Keep Practising Self-Enquiry

Sri Annamalai Swami

[The woman who had been in laya then asked the next question:]

Q: Whenever I start meditating, soon after I start, I fall into these states. How can I prevent these laya states from coming and taking me over?

AS: Keep practising self-enquiry. This is the way to avoid laya. The mind usually has two habits; either it is occupied with many thoughts and engaged in activities, or it goes back to sleep. But for some people, there is the third option, falling into this lays state. You should not indulge in it because once it becomes a habit, it becomes addictive. It is a pleasant state to be in, but if you fall very deeply into it, it becomes very hard to get out of it.

You know what this state is like because you have been in it many times. As soon as you feel the first symptoms of an approaching trance, get up and walk around. Don't remain sitting or lying. Walk around or do some work, and above all, keep up the practice of self-enquity. If you practice self-enquiry constantly, you will never find yourself falling into laya.

You can conquer this habit. You just need to be attentive and to do self-enquiry.