a balanced mind.
867. Draupadi was an Arta-Bhaktini; Nachiketas was a
Jijnasu Bhakta; Dhruva was an Artharthee- Bhakta; Sukha
Deva was a Jnani-Bhakta; Prahlada was an absolutely
Nishkama Bhakta.
868. Bhakti is immortalising nectar. It transmutes a
man into divinity. It makes him perfect. It bestows on him
everlasting peace and bliss.
RAJA YOGA
869. Raja Yoga is an exact science. It aims at
controlling all thought-waves or mental modifications.
Where Hatha Yoga ends, there Raja Yoga begins.
870. Hatha Yogi starts his Sadhana with his body and
Prana. He practises Asanas and Pranayama and through
control of Prana, tries to control the mind.
KARMA YOGA
871. A Raja Yogi starts his Sadhana with the mind. He
starts meditation and tries to control the mind.
872. The eight limbs of Raja Yoga are Yama
(self-restraint), Niyama (religious observances), Asana
(posture), Pranayama (regulation of breath), Pratyahara
(abstraction of the senses), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana
(meditation) and Samadhi (superconscious state).
873. Yama consists of five parts, viz., Ahimsa (noninjury), Satyam
(truthfulness), Asteya (non-stealing),
Brahmacharya (celibacy) and Aparigraha (noncovetousness).
874. Niyama is observance of five canons, viz., Saucha
(internal and external purity), Santosha (contentment), Tapas
(austerity), Svadhyaya (study of religious books and
repetition of Mantras), and Ishvarapranidhana
(self-sunender to God, and His worship).
875. Ahimsa is perfect harmlessness. It is positive love
also. This removes the brutal nature in man and strengthens
the will.
876. He who practises meditation without ethical
perfection, without the practice of Yama-Niyama cannot
obtain the fruits of meditation.
877. Purify your mind first through the practice of
Yama-Niyama. Then practise regular meditation. Then you
will attain illumination.
878. The practice of Yama is a Mahavrata, universal
vow. It must be observed by all.
879. Any easy, steady, comfortable pose is Asana.
880. Asanas steady the body. Pranayama checks the
outgoing tendencies of the mind. Pratyahara gives inner
t2l
122 KNOW THYSELF
spiritual strength. It removes all sorts of distractions. It
develops will-power.
881. Real Raja Yoga starts from concentration.
Concentration merges in meditation. Meditation ends in
Samadhi.
882. Retention of breath, Brahmacharya, Sattvic food,
seclusion, silence, Satsanga, not mixing much with people
are all aids to concentration.
883. Sleep, tossing of mind, attachment to objects,
subtle desires and cravings, laziness, lack of Brahmacharya,
gluttony are all obstacles in meditation.
884. Reduce your wants. Cultivate dispassion. You
will have progress in Yoga. Vairagya thins out the mind.
885. Do not mix much. Do not talk much. Do not walk
much. Do not eat much. Do not sleep much. Do not exert
much.
886. Never wrestle with the mind during meditation.
Do not use any violent efforts at concentration.
887. If evil thoughts enter your mind, do not use your
will-force in driving them. You will tax your will. You will
lose your energy. You will fatigue yourself. The greater the
efforts you make, the more the evil thoughts will return with
redoubled force. Be indifferent. Become a witness of
thoughts. Substitute divine thoughts. They will pass away.
888. Never miss a day in meditation. Regularity is of
paramount importance. When the mind is tired, do not
concentrate. Do not take heavy food at night.
889. The mind passes into many conditions or states as
it is made up of th'ree qualities-Sattva, Rajas and Tamas.
890. Kshipta (wandering), Vikshipta (gathering),
KARMA YOGA
Muda (ignorant), Ekagra (one-pointed) and Nirodha
(contrary) are the five states of the mind.
891. By controlling the thoughts the Sadhaka attains
great Siddhis. He becomes an adept. He attains Asamprajnata
Samadhi or Kaivalya.
892. Do not run after Siddhis. Siddhis are great
temptations. They will bring about your downfall.
893. A Raja Yogi practises Samyama or the combined
practice of Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi at one and the
same time and gets detailed knowledge of an object.
894. Control the mind by Abhyasa (practice) and
Vairagya (dispassion).
895. Any practice which steadies the mind and makes
it one-pointed is Abhyasa.
896. You must practise Yoga steadily with great
patience and, zeal. Then alone will you attain perfection.
897. Concentrate on Trikuti (the space between the
two eye-brows) with closed eyes. This is the best spot for
concentration. The mind can be easily controlled, as this is
the seat for the mind.
898. Dull Vairagya will not help you in attaining
perfection in Yoga. You must have Para Vairagya or Theevra
Vairagya, intense dispassion.
899. Tapas, Svadhyaya, Isvarapranidhana, constitute
Kriya Yoga. Kriya Yoga purifies the heart quickly.
900. Meditation on OM with Bhava and its meaning
removes obstacles in Sadhana and helps to attain Samadhi.
901. Avidya (ignorance), Asmita (egoism),
Raga-Dvesha (likes and dislikes), Abhinivesha (clinging to
123
124 KNOW THYSELF
mundane life) are the five Kleshas or afflictions. Destroy
these afflictions. You will attain Samadhi.
902. Samadhi is of two kinds-Savikalpa,
Samprajnata or Sabija, and Nirvikalpa or Asamprajnata or
Nirbija.
903. In Savikalpa or Sabija, there is Triputi or the
Triad (knower, known and knowledge). The Samskaras are
not bumt or fried.
904. Savitarka, Nirvitarka, Savichara, Nirvichara,
Sasmita and Saananda are the different forms of Savikalpa
Samadhi,
905. In Nirbija Samadhi or Asamprajnata Samadhi
there is no triad. The impressions are fried in toto.
906. A Bhakta gets Bhava-Samadhi, a Jnani' gets
Bhada-Samadhi, a Raja Yogi gets Nirodha Samadhi.
JNANA YOGA
907. There is an Atman or soul, independent of body
and mind. This soul is immortal, unchanging and infinite.
Realise this Atman and be free.
908. The Atman is Satchidananda (ExistenceAbsolute, Consciousness-
Absolute, Bliss-Absolute). It
exists in the past, present and future. So it is Sat. It is pure or
Absolute Consciousness without any thought. So it is Chit. It
is absolute Bliss. So it is Ananda.
909. The unreal body perishes, but the Atman or the
Indweller is Immortal. So, you should not grieve when
anyone dies. In essence everyone is Immortal Atman.
KARMA YOCA r25
910. This Atman cannot be hurt by anyone. It is subtle,
all-pervading. It is the innermost Self of all.
9ll. This Atman is binhless, deathless, changeless.
When the body is killed, It is not killed. Therefore grieve not,
lament not, regret not. Be always cheerful.
912. Fire cannot burn this Atman, sword cannot pierce
this Atman, bomb cannot destroy this Atman, machine-guns
cannot kill this Atman.
913. This Atman is eternal, immovable, secondless,
self-existent, self-centered. Therefore, knowing this to be
such, thou shouldst not grieve, when your father, mother,
son, wife or relative dies.
914. This perishable body will certainly pass away.
The Indweller can never perish. Thou art the Immortal Soul.
Therefore, over the inevitable thou shalt not grieve.
915. Brahman or Atman is beyond the reach of the
mind and speech. He is beyond logic, reason, mental process,
science. He must be realised through meditation.
916. You cannot deny or doubt your existence. You
always feel that you exist. This existence is Atman, or your
own Self. The knower of the doubt or denier always exists.
That knower is your own Atman.
917. In dream you are distinct from the physical body.
In deep sleep, you are distinct from the body and the mind.
You enjoy peace and bliss in deep sleep. This proves that you
are neither body nor mind, but you are All-Blissful Soul.
918. There is only one Reality or Truth. That is
Brahman or Atman. All appearances are unreal. They are the
effects of Maya, illusory power of Brahman.
126 KNOW THYSELF
919. Behold the one Immortal Atman in all names and
forms. This alone is correct perception.
920. Ignorance is the cause for pain and sorrow.
Annihilate this ignorance through Brahma Jnana. All
miseries will come to an end.
921. This Atman is beyond time, space and causation.
Time, space and causation are mental creation.
922. Just as a snake is superimposed on the rope, this
world and the body are superimposed on Brahman.
923. Bring a light, the snake vanishes; rope alone
remains. Attain Illumination, this world and this body
vanish. Atman alone remains. That Atman thou art. Tat Tvam
Asi.
924. I-ness and mine-ness, agency and enjoyership,
bind you to the Samsara. Destroy these notions. Identify
yourself with the Atman which is non-doer, non-enjoyer.
You will attain Immortality and Eternal Bliss.
925. Sensual pleasure is only pain. It is momentary
mental excitement, momentary sensation of flesh,
momentary itching and scratching of the senses. You can
have etemal bliss in your own Inner Atman alone.
926. Enquire 'Who am I?' Deny or sublate the limiting
adjuncts (body, mind, etc.); know the Self and be free.
927. Constantly think of the Immortal, All-pervading
Atman. Give up thinking of body. You will attain
Self-realisation.
928. You are ever free. You are already free. Moksha
is not a thing to be attained. You will have to know that you
are Atman, that you are free.
929. Destroy the Vasanas, subtle desires, and Trishnas,
KARMA YOGA
cravings. This will lead to the annihilation of the mind.
Destruction of the mind will lead to the attainment of
Brahma-Jnana or wisdom of the Self.
930. This world is illusory, Brahman alone is real. You
are identical with Brahman. Realise this and be free.
93 l. The liberated sage is ever blissful. He rests in his
own Satchidananda Svarupa. He is free from egoism, lust,
hatred, greed, anger and the pairs ofopposites. He has equal
vision and balanced mind. He is Brahman Himself.
932. OM is the symbol of Brahman. OM is your real
name. Meditate on OM with Bhava and its meaning. You will
attain Self-realisation.
933. "I am the All-pervading, Immortal Soul. I am
Pure Consciousness. I am Satchidananda Svarupa. I am
witness or Sakshi."-These are the formulas for constant
meditation and assertion.
934. Equip yourself with the Four Means. Hear the
Srutis, reflect and meditate. You will attain Self-realisation
935. Thou art not this perishable body. Thou art not
this changing mind. Thou art all-pervading, immortal,
infinite, changeless, Soul or Atman. Realise this and roam
about happily.
936. Watch the breath. It sings Soham; 'So' during
inhalation and 'Ham' during exhalation. It reminds you 'I am
He'. Meditate on 'Soham' and attain Self-realisation.
937. "I am body. I act. I enjoy. She is my wife. He is
my son. This is mins."-fhis is bondage. 'I am Immortal
Soul. I am non-actor, non-enjoyer. She is my soul. Nothing is
mine.'This is freedom.
127
Chaptct XIII
YOGIC ALPHABETS
938. Asanas make you strong and healthy and
eradicate many diseases.
Bhastrika Pranayama develops the lungs and destroys
the germs of tuberculosis and augments lung-power and lung
capacity.
939. Constipation is removed by the practice of
Bhujanga, Salabha and Dhanura Asanas.
940. Daya (compassion) is a virtue indispensable for a
Yogi.
941. Eating in moderation, simple living and high
thinking help the Yogic student to attain his goal quickly.
942. Fasting eliminates poison, purifies the whole
bodily system and invigorates the cells.
943. Give the mind to God and the hands to work.
944. Humility is a very important virtue that a yogi
should possess.
945. Indriyas should be controlled by the practice of
Pratyahara and Dama.
Japa of OM or HARI OM should go hand in hand with
Asana and Pranayama.
Kumbhaka helps to attain longevity and awakens the
Kundalini.
Lolasana strengthens the muscles of the arms and
forearms.
(128)
YOGIC ALPHABETS
946. Mind can be controlled by Vairagya, Abhyasa,
Satsanga, Vichara, eradication of Vasanas, destruction of
egoism, Pranayama, meditation and cultivation of virtues
such as mercy, complacency, self-denial, Santi and Santosha.
947. Nadi Suddhi can be obtained by the practice of
Pranayama.
Ojas is the spiritual energy which is developed through
meditation.
948. Paschimottasana removes fat, increases the
gastric fire and cures diseases of the stomach.
Quiver not an inch from your daily Yogic practices
even under the most trying circumstances.
949. Regularity in the practice of Asana and
ffi:J::"
is an indispensable requisite for quick and solid
(
950. Sirshasana is the King of all Asanas. It transmutes
seminal energy into Ojas, develops memory and intellectual
capacity and cures a host of ailments.
951. Trataka helps concentration of the mind and
removes diseases of the cyes.
Unfurl the mysteries of Kaivalya by the steady practice
ofYoga.
952. Yajrasana removes drowsiness, strengthens the
spine, helps digestion and is very useful for meditation.
953. Wandering nature of the mind is checked by the
practice of Trataka and Pranayama.
954. X'mas holidays should be well utilised for the
practice of Yoga.
t29
130 KNOW THYSELF
955. Yoga Mudra cures the disorders of the abdomen
and awakens the Kundalini.
956. Zealols practice of Yoga ensures quick success in
God-realisation.
ESSENCE OF SADHANA
957. Get up at 4 a.m., daily. This is Brahmamuhurta
which is extremely favourable for meditation on God.
958. Asana: Sit on Padma, Siddha or Sukha Asana for
Japa and meditation for half an hour facing East or North.
Increase the period gradually to three hours. Do Sirshana,
Sarvangasana for keeping up Brahmacharya and health. Take
light physical exercise as walking etc., regularly. Do twenty
Pranayamas.
959. Japa: Repeat any Mantra at pure OM or Om
Namo Narayanaya, Om Namah Sivaya, Om Namo
Bhagavate Vaasudevaya, Om Sri Saravana Bhavaya
Namaha, Sita Ram, Sri Ram, Hari Om or Gayatri according
to your taste or inclination from 108 to 21,600 times daily
(200 Maalas x 108:21,600).
960. Dietic Discipline: Take Sattvic food (Shuddha
Ahara). Give up chillies, tamarind, garlic, onion, sour
articles, oil, mustard, asafoetida. Observe moderation in diet
(Mithahara). Do not overload the stomach. Give up those
things which the mind likes best for a fortnight in a year. Eat
simple food. Milk and fruits help concentration. Take food as
medicine to keep life going. Eating for enjoyment is sin. Give
up salt and sugar for a month. You must be able to live on
rice, Dhal and bread without any chutney. Do not ask for
extra salt for Dhal and sugar for tea, coffee or milk.
YOGIC ALPHABETS
961. Have a separate meditation room under lock and
key.
962. Charity: Do charity regularly every month or
even daily according to your means or one-tenth of your
income.
963. Svadhyaya: Study systematically the Gita, the
Ramayana, the Bhagavatam, the Vishnu Sahasranama, the
Lalita Sahasranama, the Aditya Hridaya, the Upanishads or
the Yoga Vasishtha from half an hour to one hour daily and
have Shuddha Vichara. Preserve the vital force Veerya very'
very carefully. Veerya is all power. Veerya is money' Veerya
is the essence of life, thought and intelligence.
964. Get by heart some prayer Slokas, Stotras and
repeat them as soon as you sit on the Asana before starting
Japa or meditation. This will elevate the mind quickly'
965. Give up bad company (have constant Satsanga),
smoking, meat and alcoholic liquors entirely. Do not develop
any evil habit.
966. Fast on Ekadasi or live on milk and fruits only'
967. Have a Japa Maala (rosary) around your neck or
pocket or underneath your pillow at night.
968. Observe Mauna (silence) for a couple of hours
daily.
969. Discipline of Speech: Speak the truth at any cost'
Speak little. Speak sweet.
970. Reduce your wants: If you have four shirts,
reduce the number to three or two. Lead a happy contented
life. Avoid unnecessary worry. Have simple living and high
thinking.
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132 KNOW THYSELF
971. Never hurt anybody (Ahimsa Paramo
Dharmah): Control anger by love, Kshama (forgiveness) and
Daya (compassion).
972. Do not depend upon servants. Self-reliance is the
highest of all virtues.
973. Think of the mistakes you have comniitted during
the course of the day just before retiring to bed
(self-analysis). Keep daily a self-correction register as
Benjamin Franklin did. Do not brood over the past mistakes.
974. Remember that death is awaiting you at every
moment. Never fail to fulfil your duties. Have pure conduct
(Sadachara).
975. Think of God as soon as you wake up and just
before you go to sleep. Surrender yourself completely to God
(Saranagati\.
976. This is the essence of all spiritual Sadhanas. This
will lead to Moksha. All these Niyamas or spiritual cannons
must be rigidly observed. You must not give leniency to the
mind.
SADHANA TATTVA
(The Science of Seven Cultures)
977. Health Culture: Eat moderately. Take light and
simple food. Offer it to God before you eat. Have a balanced
diet.
978. Avoid chillies, garlic, onions, tamarind, etc., as
far as possible. Give up tea, coffee, smoking, betels, meat and
wine entirely.
YOGIC ALPHABETS
979. Fast on Ekadasi days. Take milk, fruits or roots
only.
980. Practise Yoga Asanas or physical exercises for
fifteen to thirty minutes. Take a long walk or play some
vigorous games daily.
981. Energy Culture: Observe silence (Mauna) for
two hours daily and four to eight hours on Sundays.
982. Observe celibacy according to your age and
circumstances. Restrict the indulgence to once a month.
Decrease it gradually to once a year. Finally take a vow of
abstinence for whole life.
983. Ethical Culture: Speak the Truth. Speak little.
Speak kindly. Speak sweetly.
984. Do not injure anyQne in thought, word or deed. Be
kind to all.
985. Be sincere, straightforward and open-hearted in
your talks and dealings.
986. Be honest. Earn by the sweat of your brow. Do not
accept any money, thing or favour unless earned lawfully.
Develop nobility and integrity.
987. Control fits of anger by serenity, patience, love,
mercy and tolerance. Forget and forgive' Adapt yourself to
men and events.
988. Will Culture: Live without sugar for a week or a
month. Give up salt on Sundays.
989. Give up cards, novels, cinemas and clubs. Fly
from evil company. Avoid discussions with materialists. Do
not mix with persons who have no faith in God or who
criticise your Sadhana.
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134 KNOW THYSELF
990. Curtail your wants. Reduce your possessions.
Have plain living and high thinking.
991. Heart Culture: Doing good to others is the
highest religion. Do some selfless service for a few hours
every week, without egoism or expectation of reward. Do
your worldly duties in the same spirit. Work is worship.
Dedicate it to God.
992. Give two to ten per cent of your income in charity
every month. Share what you have with others. Let the world
be your family. Remove selfishness.
993. Be humble and prostrate to all beings mentally.
Feel the Divine Presence everywhere. Give up vanity, pride
and hypocrisy.
994. Have unwavering faith in God, Gita and your
Guru. Make a total self-surrender to God and pray: "Thy Will
be done; I want nothing." Submit to the Divine Will in all
events and happenings with equanimity.
995. See God in all beings and love them as your own
self. Do not hate anyone.
996. Remember God at all times or, at least, on rising
from bed, during a pause in work and before going to bed.
Keep a Maala in your pocket.
997. Psychic Culture: Study one chapter or ten to
twenty-five verses of Gita, with meaning daily. Learn
Sanskrit, at least sufficient to understand the Gita in original.
998. Memorise the whole of Gita, gradually. Keep it
always in your pocket.
999. Read the Ramayana, the Bhagavata, the
YOGIC ALPHABETS
Upanishads, the Yogavasishtha or other religious books
daily or on holidays.
1000. Attend religious meetings, Kirtans and
Satsangas of saints at every opportunity. Organise such
functions on Sundays or holidaYs.
1001. Visit a temple orplace ofworship at least once a
week and arrange to hold Kirtans or discourses there'
1002. Spend holidays and leave periods, when
possible, in the company of saints; or practise Sadhana at
holy places in seclusion.
1003. Spiritual Culture: Go to bed early. Get up at
four o'clock. Answer calls of nature, clean your mouth and
take a bath.
1004. Recite some prayers and Kirtan Dhvanis.
Practise Pranayama, Japa and meditation from five to six
o'clock. Sit on Padma, Siddha or Sukha Asanas throughout,
without movement, by gradual practice.
