"The very first step in understanding what this is all about is giving up the concept of an active, volitional 'I' as a separate entity and accepting the passive role of perceiving and functioning as a process." - Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Friday, January 3, 2020

Nididhyasana - The Best Asana

Sri Ramana Maharshi

(From Annamalai Swami's Diary Extracts)

Question: The scriptures say that attention should be placed at the centre between the eyebrows. Is this correct?

Bhagavan: The feeling 'I am' is directly evident to everyone. What happiness is there in seeing any particular God if one ignores this feeling? There is no foolishness like that of thinking that God exists only in certain spots such as the place between the eyebrows. Fixing the attention on these spots is just a violent form of sadhana whose aim is to concentrate the mind in order to prevent it from running everywhere. Enquiring 'Who am I?' is a much easier method of controlling the mind.

All the methods of religion is only good in certain level of development. The maya created by the mind must be destroyed by the mind itself.

Q: What sort of food should a spiritual seeker eat?

B: The niyama (rule) of taking moderate amount of sattvic food is better than all other niyamas.

Q: Various kinds of asanas (yogic postures) are spoken of in the scriptures. What is the best? Which must be practiced?

B: Nididhyasana (unwavering meditation or contemplation) is the best. It is enough if one practices this.

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सर्वभूताधिवासं यद्भूतेषु च वसत्यपि।
सर्वानुग्राहकत्वेन तद्स्म्यहं वासुदेवः॥

That in whom reside all beings and who resides in all beings,
who is the giver of grace to all, the Supreme Soul of the universe, the limitless being:
I AM THAT. -- Amritabindu Upanishad