1. Mental makeup - Rationalists and Atheists. – This is
the most difficult exercise. It requires intent to walk the thought. For half
an hour think about ‘Origin of Universe’ how it must have happened. Give a deep
thought. Apply all laws of physics and science. Ask oneself where we humans
stand in the whole universe. Think about the origin of energy. We say that
energy cannot be created nor can be destroyed. If this was to be true there had
to be energy prior to Big Bang. If there was something prior to big bang then that
something must have come to an end prior to the big bang or must have got
converted into the big bang. If there was something else then bigbang cannot
become the start. There had to be something else prior to big bang. What was
that something else. How did the energy transform into the matter? Is there any
intelligence to the energy? What is consciousness? Is it a form of energy? Many
questions. Try to answer them by applying all the intelligence that one has. Take
each question to logical conclusion. Form such questions and enquire yourself
till your self is satisfied. Read a philosophical book. Every alternate day spend
the morning hour in this manner. Once started, questions will keep coming and the
thought process would become more and more organized sharp. Alternate exercise
would bring in fresh thoughts and also place oneself in the correct perspective
vis a vis the Universe. The outlook towards life will undergo a shift and will
change towards higher conscience and higher goals.
2. Mental makeup – Service oriented – Start with a small prayer. The prayer should be in the language which one
understands. The attributes of the prayer are described in the next paragraph
on Mental makeup – Devotional Minded. For next half an hour, list the short
term and long-term work one has to perform. It should cover the work which one undertakes
to earn money, and the work which should be undertaken for the society and for
the larger good of the society. Call it service towards larger goal of society
or simply social service. Try to list the work that one has to accomplish in terms of one’s profession,
service or business. While doing this try to think about a work which is a service
to the society and devote some time to carryout that service. Be it financially,
or be it in physical effort for carrying out the work. Through some NGO or
directly by self. The work so chosen be carried out without any attachment or
expectation in term of return, reward or recognition. For example, if one wants
to help a poor family. Help the family but don’t get attached to the thought
that since the family was helped it should return the help in some way or other
in future. This is a difficult exercise. Difficult because, one can think that
they can do it easily, in everyday life it is difficult to achieve and it requires
resolve to execute the plan. Once it is achieved, gradually expand the circle
of this service as a practice and develop it in such a way that there is no
attachment towards the results or the benefits. When one plans and work to earn
money or recognition, it will be always associated with happy and sad moments
as there is an attachment and expectation for the results, but if one plans and
work for betterment of society or for a larger goal then one derives only and
only joy out of that. This is a learning for the individual. Slowly when the
goal shifts from earning to non-attachment the bliss surrounds.
3. Mental makeup – Devotional minded - Keep eyes closed. Call out a prayer. Prayer
should be in the language which one understands. Preferably in the mother
tongue, or in the language which the person understands well. It should be
short and simple. Made up of small statements. The statements should be positive,
holistic and should cover noble goals. The prayer should never contain any
negative statements or aimed at hatred at someone or wishing bad things for
somebody. The statements of prayer should be such that they give positive
conditioning to the mind. Preferably prayer should be recited everyday at the same
time in same sequence and should be uttered in the same language. If regularly recited
with conviction it has the power to energize whole body and mind system. It has
the power to condition the mind. It has the power to make the reciter have positive
thoughts, make the outlook positive and optimistic. Prayer has the power to
have firm conviction on the things and ideas which we have conceived as thoughts.
This conviction becomes the driver for the things which the person does. It is
said that our action is driven by thoughts. Prayer makes the thoughts positive
and therefore our actions become more constructive, positive and synchronous
with nature. After the prayer, chant in
a comfortable rhythm. Chant for fifteen minutes. It should be loud. Not very
loud to disturb others but loud enough to be heard by our own ears like a side
tone. The next fifteen minutes chant in mind. There is no need of counting the
chants. In counting, the focus shifts in counting rather than the chants. The
effect of chanting is therapeutic and it changes the outlook towards life and
others. This is the easiest of all three mental makeups on the road to bliss. It
requires nothing special; it can be carried out anywhere and only requires unrequited
trust in God.
These exercises are for uninitiated or curious persons
who wish to mitigate their daily worries, anxiety and other such problems.
These exercises are for those who want to start the day to day life based on teachings
of Bhagwat Gita. Those who want to derive therapeutic guidance may also try
these exercises. Those who are in search of happiness should also try these
exercises. These exercises pave the way to joy and subsequently to bliss.
Keep reading………
