Swami Shivapadananda with detailed instructions for meditation

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji

556

[Pictured: The Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi's room on the first floor of Udbodhan House, where the Mother lived following the mahasamadhi of Sri Ramakrishna]

To prepare yourself for meditation sit down calmly and start your sadhana [spiritual practice] with your guru's [spiritual preceptor's] name. Then think of Sri Ganesha [the aspect of God that removed obstacles] and Mother Saraswati [the goddess. Pray like this: 'O Ganesha, you are the guru, the manifestation of the whole universe.' Pray to them to bless the whole universe and feel the blessing penetrate your whole body. Feel that you are shining, that the whole universe is shining. Then pray again: 'May all love me and may I love all.'

The greatest mantra [sacred sound syllable or word] is the shantipaat [repetition of the peace mantras]. So say the shantipaat at the beginning of your sadhana [spiritual practice]. They are complete mantras and have the power to bring peace.

Now think of the deity [ishta deva] that you love so much. See your deity in the form of Light, of AUM. Pray for family unity and love. 'May all my relatives be happy. May I be pure.' Ask for your spiritual progress, for prosperity. Ask that there may be no emptiness anywhere, that you may have intelligent children and the highest wealth.

After this, sit with your japa mala and do japa [meditative repetition of the mantra or one of God's many names]. Now meditate on your Deity. See your Deity from foot to head. Begin with one mala [comprising 108 beads], after three months increase it to two malas and so on up to ten and then twenty malas. Only increase one mala at a time and do the same number of malas for three months before increasing.

Now put the mala to one side, sit calmly and meditate on the deity in your heart. If you prefer the formless aspect – neti, neti [not this, not this – the mental discrimination route] – sit calmly and do this. Or do not think of any form, just sit and the guru mantra will come up automatically. Start with five minutes of this and after three months increase it and so on.

As you get older this should be increased to three hours. In prayers you must follow your routine at approximately the same time every day: in the morning, at midday, in the evening and at midnight. (If you cannot do this then at least do it morning and evening.)

Always have a light [or oil, butter or ghee lamp] burning, clean water and agarbatti [incense or dhoop]. When your meditation is complete you may do arati [offering/waving of a lamp] if you like. Each one must do his or her sadhana and then do a general prayer together. When you leave the shrine, greet your deity in each other. Then the house will always be full of peace, prosperity, health and happiness. Give that happiness to all.

1) Care should be taken by the reader to understand and take Swamiji's
words in these postings, in context. Every teaching or instruction that he gave
was specific to the people who were with Swamiji at the time.

2) Mouse-over the words highlighted in
red in the posting for further explanation
or links.

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