1005. Perform your daily Sandhya, Gayatri Japa,
Nityakarma and worshiP, if anY.
1006. Write your favourite Mantra or Name of God in
a note book for ten to thirty minutes.
1007. Sing Names of God (Kirtan), prayers, Stotras
and Bhajans for half to one hour at night, with family and
friends.
1008. Make annual resolves on above lines'
Regularity, tenacity and fixity are essential. Record Sadhana
in a spiritual diary daily. Review it every month and correct
your failures.
135
136 KNOW THySELF
May Peace, Joy, Bliss and Immortality abide in you for
ever.
Om Shanti, Shanti, Shantih
WORDS OF WISDOM
108. Work without egoism; work as an instrument of
the Lord. Then actions will not taint you. You will attain
God-realisation quickly. This is the secret of Karma Yoga.
109. As soon as you sit for meditation, chant
OM-Deerga Pranava. It will give you Santi (peace of mind)
and create inner harmony.
I10. For a man of discrimination, all sensual pleasures
are like the pleasure derived from scratching itch.
l1l. You should be regular in your Sadhana.
Regularity is of paramount importance. You will be regular
in your Sadhana, if you have a programme of life.
l12. The atomic bomb can destroy only a small area.
The message of Vedanta will annihilate the whole world
(worldliness) at one stroke, in the twinkling of an eye.
ll3. Vedanta is an aroma that emanates from the
Self-realised Sage.
I14. When you see a poor man lying on the roadside,
do you rush to his help, do you attend to his needs, and do you
offer your own cup of milk to him? Does your heart melt at
the suffering of others? Through untiring, selfless service
alone can your heart be purified. Then Atma-Jnana will come
by itself.
l15. No one has a programme of life; no one retires
from the world and resorts to seclusion and meditation, even
after he retires from service. Tell me frankly: have you got a
programme of life?
116. Brahmacharya Ashram is intended to develop
self-restraint and purity; Grihastha Ashram for the
development of many virtues--charity, generosity,
fearlessness.'Abhayam Sattvasamsuddhi.' Abhayam: you
23
24 KNOW THYSELF
should be fearless. People are afraid of cats in the night
nowadays. When all your sons are fixed up in life, you should
retire into seclusion-Vanaprastha. You should do intense
Sadhana. Formally renounce the world and acquire
Atma-Jnana through Sannyasa.
ll7. Two things frighten you and prevent you from
taking Sannyasa-attachment and lack of power of
endurance.
I18. Many people nowadays suffer from constipation;
if they practise a little Pranayama, their constipation will
vanish.
I19. If I come near you and utter the word Bichchu
(scorpion), you at once jump up. When I say Rasagulla, your
mouth waters. When I say 'You are a donkey,' you get
enraged. What is there: have you developed four legs? When
such is the power of mere words, what a great power must
there be in the Lord's Name?
120. How many million times you have thought and
felt 'I am the body.' Similarly, you will now have to generate
a current of the same intensity and assert 'I am neither mind
nor body; immortal Self I am.' Ten million times you should
now assert 'I am the all-pervading Atman.' Then the Atmic
side of the balance will go down.
l2l. Maya is the jugglery-power which hides the Real
and makes the unreal appear as real.
122. Maya is that force which makes us feel that the
world is real.
123. lnthat Supreme Reality which is behind all names
and forms you rest every night. But you forget in the
morning. This is Maya.
WORDS OF WISDOM
124. Every bit of sense-pleasure is the womb of pain.
125. The consequences are restlessness, craving and
depression. For some time you enjoy; there is depression
later. It is only Bhranti Sukha (lllusory pleasure).
126. Real renunciation is renunciation of desires,
renunciation of egoism and cravings, renunciation of
Kartritva Abhiman.
127. Raga-Dvesha constitutes this world.
128. Sadhana is fixing the mind on the Lord. It gives
you freedom, peace, bliss and immortality.
129. Lightness of body, lightness of mind,
cheerfulness-all these indicate that you are progressing in
meditation.
130. Be regular in your meditation. Take light, Sattvic
food. Shed tears for the separation from the Lord, not for the
death of any man or relative.
131. All that you perceive through the senses, all that
you know through the mind, are evanescent half truths, to
depend upon which would be to disappoint yourselves
miserably.
132. This is the lesson to be remembered, if you want
real success in this life. The man who becomes a slave to the
senses is lost, is ruined.
133. Strive incessantly to develop noble character, for
virtuous character is the basis of all achievement.
134. That which is seemingly unpleasant and painful
in the beginning is productive of lasting benefit later.
135. Through struggle alone the lower nature is
overcome.
25
26 KNOW THYSELF
136. Unless you are freed, you cannot free others.
137. Therefore free yourselves from the bondage of
Samsara, from the clutches of ignorance and desire. Desire is
the cause of the transmigration of the individual soul.
138. Snap this thread of the series of births and deaths
through self-abnegation, self-surrender, self-restraint and
Self-knowledge.
139. Radiate the light of the Divine Life everywhere.
Bring in the light of Divine Life into all yourpublic activities,
into the towns and into the villages. May the light of sublime
ideals and of divine living permeate into the field of
education.
140. Practise Japa, Kirtan, Meditation and prayer;
cultivate divine virtues; eradicate evil qualities or traits. Only
then will you grow in spirituality.
l4l. The real education alone will give you
immortality, peace, bliss and supreme knowledge. That real
education is Brahma Vidya.
142. You must keep a spiritual diary. Gradually
through keeping a spiritual diary, through self-analysis,
introspection-in introspection one portion of the mind
studies another portion of the mind-watching the mind as a
witness, you can find out the defects that lurk in your own
mind, and you can mould your character.
143. A tree exists. A table exists. You can reduce this
table to ashes; and yet it exists. Existence or Sat is the
Reality.
144. There are fluctuations and changes in the mind,
but the Atman which is the Witness, silent Sakshi, pure
Consciousness, is not affected by the taints of the mind.
WORDS OF WISDOM
145. When your ignorance is rent asunder, when you
transcend the Indriyas and the mind, just as the rivers join the
sea and become one with it, you also will become united with
Supreme Self.
146. In honey which is collected by the bees from
various flowers, there is no separate existence for the juice of
various flowers; there is but one homogeneous mass of
sweetness. Even So, all animals, human beings,
plants-everything will return to the Atman. There is no
caste distinction there. It is homogeneous wisdom, percnnial
joy. That is your essential nature.
147. Dispassion is most essential;dispassion is mental
non-attachment. Vairagya should be born of discrimination.
148. Not by works, not by progeny, but by
renunciation alone is that Immortal Bliss attained.
149. Just as rivers give up their names and forms and
become one with the ocean, the Liberated Soul rests in the
Supreme Self.
150. Equip yourself with all the qualifications and
virtues that are necessary. Then only will you be benefited by
Upadesha of the Sat Guru. You may study all the books in the
library. You may be a genius. All that is useless. Genius only
thickens the veil of ignorance. You should have
discrimination.
151. He whom God chooses alone becomes the
Adhikari for the path of Jnana Yoga. God chooses those who
are humble, serene, merciful, compassionate, who possess all
divine virtues.
152. Brahrnacharya is the foundation of the edifice of
Yoga.
27
28 KNOW THYSELF
153. Discipline your tongue. Adjust your diet. You
must know the technique of generating pure thoughts. Pray,
meditate, do Japa, Kirtan. Study sacred scriptures. Have
Satsanga. Enquire 'Who am I?' All these things will help you
to entertain sublime thoughts. This is the ancient culture.
154. You must have Asana-jaya if you want really to
practise Yoga Sadhana. You must be able to sit in one Asana
for three hours. This is conquest over Asana.
155. Shyness is a barrier in material and spiritual
progress.
156. Equip yourself with all the qualifications which
will make you immortal. This is your foremost duty. All
other duties are secondary.
157. Do untiring, selfless service. Then your heart will
be purified.
158. Beware, beware, beware. Do not be carried away
by this external false glittering.
159. He is very near to those who are yearning for
liberation, who are endowed with discrimination, dispassion
and other virtues; He is distant for those who are
self-indulgent, who are sunk 1000 fathoms deep in sensual
pleasures.
160. Man is a triune being. He feels, thinks and he acts.
All these three must be developed harmoniously-the heart,
the head and the hand.
16l. Even if the Absolute cannot be seen by the
physical eyes, there is another eye, the eye of intuition, the
Jnana-Chakshu, through which you can behold the Inner
Atman.
162. Kundalini will awaken by itself by doing Kirtana,
WORDS OF WISDOM
by the Mantra Sakti of the Maha Mantra. Kirtana will destroy
Mala, Vikshepa and Avarana.
163. If you eat less, especially at night, you will not
feel drowsy during your morning meditation.
164. For the vast majority of persons in this world, the
Yoga of Synthesis alone is suitable.
165. Even if a scavenger does his duty with the right
attitude, he can attain the Lord. That is the supreme principle,
the operative tenet of Hindu Philosophy.
166. The world is your best training ground. The world
is your teacher.
167. The background of thought of a grandmother is
her grandchildren. The devotee must have a background of
thought of Sri Rama or Krishna, his Ishta Devata, orNirguna.
This practice will take you to the goal and destroy all names
and forms.
168. Keep a Mantra note-book, a small Gita and a
rosary in your pocket. Write a few Mantras, study a few
Slokas and roll a few beads, wheneveryou find leisure during
the day. Utilise all leisure hours profitably.
169. In Yoga you will find that an aspirant is required
to cultivate Maitri, Karuna, Mudita and Upeksha. These
qualities are necessary for ensuring Chitta-Prasada or peace
of mind.
170. Friendliness, compassion, complacency and
indifference towards wickedness-these remove all the evil
Vrittis of the mind and purify the heart for the attainment of
Supreme Peace.
l7l. The ego must be thinned out; the self-assertive
29
30 KNOW THYSELF
Rajasic nature should be transformed. Only then can we
achieve real brotherhood.
172. Service should be rendered with Atma-bhava,
with the attitude that there is one all-pervading
Consciousness in all, without egoism, without expectation of
fruits, having a balanced mind.
173. Universal brotherhood is the first step to
Universal Selfhood.
174. He beholds the one Self in all beings who has
knowledge of the Self, through untiring selfless service.
175. Mutual understanding and goodwill-these are
all rare because they are possible in only those in whom the
Supreme Love has melted all barriers that separate man from
man.
176. When you are free from cravings and Trishnas,
from desires and yearnings, when you have crushed egoism
and abandoned the idea ofdoership and enjoyership, you will
attain That Supreme Peace.
177. When egoism is destroyed through untiring
selfless service, the mind will move towards the Atman
within.
178. Within you is hidden God; within you is immortal
Soul. Kill this little I, die to live, lead the divine life.
179. Within you is the fountain of joy; within you is
the ocean of bliss. Rest peacefully in your own Atman and
drink the nectar of immortality.
180. Within you is the hidden God,like butter in milk,
the oil in the seed.
l8l. Even if you possess the whole world you cannot
have Supreme Peace, because of fear, anxiety, decay and
WORDS OF WISDOM
death. By stuffing yourself with all sorts of dishes, you get
dyspepsia.
182. If you remove Raga-Dvesha, where is the world?
It is the two currents of Raga and Dvesha that constitute the
world.
183. If your bank balance is nil, if the bank fails, you
get nervous breakdown. Your strength depends upon your
bank balance, not on the inner Atman or Supreme Self.
184. Even when you have nothing to eat, even if you
are clad in rags, you can enjoy inexpressible bliss if you
equip yourself with the four means, if you are regular in your
meditation on the Atman in the early moming.
185. 'I am the all-pervading immortal Atman.'
'Sivoham. Satchidananda Svarupoham.'
186. Approach a teacher. Listen to him. Constantly
reflect on his teachings. If you hear of a truth once, you
should reflect on it ten times, and then meditate. Then you
will reach the Supreme Bliss.
187. Forget not your goal. Perennial joy and
immortality are your essential nature. You have taken this
human birth in order to attain this goal.
188. It is through the practise of this Karma Yoga that
the Divine Light will descend on you. Then will your
individual soul become one with the Supreme Soul, even as
rivers join the ocean and become one with it.
189. You are not the body composed of the five
elements. Again and again remember this. Meditate on this.
Abhyasa is the secret ofsuccess.
190. A man has bungalows, children, food, wealth, all
that the world could offer him; yet he does not have Santi. He
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32 KNOW THYSELF
tries to imitate the Akhanda Ekarasa of the Atman by
repeatedly gratifying the sensual desires. But he is not able to
get the Akhanda Ekarasa. It can be had only in God.
l9l. You may deliver lectures for hours on the
platform. But the truth will be directly revealed unto you only
if you have such devotion to the Guru. He who has obtained
Divine Grace alone will understand this.
192. More learning means more ignorance, more
egoism. This is what you will get from books. He who has
Suddha Buddhi, Pure Reason, alone can acquire that
Supreme Knowledge.
193. Wealth and position cloud the understanding.
Wealth intoxicates; position intoxicates; they put a veil. He
who studies with the help of a Guru, who has got a purified
heart, who has equipped himself with the four-not with four
lakhs ofrupees, but with the four means to salvation: Viveka,
Vairagya, Shad-Shampat and Mumukshatva-he alone can
truly understand the Upanishads.
194. Burning Vairagya is neccssary. When a man has
put some chilly-powder in your eyes, do you relish a mango,
do you get any satisfaction out of sweets? You want only a
doctor to be called, who can remove the foreign matter from
the eyes. Such a buming desire you must have for realising
God.
195. You must practise the Yoga of Synthesis. The
inner enemy is so powerful that you will have to attack him
with various weapons.
196. What is your background of thought? You should
have a new Sattvic background ofthought, and this is your
real asset.
WORDS OF WISDOM
197. If your prayers are not heard, wait for some time.
God is all-merciful. He will certainly listen to you. your
prayer must come from your heart. Then He will take care of
you.
198. Live truthfully, remain cheerfully, rejoice
whole-heartedly, realise perfectly and rest peacefully in your
own Atman.
199. Work becomes meditation. you can meditate for
half an hour in the morning and then keep up the current
throughout the day.
200. It is diffrcult to kill ego. The easier way is to
attempt to transform the ego.
33
Ghaptct III
HINTS FOR SELF.CULTURE
201. An iron sword takes away the life of so many'
You bring it in contact with the philosopher's stone and you
find that it is tumed into gold. Then it loses its harmful
nature. Even so, you have to transform this ego and make it
Sattvic so that it will lose it's poisonous nature.
202. Craving for children, wealth, property,
motor-cars-all these are attended by a number of other
cravings and worries. Therefore you should grow wise and
develop mental detachment and Vairagya for objects.
203. One thing is certain here-all must die' One thing
is certain here-youth fades away. One thing is certain
here-you are caught up in the wheel of birth and death and
suffer from various diseases- One thing is certain
here-sadhana alone can transmute your nature into
Divinity and help you to attain God-realisation.
204. Maya is tempting you in a variety of ways. The
fisherman puts a little bait on the hook' It is not out of love for
the fish that he does so. It is not out of compassion. It is not to
appease the hunger of the fish. His motive is to catch the fish'
The fishes on account of their desire to eat, jump towards the
hook. They are killed. A hunter spreads a net and throws a
few grains. It is not to feed the birds, but in order to catch
them and to kill them. Even so, Maya wants to catch the poor
Jiva. Therefore, She has put a little bit of polish, a little
pleasure-coating in the objects. The objects are pleasure
centres only for the deluded man who has no understanding,
(34)
HINTS FOR SELF-CULTURE
who has not got the subtle, sharp intellect to know the Truth
himself, who is caught in the Samsaric wheel, just as the birds
are caught up in the net.
205. He who has discrimination and dispassion, who
has studied Adhyatmic books, who has prayed constantly,
who has had Satsanga, is able to cross this Samsara.
206. Lectures are not meant for hearing, for
intellectual amusement, for nerve titillation. Whatever you
have heard you will have to put into practice in your daily
life.
207. If you are a sincere aspirant, thirsting for
God-realisation, you will soon attain the Goal.
208. One young man went to a teacher and asked him
for immediate Self-realisation. The teacher took him to a
river and immersed him in water. The boy was panting for
breath; he felt suffocated. After a few seconds the teacher
took the boy out of the water and asked him: 'Do you have
the same desire for God as you had for breath when you were
inside the water? Then only you will realise Him here and
now'.
209. God is a question of supply and demand. Do you
really thirst for His Darshan? Are you spiritually hungry for
God-realisation? Then God-realisation is before you in the
twinkling of an eye.
210. The little intellect can work only in sensual
grooves. It cannot explain the 'why' and 'how' of
transcendental problems of life. It is only intuition which
transcends reason, but does not oppose reason, which will be
able to take you to God.
35
3 KNOW THYSELF
6 2ll. ParaBhakti and Jnana are
one. Both the paths lead
to the same goal.
212. See no evil, hear no evil, talk no evil, think no
evil. This is easy to say; but difficult to practise. Put it into
practice.
213. Pranayama is very important. It purifies your
lungs and you will not suffer from asthma and tuberculosis'
214. You should discipline yourself. In the army
nowadays it is a default if any one gets an attack of malaria. If
any one gets malaria, it means he has neglected the rules of
hygiene; therefore he is punished. Such should be your
discipline, too.
215. Practise Asanas. Practise Suryanamaskaras.
Practise Pranayama. Repeat the Suryanamaskara Mantra
daily. Surya will give you strength, vim, vigour and vitality.
216. The man who has adaptability and serenity will
shine, will have a brilliant career.
217. Truth is utterly public. It cannot be hidden even if
one would try to do so. Truth persists and is expressed even in
the extreme of untruth. The extreme of Truth is the Absolute.
Untruth is a shadow of Truth. The world is untruth and the
Absolute is Truth. The world is represented by ego; the
Absolute is represented by the noumenon Being. Truth alone
triumphs, not falsehood.
218. The Atman or Brahman is beyond the reach of the
mind and the senses. These are finite, frail instruments. The
eye cannot see the eye-lashes, though it can see other objects.
It cannot see objects beyond a certain distance from it' The
infinite cannot be reached by the finite eye. Such is the case
with the other instruments of perception, too. We can
HINTS FOR SELF-CULTURE
however, infer the existence of the Supreme Being by certain
empirical facts.
219. You cannot deny your own existence. you always
feel 'l am'; 'Aham Asmi'. He who says that the Atman is
Sunya himself asserts his own existence; the denier of the
Atman exists! You cannot deny your own existence-the
existence of the one who denies the existence of the Self.
220. To live merely for the collection of a number of
earthly things, a motor car, a bungalow, some silk suits and
fashionable hats and ties and shoes, a wrist watch, a radio and
some silver teacups, is but a low and childish ideal. These
things of the dust soon vanish away like a passing dream.
221. You are familiar with the question asked at the
shop, 'Is this foreign make or merely Indian?' because you
want to purchase that which is more durable, not that which
will be spoiled quickly. How much more necessary then is
this to apply this wise maxim for the more important task of
living your life?
222. Purity of conduct and a high moral character are
the real marks of a man.
223. lt is not human form alone that bestows upon us
the status of a Man. But it is purity, moral courage and
heroism that go to make up true Manliness.
224. ln the beginning, struggle hard for sometime to
leam the art ofcontrolling your senses.
225. Be moderate in everything-eating, drinking,
talking, sleeping, mixing and moving. Excess in indulgence
brings harmful reaction.
226. Include in your daily programme a little Japa,
meditation, reflection, self-analyses, introspection,
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38 KNOW THYSELF
self-correction, concentration, will-culture, regular exercise,
some Asanas, Pranayama, Surya-namaskaras. Then only will
you develop harmoniously all parts of your personality'
227. Take a little food. Do not overload your stomach'
Don't go to cinemas. Get up at 4 a.m., and practise Japa and
Kirtan. See your mother in all ladies' Be regular in your
Sadhana. You will be able to observe Brahmacharya while
living in the world.
228. The degree of fearlessness, of Santosha and of
peace in you is the degree ofyour progress in Sadhana: not
ieeing lights or getting Siddhis. Previously you got initated
at a mere word; now you are able to put up with insults. That
shows you are progressing in Sadhana.
