Twenty Spiritual Instructions that will lead you to Moksha or Liberation
What is Moksha or Liberation ? Basically, it means freedom from the miseries and greatest problems of the life. As explained by Lord Krishna, Janma, Mrytu, Jara, Vyadhi – Birth, Death, Old Age and disease. These are the problems everyone has to go through in their life.And, on top of these or subset of these are the problems like,
The ādhyātmika duhkha or tāpa is that which is caused by bodily suffering and mental anguish. Hereditary diseases like Diabetes, disabilities like blindness or lameness and diseases caused by the violation of the rules of health and sanitation are classed under this. The mental agony caused by worries and anxieties, attachment and aversion, also comes under this group.
The ādhidaivika duhka or tāpa is that which is caused by daiva. The word daiva includes the power of time, nature and the unseen hand or fate. Diseases caused by the changing seasons, misery caused by the elemental forces like floods and fire, suffering caused by black magic or disembodied spirits or gods who are displeased, natural tribulations due to hunger, thirst and old-age belongs to this group.
The ādhibhautika duhkha or tāpa is that which is caused by other bhutas or living beings, like wild animals, snakes, or enemies.
Thus, some of these problems cannot be got rid of like a physical, hereditary disease like a genetic disorder and they needs to be endured. Some others like disease due to change of weather, Hay Fever , enemies can be countered by taking appropriate precautions.But, the ultimate solution to these sufferings is to back, back to godhead, to Vaikunta where there are no miseries. In order for this to happen, one has to raise above to the the level of spirit, connect ourselves to the Supreme God through Yoga.
The below is a nice forward I received from one of my friend.
Obviously, I am not a Master or practicing all these things to be telling others. Especially, some of the things like getting up at 4AM in the morning, I know some great souls who actually get up at 3Am and finish their sadhana of Chanting Hare Krishna Mantra on beads before sunrise. I cant do it. I struggle to get up at 5AM but, these are nice standards or Goals that someone serious about spiritual life should aspire to achieve. Please note my comments are in Italic.
1. Get up at 4 a.m. daily. This is Brahm Muhurt which is extremely favourable for meditation on God.
Yes, no doubt and I am able to do it some time. This is the time, the whole world is sleeping and there is noise or disturbances. Also, in shastras it is said, this time the Mode of Goodness is prevailing.As soon as sun comes up, your mind is running.I have to go there, do this, catch a train, attend a meeting so on.
2. ASAN: Sit on Padm, Siddh or Sukh Asan for Japa and Meditation for half an hour, facing the east or the north. Increase the period gradually to three hours. Do Sirshasan and Sarvangasan for keeping up Brahmacharya and health. Take light physical exercises as walking, etc., regularly. Do twenty Pranayamas.
I sometimes do Sirshasan and Sarvangasanand they are quite effective. Even, if you do for 3 to 5 mins, you feel great difference and energy in your body.
3.JAPA or Mantra Meditation: Repeat any Mantra. Personally, I chant
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare …. and there are other Mantras like
Om or Om Namo Narayanay, Om Namah Sivay, Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevay, Om Saravanabhavay Namah, Sita Ram, Sri Ram, Hari Om, or Gayatri, according to your taste or inclination, from 108 to 21,600 times daily.
4. DIETETIC DISCIPLINE: Take Sattvic food, Suddh Ahar. Give up chillies, tamarind, garlic, onion, sour articles, oil, mustard and asafoetida. Observe moderation in diet (Mitahar). Do not overload the stomach. Give up those things which the mind likes best for a fortnight in a year. Eat simple food. Milk and fruits help concentration. Take food as medicine, to keep life going. Eating for enjoyment is sin. Give up salt and sugar for a month. You must be able to live on rice, dhall and bread without any chutni. Do not ask for extra salt for dhall and sugar for tea, coffee, or milk.
Again, my personal experience is that when you eat heavy especially for dinner and also if you eat late, you next day is ruined. Firstly, you won’t be able to get up early in the morning and the whole day you will be yawning and feeling sleepy.
5. Have a separate meditation-room under lock and key.
Yeah, its good to have one, if it is practical or make one part of your living room or any room a regular place of meditation. Have a Altar set up, nice pictures of Lord etc.
6. Do charity regularly, every month, or even daily, according to your means, say six paisa per rupee.
In Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says that “Acts of sacrifice, charity and penance are not to be given up but should be performed. Indeed, sacrifice, charity and penance purify even the great souls.
yajna-dana-tapah-karma
na tyajyam karyam eva tat
yajno danam tapas caiva
pavanani manisinam BG 18.5 “
But, be mindful of whom you are donating to.Suppose you to donate to a beggar on the street and if he goes and spend the money you gave him on drugs and alcohol, you get a part of the negative karma.
