Disciple’s dharma: the first level

Monitoring of thoughts is the first step. Jealousies come up in associations, they have to be monitored; frustration comes up in association, it has to be monitored. All the reactions and responses that we undergo in our own mind have to be monitored. Doubts and questions will come, but don’t allow yourself to be swept by their current.

Always try to look for the solution to doubts and do not hold your doubts and questions as final. They are only the stepping stones to a new door of perception and knowledge. Therefore, watch that your thoughts are flowing in the right direction. If you get swept by a negative thought, the learning stops. The negativity of the thought controls and guides your behaviour and actions.

The moment you see a negative thought cross your mind, say, “Stop one moment. Why have you come?” Just as you would stop a robber entering your house. You would fight with the robber to push him out of your house. In the same way, can you stop that negative thought in your mind, fight it and push it out? The ability to do that is the first qualification of discipleship. If you are not able to do it, then try to improve.

 

This applies to everybody, the sannyasins, guests and all spiritual aspirants. Therefore, reflection or vichara is the first dharma of the disciple in order to protect the purity of mind and intention. Do not allow yourself to be diverted by the negative elements in your life.

Look upon your thoughts as a torchlight. When you find that negative thoughts are entering your mind, know that your battery is failing. Change the battery to get a brighter light. In hazy light the mind will not see things clearly, but when the light becomes brighter, when positive and creative thoughts abound, then the negativity will automatically run away from you. Make the effort so that your thoughts are always positive, appropriate and right. This is the first dharma and sadhana of a disciple.

Everybody fails in the first dharma itself because of competitiveness, comparativeness, frustration, jealousy, fear, insecurity and dependencies. These are the whirlpools of the mind in which one gets stuck. Therefore, although many people aspire to be disciples, there have been very few disciples in the world. There have been very few true disciples in the world.

from the book “Dharma of a Disciple, Yogadrishti Series”, pg. 52,53, Sw. Niranjanananda Saraswati

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Disciple’s dharma

Disciple’s dharma: the first level

Monitoring of thoughts is the first step. Jealousies come up in associations, they have to be monitored; frustration comes up in association, it has to be monitored. All the reactions and responses that we undergo in our own mind have to be monitored. Doubts and questions will come, but don’t allow yourself to be swept by their current.

Always try to look for the solution to doubts and do not hold your doubts and questions as final. They are only the stepping stones to a new door of perception and knowledge. Therefore, watch that your thoughts are flowing in the right direction. If you get swept by a negative thought, the learning stops. The negativity of the thought controls and guides your behaviour and actions.

The moment you see a negative thought cross your mind, say, “Stop one moment. Why have you come?” Just as you would stop a robber entering your house. You would fight with the robber to push him out of your house. In the same way, can you stop that negative thought in your mind, fight it and push it out? The ability to do that is the first qualification of discipleship. If you are not able to do it, then try to improve.

 

This applies to everybody, the sannyasins, guests and all spiritual aspirants. Therefore, reflection or vichara is the first dharma of the disciple in order to protect the purity of mind and intention. Do not allow yourself to be diverted by the negative elements in your life.

Look upon your thoughts as a torchlight. When you find that negative thoughts are entering your mind, know that your battery is failing. Change the battery to get a brighter light. In hazy light the mind will not see things clearly, but when the light becomes brighter, when positive and creative thoughts abound, then the negativity will automatically run away from you. Make the effort so that your thoughts are always positive, appropriate and right. This is the first dharma and sadhana of a disciple.

Everybody fails in the first dharma itself because of competitiveness, comparativeness, frustration, jealousy, fear, insecurity and dependencies. These are the whirlpools of the mind in which one gets stuck. Therefore, although many people aspire to be disciples, there have been very few disciples in the world. There have been very few true disciples in the world.

from the book "Dharma of a Disciple, Yogadrishti Series", pg. 52,53, Sw. Niranjanananda Saraswati