229. Live in seclusion in your own house. Give up
reading of newspapers. The newspaper fills your brain with
the whole world. The mind becomes a big market. Thoughts
of God will not enter such a mind.
230. People often complain that they do not have any
progress even though they practise Japa and meditation' It is
t""ur." there still exist within them the under-currents of
Vasanas and Trishnas.
231. Sacrifice your own life in the service of others'
232. Desirelessness will make you immortal and
blissful. Desirelessness is the road to eternal peace and
wisdom.
233. Withdraw the senses from the objects. Control the
mind. Sit in solitude and meditate ceaselessly on the Self or
the Absolute that abides in your heart.
234. Walk bravely and steadily on the spiritual path in
accordance with the teachings of your Guru or spiritual
HINTS FOR SELF-CULTURE
preceptor. Your eye which is covered by the cataract of
ignorance will be cleansed by the collyrium of your Guru's
nectarine instructions.
235. You have created your own bondage through
your desires, attachments, egoism and cravings, and you cry
for emancipation. You are like the spider which weaves a
web and gets entangled in it.
236. You have become a beggar ofbeggars on account
of your desires. You have bound yourself by identifying
yourself with the illusory, impermanent body, mind, Prana
and the senses.
237. Know your real divine nature. Come out of this
earthly rut. You are lions, not sheep. You are real emperors,
not beggars. You are children of God. Amrita-Putra, not
weaklings tied to this perishable earth.
238. Culture is the key to the realms ofpeace, harmony
and progress. It is lack of culture that misguides humanity
into chaos, wars and hatred.
239. A man who puts on a beautiful suit, who smokes
cigarette and goes to cinema and clubs is called a cultured
man!No.
240. A really culrured man is one who is ethically
perfect. Culture is the process of conversion of the animal
nature in man through the human, into the Divine.
241. Real culture removes the veil that hides man's
essential, divine nature. That culture is rigorous
self-discipline. That is real education.
242. Eiltcation should aim at perfecting the student
and enable him to manifest the Divinity that is hidden in him.
243. Real culture, real education, lies in the practice of
39
40 KNOW THYSELF
Yoga. Yoga enables you to develop your body, mind, heart,
will and spirit harmoniously.
244. Yoga Asanas and Pranayama, which will purify
the body and mind, will remove all diseases and will help in
concentration and meditation.
245. Worldly pleasures are like scratching for itching.
Do not trust your intellect when it tells you that there is
pleasure in the objects.
246. lf you want to get a microscope lens, you will
have to grind, grind and grind. If you want to realise that
infinite Brahman, you will have to practise, practise and
practise.
247. Yo:ucan win the hearts of all through adaptability'
248. Asanas keep the spine elastic. You will be ever
young.
249. When you withdraw the senses from the objects,
when you tum the mind inwards, then you will find the
Atman, not otherwise.
250. You should never have your meditation room by
the side of the kitchen. The smell of Sambhar and Chutney
will raise Sambhar and Chutney-Vrittis in your mind and you
won't be able to meditate at all.
25 l. You want money, and God-realisation, too. That'
is not possible. Moha for this world must be destroyed if you
want God.
252. If yonput water in a broken pot, it will leak away.
Similarly, if you have no Vairagya, all the wealth of Sadhana
that you acquire will leak away.
253. A Yogi is he whose life itself is a translation of
Yoga.
HINTS FOR SELF-CULTURE 4I
254. You should get up in Brahmamuhurtha and
meditate. This is the best time for divine contemplation. The
mind is calm. It is like a blank sheet of paper. You can mould
it in any way you like. The worldly currents of Raga-Dvesha
have not entered it at this time.
255. The whole essence of spiritual life is contained in
these few words: BE GOOD and DO GOOD. Practise this;
you have become a Jivanmukta.
256. You can then deliver the Message of Vedanta
which alone can unite all religions and creeds on a common
platform. Vedanta is a religion of love.
257. Love and Prem can stop all wars and can
transform the people who manufacture atomic bombs.
258. When all 'pathies,' fail, it is Namo-pathy that is
our last resort.
259. He who has no adaptability will not be able to do
any real service.
260. There are many wiseacres, but few are wise. He is
a man of wisdom who is ever balanced in the pairs of
opposites, serene and merged in his own consciousness.
Glory be to him.
261. Unattached service does not mean indifferent
work. Selfless actions are not soul-less, heart-less actions.
You should put your heart and soul in all that you do.
Remember always that you are serving the Lord Himself in
all.
262. KarmaYoga is skill in action. It is a great art. You
have to take as much interest in each act that you perform
daily as an artist takes in his dearly-loved paintings.
263. Joy is to the pure. Peace is to the sinless.
42 KNOW THYSELF
Happiness is to the virtuous. Perfection is to the knower.
Immortality is to the Sage. Therefore, O Children of Light,
purify your heart, be righteous, do virtuous actions and attain
Immortality in this very birth.
264. Take the fullest advantage of this human birth.
Have a rich inner divine life. May divine Grace illumine your
spiritual path. May the divine Power actuate you to perform
great noble and selfless actions. May the divine Grace
transform you into Divinity.
265. Observe Mauna for a short while. This will curb
the impulse of speech. You will not be easily agitated by
harsh words. You will have a balanced mind. Mauna is very
necessary for spiritual progress. The organ of speech must be
well disciplined.
266. Sleep always disturbs the aspirant. Take light
food at night; dash cold water on the face when sleep tries to
overpower you; stand up, and do Japa standing for some
time; practise Bhastrika-these practices will drive off
sleepiness during meditation.
267. Dharma is the eternal law on which the universe
rests and by which the universe is governed.
268. Dharma controls the pulse of the nation, of the
world, of the universe.
269. Divine Life is Dharma. A perfectly moral and
ethical life is Dharma. Loving all equally as one loves one's
own self is Dharma.
27O. A strictly virtuous life, rooted in absolute justice
and based on a spiritual sense of values and a spiritual
outlook on life is Dharma.
HINTS FOR SELF-CULTURE
271. The mark of Dharma is Achara or good conduct.
Achara is the mark of the good.
272. That which brings well-being to man is Dharma.
273. Morality is the gateway to religion. He who leads
a moral or virtuous life attains freedom, perfection or
Moksha.
274. Good conduct is the root of material and spiritual
prosperity.
275. There is one life, one consciousness in all beings.
This is the foundation of right conduct. This is the foundation
of ethics.
276. lf you want success in life, if you want to
influence others, if you want to progress well in the spiritual
path, if you wish to have God-realisation, you must possess
an unblemished or spotless character.
277. Character is a mighty soul-force. It is like the
sweet flower that wafts its fragrance far and wide.
278. Personality is character only.
279. O Jijnasu, all is well with him whose heart is
turned towards the Real. He indeed is miserable that seeketh
what really is not.
280. A virtuous life and a clean conscience give a great
deal of comfort to man while living and at the time after his
death also.
281. Drinking, smoking and many other vices exist
because man does not know how to relax.
282. Guard your mind as a miser guards his treasure.
Find out for yourself the doors through which Satan tries to
enter your mind; keep a special watch over there.
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44 KNOW THYSELF
283. Keep a watch over your eyes. Let them not look
here and there. As you walk on the road, keep them fixed on
the ground a few yards ahead ofyou. Keep a watch over your
ears.
284. A study of Gita will produce in you a thirst for
leading the Divine Life and for attaining God-realisation.
285. You are not prepared to expose your own defects
nor even to admit them. If someone finds out your defects
and mentions them, you are annoyed.
286. But you are ready to superimpose bad qualities on
others. This is the nature of the self-assertive, Rajasic mind. It
feels: 'Everyone should listen to my opinion, and do as I say.'
Ifyou wish to crush this evil nature, you should always think:
'He knows much better than I'; you should respect
everybody. Then you will evolve rapidly; and you will grow
in divinity.
287. Wherever Ram Nam is recited there is Vaikuntha.
288. Wherever people are engaged in selfless service
to the poor, the sick, the needy and the suffering, there is
Vaikuntha.
289. Wherever people meditate on the One,
All-pervading, Immortal Atman, the Self that pervades all
and in which everything dwells, there is Vaikuntha.
290. Generosity is the key to cosmic consciousness.
291. All religions teach man to acquire virtue. Only
certain non-essentials differ.
292. Every religion says'There is One Supreme Being
or God, call Him by whatever name you like, Brahman,
Allah, God, Jehovah, Substance, Self-luminous, self-existent
HINTS FOR SELF-CULTURE
Light of lights, eternal Peace and Bliss.' That is thc nature of
the Atman or Brahman or God.
293. Every religion says that through purifying your
heart you willbe able to realise this God. For the purification
of your heart, various methods are prescribed.
294. Your strength is based on bank balance! This
bank balance will not last for ever. When this bank balance is
lost, you lose your balance of mind, too. You should know
that Sciencc that will enable you to keep the mind ever
balanced in all adverse conditions.
295. When the mind moves towards the Atman, the
Indweller, you derive ineffable peace and bliss.
296. The more you meditate, by withdrawing the
mind, the more perfectly will you be established in your own
Atman, which will give you ever-lasting Peace, eternal Bliss.
297. Egoism is a barrier that separates man from man,
that separates you from the one Pure, Common
Consciousness. Annihilate the egoism and realise the Self.
298. Raga-Dvesha play havoc in the world. They
assume four forms. They are in the expanded state in worldly
people. For nothing at all, they get upset, they get angry.
Sometimes they assume a hidden form. The husband is
quarrelling with his wife,-the child comes, the father kisses
it-now the hatred or the anger is temporarily overlapped by
this love for the child; anger is hidden and love manifests
itself. This is called the Vichchinna Avastha. In those who
practise Yoga-Sadhana, Raga-dvesha assume the Tanu
Avastha; they are thinned out. In the Yogi who rests in
Samadhi, they die out, Dagdha Avastha.
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46 KNOW THYSELF
299. Raga can be destroyed by Vairagya or dispassion.
Dvesha can be dcstroyed by the cultivation of cosmic love.
300. Every day, side by side, along with your duties,
practise meditation. This is your foremost duty. This should
not be neglected on any account.
301. You have shed tears which would fill an ocean. In
childhood you wept, in youth you wept, in middle age you
are weeping, and in old age you will weep still more. yet, you
are not attempting to free yourself. How many calamities and
sorrows you have passed through! Yet the desire for attaining
Supreme Peace does not arise in you.
Chaptct N
ESSENCE OF RELIGION
302. Do not be duped by these glittering objects of
sensual enjoyment; by this passing youth you will have to sit
and repent and weep.
303. Enquire 'Who am I?'; know the Sell and be free.
Serve, love, give, purify, sing, meditate, realise. Be good, do
good; be kind; be compassionate. This is the teaching of all
religions.
304. Ram Nam destroys Rajas and Tamas and fills
your mind with Sattva.
305. Practise Satyam, Ahimsa and Brahmacharya.
This is the foundation of Yoga and Vedanta.
306. The man who does not appreciate music and who
does not appreciate the harmony of sounds is fit to be put into
prison. He has a hard heart.
307. God does not look for your external marks. He
looks for your Bhavana.
308. If you destroy your egoism, and do unreserved
Atma-nivedana to the Lord, He will play on this body-flute
nicely and bring out melodious tunes.
309. Divine Life is a synthesis of service, devotion and
knowledge.
310. It is not a dry philosophical doctrine. It is the
Yoga of Synthesis which is eminently suited to the people of
this age.
3 t l. It is practical religion. It enables you to converse
(47)
48 KNOW THYSELF
with God daily, hourly, minute after minute. In such
communion lies supreme goodness, eternal joy and
immortality.
312. Kindle the fire of faith and devotion in your heart.
You will discover on this very earth the Kingdom of God, full
of happiness and prosperity.
313. Live in God and make others live in God every
moment, through Kirtan, through Japa, through regular
meditation and Satsanga.
314. Divine Life means a thorough transformation of
your lower nature and becoming divine.
315. Live a life of service, Kirtan, Japa and meditation.
Disseminate spiritual knowledge to all. That is the greatest
service you can render to man. It is the greatest charity that
you can do.
316. It is only when man and woman both lead the
Divine Life will there be harmony in the house, peace in
society and prosperity on earth. Both man and woman will
then be able to march forward towards the
Goal-God-realisation.
317. Religion must be practical. Religion is not a
subject for discussion on the club table.
318. All religions have come from one source. There is
no religion for God; but He has given us different paths to
suit different types of people, who are in different grades of
evolution.
319. All religions point to the same goal. All religions
ask you to control the mind, to control the senses, to find out
the one, common Consciousness that is hidden in all these
names and forms.
ESSENCE OF RELIGION
320. When the senses are withdrawn from the objects,
when the mind is stilled and the intellect transcended, the
inner eye of intuition is opened and man sees everything as
God.
321. Universal Love is the golden key to the realm of
the Unity of Existence.
322. Similarly, Lord Krishna, Lord Jesus, Lord
Buddha, Lord Mohammed, Lord Zoroaster, Confucius
-all
of them have delivered the same Message of Love and Unity,
only in different words to suit their audience.
323. All the paths, though seemingly different from
each other, lead the aspirant to the same Goal.
324. Try to find out the good in all religions. Every
religion has produced the greatest seers and saviours. Yotr
should respect all saints belonging to all religions.
325. Real religion is transcendental, beyond the mind
and the senses. Real religion is the attainment of
God-consciousness, Self-realisation.
326. Every religion has come from God. There is no
religion for a Sage. Every religion is good.
327. Religion should enter your bone and every cell of
your being. Then you will enter into the realm of Universal
Religion, the religion of love, the religion of Vedanta, of
oneness and unity.
328. Patience is a fundamental virnre. You sit for
meditation; you get up after ten minutes. You are impatient.
Cultivate patience. Then only will you become a dynamic
body of sincere workers, radiating joy, peace and bliss, the
message of Love, of Unity, of Oneness.
329. lt you have a cup of milk and a hungry man is
50 KNOW THYSELF
walking along the road, you must run, not even wait for him
to come and ask you-and offer him the milk and yourself go
without it.
330. Do not wait for opportunities to knock at your
door; look for opportunities.
331. If you find a sick man on the road, you must stop
your car and take him to the hospital. Such service does not
need much money. Serve with your body. Do not lose even
one opportunity.
332. Thousands of people are in distress. Cheer them
up; sing a song; give them a message of hope.
333. The basis of lasting unity of all humanity is
religion of Pure Love.
334. Karma is infallible, immutable and Divine.
335. A pure heart melts at the suffering of others.
336. Do not think that Sankirtan is in any way inferior
to Raja Yoga.
337. Life is short; time is fleeting. Apply yourself
diligently to Yogic Sadhana.
338. Remember that the pleasure-centres are only
wombs of pain.
339. For a man of discrimination everything is pain.
340. Once you get real peace and bliss by regular
meditation in the early morning, then you will find it
impossible to take the mind away from the lotus feet of the
Lord, you will not like to miss a day's meditation.
341. Unattached to the things of this world, you will be
enjoying the Atmic Bliss within, which is the life you will
have to lead in this world. That is Divine Life.
ESSENCE OF RELIGION
342. First you must have a strong conviction that you
will get etemal bliss, everlasting joy, which the mind is
hankering after, in your own Atman only, and that you can
get only pain here. Otherwise, you can have no progress in
the spiritual path.
343. lf a man places before you a very delicious dish
and says 'I have added a little bit of arsenic (poison) in it',
will you touch it even if you are hungry? You dare not. Even
so, you must think that in all the objects of the world a little
arsenic has been added.
344. There is danger everywhere for the heedless.
345. A fisherman puts a worm on the hook; it is not out
of compassion for the hungry fish. He wants to catch the fish.
A hunter throws a few grains on the net, not on account of his
love for the birds and his desire to feed them, but to catch
them and kill them. Even so Maya puts a little bit of sugar
coating on the bitter quinine pills of sense enjoyments. The
Jiva is deceived.
346. Asannyasin is one who has no money of his own,
but who operates on the cheques and banks and purses ofthe
whole world.
347. If you feel all are manifestations of the Lord, you
will not try to cheat any one.
348. Nothing in the world can conquer you if you are
rooted in righteousness, ifyou have the Lord Himselfon your
side. Stick to truth. Stick to Dharma.
349. Throw away worldly power and riches as broken
pieces ofglass.
350. If you are rooted in Ahimsa, your very presence
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52 KNOW THYSELF
will radiate love. A look or a glance from your eyes will
convert a butcher into a saint.
351. Practice of Asanas even for five minutes daily
will go a long way in maintaining your health.
352. Health is the greatest asset. Health is wealth. This
health is ensured by the practice of Asanas, Pranayama and
Suryanamaskara.
353. Belief in God and faith in Him alone can bestow a
stable firm character on a student.
354. Only if the teacher is virtuous will the students be
virtuous. Ineligious parents produce irreligious children.
Ineligious teachers can produce only ineligious students.
355. Only religion points to you the way to control the
mind and to discipline the senses.
356. That place is Vaikuntha where His Names are
sung and the Lord is worshipped. That place is Kailasa where
there is generosity, simple-mindedness, humility and other
divine virtues. That place is Satyaloka where truth is spoken
and practised. That place is Brahma-Loka where people live
in a dynamic awareness of the unity of Godhead.
357. You should be ever peaceful, blissful and
contented. These are the marks of a lover of God.
358. Collective Sadhana and mass prayers and Kirtan
have a tremendous elevating effect. In a minute all are
transported to elysian heights of bliss and peace.
359. Satsanga with advanced Sadhakas, saints and
Yogis is the greatest boon on earth.
360. What can be achieved by ages of Tapas and study
can be achieved in a very short time by Satsanga.
ESSENCE OF RELIGION
361. The lop-sided system of education nowadays
goes on battering this strong fortress and tempts the woman
away from her glorious sphere of activity through baits of
equality with man.
362. Non-cooperation is the most ancient weapon that
the Sages of India taught the people for attaining spirinral
independence.
363. Do you know the technique of this
non-cooperation? It is non-cooperation with the mind, the
lower, impure mind which prompts you to do all sorts of evil
acts.
364. It you fast on a sacred day, the prayer mood
comes by itself. You should fast completely on Ekadasi. At
first it looks forbidding. Later, when you enjoy the bliss of
meditation, then you will eagerly look forward to the
Ekadasi-day.
365. The religion of Vedanta is the religion of love, the
religion of the heart, the religion of oneness.
366. Only when you perceive something other than
your Self, do you subject yourselfto fear.
367. The education of girls is a fundamental question
on which everything rests. The progress and prosperity of a
community or a nation depends entirely on the education of
its women.
368. Only the right type of education of women can
raise India to her original sublime condition.
369. Sadhana is a means to attain this goal of human
life. Without Sadhana no one can achieve the purpose of life.
Sadhana means any spiritual practice that helps the Sadhaka
or aspirant to realise God.
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54 KNOW THYSELF
370. Abhyasa and Sadhana are synonymous terms.
This Sadhana differs in different individuals according to the
capacity, temperament and taste. Everyone must do some
kind of Sadhana to attain the state of final beatitude.
371. If you follow the path of devotion, you should do
Japa, read the holy scriptures such as Bhagavata or
Ramayana. You should practise Navavidha Bhakti. You
should observe Vratas, do Anushtana, offer prayers and
Manasic Puja. You should also serve humanity, for the Lord
dwells in all beings.
372. Those who take up the path of Vedanta or Jnana
Yoga should acquire first the Four Means-Viveka,
Vairagya, Shad Sampat and Mumukshutva. Then they
should approach a Brahma Nishta Guru and hear the truth
from him. Through such hearing, reflection and meditation,
they will attain Atma Sakshatkara.
373. Sadhana is the road to peace, to happiness, to
prosperity and immortality.
374. Yoga is not something that is completely
divorced from daily life. On the contrary, Yoga and daily life
must be made to merge into each other.
375. Yoga is cessation from thinking of particulars,
annihilation of the feeling of separateness or individuality,
existing as ONE and UNIFIED with all. Yoga is the
dissolution of thought in eternal awareness, pure
consciousness without objectification, knowing without
thinking, merging finitude in infinity.