7. SVADHYAY: Study systematically the Gita, Ramayan, Bhagavat, Vishnu-Sahasranam, Lalit Sahasranam, Adity Hriday, Upanishads, Yog-Vasishth, the Bible, Zend Avest, the Koran, the Tripitakas, the Granth Sahib, etc., from half an hour to one hour daily and have Suddh-Vichar.
Daily reading uplifts your consciousness and suddenly, your worries and problems don’t bother you as much. You still deal with them but, hey this is not the end of the world.Plus, your consciousness is purified and you get higher taste etc.
8. Preserve the vital force (Veerya or Semen) very very carefully. Veerya is God in motion or manifestation, Vibhuti. Veerya is all power. Veerya is money. Veerya is the essence of life, thought and intelligence.
Unfortunatly, when we tell this to the youth, they will simply laugh and make fun but, this is a fact and all the Holy books of the world stress this point.
9. Get by heart some prayer, Slokas, Stotras, and repeat them as soon as you sit on the Asan before starting Japa or meditation. This will elevate the mind quickly.
Prayers are your personal shields. You get strength,protection, will power from them.Again, the simple and most sublime one is the Hare Krishna Mantra.
10. Have Satsang. Give up bad company, smoking, meat and alcoholic liquors entirely. Do not develop any evil habits.
I cannot stress this fact, a man is known by the company he keeps. One rootworm, one bug destroys the whole tree.
11. Fast on Ekadasi day or live on milk and fruits only.
Give some rest to your organs – Stomach, Liver, Heart and take time to rejuvenate.
12. Have a Jap Mala (rosary) round your neck or in your pocket or underneath your pillow at night.
For practical purposes the beads are kept in a cloth bag.
13. Observe Moun – Silence for a couple of hours daily.
Many saints and great people do this and have done this. It is said that if you practice voluntary silence with your mind focused on god for 10 or 12 years, they get a power called Vak Siddhi, means whatever you say will become true.At Least, helps one to maintain their sanity.Srila Prabhupad said, Chanting Hare Krishna Mantra is practicing Silence or Moun.
14. Speak the truth at all cost. Speak a little. Speak sweetly.
Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami defines eloquence as “truth spoken concisely.”
15. Reduce your wants. If you have four shirts reduce the number to three or two. Lead a happy contented life. Avoid unnecessary worry. Have plain living and high thinking.
I dont need to extrapolate on this. Retail therapy might be good but, hurts when paying the bills.I know a friend, who decided to clean his Wardrobe after 2 years and found 20 unused T Shirts.
16. Never hurt anybody. Control anger by love, Kshama (forgiveness) and Daya (compassion).
Remember, what goes around, comes around.
17. Do not depend upon servants. Self-reliance is the highest of all virtues.
18. Think of the mistakes you have committed during the course of the day, just before retiring to bed (self-analysis). Keep daily diary and self-correction register. Do not brood over past mistakes.
Yes, repent for your mistakes and resolve to never repeat them.Dont loose your heart if you fail.Remember, as a kid you fell down so many time but, never gave up trying to walk. And, today you are walking with such a style and elegance.
19. Remember that death is awaiting you every moment. Never fail to fulfil your duties. Have pure conduct (Sadachar).
Srimad Bhagavatam says, with every sunset and sunrise you are getting closer to death and if you don’t use your time to know about God, learn scriptures, your life is wasted.
20. Think of God as soon as you wake up and just before you go to sleep. Surrender yourself completely to God (Saranagati).
Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita 6.47 says,
yoginām api sarvesām
mad-gatenāntarātmanā
śraddhāvān bhajate yo mām
sa me yuktatamo matah
“Of all yogīs, the one with great faith who always abides in Me, thinks of Me within himself, and renders transcendental loving service to Me is the most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all. That is My opinion.” (BG 6.47) So one who thinks of the Supreme Lord always is the greatest yogī, the supermost jñānī, and the greatest devotee at the same time.
This is the essence of all spiritual Sadhanas. This will lead you to Moksh. All these Niyamas or spiritual canons must be rigidly observed. You must not give leniency to the mind. Share this with more brothers. Create awareness in this regard amongst friends and contacts. Within your individual field of reach, may you take these thought and deploy them to the masses, the saints through various media – print, electronic or any other. Please do not hesitate in this self-less work. Your duty is to give your near and dear ones this opportunity, leaving the rest to the Almighty One.
