HOW CAN YOU TURN WITHIN — (5) STIR IT UP AND GATHER IT

 Just as we stir up and gather the burning wood in the outside fire pit, we need to bring the activities of mind, intellect, prana etc., within repeatedly. When such efforts are made, there is development and flourishing of inner vision. We need to use this inner vision for two purposes. We need to turn lower tendencies, thoughts etc., into appropriate Bhavna and make sure that this is carried out in right manner. With this, we should also take help of the inner vision to express conscious Bhava in our implements - mind, intellect etc., In such manner, while developing 'going within'  we need to provide impetus to further progress in the path of self-discovery. We should ignite such double process within our inner implements by inner implements with clarity and awareness. 

Pujya Shree Mota

Jivan Yog, Edition 1,

Part 2, Pages 56 - 57.

HOW CAN YOU TURN WITHIN? — (4) ENGAGE YOUR MIND IN ONE.

 We must be very careful to see that our mind does not get entangled in variety ot things. With awareness, we need to make sure that mind stays in any one Bhavna for the development of life and acts with knowledge in that regard. Pray to Bhagwan for grace-help with heartfelt Bhavna many times a day. Instill Bhavna in the luster of Naam-Smaran. Think about ' what and why do we live for?' Be alert and aware if you get thoughts in gross and physical form; start thinking about constructive aspects of the life. Make sure that you live in one kind of constructive Bhavna about life. We must enjoy the Bhavna of Heart (subtle heart). That is our true love, interest and inclination.

Pujya Shree Mota

Jivan Yog, Edition 1

Part 2, Page 56.

HOW CAN YOU TURN WITHIN — (3) THE ROOT OF EVERYTHING IS WITHIN US.

 Whatever happens and whatever we do, the root is within our mind, intellect, prana, chitta and ego. Even they are in flowing fluid condition. Whenever some kind of tendency (vruttie) arises, the root the tendency is in Sanskaras (old impressions in chitta). These Sanskaras are also within us. So, it is not exaggeration to train this tendency with understanding. If we start believing excessively that what is not real (practical) and false, we understand it as real, it is not like that also. Our intellect is satisfied that it is alright. What happens after believing like this? What is the result? Our tendency to look for faults of others becomes less. What did other person do? Every human being has habit of looking for someone else's faults, vrutties, actions and nature. Everyone thinks more of someone else than themselves. They hardly think about themselves. Mostly Jiva thinks and evaluates others only. So, first the Jiva needs to be convinced intellectually that the root of everything is within him.

So, if we are convinced intellectually that root of everything is within us, we are pliable to the idea of reducing 'staying outside' and increasing 'staying within.' If mind, intellect, prana, chitta and ego try to find faults of others, we can say that," brother, all these talks are not appropriate. You think of others but the root is within you. You start thinking about yourself! What is the meaning of you thinking about others? This activity of yours is useless and false. There is no reality in it. If there is reality, it is that whatever you see outside, the root is within you and you should start thinking about yourself." In this way, we should remind our mind, intellect etc., repeatedly, This leads to increase in our 'staying within'. When 'staying within' increases, there is reduction in 'staying without'. This would also lead to reduction of the time our mind, intellect etc., going out and increasingly will start working within.

When this practice matures and solidifies, we will be staying within increasingly.

Pujya Shree Mota

Jivan Yog, Edition 1,

Part 1, Page 55 - 56.

HOW CAN YOU TURN WITHIN? — (2) BY USING INTELLECT IN A NEWER WAY

 We have used intellect until now to deal with many kinds of external work, the reason being, our interest and liking for such work. But now we need not perform such work with such interest and liking. Now we should perform work with interest and liking so that there is expression of Samata (equanimity) in the implements (mind, intellect etc.,) of Jiva Nature and such other activities within. Usually we tend to believe that "then the external work will not be done properly and will be spoiled." No, it will not happen that way; until now, our attention was focused outside and when it turns within, it is not that our external attention will go away completely. We see many people performing three or four works simultaneously. We are also aware of people performing one hundred works (Shatavadhani) at the same time. So, while paying attention to perform work within, we should be able to pay attention to outside work due to our previous practice. When we lose an expensive item, our attention is engaged in the lost item till we find it, even then we can talk with others while searching for lost item. This means we can do two or three works even while keeping awareness of the lost item. Similarly, while performing external work, we must keep creative, living, constant awareness of the purpose of development of life. All the attention of our life should be directed, focused and kept within us. Turn thy searchlight (Lamp that provides concentrated light) inwards and use all the energy to cleanse all the impurities of Jiva-Nature. When this happens, there will be realization that external works keep on happening on its own. There is no obvious defects in completion of the works and not only that, the works are done in a better way since there is help and subtle direction of Prabhu. 

So the intellect needs to be used in variety of ways including increasing our eagerness to fulfill goal of our life, to extract the essence of all that is happening around us regarding its usefulness in meeting goal of life, to get inspiration, to deeply observe and analyze with Tatasthata (balanced mind) waves of passion and anger arising in the mind, and inner subtle flow of emotions. Intellect needs to be used to observe all these and analyze them with Tatasthata. It also needs to be used  to reject things that are harmful in Sadhana. It is used to encourage inner favorable elements and use it in Sadhana; to keep awareness that not to take interest or act in outer experiences and incidents. We need to use intellect to feel and enjoy the presence of genuine happiness (Aananda) in the tools of the path of Sadhana.

Pujya Shree Mota

jIvan Yog, Edition 1,

Part 2, Pages 53 - 54.