376. Only those Sadhakas whose minds are purified by
vigorous service and Sadhana, will be benefited by a life of
solitude.
ESSENCE OF RELIGION
377 . True religion is not a set of rituals, nor bundle of
dogmas. True religion is the religion that appeals to every
man, that should be practised by every man, that is common
to all, universal, and that leads one and all to the same goal.
378. What is most important is the practice of a
religion that has high morality and ethical perfection as its
basis, and selflessness and cosmic love as its manifestations.
379. To serve and not wait to be served is the secret of
harmony, joy and human well-being.
380. Shifting the emphasis from privilege to duty is the
golden key to peace, plenty and prosperity.
381. A solemn determination to do one's duty, and the
cultivation of a spirit of selfless service, are the brick and
mortar that are indispensable for every selfless worker,
Karma Yogi.
382. Ifyou are not attached to the fruits ofyour action,
if you do your work for work's sake, then you do not
accumulate any more Karma for the next birth.
383. Selfless service is the direct road to
Self-realisation.
384. The secret ofselfless service is to concentrate all
your attention on serving, on performing your duty, and
leaving the privileges to take care of themselves and not to
long for them.
385. Selfishness and cravings for privilege fatten the
ego and thus take you farther from the divine.
386. Share what you have with others. Feel that your
own Self pervades all beings. See your own Self in everyone
you see. These should be the great Mantras that every man
and woman of the land should constantly repeat.
55
56 KNOW THYSELF
387. Difficult it is to understand the nature of the
Absolute. Still more difficult is the Sadhana for its
attainment. But everything is easy for an aspirant who is
endowed with a pure heart, buming dispassion, intense
longing for liberation and indomitable vigour in Sadhana.
388. The Lord is easily attainable through the path of
devotion.
389. To know Him in truth, you have to completely
crush your ego; and Bhakti or one-pointed devotion to the
Lord is the easiest method of achieving this Herculean task,
for in this method the Sadhaka has the benefit of the Lord,s
Grace quickly descending on him. The final, slender (though
extremely strong) thread of egoism is cut asunder by the
Lord's Grace.
390. Even a stone will melt sometime; but this ego is as
hard as ever.
391. Another and a very potent antidote to the poison
of egoism is Karma Yoga; Karma Yoga with Bhakti as its
basis. Think of Siva always. Meditate on Siva always. Repeat
mentally Siva's Name always. And doing all actions always,
amidst the intensest activity, if you take refuge in Siva,
through His Grace, you will attain the Supreme Abode of
Siva. It is impossible for embodied beings to remain doing
nothing.
392. To be engaged in action, without the attitude of
Yoga, is to feed the egoism, to strengthen the bonds that bind
you to Samsara.
393. Ahamkara or egoism is your arch enemy. It is
born of ignorance. The real secret of divine life lies only in
the renunciation of this dire egoism.
394. His thoughts would be pure, his speech sweet and
his actions divine. That is the mark of a Karma yogi.
ESSENCE OF RELIGION
395. There is only one golden-key to the mansion of
egolessness. It is total unreserved self-surrender to the Will
of the Lord. It demands a pure, kind heart, transformed by
service and devotion.
396. The spiritual aspirant is never helpless. The entire
existence is supporting him in his arduous struggle, for he is
searching for something which is true to all. One may dislike
a certain thing of the world, but Truth can be hated by none. If
all the fourteen worlds were to face him in battle, the spiritual
aspirant would count them for a straw. For he is the Immortal
Spirit, he knows that, the ruler of the heaven and earth, and
the universes at large. You have nothing to fear, friend, God
is ever with you.
397. The might of thought and the strength of feeling
melt into the glory of Experience. The finite is dead and the
Infinite is bom at the very same moment. The birth of day and
the death of night are simultaneous.
398. Faith is even more vital to you than breathing
itself.
399. Without faith you cannot live for a minute' In
faith does the world exist. Even blind faith is preferable to
doubt, scepticism and atheism.
400. The man of blind faith will soon stumble upon
truth and it willgive him a new vision. But a sceptic will go
forth from darkness to greater darkness to his own ultimate
ruin.
401. Mind, too, is so framed that if you do not feed it
on the positive side meditation, it will either project the world
of diversity (through Vikshepa Sakti) or merely go to sleep
(through its Avarana Sakti). You will sink into Tamas.
57
Ghaptet V
LIGHT ON LIBERATION
402. A person's conception of God, his mode of
meditation on Him, colours his activity during the day.
403. Action is not binding. It is the motive that is
binding.
404. Selfless service is not only not binding, it is
positively liberating.
405. By enjoying all sorts of comforts at otherpeople's
expense without giving anything in return, you are only
amassing more Karma, binding yourself more and more fast
to the wheel of Samsara.
406. Maya clouds man's understanding and at the
slightest relaxation ofone's efforts, selfishness creeps in.
407. Maya divides man from man. This division
creates selfishness.
CULTIVATE FAITH
408. Faith in God must be restored. It is lack of this
faith and man's unconditional surrender to Science that is the
cause of almost all the human ills.
409. Minus faith in the Higher Power, God, man easily
slips into the bestial kingdom; selfishness, lust, greed,
violence, etc., result.
410. Intellect should not be trusted. It is finite and frail.
It is impotent when man is assailed by temptations; it is put
(s8)
LIGHT ON LIBERATION
out of action when man is under chloroform or intoxicants; it
is absent in deep sleep. Everyone should acquire the eye of
intuition; intuition transcends but does not contradict pure
reason. Intuition can be developed through faith, devotion,
and purity of heart.
411. Purity of heart is to be achieved through
meditation, prayer, Japa, Kirtan, Svadhyaya or study of
sacred scriptures, and most important of all, selfless service
to humanity.
412. Japa of Lord's Name is your real wealth'
Everything else will pass away. The bungalows, the bank
balance, the cars and gardens, do not constitute your real
wealth. They will not give you peace of mind. You cannot
purchase peace of mind. You can have peace and bliss only in
Him. fo Vai Bhuma Tat Sukham. Remember this always'
413. You should feel that you are only a trustee for the
wealth you possess. Then only will you acquire the real
wealth of God's Grace.
414. Faith heals, faith creates, faith works wonders,
faith moves mountains. Faith is the sacred light for finding
God. Faith makes the weak strong and the timid brave' Faith
makes the impossible possible. Therefore have unflinching
perfect faith in the Lord.
THE GREAT TRUTH
415. A thing is only a force whirling in a particular
direction. One Being is separated from the other due to the
difference in the method of whirling of the Universal Force'
Man is different from a tree because the two are different
processes of the movement of the Eternal Force. This Force is
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60 KNOW THYSELF
imperishable, etemal. When two beings have a slightly
similar movement of these forces or atoms or electrons, they
become friends; when they are identical in movement they
merge into one another and form one Being. The whole
universe is only a diverse movement of the One Energy.
When the whirling of this Force becomes in a common way
then the whole world collapses into etemal Existence.
416. Emperor of emperors art Thou-of the Elysian
Empire behind all these physical phenomena. Thou art the
silent witness of the rise and fall ofkingdoms, of the joys and
follies of the earth, ever merged in the consciousness of thy
essential, undivided, immortal Nature. That thou art, O
Jijnasu!
417. Through meditation and Japa you can alter your
destiny.
418. If you surrender your individual will at the altar of
the Divine Will, you instantly transcend all Karmas and you
instantly burn up all Samskaras and Vasanas. you become
divine.
419. Let everything that you see remind you of Him.
420. Existence is One. It is hidden in all beings like
butter in milk, like fire in wood, like electricity in the wires,
like oil in the seed.
421. He who is endowed with discrimination and
dispassion,-he is the King ofkings, because he has acquired
the supreme inexhaustible wealth which no dacoits can rob of
him.
CONDITIONS PRE.REQUISITE
422. People whose mind is impure, who are full of
LIGHT ON LIBERATION
jealousy and other evil qualities, who are petty-minded,
cannot realise God.
423. Through the practice of Pranayama, Upasana,
worship and prayer, you can remove the oscillation or
fluctuation of the mind; then the mind becomes fit for the
higher practices of concentration and meditation and for
entering into Samadhi.
424. Dive deep into the chambers of your heart and
regain the Atmic pearl which the dacoit-mind has robbed you
of.
425. The Higher Self is your friend, guide and
philosopher; it guides you with its shrill small voice of
conscience. The lower mind is your enemy-it keeps you
bound to the wheel of Samsara.
426. Remember this; your duty is to purify your heart
and to make it fit for the reception of Divine Light.
427. So long as your individuality lasts, you cannot
realise Him.
428. The Lord is gracious. He has given you countless
opportunities to evolve and attain Him. He has assured us in
the Gita that whenever there is decay of righteousness, He
manifests Himself. He comes to us in various forms. He
comes as our spiritual preceptor. One who has realised Him
partakes of His Power and Grace. For a Sadhaka the Guru is
as good as God Himself.
429. The Guru can shower his Grace upon you all; and
he can enlighten you. He is the visible representative of the
Lord. But you must serve the Guru, Prostrate to Him,
surrender yourself to him and through enquiry, you must
obtain from him the Knowledge of the Self.
6l
62 KNOW THYSELF
430. Only non-essentials differ; but the essentials or
fundamentals which will mould you and develop you into a
Superman and make you marge in the One Common
Consciousness are the same in all religions.
431. It is only some petty-minded people who have not
understood the real essence ofreligion, that quarrel.
432. No religion is superior to another. All religions
take you to the same goal, the summum bonum, that is
Existence-Knowledge-Bliss Absolute, and give you
freedom, perfection, immortality and perennial joy. Religion
must be lived daily.
433. Vairagya did not necessarily mean running away
to the forest.
THE ROLE OF SANNYASINS
434. Sannyasins and Bhikshus are the very life-breath
of a nation. Without men of renunciation and spiritual leaders
there can be no peace or happiness in the world.
435. No doubt the path of renunciation is a thomy one;
it is the razor's edge. But there will always be brave, heroic
men of discrimination and dispassion who will be fired with
the zeal to renounce the world and lead the life of Nivritti and
attain Self-realisation.
436. But it is the duty of an enlightened society to
support such men of renunciation and to help them in every
possible way in their quest of truth.
437. They, in their tum, would serve the society and
give men and women the priceless spiritual food.
438. It is the duty of saints and elder Sannyasins to
protect spiritually thirsting aspirants.
LIGHT ON LIBERATION
439. Nothing on earth gladdens a saint's heart as
finding a real thirsting aspirant'
YOGA FOR MODERI\ MAN
440. The Yoga of Synthesis with a stress on one
system is the most suited Yoga for the present age.
441. Always repeat the Name of the Lord. Merely
doing one or two Maalas of Japa will not do. All the day you
should repeat His Name. Then alone will His Grace descend
upon you and save you. This is a very easy form ofSadhana'
442. Sewice will give you opportunities for analysing
yourself and finding out the impurities that lurk in you'
443. When you have some sweetmeats, distribute them
to others' children first, before giving them to your own
children. This is the way to develop the heart.
444. Give to the scavenger the fruits that you would
take yourself. Do not give him stale plantain fit only to be
tlrown away.
445. Without cleansing your mind, you cannot
understand Vedanta. Some people foolishly go on repeating
'Soham, Soham'. What do they understand by Soham? They
think that the body is the Atman' What else can they
understand? Their mind is full of dirt. They do not practise
Karma Yoga and Bhakti Yoga. They speak derisively of
these; they jump to Jnana Yoga. In the end, they achieve
nothing at all.
446. Understanding will come only when the mind is
purified of its dross through selfless service and Upasana'
iherefore, I say again-serve, love, purify, meditate and
realise.
63
64 KNOW THYSELF
447. lt is the individual peace that paves the way
towards the universal peace.
448. The Yoga of Synthesis alone is suitable for this
modem age.
449. The four Yogas are inseparable. Service purifies,
expands the heart. Service unifies, Love unifies. Without
service and love you cannot dream of attaining Advaitic
realisation even in crores of lives. Bhakti yoga is the
fulfilment of Karma Yoga. Raja Yoga is the fulfilment of
Karma Yoga and Bhakti Yoga. Jnana yoga is the fulfilment
of Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Raja yoga.
450. Do not think that you are very wise and that you
have understood everything; you know nothing, my friend.
You are deceived. There is an ocean yet, and you have not
tasted even a full drop.
451. If He begins to give with His infinite hands, how
much will you be able to receive with your two hands? And if
He begins to take away with His infinite hands, how much
will you hide away from Him with your two hands?
452. Real peace and blessedness can never be got from
perishable objects of this transitory world of vanishing
names and forms.
453. There is no true joy in the imperfect experience of
extemal life beset with pain, sorrow, disappointment,
disease, decay and death.
454. The inner tranquility of the soul, the fullness of
inward bliss (which constitutes your real nature) and the
unalloyed joy of rich Atmic experience alone can give you
ultimate satisfaction and rest.
LIGHT ON LItsERATION
REAL RELIGION
455. Religion teaches you the right way to this
unalloyed joy and blessedness.
456. Thus to be full of bliss, to manifest Love and
Oneness in your day-to-day life constitutes true religion.
457. Unity and Universal Love form the very essence
of religion.
458. Yoga is that science that leads you on to
Self-realisation.
459. Yoga aims at bestowing upon you the
transcendental consciousness of Satchidananda, of
tranquility, infinity and immortality.
460. The world is wicked, not for want of truth but for
lack of true followers.
461. Spiritualising of life does not mean that you
should abandon your family and all activities.
462. Yirya or the vital force in man, the Prana and the
mind form an interdependent trio.
463. Thus you will now see that Pranayama wisely and
carefully practised is a thing that helps you to control and
preserve the vital force and also to subdue and curb the
restless mind.
464. Pranayama thus helps to sublimate the grosser
aspect in man and to facilitate the process of concentration
and meditation through the controlled mind.
465. lt also helps in the transformation of the qualities
in the aspirant from the lower animal into the higher divine
by the eradication of Tamas, control of Rajas and
establishment of Sattva in the practitioner.
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66 KNOW THYSELF
466. The Wisdom of the East has solved the 'riddle of
life,' the 'riddle of Universe,' and it boldly proclaims, 'O
man! Know thyself and be free.' This Wisdom is the
crowning glory of the religion of the Vedas. It is sublime,
lofty and soul stirring. Acquire this Wisdom and attain
Immortality.
467 . lf you have firm determination and if you have
full faith in God, the razor's edge will be transformed into a
flower-bed.
468. The tongue is a double-edged sword. You should
use it with the utmost caution.
469. Renounce the fruits of all your actions. Be not
attached to the actions; do not long for reward. Then you will
experience Santi or peace.
470. Do not mistake inertia for inner peace. Do not
mistake dullness for even-minded tranquility.
471. Do not waste Sundays. Give up reading
newspapers. Newspapers do not give you Santi. They only
fill your mind with all sorts of information that disturbs your
mind.
WOMEN SHOULD BE TRAINED
472. The society in which only one-half (Man) has
been spiritually inspired and guided is like a bird flying with
one wing. It can hardly move an inch forward. So also it is
only when both Man and Woman lead the Divine Life will
both of them be ableto march forward with bold and gigantic
strides to the Great Goal-God-realisation.
473. ln spite of the many inroads into Indian culture of
alien materialistic ideologies, India has been able to maintain
LIGHT ON LIBERATION
the essential structure of Her ancient civilisation. This is
because, the Indian cradle song has been one of spirituality. It
is the mother that is responsible for indelibly carving out on
the baby's mind the spiritual impressions. Glory to the Indian
mother, the maker of saints and sages.
414. The mother should be awakened to the true
purpose of LIFE so that she may lead the DIVINE LIFE
herself, lead her children too and enable them to lead the
DIVINE LIFE. The family whose members lead the DIVINE
LIFE is really a blessed family of DEVAS.
PEARLS OF WISDOM
475. Education should be a living process of touching
and awakening in the young student's heart the latent
spiritual faculties and potentialities.
476. Even if you repeat'HARI' once, Himalayan sins
will be bumt in the twinkling of an eye, and you will attain
Mukti.
477. lfyou have a poor constricted heart, ifyou cannot
joyously feed a poor man who comes to your door for a little
food, you cannot expect to have God-realisation.
478. You can completely eradicate all evil qualities
through self-punishment.
479. Whenever you fail in your resolve, punish your
self. Fast for a day; or give up a night meal. Do more
Japa-fifty Maalas for each lapse. Devise your own
self-punishments. The more rigorous the punishments, the
faster will the evils disappear.
480. The Spiritual Quest of mankind finds its
culmination in the Sage. With Danda and Kamandalu the
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68 KNOW THYSELF
Sage walks out of his house, to let the glory of his forefathers
be known throughout the world.
481. The helm of the ship of your life is in your own
hands.
482. The impulse to throw the blame on circumstances
is a trick of the mind. It is a weapon of Maya.
483. Nothing succeeds like success.
484. No one can achieve Moksha for your sake. No
one is standing in the way of your attainment of salvation,
either.
485. There is no easier way of giving up a bad habit
than giving it up.
486. Even though you have not actually given up the
evil habit, you will find that when you indulge in it, you will
begin to experience, first a greatly decreased pleasure, then
an indifference and, in due course, repulsion. The habit will
drop away.
487. ltis most important that you should be regular in
your morning and night reflection (Vichara). This Vichara is
your sheet-anchor. Without it, you will drift away, and the
habit will continue to hold sway over you.
488. Just as a Sub-Judge wants to become a District
Judge, a District Judge wants to be promoted as a High Court
Judge and a High Court Judge to get another promotion to the
rank of a Supreme Court Judge, so also in Sadhana you
should always aim higher and higher and aspire for higher
and higher grades of spiritual attainments.
489. O Man! Follow your own religion, but stick to its
fundamental spiritual ideals. Draw up a progralnme for your
life, and that shall constitute the preparation for the joumey
LIGHT ON LIBERATION
towards Divine Life. You do not live on earth for the sake of
talking about the WHY, WHAT and HOW of God and
religion, but to lead a virtuous spiritual life with a broad
feeling, careful understanding, devotion to Truth and
tolerance towards all beings.
490. Religion is meant to steer the ship of evolution
across the cycle of birth and death. It is not intended for the
purpose of discussion, argument and logic. It is meant for
being and doing.
491. The fundamental point of all religions is
selflessness. This is the beginning of Divine Illumination.
The golden rule of every religion is "Do unto others as you
wish to be done by."
492. For a thirsting aspirant who is full of
discrimination and buming dispassion and who is endowed
with the six-fold virtues and devotion to the Guru, God is
very near.
493. Brahman is the greatest reality like the apple in
the palm of your hand, to those who are endowed with the
Four Means.
494. Good and evil have existed from Anadi-kala, the
very beginning of creation.
495. The very first words you teach the child should be
the Lord's Names. The very first idea that you put into the
boy's mind should be spiritual and moral.
496. To the young boy you should teach the glory of a
spiritual life, the purpose of morality, the principles of
cleanliness, hygiene and health.
497. Obstinacy should be met by firmness spiced with
love; ignorance should be met by knowledge coated with
69
70 KNOW THYSELF
compassion; idiocy should be countered with intelligence
coupled with kindness.
498. Kindly do not forget. Only if you are religious
will your children be religious.
499. You should be regular in your Japa, Kirtan and
Dhyana. If you neglect these, you will lose Brahma-Tejas;
and your children will imitate you and become worse
meterialists. If you are spiritual, your sons will grow into
Yogis and Jnanis.
500. A Guru is extremely essential in the spiritual path.
You must daily worship your Guru. You must first invoke his
blessings before commencing your daily Sadhana or any
important function. Then all your efforts will be crowned
with success.
501. Renunciation is the Atomic Bomb which instantly
reduces the citadel of Desire and ignorance to ashes.
Ghaptet VI
SPIRITUAL LESSONS
502. Japa, Kirtana, meditation, study of religious
books, Satsanga or company with the wise, Yogis, Sages and
Sannyasins, introspection, selfless service-all these will
help you to eradicate the vices that lurk in you and to
cultivate virtuous qualities.
503. The more powerful the enemy, the greater the
varieties of weapons that you use. The inner enemy is the
most powerful; you must adopt various methods to subdue
him.
