InnerRealisation

It does not matter to a sage whether anyone knows him or not, follows him or not. Only the prepared ones can understand the height of his realization and can be benefitted.

-SWAMI RAMA
Perennial Psychology of the Bhagavad Gita [pg 235]

The magnetic rock under the sea attracts the ship sailing over it,
draws out all its iron nails,
separates plank from plank and sinks the vessel in the deep.
In the same way
when the human soul is attracted by the magnet that is God, that attraction destroys in a moment man’s selfishness and sense of individuality, and plunges the soul into the ocean of God’s Infinite love.

– Sayings of Sri Ramakrishna. (766).

The finest hours are the hours of night, but very few know how to utilize their worth and silence. Three categories of people remain awake at night: the yogi, the bhogi, and the rogi. The yogi enjoys bliss in meditation, the bhogi enjoys sensual pleasures, and the rogi keeps awake because of his pain. All three remain awake,  but benefited is he who is in meditation.

-SWAMI RAMA
Living with the Himalayan Masters [pg 154]

So remember, don’t think you cannot change and improve. Every night, analyze yourself, and meditate deeply, praying: “Lord, I have lived too long without You. I have played enough with my desires. Now what is to become of me? I must have You. Come to my aid. Break Your vow of silence. Guide me.” Ten times He may remain silent; but in between, when you least expect it, He will come to you. He cannot remain away. So long as you harbor an unholy curiosity He will not come; but if you are really sincere, then no matter where you are, He will be with you. This is worth all the effort you may make.

– Paramahansa Yogananda

SHOONYA- If you remain in a meditative state in Shoonya, it’s not more than 5, 6 minutes or 7 minutes at the most, not more than that. Nobody can stay there that far.

I feel most of the people, 99% of the people, experience  Shoonya for a few seconds, nothing more than that. That itself will make a phenomenal change in the physiological process. We have seen any number of people undoing their chronic ailments, which is just one manifestation. ~ Sadhguru

Sri Ramakrishna said:
He finds God quickest,
whose concentration and
yearning are strongest. (Sayings 629).

A devotee asked:
What means should we adopt in order to get free from the clutches of Maya?

Master: He who yearns to be free from its clutches is shown the way by God Himself. Only ceaseless yearning is needed. (627)

A devotee asked the Master,
“By what means can He be seen?”
and the Master replied:
“Can you weep for Him with intense longing?
Men weep jugfuls of tears for children, wife, money, etc.; but who weeps for God?
So long as a child is engrossed in play with its toys, the mother engages herself in
cooking and other household works. But when the little one finds no more satisfaction in toys, throws them aside and loudly cries for its mother, she can no longer remain in the kitchen. She perhaps drops down the rice pot from the hearth, and runs in hot haste to the child and takes it up in her arms.” (628)

He who turns you towards Self and reveals to you the knowledge of Self, is the Guru. In truth He is Self and He is God. Cling to Him.

Sri Ramana Maharshi

A soul united to God becomes God Himself; that soul automatically detaches itself from all the effects of past actions that were carried out in previous lives. The soul changes condition: it ceases to be a limited entity, identified with a body and subject to karma, and ascends to a state of eternal freedom that lies beyond the influence of karma. The yogi must, therefore, remain always focused at the center of the Christian consciousness, located in the middle, feeling the omnipresent joy of God, even while performing with close attention the actions prescribed by duty. When he is able to live like this, he already knows the supreme art of action and is a true yogi.

The knowledge that Bhagavan Krishna imparts to Arjuna (a very advanced disciple on the spiritual path) in regards to divine union expresses the supreme state that the devotee should attain. Although not even the veteran devotee can quickly attain the consciousness of God uninterruptedly while carrying out all the demanding duties of life (nirvikalpa samadhi), even so, every moment of deep meditation devoted to seeking union with God, every effort to practice equanimity and renunciation to the desire of the fruits of actions, imparts its reward, since it eliminates suffering, establishes peace and joy, mitigates karma and diminishes errors in decisive actions, merced to greater attunement with the rector wisdom of God.

As the Guita advises, in every sincere spiritual effort it is essential to count on the blessings and guidance of the Guru. The faithful disciple follows with great devotion the sadhana (the path of spiritual discipline and yogic meditation technique) taught by the guru. Through this sadhana, the guru helps the disciple invisibly reach the ever-higher stages of the art of divine union. If the disciple practices his spiritual exercises regularly and in depth, and advances on the path, it is possible that the guru will present himself visibly on the astral plane to guide him in his progress. With the help of the Guru, all barriers to the ignorance of the faithful disciple are incinerated, and before his look the indescribable glory of the inner world of Soul and Spirit is revealed.

Sankhya y Yoga
The Bhagavad Guita

‘WHEN REAL MEDITATION HAS BEEN ATTAINED …’

Rising, sitting down, walking – in fact, any gesture taken up by the body – is called an asana. It corresponds to the rhythm and the vibration of body and mind at any particular moment. Some aspirants can meditate only if seated in the pose indicated by the Guru or formulated in the shastras (scriptures), and not otherwise.

This is the way to proficiency in meditation. On the other hand, someone may begin his practice while sitting in any ordinary position; nevertheless, as soon as the state of japa, repetition of a mantra, or dhyana, concentration has been reached, the body will spontaneously take up the most appropriate position.

As one’s meditation grows increasingly intense, the postures correspondingly gain in perfection. When a little air is pumped into a tire, the tire will be flabby; but when it is filled to capacity, it remains completely stable in its own natural shape. Likewise, when real meditation has been attained, the body feels light and free, and on rising after meditation, there is no fatigue of any kind, no pain, numbness, or stiffness in one’s limbs.

– Anandamayi Ma

Overcoming Temptation
Temptation is a sugarcoated poison ; it tastes delicious ; but death is certain. The happiness that people look for in this world does not endure. Divine Joy is eternal. Yearn for that which is lasting, and be hardhearted about rejecting the impermanent pleasures of this life. You have to be that way. Don’t let this world rule you. Never forget that the Lord is the only reality…Your true happiness lies in your experience of Him.
Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda – Man’s Eternal Quest