https://estudantedavedanta.net/Concentration%20and%20Meditation.pdf
https://estudantedavedanta.net/Spiritual%20Teachings_Swami_Brahmananda.pdf
Moderation in eating, sleeping, wakefulness and in daily tasks
Body and mind should be made wholly obedient to the will and independent of external cirumstances
3 States of mind / 3 Gunas
dull state (Tamas)
overactive or scattered state (Rajas)
calm centered state (Sattwa)
BEFORE we can take up any spiritual practice the mind must become well
established in the fundamental ethicalprinciples, such as non-injuring, nonstealing, truthfulness, continence, external and internal purity, contentment, control of the senses, study of the Scriptures and self-surrender. This meansthat we must not give way to jealousy, anger, hatred or unkindness by thought, word or action; we must not covet or envy; we must speak the truth fearlessly;
we must observe chastity, inner and outer cleanliness and self-restraint; and wemust be faithful in our higher study andin devotion to our Ideal. Until these are firmly fixed in the heart, no amountof outer practice can help us;
Many people do not gain spiritual vision because they have not paid proper attention to the preliminary stages. When weare well established in our first practices,then the other things will come naturally. The higher study not only deals with the spiritual nature, it also deals with our human nature. We must discipline and gain mastery over the whole of our being.
But we must do everything gradually.
This is one of the great things we must bear in mind. We must not be impatient and overdo. What we need in all practice is moderation; then we shall go steadily forward, doing each day a little more according to our capacity. We must not put too much pressure either on our body or our mind ; but if we are patient and persevering, soon we shall find that things which seemed impossible to conquer have been conquered.
Six Internal Enemies
In each and every one of us, there are what are called six internal enemies. These are born
with us: kāma (desire), krodha (anger), lobha (greed), moha (delusion), mada (pride), and
mātsarya (jealousy). These are powerful impulses native to every embodied human being,
and belong to the very ϐlesh of humanity. Most often, we are under their sway; we are helpless,
as it were. To master them by keeping them under check and eventually to sublimate them is
the aim of all spiritual struggle. In this, meditation and self-reϐlection will help us a great deal.
This is the teaching of every religious system and every spiritual discipline: to sublimate
them and derive help from them, and not to suppress them. Suppression may lead to
undesirable consequences and psychological complications and disorders. Instead of helping
one, such a situation may create unforeseen hindrances. Hence sublimation is advocated as
the best means.
In this process of sublimation, meditation comes in handy and serves a very useful
purpose. In short, spiritual life means the sublimation of these 'six internal enemies' which
drag us out, lead us away from our set goal of perfection, and make us fritter away our vital
energies for no earthly or heavenly benefit !