504. Tamas and Rajas, which are the pillars of
Samsara, are pulled down through the practice of the Ten
Canons.
505. Asana gives you control over the Rajasic
impulses; and at the same time it forms the foundation of the
grand structure of Antaranga Sadhana or the Inner Yoga
process.
506. Pranayama brings you face to face with the Life
Principle or Prana. Control of Prana gives you an insight into
its motive force.
507. The consciousness which had so long been
flowing outward collects itself and flows back into its
source-the Purusha within-and this is Dhyana.
508. If you turn the searchlight of Knowledge on this
mind, it will disappear just as darkness will disappear when
the lamp is brought.
(71)
72 KNOW THYSELF
509. You must be a psychologist, too, if you want to
lead a happy and healthy life and if you want to progress in
the spiritual path.
510. Emotional unbalance leads to all sorts of nervous
troubles and physical illness also. That is the reason why a
real Sannyasin, even though he is starved, homeless and
friendless, is happy and full ofvigour. He has inner strength.
5l l. Once you cultivate a healthy habit of engaging
your body and mind in useful activities, you will find you are
more peaceful, more healthy and you have more time for
Sadhana.
512. Forget the past; ignore the future. Live in the
present. The future will take care of itself.
513. Application and completion make the impossible
possible.
514. Do not vascillate. Let no task frighten you' Men
of vascillation have never achieved anything. Application,
faith and perseverance make the impossible possible.
515. See what great preparations you make for the
reception of a King, a Governor or a big leader. How nicely
you sweep the roads, how beautifully you decorate your
houses? How much more preparation is necessary for
receiving in the temple of your heart the Lord of the
Ijniverse, the Govemor of the Universe?
516. Love of God is liberating. It will lead you to
perennial bliss and immortality.
517. It is Bhakti which will bring about an Eternal
Union between you and the Supreme Lord of the Universe.
518. Anything that is achieved through undivine
means and methods is doomed to crumble down ultimately.
SPIRITUAL LESSONS
519. Cultivate Love in the garden of your heart by
removing the foul weeds of jealousy, revenge, pride and
selfishness.
520. Be in tune with the Divine. The salt of life is
selfless service. The bread of life is universal love. The water
of life is purity of thought, word and action.
521. Not to do evil deeds, not to cause the slightest hurt
even to the least ofthe creatures, is the eternal teaching ofall
the saints and prophets.
522. All creativity and constructive process is worked
out by evolution. Evolution leads to Real Life. It results in
permanent achievement. Therefore, strive to evolve through
strengthening the constructive factors of goodness and love.
523. Devotion is ingrained in everyone. So also love.
Without devotion and love life cannot exist. Even the
confirmed atheist is devoted to his atheism.
524. Even the most cruel-hearted man loves something
or the other. But, essentially, this devotion or love needs
culturing. Only then does it flower into a glorious blossom.
525. lf you are an embodiment of virtue, you will
attain Him in the twinkling of an eye.
526. Even Himalayan sins are washed away if you
repeat His Name once.
527. If you carefully analyse, you will find that all the
vices that man is a prey to, spring from faithlessness.
528. Sadachara or right conduct, cultivation of divine
virtues take you nearer to God.
529. To serve others is virtue; to injure others is sin.
530. Water kept in a leaky vessel will soon be drained
74 KNOW THYSELF
away; even so, Sadhana without Vairagya will have no
effect.
531. Be true to yourself.
532. Karma Yogins should have a copy of the
Bhagavad Gita always in their pocket.
533. Names and forms are unreal. But do not run away
from them.
534. Equipped with discrimination, this unreality
helps you to know the Real.
535. Share what you have with others. You will enjoy
peace and bliss; you will get inexhaustible spiritual wealth.
536. If you see God in everyone, if you have cosmic
love, ifyou have a generous heart, then and then alone can
you do real service to the world
537. Ajo Nityah Sasvatoyam Purano,-if you dwell on
the meaning of this one verse, and meditate constantly on it,
you will attain immortality. You can get over Deha Adhyasa
or wrong identification with body, which is the result of
Anadi Avidya or beginningless ignorance.
538. This identification with body is the cause for all
our miseries and troubles and tribulations in our life.
539. The goal of life is Self-realisation. Never forget
this.
540. You know it is not good to be selfish;yet you are
selfish. This is Maya.
541. Sometimes the husband and the wife quarrel in
the house, on account of some friction and lack of
psychological unity of hearts; the husband wants to abandon
SPIRITUAL LESSONS
the wife, renounce the world and embrace Sannyasa. Again
she smiles; and he clings to her like a leech. This is Maya'
542. If you get Santi, you will get other virtues.
543. In dream you have no experience ofthe body; the
body remains as a log of wood. In that there is a clue that you
are distinct from the physical body.
544. ln deep sleep there is no functioning of the mind
either. This clearly proves that you are distinct from the mind
also. \
545. Your essential nature is peace. Because, what do
you enjoy in deep sleep? Peace.
546. ln a place where there is no play of the
Raga-Dvesha culrents, where there are no objects-in deep
sleep-you enjoyed peace.
547. lf you can annihilate the mind by Sadhana and
deep meditation and a knowledge of the nature of the mind,
you can enjoy that peace and bliss in the waking state.
548. Destroy Rajas and Tamas by the practice of
Pranayama. You will be filled with Sattva. Then alone will
you be able to practise Enquiry and Vichara, and attain the
Goal of Life.
549. Remember: nothing in this world can give you
lasting peace, mental Santi.
550. Sin is only a mistake committed by a baby-soul in
the process of his evolution to Godhead.
THE ROYAL ROAD TO REALISATION
551. Raja Yoga prescribes the eight-fold practices to
achieve Moksha. Yama-Niyama pave the way. Asana and
75
KNOW THYSELF
Pranayama enable you realise the truth about life. You go
beyond the pairs of opposites. You no longer cling to
individualistic living. Abhinivesa is rooted out. Pratyahara
and Dharana take you beyond Raga-Dvesha. Dhyana
dissolves the ego or Asmita. Finally, in Nirvikalpa Samadhi,
the veil of ignorance is torn and you are liberated.
552. Yama andNiyama annihilate the impurities of the
mind. Asana, Pranayama and Pratyahara steady the mind and
make it one-pointed. Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi remove
the veil of ignorance and lead to liberation.
553. All the systems of Sadhana, all Yogas and all
systems of Yogic self-culture are agreed that the essential
pre-requisite for an aspirant for Self-knowledge is
dispassion.
554. Desire must be crushed; for it is desire that feeds
the mind and fattens it.
555. Beware! You should not be led away into the
bye-lanes of Siddhis. Pursue your goal without ever being
distracted.
556. Continue your Sadhana till the ego vanishes and
ignorance disappears, and there is no perception ofduality or
multiplicity.
557. Essentially all the religions try to teach man to
acquire the Bliss of the Atman through purification of his
lower nature and by gradually building up the superstructure
of the higher divine life upon the firm basis or foundation of
perfect morality.
558. All religions are eternally based upon the firm
foundations of good life or the divine life.
559. In every religion the common fundamentals teach
SPIRITUAL LESSONS
man to be good, to do good, to be kind, to be pure, to be
compassionate towards all creatures, to see no difference
between man and man, to unify all in one loving spiritual
embrace; they teach man to see God in every face, to always
engage oneself in spontaneous, loving, selfless service unto
all creatures, to regard this service as worship of the Lord,
who is seated in all beings as the Indweller and the Inner
Controller.
560. The religious instinct or religious feeling is the
strongest and the deepest of all feelings in man.
561. Lead a life of self-restraint, service, devotion,
spirituality and meditation.
562. The aspirants of today need not renounce the
world and run to the forest in search of a Guru. Some will, no
doubt, do so; and they will eventually act as the spiritual
guides to the rest of humanity. The vast majority would,
however, have to learn at home and practise Yoga in their
daily life, to learn and apply the technique of transforming
their daily actions into Yoga Sadhana.
563. You should have perfect control over your
impulses. The three impulses-the impulse of speech, the
impulse of thought, the impulse of action-enslave you; they
drain your energy and make you weak-willed. They drag you
here and there and disturb your peace of mind. By controlling
them, you will acquire immense strength, you will have
abundant energy for carrying on your spiritual practices'
REAL UNITY AMONG RELIGIONS
564. People merely talk of religion. They are not
interested in practising it, in living it.
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78 KNOW THYSELF
565. If Christians lived by the Sermon on the Mount, if
Buddhists followed the Noble Eightfold Path, if Muslims
truly followed the teachings of the Prophet, and the Hindus
shaped their life in accordance with the teachings of the Lord,
of saints and sages, there will be peace everywhere.
566. It is the vanity of man that goads him to reform
society without first reforming himself.
567. When two vain people meet, there is friction and
quarrel.
568. In the name of religious reform there is more tall
talk, vain discussion and quarrel in the world today.
569. There have been so many 'isms;now they want to
add one ry1s1s 'is6-universalism. Thereby you will only
bring into being one more fighting element.
570. What is needed is proper education of the
followers of all religions.
571. Everyone should be encouraged to practise his
own religion and strive to attain the goal, and not to interfere
with others' beliefs. This is true universalism.
572. For a man of Vichara there are no boundaries at
all in this world.
573. Lust for power is at the root of all the wars.
574. A mere idea, a mere vibration in the air, an
illusory tempting bait of name and fame-they are at the
bottom of all wars.
. 575. Every leader thinks that he has got world peace in
his pocket. When he pulls it out, you find that it is a fresh
move for war.
SPIRITUAL LESSONS
576. Vedanta or the religion of Oneness of Existence
alone can unite the nations of the world.
577. lf all the leaders of the world practise the
universal religion of the heart, the religion of cosmic love and
selfless service, there will be abiding peace on earth.
578. You find that the Truths of Vedanta are echoed in
all the scriptures of all the religions of the world.
579. Vedanta teaches you the religion of oneness. It is
a religion of the heart.
580. The blind cannot lead the blind. The reformer has
to reform himself first
581. Reform should start with the individual' Then
society will reform by itself. No 'ism can bring any change
overnight.
582. No political 'ism can ever solve the problem, and
bring about peace.
583. Reform yourself. Society will reform itself.
584. Get worldliness out of your heart. The world will
take care of itself.
585. Remove the world out of your mind, the world
will be peaceful.
586. If each man strives heart and soul to practise
religion, to do Sadhana and to attain God-realisation, he will
have very little time to create qualrels' Automatically there
will be peace on earth.
587. A Bhakta will not disturb your faith, but will
show you the path and guide you from where you are to
where you wish to be. A reformer will violently shake your
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80 KNOW THYSELF
belief, put all sorts ofalien ideas into your head and lead you
to ruin.
588. Reformers should reform themselves.
589. Your heart should expand. You should cultivate
cosmic love. That is the secret of peace, harmony and unity.
THE CALL DIVINE
590. It is very difficult to get a human birth which is the
means of attaining the goal of life. Being born in this human
body, you should lead a life of devotion to the Lord. In the
human body only will you have "Vichara Sakti,, (power of
discrimiriation) and devotion.
591. This body is impermanent. It perishes soon. It
brings pain of various sorts. Give up the efforts for securing
happiness and comfort for this body. If you do not attempt at
Self-realisation even after attaining a human birth, your life
goes in vain, you are wasting your life and you are a slayer of
Atman. You will again hnd again be caught in the wheel of
birth and death.
592. A harmonious development of the body, mind
and soul alone can enable you to fulfil the glorious role for
which you have taken this birth here; you can attain
Self-realisation.
593. Pray to the Sun to illumine your intellect and
enable you to lead the Divine Life.
594. Make-haste. Rise above lust, greed, selfishness
and all worldly taints. Hear the clarion call of the Lord, the
Indweller of your heart. He is waiting there with outstretched
hands to make you one with HIM. Hurry up. Abandon all
SPIRITUAL LESSONS
foolish mundane pursuits. Therefore make haste in the
realisation of God.
595. Sankirtan is the easiest, surest, quickest, safest
and cheapest way to attain God-realisation. Now, therefore,
sing the Lord's Names with faith and devotion.
596. No Yoga is inferior to another. In this Kali yuga
for the vast majority of persons, the Yoga of Synthesis is
more suitable.
597. Sadhyam or God cannot be attained except by
Sadhana.
598. The spiritual path is rugged, thorny and
precipitous. It is too long. The feet may become tired and
bruised. The heart may pant. But the reward is very great.
You will become Immortal. Persevere. Plod on diligently. Be
on the alert. Be agile and nimble. There are resting places on
the path. Hear the small inner voice within. It will guide you,
ifyou are pure and sincere.
599. Do not think that some one else will do the
Sadhana for you. Do not imagine that a drop of water from
the Kamandalu of a Mahatma will give you Samadhi
instantly.
600. Even as the man who is thirsty should drink water
himself; even as the hungry man has to eat the food himself;
you will have to practise Sadhana yourself if you want to
attain God-realisation.
8l
Chaptct Vll
ESSENCE OF YOGA
601. Renunciation of objects is very necessary, no
doubt; but without first renouncing the ego, this mere
extemal renunciation is of little value.
602. Sacrifice ofone's ego in the fire of selfless service
unto humanity is a great Yajna.
603. To pray for another is charity. To serve another
with the body is charity. To be kind and loving is charity. To
forgive and forget some harm done to you is charity. A kind
word said to a suffering man is charity.
604. Tapas is control of body, mind and speech.
605. Control your senses through Sama, Dama,
Titiksha. Control your mind through Vichara and Viveka.
Control your speech through the practice of Mauna,
Mita-Bhashana and Madhura-Bhashana. This is Tapas.
606. Sadachara or good conduct that is based on
truthfulness is the very basis of religion.
607. The prime process of religion is to turn a bad man
good and raise the good man to the heights of Godliness.
608. The Guru will be the one man in the world in
whom you will refuse to see evil. That is the first step. That is
the key to the realm of Cosmic Consciousness.
609. Guru is the sacred altar at which you can willingly
and lovingly sacrifice your ego.
610. Everyone is God clothed in human garb. This
must be recognised.
(82)
ESSENCE OF YOGA
6ll. Man has been overpowered by materialism. He
has no idea of Dharma. He has voluntarily thrown away his
protector, Dharma. Therefore he suffers.
612. ln the restoration of Dharma lies the peace of the
world.
613. Nama Smarana! Constant remembrance of the
Lord is the only easy Sadhana for God-realisation.
614. The universality of religion does not lie in the
rituals, external marks or traditional observances, nor in the
personal apparel and social customs adopted by followers of
particular aspects of religious life.
615. All the religions and faiths that ever existed and
exist today are but slightly varying processes for the
development and consummation 'of this fundamental
universal urge towards the one Infinite Source and Origin of
all life.
616. Real religion is the method of awakening and
making manifest this Soul-consciousness.
617. Universality is the greatest characteristic of true
religion. This fact is not affected by the vote or opinion of the
non-discriminating man.
618. Real religion awakens man to the consciousness
of the unity of all existence and a perception of one Spiritual
Essence that pervades everywhere and indwells every being.
619. To bestow the highest perfection, the highest
knowledge and the highest bliss of Self-Experience is the
meaning of life.
620. Control the tongue and the other Indriyas. Then
your Atma-Bala will increase.
621. Do not abandon your Japa and Meditation
83
KNO\\''IIIYSELF
because the mind wanders from the Lakshya. Let it run; but
you go on with your Japa. In due course, if you are regular,
the mind willbecome steady.
622. Go on doing the Japa, with or without the proper
Bhavana. The Mantra itself will purify your heart and will
enable devotion to flower in it. The Bhavana also will come.
623. When you are absolutely desireless, when all your
senses are withdrawn, when your Buddhi is centred in the
Inner Self, then you are a Sage.
624. Religion binds the wandering mind to the Lotus
Feet of the Lord.
625. Religion shows the way or path for attaining
God-realisation, for the moulding of our character and
cultivation of divine virtues such as humility, tolerance,
adaptability and magnanimity which are necessary for
attaining the Eternal Wisdom or the Wisdom of the Self.
626. Give up newspaper reading; the world will
gradually recede from you, and in course of time you will
realise that the world has not essential existence.
627. God is the supreme panacea which will cure you
of your old-standing disease of birth and death.
628. Think what is good, speak what is good, do what
is good. You will soon enter the Kingdorn of Immortal Bliss.
629. Contentment is the richest treasure; peace of mind
is the rarest jewel; truthfulness is the best friend.
630. A potter moulds the clay; a goldsmith moulds the
gold; and a blacksmith moulds the iron; but an aspirant
moulds his mind.
63 l. Just as the Himalaya stands unmoved by storms,
ESSENCE OF YOGA
so the sage stands unmoved by praise or censure, respect or
disrespect, gain or loss, victory or defeat.
632. Selfless service is the greatest purifying force on
earth. It is through such service that preparatory purification
is wrought-so vitally and indispensably essential for the
experience of a wider consciousness and a higher life. All
endeavour to attain perfection and obtain bliss is bound to be
futile and abortive, if it is not based on the sound foundation
of ethical development and moral stability, which are to be
acquired mainly through a period of eamest and
whole-hearted service in some form or other. This forms the
melting process of the base ore of the egoistic self in man. It
is a process absolutely necessary for the emergence of the
pure gold ofprogress, peace andjoy in life. To fancy oneself
fit for meditation and seclusion from the start is to put the cart
before the horse.
Chaptct YlIl
GARLAND OF YOGA
633. SADHANA
Don't forget God.
Don't fail to get up at 4 a.m., and do
Japa and meditation.
Don't fail to maintain a daily diary.
Don't fail to do Nitya-Karmas.
Don't fail to do charity.
Don't fail to discharge your duties to parents.
Don't waste any opportunity.
Don't depend upon servants.
Don't be a slave to the Indriyas.
Don't move with worldly-minded people.
Don't count the time.
634. BRAHMACHARYA
Don't waste your Veerya (semen).
Don't procreate too many children.
Don't cast lustful look at women.
Don't mix with the opposite sex.
Don't attend cinemas and read novels.
635. RIGHT CONDUCT
Don't covet others property.
Don't revenge.
Don't hate or condemn anybody.
(86)
_
GARLAND OF YOGA 87
Don't blame or speak ill of others.
Don't displease anybody.
Don't use bad words.
Don't develop evil-habits, such as
smoking, drinking liquor, etc.
Don't argue unnecessarily.
Don't utter falsehood on any account.
Don't exaggerate.
Don't travel without ticket.
Don't give destructive suggestions.
Don't have any secrets.
Don't envy others.
636. VAIRAGYA
Don't forget the miseries of the world.
Don't try to get comforts.
Don't forget death.
Don't care for the morrow.
Don't write letters.
Don't read newspapers.
Don't try to redress your troubles.
Don't possess anything.
637. DISCIPLINE
Don't talk too much.
Don't laugh too much.
Don't waste even a single second.
Don't overload your stomach.
Don't remain idle at any time.
Don't think too much of a disease.
Don't disobey the laws of Nature.
88 KNOW
Don't fast THYSEL
too much. F
Don't exert too much.
Don't fail to observe Mauna.
638. WAY TO PEACE AND HAPPINESS
Don't expect, don't hope.
Don't keep in the heart any injury done by others.
Don't compare.
Don't mix with rich people.
Don't build castles in the air.
Don't plan your future.
Don't brood over the past.
Don't get angry on any account.
Don't expect any retum for your services or help.
Don't multiply your acquaintances.
Don't be familiar with anybody.
Don't squander your wealth.
Don't think too much of yourself.
Don't make mountains out of little moles.
Don't be extravagant.
Don't make much of trifling things.
Don't forget God.
639. WAY TO WORLD PEACE
Educate the religious sense of the people,
Educate the moral sense of the people,
Educate the heart ofthe people,
Educate yourself at the
Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy,
Educate your mind to realise unity,
Educate your mind to behold the one Self in all,
GARLAND OF YOCA 89
Educate your mind to
discriminate
between right and wrong,
Educate your mind to be dispassionate,
Educate your mind to be desireless,
passionless, egoless and selfless,
Educate your mind to see only the good in all,
Educate your mind to practise the teaching,
"Be good, and do good."
