Sri Annamalai Swami
Q: How do I give up identification with
the body, particularly when I am not in front of Swami? I keep practising but I
don't have that experience.
AS: Meditate 'I am the Self'. If you do
this, the idea that you are the body will go. 'I am the Self' is still an idea,
and as such, it belongs to maya, along with all other ideas. But you can
begin to conquer maya by giving up utterly wrong ideas that bind you and
cause you trouble. How to do this? Replace them with ideas that are a better
reflection of the truth, and which are helpful in leading you to that truth. If
you want to cut iron, you use another piece of iron.
In battle, if someone shoots an arrow at
you, you shoot one back. In maya, if the arrow of a bad idea comes
speeding towards you, dodge it. Don't let it stick to you or you will end up in
pain. Then, in retaliation, fire back the arrow of 'I am the Self' at the place
where the wrong idea came from.
Sadhana is a battlefield. You have to be
vigilant. Don't take delivery of wrong beliefs and don't identify with the
incoming thoughts that will give you pain and suffering. But if these things
start to happen to you, fight back by affirming, 'I am the Self; I am the Self;
I am the Self'. These affirmations will lessen the power of the 'I am the body'
arrows and eventually they will armour-plate you so successfully, the 'I am the
body' thoughts that come your way will no longer have the power to touch you,
affect you or make you suffer.
This fight all takes place within maya
because in reality you are peace and peace alone. But while you are suffering
in maya you can use these thoughts as a means of ultimately conquering
it.
No comments:
Post a Comment