640. WHAT IS PRAYER
Prayer is depending on God for help in distress.
Prayer is asking God for enlightenment.
Prayer is communion with God, through single-minded
devotion.
Prayer is asking for peace from God
when the soul is restless.
Prayer is surrendering oneself to God completely.
Prayer is giving an opportunity to God
to comfort the devotee.
Prayer is making friendship with God.
Prayer is melting the mind and ego in silence in God. Prayer
is thanks-giving to God for all His blessings' Prayer is
expecting God to decide
what is best for you when you are in a dilemma.
Prayer is asking God to purify the heart
and make you abide in Him for ever.

Ghaptet D(,
THE GOAL OF LIFE
641. Every man in the world is restless and is striving
for some thing, what, he does not know. Sages declare that
this is solely due to the loss of the companionship of the soul.
642. The more you forget your Soul, the more are your
miseries. You cannot have real happiness in this world. The
real Santi is only in the Bhuma.
643. Bhuma is unconditioned. Beyond time. Beyond
space and causation. Bhuma is freedom-freedom from the
trammels of the flesh, freedom from the hicks of Maya,
freedom from the plays of delusion.
644. Bhuma is perfection, beyond all limitations.
Bhuma is infinite fullness. Bhuma is the Etemal Absolute.
645. Peace is within. Search for peace within the
chambers of your own heart through one-pointed
concentration and meditation.
646. If you do not find peace within, you will not find it
anywhere else. The Goal of Life is the attainment of peace
and not the achievement of power, name, fame and wealth.
647. Pwify, serve, love, give and live in Truth. Feel
always and everywhere the indwelling and All-pervading
presence. Realise the Self.
648. Rest in the magnanimous ocean of peace, in the
stupendous sea of silence. Drink the nectar of Immortality.
649. Spiritual life is neither life merely inside the
(e0)
THE GOAL OF LIFE
world nor life simply outside it. It is the life in the
transcendental Being.
650. Spiritual life is the life in the Self which is the
Supreme Lord of all who is inside and outside everything'
651. Spiritual life can be lived "in" the world, but it is
"beyond" the world, for it is not of the world. Live this
eternal life. O Mumukshus! Live this glorious life.
652, The Atman is the Life and Light of the Universe'
Live in It. It shines and therefore everything shines. It is free
and therefore all strive for freedom.
653. Know the source of Freedom, the root ofBliss and
be free. Towards this end strive; dedicate your life to this one
supreme and only purPose.
654. The world is a chaff compared to this majestic
essence, which is the goal of your life; it is darkness before
the splendour of the Divine Being; it is ignorance in relation
to the knowledge of God.
655. It is real death in the life of that real life, in the
Truth of all truths. March on with the help of this light and be
free.
656. The experience of the glory of spiritual life is
preceded by the negation of the narrow life in the body and
the mind. Therefore transform yourselves completely'
657. Transfigure your entire being through service,
through devotion, through meditation, through knowledge'
658. Pierce the veil of delusion; go beyond the dark
picture of Maya, through recognising in all the resplendent
Basis of Brahman upon which the drama of the universe is
staged.
9l
KNOW THYSELF
659. Service breaks the ego, opens the heart, expands
the consciousness and deepens the spirit.
660. Love softens the hard personality, melts the mind
and takes you to God.
661. Meditation exalts you to superhuman nature and
reveals to you the treasure ofwisdom within, the wisdom that
is not given to the worldly.
662. The wisdom of meditation transcends the
intellect, the wisdom that man cannot hope to attain until he
casts off the shell of his individual ego.
663. By meditation man surrenders himself to the
Infinite light, the wondrous light which the spiritually blind
do not behold.
664. Sadhana is spiritual movement consciously
systematised. To restrain the senses, to withdraw the mind, to
be aware of the Divine presence is the essence of Sadhana.
665. To speak the truth at all costs, to love all as one,s
own self, to be pure in thought, word and deed, to be
contented and cheerful and above all, to be undeluded, to be
ever vigilant and to remember God ceaselessly, is the gist of
spiritual life.
666. Spiritual life is the only glorious life. Remember
the essential unity of spirit, the oneness of life in all.
667. Nations are formed. Sections are raised. Wars are
waged. Humanity is eager for competitive race. parties rival
each other. But this is not in conformity with Truth.
668. Your real glory is in life of Unity and peace.
Break down separations. Build up Unity. This is glory. There
is no glory in this mundane region, this joyless world which
is infected with change, decay and death. Destruction and
THE GOAL OF LIFE
sorrow have not a single being untouched. Everything will
pass away.
669. The only Substance, the Reality that endures
forever is God or Brahman. You can call him by any name'
He is the sole existence'
670. Remember that all that you see in this world and
get attached to is the object of your own imagination' Open
yorr .y"t. AII this is pure consciousness' All this is
undivided and immortal consciousness.
671. Where is father, where is mother, where is wife,
where are children? Where is society, where are nations?
You are moving and breathing in the mass of universal
consciousness.
672. Thete is no way in this world to get eternal
happiness and supreme satisfaction' You do not know where
lies the cause of misery and suffering' You do not know
where lies the source of real knowledge and bliss' Assert
your real birthright, the Freedom of Self-realisation'
673. You are neither the body nor the mind' You are
the All-pervading Atman. There is neither disease nor sorrow
in Atman. Detach yourself from the body and be happy'
674. Meditate. Go to the Divine Source. Tap the peace
there. It will flow incessantly. Drink the nectar of
Immortality. Through different experiences you know the
shallow nature of the world. Now you are fully aware of the
worthless nature of the sensual objects. You are developing
dispassion slowly.
6T5. Never entertain the idea: "I am a sinner'" Roar, "I
am Siva. I am Siva. Sivoham. Sivoham." Sin is only a
mistake committed during the course of evolution'
93
94 KNOW THYSELF
676. The struggling soul will have to commit mistakes
as a child learns walking by falling down several times. Sin is
a relative term. Atman is beyond virtue and sin. Virtue and
sin are mental creations only.
677. Your present ailment is a Karmic purgation. It has
come to make you remember Him more and more. To instil
mercy in your heart, to strengthen you and to enable you to
develop the power ofendurance.
678. Thou art dear to the Lord Vaasudeva. That is the
reason why He gives troubles. Understand His mysterious
ways. Out of sight but not out of mind.
679. The All-merciful God resides in the chamber of
your heart. He is quite close to you. you have forgotten Him.
But He still cares for you. He is thy immortal Friend.
680. Troubles are God's blessings in disguise. He
wants to mould your body and mind as fit instruments for His
unhampered play or Lila.
681. Throw away the load that you are carrying on
your shoulder unnecessarily on account of your egoism. Give
up your self-created responsibilities. Have perfect faith in
Him. All miseries will come to an end.
682. Believe me. Sincerely pray, ,,I am Thine, My
Lord. All is Thine. Thy Will be done.,,The gulf of separation
will vanish now. You will attain His Grace and be free from
all troubles.
683. Develop the power of endurance. Be prepared to
give up the body for a noble cause. Fearlessness is an
important qualification for an aspirant. Renunciation of
desires and egoism, "I-ness" and ,,mine-ness,, is the true
renunciation.
THE GOAL OF LIFE 95
684. The simplest means for the purification of the
mind and realisation of God is always to remember Him and
feel His presence everywhere. Repeat His Name'
685. The Ten Commandments of Divine Life: 1'
Practice truthfulness, non-violence and celibacy' 2' Be good'
Do good. 3. Be tolerant. Be kind to all' 4. Bear insult' Bear
injury. 5. Serve all. Serve the Lord in all. 6. Share what you
have with others. 7. Give, Purify, Meditate, Realise' 8' Think
rightly. Act rightly. 9. Behold the One Self in all; see God in
every face. 10. Feel "I am the All-pervading Self''
Chaptet X
GOD.REALISATION
686. God is the source of all happiness. He is an
embodiment of peace, wisdom, and Bliss. He is Truth, Love,
Beauty and Goodness. All beings abide in Him.
687. God is one. God and His laws are one. God is
Love and Law. God is pure Spirit. God is the path and the
goal. God alone is your real father, mother, friend and Guru.
Realise God now and here and be happy for ever.
688. The deeper a man's love of God is, the greater is
his spirirual knowledge in due proportion to his capacity and
depth of love. The final consummation of the love of God is
union with God. Love of God is inbom in a man by virtue of
his spiritual evolution.
689. To realise God is your duty. God-realisation is
your birth-right. Develop strong yearning for
God-realisation, have confidence in yourself. Be
self-controlled. Be fiery in your determination. Stick to your
resolves tenaciously. Cultivate a strong faith in God. Do total
self-surrender and obtain His Grace.
690. See God in all beings and things. See the world as
a manifestation of God. It is not necessary to abandon the
world in order to have a vision of God, because world itself is
a manifestation of God. The world is nothing but the
expression of God's love. It is Virat purusha.
691. Japa is the recitation of Lord's Name. Japa is an
important Sadhana for God-realisation. Japa yoga is the
(e6)
GOD.REALISATION
easiest, qllickest, safest and surest way of attaining the goal in
the present age. Repeat 200 Maalas of Japa daily. Do more
mental Japa. Practice of Yoga brings the devotee face to face
with God.
DIVINE LOVE
692. God is Love. Bhakti is the experience of this
Divine Love. Do your duty in a spirit of worship. Perform all
actions in an attitude of prayer. Your heart should overflow
with Divine Love at the sight of any object in the world. Then
alone you will become an ideal devotee.
693. Understand Life's supreme purpose. Seek the
Eternal. Realise the underlying Essence. Have intense thirst
for liberation. Die to live. Discipline the mind. Have
self-control. Learn to be wise. Make best use of this human
birth. Realise the oneness of existence.
694. Knock within. Search within. Look within. Gaze
within. Within you is the Immortal Soul. Aim at Perfection.
Fight Life's battle bravely. Live wisely. Strengthen your
resolution. Become one with the Eternal. Have tenacity of
purpose. Climb the peak of perfection. Attain life's goal.
695. God is very close to you. He abides in your heart,
closer is He than the breath, nearer than hands and face. He is
your very Self or Atman. Strive to know God. Seek the
company of sages. Lead a life of selfless service,
renunciation, dispagsion, prayer and meditation. Have
self-conquest. Control the mind. You will attain perfection
and peace.
696. True and sincere surrender unto God is the
essence of Bhakti. 'I am Thine. All is Thine. Thy Will be
98 KNOW THYSELF
done, my Lord'. This is the best Saranagati Mantra or prayer.
Seek His Will. Do His Will. Surrender to His Will. You will
become one with the Cosmic Will.
697. The Divine Grace is life's greatest treasure. If
there is self-sunender, there is inflow of Grace. Lord's Grace
will descend in proportion to the degree of surrender, the
more the surrender, the more the Grace. Supreme Love
comes only by the Grace of God. Grace of God will make you
stick to the spiritual path.
GURU GITA
698. Salutations, adorations, prostrations to Guru,
Guru is Brahma, Guru is Siva, Guru is Vishnu, Guru is father,
Guru is mother, Guru is real friend. Serve him with all Bhava,
wet with Bhakti. He will teach you Brahma Vidya, show the
divine path. Service of Guru is a great purifier.
699. He who has a Guru knows Brahman. A Guru
alone can remove doubts, pitfalls and snares. One who has
surrendered himself to his Guru, one who serves the Guru
whole-heartedly, one who has marvellous Guru-Bhakti,
knows no grief, no solTow, no fear, no misery, no ignorance
and he instantly attains God-realisation.
700. To get rid of selfishness is most difficult. Only if a
disciple makes a firm, fiery determination to uproot
selfishness and follows his determination by constant
grinding, then alone selfishness will go by the Grace of the
Guru.
701. Those who attempt to control the mind without
Guru's help are like merchants who have not secured a good
pilot for their vessel. The spiritual path is thorny and
GOD-REALISATION
precipitous; temptations will assail you, there may be
downfall; so approach the teacher who has tread the path.
Close your eyes and meditate on the form of your Guru, and
recite his holy name. Meditation on Guru gives bliss, inner
strength, peace of mind and joy.
702. The Grace of the Guru will itself in a mysterious
manner enable the disciple to perceive directly the Brahmic
principle within, though it is impossible for the spiritual
preceptor to point to Brahman as this or that, or for the
disciple to understand how it is priorto his directperception.
703. Ifyou are elevated in one's presence, ifyou are
inspired by his speeches, if he is able to clear your doubts, if
he is free from lust, greed, anger, and ifhe is selfless, loving
and l-less, take him to be your Guru.
704. Serve your Guru with whole heart and soul. Love
your Guru without any expectations. Give one tenth of your
income to your preceptor. Meditate on the lotus-feet of Guru.
You will realise in this very birth. This is the secret of
Sadhana.
705. All that a Guru can do is to tell his disciple the
method of knowing the Truth or the path that leads to the
disclosure of intuitional faculty. He will clear your doubts,
remove pitfalls and snares and inspire you. He cannot give
you Samadhi. You will have to place each step yourself in the
rung of the ladder of Yoga. Do not expect a miracle from
your Guru to put you in Samadhi.
DIVINE QUALITIES
706. Truth: Have ceaseless devotion to Truth. Be
ready to sacrifice your all for it. You will develop a strong
99
100 KNOW THYSELF
will. You will become fearless. You will draw immense
strength and courage from the Atman or the Supreme Self
within. You will attain Self-realisation. The man who can see
his own faults as he sees those of others will soon become a
great soul.
707. Ahimsa: Ahimsa is a wonderful quality of the
heart. It is a rare virtue. It transmutes a man into divinity. He
who is established in Ahimsa is God himself. The power of
Ahimsa is greater than the power of the intellect. Ahimsa is
supreme love. Ahimsa is soul-force. Practice of Ahimsa is
practice of divine life. Ahimsa is a weapon not of the weak
but of the strong.
708. Righteousness: To speak the truth, to practise
Ahimsa, not to hurt the feelings of others in thought, speech
and deed, not to speak harsh words to any one, not to abuse
others or speak evil of others, and to see God in all living
beings is righteousness. If you loose your wealth nothing is
lost. If you loose your health, something is lost; but if you
loose your character, everything is lost. Therefore posses
very high character, at any cost. If you entertain noble
thoughts, sublime ideals and holy activities, you will have a
magnanimous character. You will have a magnetic
personality. You will be a centre ofjoy, power and peace.
709.. Courage-strength: You should possess
strength, mental strength and spiritual strength' The man who
is sweet, who is kind, who is free from initability, who is
adaptable, who is humble, who knows the science of how to
enter into the hearts of others (through constant service with
love and humility) can be happy and peaceful.
7 I 0. Titiksha: Titiksha is a condition of wisdom' It is a
means for acquiring knowledge. Be calm, serene and poised
GOD.REALISATION
always. Never get excited or nervous. Stand as firm as a rock,
composed and unruffled. Never become impatient. When
you are calm, you can get help and strength from within.
When you are calm and tranquil, you can hear the still inner
voice. Adjust yourself well. Adjust yourself to the
temperaments and mentality of others with whom you mix.
This is the secret of happiness. Bear difficulties patiently.
Adjust the mind to all circumstances and places. Then only
you can be really strong. You should try to love all, even your
worst enemy who wants to destroy you. Do not be afraid of
insult, disrespect, dishonour, abuse or harsh words. Wear
them as ornaments on your body.
7ll. Contentment: Contentment is the best of all
virtues. A contented mind is a continued feast. A man of
contentment is always peaceful and serene.
712. Love and mercy: Root out vices. Plant virtues.
Develop mercy, unselfishness, sympathy, pure Cosmic Love,
patience, mercy, peace etc. Lead an ideal life in God. Be
good. Do good. He who has renounced selfishness and he
who is endowed with courage, fearlessness, patience, mercy
and cosmic love is alone fit for attaining Immortality or
Self-realisation.
TRUE KNOWLEDGE
713. ln the perfect nameless, formless void, in the
unlimited expanses of bliss, in the region of matterless,
mindless joy, in the realm of timeless, spaceless stillness, in
the Infinite zone of speechless, thoughtless peace, in the
transcendental abode of sweet harmony, I united in the
Supreme Effulgence.
714. The thought that we are one or two vanished. I
l0l
102 KNOW THYSELF
crossed the sea of birth for ever. This is all due to the Lord,
who danced in Brindavan with rhythmic jingle, who raised
Govardhan as umbrella for the cowherds.
715. Live with a definite purpose' Do not roam about
aimlessly. Climb the ladder of knowledge steadily and reach
the summit of the temple of Brahman or the sweet abode of
Immortality.
716. In the spiritual path there are constant failures and
setbacks. Repeated endeavour, constant vigilance and
undaunted perseverance are essential.
717. Fight with the mind bravely. March fighting with
the lower instincts and impulses with an undaunted heart.
718. Struggle hard. Be courageous. At the end of the
battle you will attain the illimitable domain of eternal bliss,
the immaculate, imperishable Seat of Brahman.
719. Hard enough it is to puriry the lower nature.
Difficult it is to practise concentration and meditation, but
vigilance, perseverance, constant persistence, steady efforts,
company of the wise, resolute will, strong determination will
obviate all the difficulties and render the path easy and
smooth.
72O. The Divinity within you is stronger and closer
than anything else that is without you. Therefore be not afraid
of anything. Rely on your inner SelF-the Divinity within
you. Build up your character. Tap the source and look within.
721. Improve yourself. Purify the heart. Develop the
Divine nature. Eradicate the evil traits. Endeavour every
moment of your life to practise all that is worthy.
722. Chlldren of Light! Life is but the unfolding of the
latent capacities of the Soul. Why should you prolong the
GOD-REALISATION
bondage unnecessarily? Why should you not claim your
divine birthright now, in this very moment?
723. Delay means prolonged suffering. You can get rid
of this suffering any moment. This is within your power. Do
it now. Stand up. Do vigorous Sadhana and attain your
birthright, the etemal freedom.
724. May the Light of lights guide you in the path
Eternal every moment of your life. May success be yours!
May you attain God-realisation in this very birth, and then
put an end to all misery and suffering.
725. The wealth of this world, the knowledge of this
objective universe, friends, relatives, wife and children,
bungalows, motor cars and cities, gardens, parks and hill
stations all are jugglery of Maya.
726. Food, drink, coffee, biscuits, puddings, cakes and
lemon-squash, hotels, restaurants and clubs, position, title,
diplomas and colleges-these are false, illusory and
deceptive.
727. They are shadow, bubble and dream. Wake up,
friends, at once! Realise the Immortality and be happy for
ever.
728. What is Jnana? Unity is Jnana. Balance is Jnana.
Equality is Jnana. "I am pure consciousness" is Jnana. "l am
the Self in all beings" is Jnana. It is oneness. It is the identity
of Jiva and Brahman.
729. lf you want to enter Samadhi quickly, cut off all
connections with friends, relatives etc. Observe the vow of
absolute silence for one month. Live alone. Take very light
but nutritious food. Live on milk alone.
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104 KNOW THYSELF
730. Now plunge into deep meditation. Dive deep.
Have constant practice. You will be immersed in Samadhi.
731. Be cautious. Use your commonsense. Do not
struggle violently with the mind. Allow the divine thoughts
to flow gently in the mind.
732. '\ wandered and searched and then I found Him
out at last in the silence of the rnind. He is the wonder of
wonders. He is the nectar that never satiates."
733. He is knowledge's end. He is the great primal
Being. He is sweet celestial honey that destroys old age and
death. He is the endless primeval Light.
734. He is the medicine sweet that confers
Immortality.
"I call Him a mass of Sweetness.
I call Him the milk of Wisdom.
I call Him the Ocean of Bliss.
I call Him the Old Man of the Upanishads.
I call Him the Silent Sleeper in the Sea."
735 Whenever you have difficulties, whenever you are
puzzled,whenever you are in a dilemma, reflect the formula:
'God is everything. God does everything. God is just. God
does everything formy own good.' Yourworries will vanish.
You will find peace at once. Practise and feel.
736. To serve God and mammon at the same time is
impracticable. You will have to sacrifice one or the other.
737. You cannot enjoy the bliss of Self and sensual
pleasures in one and the same cup. You cannot have light and
darkness at the same time. If you want to enjoy spiritual bliss
you will have to renounce the sensual pleasures.
GOD-REALISATION
738. Testing a Guru is highly difficult. Don't use your
intellect here. Have faith. The real aspirant is quite free from
all such questions and doubts.
739. Divine Life is perfect life according to the laws of
Truth. Divine Life'is life Immortal in which the ideal state of
perfection and expansion of the Self in the Infinity and
eternity is attained.
740. Divine Life is life in tune with Infinite. It
represents the synthesis of the fundamentals of all religions.
It represents the principle of Dharma. It has no creed of its
own, but it represents the essence of all creeds.
741. Divine Life is a means to attain the true ideal of all
beings, viz., God-realisation. It lays emphasis on each
individual perfecting himself. It teaches you how to control
your mind by concentrating all your attention on the inner
Atman.
742. Divine Life means a good life together with
self-discipline and an inner awareness of the Atman.
Entertain divine thoughts, do virtuous actions. This is the
gateway of Divine Life.
743. Right conduct, self-conquest, compassion,
benevolence, pursuit of truth, service of humanity,
meditation, and self-enquiry, this is good living; this is
Divine Life.
744. Divine Life aims at harmony, peace and concord
with your fellow beings. Radiate goodness of heart all
around. This is Divine Life.
l0s
Ghaptet Xl
RULES OF DIVINE LIFE
For an aspirant's success in spiritual life it is essential
that he should develop certain cardinal virtues. Virtue is
strength, power and key to peace. (The following eighteen
virtues are very beneficial.)
745. Serenity is to be tranquil within. Let the inner
peace radiate through a serene countenance. A serene
countenance is peaceful, smiling and serious and does not
betray any violent emotions.
746. Regularity is to be regular in your daily habits,
work and spiritual practices. You will be free from worry,
anxiety, haphazard and shabby-work. You will do the right
thing at the right moment.
747. Absence of vanity: Do not boast of your birth,
position, qualifications and spiritual attainments. Remember
the evanescent nature of all things phenomenal. Praise
others. See good in all. Treat even the lowest creature as your
equal and with respect.
748. Sincerity: Let your words agree with your
thoughts. Let your actions agree with your words. Let there
be harmony among your thoughts, words and actions.
749. Simpticity: Be artless. Be simple in your speech.
Do not twist words and topics. Be plain; avoid diplomacy,
cunningness and crookedness. Be simple in your dress. Be
simple in your food. Develop a child-like nature.
750. Veracity: Be truthful. Stick to your promises. Do
(106)
RULES OF DIVINE LIFE
not exaggerate. Do not twist facts. Think twice before you
speak. Speak truthfully, speak sweetly, be precise in what
you say.
75 l. Equanimity: Be calm. Bear insult patiently. Bear
injury, suffering, failures and disrespect calmly. Do not be
elated by praise, pleasure, success and honour. Look upon
both with equal vision. Behave alike towards friends and
foes. Never let anything disturb your inner peace.
752. Fixity: Rememberthat you can achieve nothing if
you are fickle-minded. Choose your goal or ideal. Always
remember that. Never let it go out of your mind for a moment.
753. Non-irritability: Irritability is precursor of
violent outburst of anger. Watch for the disturbance in the
mental equilibrium. Quell them then and there. Do not allow
them to assume greater proportions. Then you will attain the
state ofpeace and love.
754. Adaptability: Understand well the nature of the
people with whom you come in contact. Adjust your mode of
approach to them. Adjust yourself in such a way as to be
pleasing in them. Joyfully bear with the eccentricities of
other people. Always react in a harmonious manner. Serve all
and love all. Have the feeling that the Lord is in all as the self
of all.
755. Humility: Respect everybody. Bow with folded
hands before everybody. Do not talk in loud voice before
elders and venerable persons. Look at the toes while you
walk. See the Lord in all and feel that you are His servant and
so the servant of all. Consider none as inferior to you.
756. Tenacity: This is the natural friend of fixity.
Once you have fixed your aim and chosen your path, stick to
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108 KNOW THYSELF
it. Do not waver. Be steadfast. Never compromise on your
fundamental principles.
757. lntegrity: Develop an integral personality. Tie all
loose ends of your character. Become a man of high moral
principles. Lead a life of righteousness.
758. Nobility: Shun mean-mindedness as drug and
poison. Never look at the defects of others. Appreciate
everyone's good qualities. Be dignified in bearing. Never
stoop to low thoughts, words and actions.
759. Magnanimity: Take a broad view of things.
Ignore the fault of other people. Be great and high-minded in
whatever you do. Avoid silly talks and childish prattles. Let
not the mind dwell on little things and insignificant things.
760. Charity: Give, give and give. This is the secret of
abundance. Radiate thoughts of good-will and love. Forgive
other people's faults. Bless the man that injures you, share
what you have with others. Disseminate spiritual knowledge
to one and all. Use material wealth, knowledge, spiritual
wisdom that you possess, as a divine trust for the benefit of
His children.
761. Generosity: In whatever you give, be liberal.
Have a large heart. Do not be stingy. Take delight in the joys
of other people, in making them happy.
762. Purity: Be pure at heart. Eradicate anger and
greed and other evil tendencies. Be pure in your thoughts.
Think of God always. Think of the well being of all. Be pure
in your words. Never utter a vulgar, harsh or unkind word. Be
pure in body; always keep it clean. Keep your dress and
surroundings clean. Observe the rules of physical, mental,
moral and spiritual hygiene.
RULES OF DIVINE LIFE
WHAT IS VIRTUOUS LIFE?
'163. He is virtuous who has no liking for what is
agreeable and no dislike for what is disagreeable, who
practises self-restraint, who regards pleasure and pain as
same, who injures no creature and destroys no life.
764. He is virtuous who is devoted to the well-being of
all, who can give his all and sacrifice his very life for others.
765. He is virtuous who is endowed with great
courage, who follows all the duties laid down in the
scriptures and who is an universal benefactor.
766. He is virtuous who is ever ready to work for the
well-being of others, who has truth for his refuge, who gives
but does not take and who has mercy.
767. He is virtuous who adores elders past as well as
present, who adores God and guests, who fears no obligation
of retuming to this world after death and has no fear of the
next world.
768. He is virtuous to whom good conduct is always
dear, he is always a promoter of virtue and cannot be seduced
from virtue.
769. A virtuous man is perfectly fearless. He is
tranquil, serene. He is mild. He always follows the right path.
He is always adored by the good.
770. He is free from lust and anger. He is not attached
to any worldly object. He has no pride. He observes excellent
vows. He always commands respect.
771. He never acquires virtue for the sake of wealth
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ll0 KNOW THYSELF
and fame. He acquires it only because he knows it as a duty
like that of supporting the body.
772. Fear, anger, restlessness and sorrow do not live in
him. He carries no external garb ofreligion formisleading his
neighbours and fellowmen.
773. He observes no mystery. He is perfectly
contended. He has no error of judgment originating from
covetousness. He always follows truth and sincerity. He
regards all impartially.
WHAT IS GOD?
774. There is a living, unchanging, etemal
consciousness that underlies all names and forms and that
holds all together, that is God.
775. God is the unseen Seer, the unheard Listener, the
unthought Thinker, the unknown Knower. He is Absolute
Power and Infinite Awareness. He is the Etemal behind all
instabilities, the Supporter of all functions and phenomena.
776. The realisation of Oneness in all existence,
manifested or unmanifested, is the goal of human life. This
unity already exists. We have forgotten itthrough ignorance.
777 . Theremoval of the veil of ignorance, this idea that
we are confined within the mind and the body, is our chief
effort in Sadhana.
778. To realise the unity, we must give up diversity.
We must constantly keep the idea that we are the
All-pervading Self.
779. There is no room for desire here, because in unity
there is no emotional attraction, but steady persistent calm
and eternal Bliss.
RULES OF DIVINE LIFE
780. Desire for liberation is termological inexactitude.
Liberation means attainment of the state of infinity' It already
exists. It is our real nature.
781. There can be no desire for a thing which is our
nature. All desires for progeny, wealth, happiness in this
world or the next and lastly even the desire for liberation
should be completely annihilated and all actions guided by
Pure and Disinterested Will.
782. If you accept that there are more than one eternal
Truth, then none of them can be free.
THE GREAT BHUMA EXPERIENCE
783. t merged myself in great unending joy.
784. lswam inthe ocean of Immortalbliss. I floated in
thc sea of Infinite peace.
785. Ego melted, thought subsided. Intellect ceased
functioning. The senses were absorbed. I remain
unawakened to the world.
786. I saw myself everywhere. It was a homogeneous
experience.
787. There was neither within nor without, there was
neither this nor that,there was neither he,you or she.
788. There was neither time nor space, there was
neither subject nor object, there was neither knower nor
knowledge nor knowable.
789. How can one describe this transcendental
experience?
790. Language is finite, words are impotent.
791. Realise this and be free.
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tt2 KNOW THYSELF
792. I did Japa of OM. I chanted OM. I sang OM. I
meditated on OM. The individuality slowly dissolved. I
faded into the infinite Being.
793. The loss of personality is no extinction. It is only
true, whole, etemal life. It is Bhuma experience.
794. This exalted state is utterly beyond words. It is not
a confused state. It is a state of ineffable Bliss and Joy.
795. lt is the clearest of the clear. It is the surest of the
sure. It is like the apple in the palm of the hand.
796. Deathhere is a ridiculous impossibility. Immortal
elixir flows here perennially. Wisdom shines in profound
effulgence. Perfect peace reigns supreme. This is Samadhi.
797. Essence of Sadhana: Serve, love, give, purify,
meditate, realise. Be good. Do good. Be kind. Be
compassionate. Be honest. Be sincere. Be truthful. Be bold.
Be pure. Be virfuous. Develop the four means. Enquire ,Who
am I?' Know the Self and be free. This is the essence of
Sadhana.
798. Serve the sick. Serve the poor. Serve the
down-trodden. Feel that you are serving your own Self or the
Lord. This will purify your heart in a moment.
799. Love all. Share what you have with all. Give,
give, give. Become rich at heart by giving all that you have.
Expand your heart. This is the key to Cosmic Consciousness.
800. Moksha or liberation is not a thing to be attained.
It is already there. You will have to know that you are
identical with the Supreme Reality, through intuition.
Samadhi is intense awareness of the Reality. It is the highest
intuition. It is an experience of fullness. It is all-bliss,
all-peace. It transcends duality of all kinds. He who
RULES OF DIVINE LIFE
experiences Samadhi becomes wise and illumined; he
radiates peace and becomes immortal and shines as a
beaconlight to the whole world.
801. Revelation, Intuition, Ecstasy, Samadhi,
Samyagdarshan, Aparoksha Anubhuti are all synonymous
terms,
l13
Ghagtet lll
KARMA YOGA
802. Work is worship of the Lord.
803. Karma Yoga is the Yoga of selfless action,
without agency and expectation of fruits.
804. Karma Yoga removes the impurities of the mind.
It is a potent purifier of the heart.
805. Karma Yoga prepares the mind for the reception
of Divine Light, Divine Grace, Divine Knowledge.
806. See God in every face. Behold the Lord in all
creatures.
807. Share what you have with others. Serve the saints
and sages.
808. Serve the sick. Serve the poor. Serve your parents.
Serve your motherland. Serve humanity in general.
809. Scrutinise always your inner motives. Destroy
selfish motives.
810. Work without egoism. Cultivate the Nimitta
Bhava. Feel that you are an instrument in the hands of the
Lord.
8l l. Surrender always your actions and their fruits to
the Lord.
812. Have equal vision and balanced mind in pleasure
and pain, gain and loss, success and failure.
813. Develop nicely adaptability. Serve always with
Atma-Bhava and Narayana-Bhava.
(r 14)
KARMA YOGA
814. Sing Sitaram, Radheshyam or Hare Rama while
you work. Remember the Lord always.
815. Give up Abhimana of all sorts. Kill the
Vairagya-Abhimana, Seva-Abhimana, Tyagi-Abhimana,
Kartitva-Abhimana, male-female-Abhimana, doctor-judgeAbhimana.
816. Do not expect even thanks or appreciation for
your work.
817. Do actions as your duty, duty for duty's sake.
818. Never say: "l have helped that man." Feel and
think "That man gave me an opportunity to serve."
819. Watch for opportunities for service. Never miss
even a single opportunity.
820. Cultivate amiable, loving, social nature,
generosity, catholic nature. Kill selfishness. Control the
senses. Practise self-restraint, tolerance, sympathy and
mercy. These are the qualifications of a Karma Yogi.
821. Bear insult, injury, harsh words, criticism, heat
and cold.
822. Ifyou are a doctor, treat the poor free ofcharge. If
you are a teacher or a professor, give free tuition to poor
boys. Give them books free.
823. Keep Twelve Tissue Remedies or some
household remedies and treat the poor.
824. lt anyone is suffering from acute pain, shampoo
the painful part. Feel you are shampooing the body of the
Lord.
825. Do not make any difference between menial and
respectable work.
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l16 KNOW THYSELF
826. Keep always some smallcoins in your pocket and
distribute them to the poor and the decrepit.
827. Feed the poor. Clothe the naked. Comfort the
distressed. Remove glass pieces from the road.
828. There are three kinds of Karma, viz., Sanchita,
Prarabdha and Agami or Kriyamana.
829. Sanchita is the accumulated store-house of
actions of previous births. Prarabdha is that part of Karma
which has given rise to your present birth. Agami is current
action.
830. Sanchita is destroyed by Brahma-Jnana. You will
have to enjoy the Prarabdha. Agami has no binding force as
there is no agency or egoism in the sage.
831. Do not be attached to the work itself. You must be
able to give it up at any moment.
832. As you sow, so you reap. Virtue gives you
happiness. Vice gives you pain.
833. You are the master of your destiny. You sow an
action, reap a habit. You sow a habit, reap a character; you
sow your character and reap a destiny. Destiny is your own
making. Abandon desires and change your mode of thinking.
You can conquer destiny.
834. Think you are man; man will you become. Think
you are Brahman; Brahman will you become. This is the
immutable divine law.
835. If there is no agency, if there is no selfish motive,
action becomes an inaction.
836. Shastras and saints conect you. Your own pure,
clean conscience will point out to you what is right, what is
wrong. Follow them and do the right.
KARMA YOGA
837. An egoistic man alone thinks: "I am the doer."
Really it is the Guna or Prakriti or the sense that does the
action. Atman is actionless, Akarta, Nishkriya.
838. Practise your Svadharma, your Varnashrama
Dharma unselfishly, without egoism. You will attain
purification of heart. Knowledge of Brahman will dawn in
your heart.
BHAKTI YOGA
839. God is love. Love is God. God is nectar. God is
Prem.
840. Bhakti is supreme love towards God. It is love for
love's sake. The devotee wants God and God alone. There is
no selfish expectation here.
841. Bhakti is the greatest power on this earth. It
gushes from one's pure heart. It redeems and saves. It
purifies the heart.
842. Devotion is the seed. Faith is the root. Service of
saints is the shower. Communion with the Lord is the fruit.
843. Bhakti is of two kinds, viz., Apara Bhakti (lower
type of devotion) and Para Bhakti (highest Bhakti or
Supreme Love). Ringing bells and waving lights is Apara
Bhakti. In Para Bhakti, there is no ritualistic worship. The
devotee is absorbed in God.
844. In Supreme Love, the devotee forgets his self
entirely. He has only thoughts of God.
845. Para Bhakti and Jnana are one. Bhakti melts into
wisdom in the end. Two have become one now.
846. Bhakti grows gradually just as you grow a flower
tt7
I l8 KNOW THYSELF
of a tree in a garden. Cultivate Bhakti in the garden of your
heart gradually.
847. Faith is necessary for attaining God- realisation.
Faith can work wonders. Faith can move mountains. Faith
can take you to the inner chambers of the Lord, where reason
dare not enter.
848. Japa, Kirtan, prayer, service of saints, study of
books on Bhakti are all aids to devotion.
849. Sattvic food is a help to devotion. Take milk,
fruits, etc.
850. Evil company is an enemy of devotion. Give up
evil company. Take recourse to Satsanga or company of the
saints.
851. Pray to the Lord thus: "O Adorable Lord of
Compassion and Love! Give me faith and devotion. Let my
mind be ever fixed on Thy Lotus Feet. Let me have constant
remembrance of Thee. Let me sing Thy glory always."
852. The Name of the Lord is your sole refuge. It is
your prop, shelter and abode. Name is divine nectar. Name
and Nami are inseparable.
853. Keep a picture of the Lord and concentrate on
it-the face or feet or the whole picture. Then visualise the
picture in your heart or the space between the two eye-brows.
854. Repeat your Ishta Mantra-Om Namah Sivaya,
Om Namo Narayanaya, Om Namo Bhagavate
Vaasudevaya-mentally, sometimes verbally when the mind
wanders.
855. The five kinds ofBhavas are: Santa Bhava, Dasya
Bhava (master-servant relation), Vatsalya Bhava (father-son
KARMA YOGA
relation), Sakhya Bhava (friendship), Madhurya Bhava (the
relationship of lover and beloved).
856. Bhishma had Santa Bhava; Hanuman had Dasya
Bhava; Jayadeva and Gauranga had Madhurya Bhava, the
Gopis had Sakhya-Bhava; Arjuna and Guha had Sakhya
Bhava; Yasoda and Vishnuchittha had Vatsalya Bhava.
857. Have any kind of Bhava that suits your
temperament. Develop it again and again.
858. Practise the nine modes of devotion or Nava
Vidha Bhakti, viz., Sravana (hearing the Lilas of the Lord),
Kirtan (singing His Name), Smarana (His remembrance),
Padasevana (service of His Feet), Archana (offering
flowers), Vandana (prostrations), Dasyam (servant-Bhava),
Sakhya (His friendship), and Atmanivedana (self-surrender).
859. Say unto the Lord: 'I am Thine, all is Thine, Thy
Will be done'. Feel you are an instrument in the hands of the
Lord, that the Lord works through your mind, body and
senses. Offer all your actions and the fruits of the actions unto
the Lord. This is the way to do self-surrender.
860. Do Anushtana frequently. Live on milk and fruits
for a week. Observe Mauna or silence and do Japa and
meditate in an intense manner.
861. Manasic Puja or mental worship is great help for
increasing devotion and attaining concentration. Offer
flowers, incense, etc., mentally to the Lord.
862. Consider your house as a temple of the Lord,
every action as service of Lord, the light that you burn as
waving lights to the Lord, every word you speak as the Japa
of the Lord's Name, your daily walk as perambulation of the
Lord. This is an easy way of worshipping the Lord.
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t20 KNOW THYSELF
863. Shall I wash Thy Feet with holy water, O Lord?
The very Ganga flows from Thy Feet. Shall I give You seat?
Thou art all-pervading. Shall I wave lights for Thee? Sun and
Moon are Thy eyes. Shall I offer flowers to Thee? Thou art
the essence of flowers. This is Para Puja.
864. Feel the presence of Lord everywhere. He dwells
in the chambers of your heart, too. He is in the breath in the
nostril; He glitters in your eyes. He is nearer to you than your
jugular vein. Behold Him in every face.
865. Horripilation (Romancha), tears from the eyes
(Asrupat), Kampana or twitching of muscles, Svarabhanga
(choking of the voice) are marks or Lingas of devotion.
866. A realised Bhakta is free from lust, egoism,
mine-ness, hatred, jealousy, greed. He sees God in all beings,
in all objects. He has equal vision and a balanced mind.
867. Draupadi was an Arta-Bhaktini; Nachiketas was a
Jijnasu Bhakta; Dhruva was an Artharthee- Bhakta; Sukha
Deva was a Jnani-Bhakta; Prahlada was an absolutely
Nishkama Bhakta.
868. Bhakti is immortalising nectar. It transmutes a
man into divinity. It makes him perfect. It bestows on him
everlasting peace and bliss.
RAJA YOGA
869. Raja Yoga is an exact science. It aims at
controlling all thought-waves or mental modifications.
Where Hatha Yoga ends, there Raja Yoga begins.
870. Hatha Yogi starts his Sadhana with his body and
Prana. He practises Asanas and Pranayama and through
control of Prana, tries to control the mind.
KARMA YOGA
871. A Raja Yogi starts his Sadhana with the mind. He
starts meditation and tries to control the mind.
872. The eight limbs of Raja Yoga are Yama
(self-restraint), Niyama (religious observances), Asana
(posture), Pranayama (regulation of breath), Pratyahara
(abstraction of the senses), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana
(meditation) and Samadhi (superconscious state).
873. Yama consists of five parts, viz., Ahimsa (noninjury), Satyam
(truthfulness), Asteya (non-stealing),
Brahmacharya (celibacy) and Aparigraha (noncovetousness).
874. Niyama is observance of five canons, viz., Saucha
(internal and external purity), Santosha (contentment), Tapas
(austerity), Svadhyaya (study of religious books and
repetition of Mantras), and Ishvarapranidhana
(self-sunender to God, and His worship).
875. Ahimsa is perfect harmlessness. It is positive love
also. This removes the brutal nature in man and strengthens
the will.
876. He who practises meditation without ethical
perfection, without the practice of Yama-Niyama cannot
obtain the fruits of meditation.
877. Purify your mind first through the practice of
Yama-Niyama. Then practise regular meditation. Then you
will attain illumination.
878. The practice of Yama is a Mahavrata, universal
vow. It must be observed by all.
879. Any easy, steady, comfortable pose is Asana.
880. Asanas steady the body. Pranayama checks the
outgoing tendencies of the mind. Pratyahara gives inner
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122 KNOW THYSELF
spiritual strength. It removes all sorts of distractions. It
develops will-power.
881. Real Raja Yoga starts from concentration.
Concentration merges in meditation. Meditation ends in
Samadhi.
882. Retention of breath, Brahmacharya, Sattvic food,
seclusion, silence, Satsanga, not mixing much with people
are all aids to concentration.
883. Sleep, tossing of mind, attachment to objects,
subtle desires and cravings, laziness, lack of Brahmacharya,
gluttony are all obstacles in meditation.
884. Reduce your wants. Cultivate dispassion. You
will have progress in Yoga. Vairagya thins out the mind.
885. Do not mix much. Do not talk much. Do not walk
much. Do not eat much. Do not sleep much. Do not exert
much.
886. Never wrestle with the mind during meditation.
Do not use any violent efforts at concentration.
887. If evil thoughts enter your mind, do not use your
will-force in driving them. You will tax your will. You will
lose your energy. You will fatigue yourself. The greater the
efforts you make, the more the evil thoughts will return with
redoubled force. Be indifferent. Become a witness of
thoughts. Substitute divine thoughts. They will pass away.
888. Never miss a day in meditation. Regularity is of
paramount importance. When the mind is tired, do not
concentrate. Do not take heavy food at night.
889. The mind passes into many conditions or states as
it is made up of th'ree qualities-Sattva, Rajas and Tamas.
890. Kshipta (wandering), Vikshipta (gathering),
KARMA YOGA
Muda (ignorant), Ekagra (one-pointed) and Nirodha
(contrary) are the five states of the mind.
891. By controlling the thoughts the Sadhaka attains
great Siddhis. He becomes an adept. He attains Asamprajnata
Samadhi or Kaivalya.
892. Do not run after Siddhis. Siddhis are great
temptations. They will bring about your downfall.
893. A Raja Yogi practises Samyama or the combined
practice of Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi at one and the
same time and gets detailed knowledge of an object.
894. Control the mind by Abhyasa (practice) and
Vairagya (dispassion).
895. Any practice which steadies the mind and makes
it one-pointed is Abhyasa.
896. You must practise Yoga steadily with great
patience and, zeal. Then alone will you attain perfection.
897. Concentrate on Trikuti (the space between the
two eye-brows) with closed eyes. This is the best spot for
concentration. The mind can be easily controlled, as this is
the seat for the mind.
898. Dull Vairagya will not help you in attaining
perfection in Yoga. You must have Para Vairagya or Theevra
Vairagya, intense dispassion.
899. Tapas, Svadhyaya, Isvarapranidhana, constitute
Kriya Yoga. Kriya Yoga purifies the heart quickly.
900. Meditation on OM with Bhava and its meaning
removes obstacles in Sadhana and helps to attain Samadhi.
901. Avidya (ignorance), Asmita (egoism),
Raga-Dvesha (likes and dislikes), Abhinivesha (clinging to
123
124 KNOW THYSELF
mundane life) are the five Kleshas or afflictions. Destroy
these afflictions. You will attain Samadhi.
902. Samadhi is of two kinds-Savikalpa,
Samprajnata or Sabija, and Nirvikalpa or Asamprajnata or
Nirbija.
903. In Savikalpa or Sabija, there is Triputi or the
Triad (knower, known and knowledge). The Samskaras are
not bumt or fried.
904. Savitarka, Nirvitarka, Savichara, Nirvichara,
Sasmita and Saananda are the different forms of Savikalpa
Samadhi,
905. In Nirbija Samadhi or Asamprajnata Samadhi
there is no triad. The impressions are fried in toto.
906. A Bhakta gets Bhava-Samadhi, a Jnani' gets
Bhada-Samadhi, a Raja Yogi gets Nirodha Samadhi.
JNANA YOGA
907. There is an Atman or soul, independent of body
and mind. This soul is immortal, unchanging and infinite.
Realise this Atman and be free.
908. The Atman is Satchidananda (ExistenceAbsolute, Consciousness-
Absolute, Bliss-Absolute). It
exists in the past, present and future. So it is Sat. It is pure or
Absolute Consciousness without any thought. So it is Chit. It
is absolute Bliss. So it is Ananda.
909. The unreal body perishes, but the Atman or the
Indweller is Immortal. So, you should not grieve when
anyone dies. In essence everyone is Immortal Atman.
KARMA YOCA r25
910. This Atman cannot be hurt by anyone. It is subtle,
all-pervading. It is the innermost Self of all.
9ll. This Atman is binhless, deathless, changeless.
When the body is killed, It is not killed. Therefore grieve not,
lament not, regret not. Be always cheerful.
912. Fire cannot burn this Atman, sword cannot pierce
this Atman, bomb cannot destroy this Atman, machine-guns
cannot kill this Atman.
913. This Atman is eternal, immovable, secondless,
self-existent, self-centered. Therefore, knowing this to be
such, thou shouldst not grieve, when your father, mother,
son, wife or relative dies.
914. This perishable body will certainly pass away.
The Indweller can never perish. Thou art the Immortal Soul.
Therefore, over the inevitable thou shalt not grieve.
915. Brahman or Atman is beyond the reach of the
mind and speech. He is beyond logic, reason, mental process,
science. He must be realised through meditation.
916. You cannot deny or doubt your existence. You
always feel that you exist. This existence is Atman, or your
own Self. The knower of the doubt or denier always exists.
That knower is your own Atman.
917. In dream you are distinct from the physical body.
In deep sleep, you are distinct from the body and the mind.
You enjoy peace and bliss in deep sleep. This proves that you
are neither body nor mind, but you are All-Blissful Soul.
918. There is only one Reality or Truth. That is
Brahman or Atman. All appearances are unreal. They are the
effects of Maya, illusory power of Brahman.
126 KNOW THYSELF
919. Behold the one Immortal Atman in all names and
forms. This alone is correct perception.
920. Ignorance is the cause for pain and sorrow.
Annihilate this ignorance through Brahma Jnana. All
miseries will come to an end.
921. This Atman is beyond time, space and causation.
Time, space and causation are mental creation.
922. Just as a snake is superimposed on the rope, this
world and the body are superimposed on Brahman.
923. Bring a light, the snake vanishes; rope alone
remains. Attain Illumination, this world and this body
vanish. Atman alone remains. That Atman thou art. Tat Tvam
Asi.
924. I-ness and mine-ness, agency and enjoyership,
bind you to the Samsara. Destroy these notions. Identify
yourself with the Atman which is non-doer, non-enjoyer.
You will attain Immortality and Eternal Bliss.
925. Sensual pleasure is only pain. It is momentary
mental excitement, momentary sensation of flesh,
momentary itching and scratching of the senses. You can
have etemal bliss in your own Inner Atman alone.
926. Enquire 'Who am I?' Deny or sublate the limiting
adjuncts (body, mind, etc.); know the Self and be free.
927. Constantly think of the Immortal, All-pervading
Atman. Give up thinking of body. You will attain
Self-realisation.
928. You are ever free. You are already free. Moksha
is not a thing to be attained. You will have to know that you
are Atman, that you are free.
929. Destroy the Vasanas, subtle desires, and Trishnas,
KARMA YOGA
cravings. This will lead to the annihilation of the mind.
Destruction of the mind will lead to the attainment of
Brahma-Jnana or wisdom of the Self.
930. This world is illusory, Brahman alone is real. You
are identical with Brahman. Realise this and be free.
93 l. The liberated sage is ever blissful. He rests in his
own Satchidananda Svarupa. He is free from egoism, lust,
hatred, greed, anger and the pairs ofopposites. He has equal
vision and balanced mind. He is Brahman Himself.
932. OM is the symbol of Brahman. OM is your real
name. Meditate on OM with Bhava and its meaning. You will
attain Self-realisation.
933. "I am the All-pervading, Immortal Soul. I am
Pure Consciousness. I am Satchidananda Svarupa. I am
witness or Sakshi."-These are the formulas for constant
meditation and assertion.
934. Equip yourself with the Four Means. Hear the
Srutis, reflect and meditate. You will attain Self-realisation
935. Thou art not this perishable body. Thou art not
this changing mind. Thou art all-pervading, immortal,
infinite, changeless, Soul or Atman. Realise this and roam
about happily.
936. Watch the breath. It sings Soham; 'So' during
inhalation and 'Ham' during exhalation. It reminds you 'I am
He'. Meditate on 'Soham' and attain Self-realisation.
937. "I am body. I act. I enjoy. She is my wife. He is
my son. This is mins."-fhis is bondage. 'I am Immortal
Soul. I am non-actor, non-enjoyer. She is my soul. Nothing is
mine.'This is freedom.
127
Chaptct XIII
YOGIC ALPHABETS
938. Asanas make you strong and healthy and
eradicate many diseases.
Bhastrika Pranayama develops the lungs and destroys
the germs of tuberculosis and augments lung-power and lung
capacity.
939. Constipation is removed by the practice of
Bhujanga, Salabha and Dhanura Asanas.
940. Daya (compassion) is a virtue indispensable for a
Yogi.
941. Eating in moderation, simple living and high
thinking help the Yogic student to attain his goal quickly.
942. Fasting eliminates poison, purifies the whole
bodily system and invigorates the cells.
943. Give the mind to God and the hands to work.
944. Humility is a very important virtue that a yogi
should possess.
945. Indriyas should be controlled by the practice of
Pratyahara and Dama.
Japa of OM or HARI OM should go hand in hand with
Asana and Pranayama.
Kumbhaka helps to attain longevity and awakens the
Kundalini.
Lolasana strengthens the muscles of the arms and
forearms.
(128)
YOGIC ALPHABETS
946. Mind can be controlled by Vairagya, Abhyasa,
Satsanga, Vichara, eradication of Vasanas, destruction of
egoism, Pranayama, meditation and cultivation of virtues
such as mercy, complacency, self-denial, Santi and Santosha.
947. Nadi Suddhi can be obtained by the practice of
Pranayama.
Ojas is the spiritual energy which is developed through
meditation.
948. Paschimottasana removes fat, increases the
gastric fire and cures diseases of the stomach.
Quiver not an inch from your daily Yogic practices
even under the most trying circumstances.
949. Regularity in the practice of Asana and
ffi:J::"
is an indispensable requisite for quick and solid
(
950. Sirshasana is the King of all Asanas. It transmutes
seminal energy into Ojas, develops memory and intellectual
capacity and cures a host of ailments.
951. Trataka helps concentration of the mind and
removes diseases of the cyes.
Unfurl the mysteries of Kaivalya by the steady practice
ofYoga.
952. Yajrasana removes drowsiness, strengthens the
spine, helps digestion and is very useful for meditation.
953. Wandering nature of the mind is checked by the
practice of Trataka and Pranayama.
954. X'mas holidays should be well utilised for the
practice of Yoga.
t29
130 KNOW THYSELF
955. Yoga Mudra cures the disorders of the abdomen
and awakens the Kundalini.
956. Zealols practice of Yoga ensures quick success in
God-realisation.
ESSENCE OF SADHANA
957. Get up at 4 a.m., daily. This is Brahmamuhurta
which is extremely favourable for meditation on God.
958. Asana: Sit on Padma, Siddha or Sukha Asana for
Japa and meditation for half an hour facing East or North.
Increase the period gradually to three hours. Do Sirshana,
Sarvangasana for keeping up Brahmacharya and health. Take
light physical exercise as walking etc., regularly. Do twenty
Pranayamas.
959. Japa: Repeat any Mantra at pure OM or Om
Namo Narayanaya, Om Namah Sivaya, Om Namo
Bhagavate Vaasudevaya, Om Sri Saravana Bhavaya
Namaha, Sita Ram, Sri Ram, Hari Om or Gayatri according
to your taste or inclination from 108 to 21,600 times daily
(200 Maalas x 108:21,600).
960. Dietic Discipline: Take Sattvic food (Shuddha
Ahara). Give up chillies, tamarind, garlic, onion, sour
articles, oil, mustard, asafoetida. Observe moderation in diet
(Mithahara). Do not overload the stomach. Give up those
things which the mind likes best for a fortnight in a year. Eat
simple food. Milk and fruits help concentration. Take food as
medicine to keep life going. Eating for enjoyment is sin. Give
up salt and sugar for a month. You must be able to live on
rice, Dhal and bread without any chutney. Do not ask for
extra salt for Dhal and sugar for tea, coffee or milk.
YOGIC ALPHABETS
961. Have a separate meditation room under lock and
key.
962. Charity: Do charity regularly every month or
even daily according to your means or one-tenth of your
income.
963. Svadhyaya: Study systematically the Gita, the
Ramayana, the Bhagavatam, the Vishnu Sahasranama, the
Lalita Sahasranama, the Aditya Hridaya, the Upanishads or
the Yoga Vasishtha from half an hour to one hour daily and
have Shuddha Vichara. Preserve the vital force Veerya very'
very carefully. Veerya is all power. Veerya is money' Veerya
is the essence of life, thought and intelligence.
964. Get by heart some prayer Slokas, Stotras and
repeat them as soon as you sit on the Asana before starting
Japa or meditation. This will elevate the mind quickly'
965. Give up bad company (have constant Satsanga),
smoking, meat and alcoholic liquors entirely. Do not develop
any evil habit.
966. Fast on Ekadasi or live on milk and fruits only'
967. Have a Japa Maala (rosary) around your neck or
pocket or underneath your pillow at night.
968. Observe Mauna (silence) for a couple of hours
daily.
969. Discipline of Speech: Speak the truth at any cost'
Speak little. Speak sweet.
970. Reduce your wants: If you have four shirts,
reduce the number to three or two. Lead a happy contented
life. Avoid unnecessary worry. Have simple living and high
thinking.
l3l
132 KNOW THYSELF
971. Never hurt anybody (Ahimsa Paramo
Dharmah): Control anger by love, Kshama (forgiveness) and
Daya (compassion).
972. Do not depend upon servants. Self-reliance is the
highest of all virtues.
973. Think of the mistakes you have comniitted during
the course of the day just before retiring to bed
(self-analysis). Keep daily a self-correction register as
Benjamin Franklin did. Do not brood over the past mistakes.
974. Remember that death is awaiting you at every
moment. Never fail to fulfil your duties. Have pure conduct
(Sadachara).
975. Think of God as soon as you wake up and just
before you go to sleep. Surrender yourself completely to God
(Saranagati\.
976. This is the essence of all spiritual Sadhanas. This
will lead to Moksha. All these Niyamas or spiritual cannons
must be rigidly observed. You must not give leniency to the
mind.
SADHANA TATTVA
(The Science of Seven Cultures)
977. Health Culture: Eat moderately. Take light and
simple food. Offer it to God before you eat. Have a balanced
diet.
978. Avoid chillies, garlic, onions, tamarind, etc., as
far as possible. Give up tea, coffee, smoking, betels, meat and
wine entirely.
YOGIC ALPHABETS
979. Fast on Ekadasi days. Take milk, fruits or roots
only.
980. Practise Yoga Asanas or physical exercises for
fifteen to thirty minutes. Take a long walk or play some
vigorous games daily.
981. Energy Culture: Observe silence (Mauna) for
two hours daily and four to eight hours on Sundays.
982. Observe celibacy according to your age and
circumstances. Restrict the indulgence to once a month.
Decrease it gradually to once a year. Finally take a vow of
abstinence for whole life.
983. Ethical Culture: Speak the Truth. Speak little.
Speak kindly. Speak sweetly.
984. Do not injure anyQne in thought, word or deed. Be
kind to all.
985. Be sincere, straightforward and open-hearted in
your talks and dealings.
986. Be honest. Earn by the sweat of your brow. Do not
accept any money, thing or favour unless earned lawfully.
Develop nobility and integrity.
987. Control fits of anger by serenity, patience, love,
mercy and tolerance. Forget and forgive' Adapt yourself to
men and events.
988. Will Culture: Live without sugar for a week or a
month. Give up salt on Sundays.
989. Give up cards, novels, cinemas and clubs. Fly
from evil company. Avoid discussions with materialists. Do
not mix with persons who have no faith in God or who
criticise your Sadhana.
r33
134 KNOW THYSELF
990. Curtail your wants. Reduce your possessions.
Have plain living and high thinking.
991. Heart Culture: Doing good to others is the
highest religion. Do some selfless service for a few hours
every week, without egoism or expectation of reward. Do
your worldly duties in the same spirit. Work is worship.
Dedicate it to God.
992. Give two to ten per cent of your income in charity
every month. Share what you have with others. Let the world
be your family. Remove selfishness.
993. Be humble and prostrate to all beings mentally.
Feel the Divine Presence everywhere. Give up vanity, pride
and hypocrisy.
994. Have unwavering faith in God, Gita and your
Guru. Make a total self-surrender to God and pray: "Thy Will
be done; I want nothing." Submit to the Divine Will in all
events and happenings with equanimity.
995. See God in all beings and love them as your own
self. Do not hate anyone.
996. Remember God at all times or, at least, on rising
from bed, during a pause in work and before going to bed.
Keep a Maala in your pocket.
997. Psychic Culture: Study one chapter or ten to
twenty-five verses of Gita, with meaning daily. Learn
Sanskrit, at least sufficient to understand the Gita in original.
998. Memorise the whole of Gita, gradually. Keep it
always in your pocket.
999. Read the Ramayana, the Bhagavata, the
YOGIC ALPHABETS
Upanishads, the Yogavasishtha or other religious books
daily or on holidays.
1000. Attend religious meetings, Kirtans and
Satsangas of saints at every opportunity. Organise such
functions on Sundays or holidaYs.
1001. Visit a temple orplace ofworship at least once a
week and arrange to hold Kirtans or discourses there'
1002. Spend holidays and leave periods, when
possible, in the company of saints; or practise Sadhana at
holy places in seclusion.
1003. Spiritual Culture: Go to bed early. Get up at
four o'clock. Answer calls of nature, clean your mouth and
take a bath.
1004. Recite some prayers and Kirtan Dhvanis.
Practise Pranayama, Japa and meditation from five to six
o'clock. Sit on Padma, Siddha or Sukha Asanas throughout,
without movement, by gradual practice.
1005. Perform your daily Sandhya, Gayatri Japa,
Nityakarma and worshiP, if anY.
1006. Write your favourite Mantra or Name of God in
a note book for ten to thirty minutes.
1007. Sing Names of God (Kirtan), prayers, Stotras
and Bhajans for half to one hour at night, with family and
friends.
1008. Make annual resolves on above lines'
Regularity, tenacity and fixity are essential. Record Sadhana
in a spiritual diary daily. Review it every month and correct
your failures.
135
136 KNOW THySELF
May Peace, Joy, Bliss and Immortality abide in you for
ever.
Om Shanti, Shanti, Shantih