10 things to do in Daily Life

Philosophy, Philosophy, Philosophy. Empty philosophy! Be One with the Universe, Stay Calm, Practice Detachment...Haah! Big talk as usual!! 

Spirituality is really useless if it is just armchair philosophy. If this is what Bhaja Govindam is all about, well, let's not waste more time. Everyone please exit the forum NOW. 

This is how it feels when unreachably ideal goals continue to be the kernel of the discussion in the text. Any scripture earns value only if it can be lived in the daily life of the stress-ridden common man of the era. Thus, Bhaja Govindam, now gives a clear manual for a divine life. 

There is only one single way to attain any goal - spiritual or material. And that is, HARD WORK. Every single day needs to be designed as a step forward. Every single day. 

Occasional bouts won't do. They just won't. If you are ready to transform your daily life into an extra-ordinary life, then here is the manual....

10 things to do in Daily Life: 

1) Study the Geeta and/or any other spiritual texts systematically, thoroughly and regularly under the guidance of a competent teacher. Try to genuinely study, reflect, understand, remember and apply the teachings of the scriptures. At this point, it may just be a great idea to go back and read all our insights from the Introduction to Bhaja Govindam till so far. You can find them all at www.seek-the-eternal.blogspot.in

2) Pray. Yes, pray. Invest your love, your faith, your longing into the Higher. Spend time with the Lord. May be chant a prayer daily. Or do a small pooja. Or perform a Havan. Or simply do Japa of His name. Or sing some Bhajans. Or just sit and talk to the Lord. Anything will do. But allot at least 15 minutes daily for a Date with HIM. 

3) Do Satsang. At least once a week, have some committed Satsang - ideally through a class conducted by a Spiritual Teacher, or through a particular book, a video, an audio. Anything. But this needs to be regular. Fix a day and time. And do it like you will choke to death if you don't. 

4) Share what you earn. Give charity. This implies that work hard to earn enough so that you can nurture yourself and your family, as well as share with the society. Remember charity cannot be born from deficit. In short, create selfless abundance. Don't be happy with mediocrity. Empower yourself enough to be able to practice charity and then do it - as much as you can. Not because the world needs resources from you. But because you need to experience the fulfillment of giving abundantly. 

5) Practice Pranayama. It has a mysterious power to soothe and revitalize a tired body, a flagging spirit, or a wild mind. The ancient sages taught that prana, the vital force circulating through us, can be cultivated and channeled through a panoply of breathing exercises called Pranayama. In the process, the mind is calmed, rejuvenated, and uplifted. Try. Just try.  

6) Live in Self-Control. If one wants to get anywhere in life, the importance and necessity of self-control can never be overstated. And thus it is repeated again and again. Lack of self-control is the greatest practical obstacle in our journey. Whether you are trying to lose weight, earn money or attain liberation, living in self-control is inevitable. It does not imply that you must not enjoy. It only means that enjoy as a Master, not as a victim of what you enjoy. THINK.  

7) Practice clear thinking based on scriptural knowledge. It is useless to know all about Bhaja Govindam and yet live our same old lives. It has been more than 25 verses now - each word rich in transformation insights. But what use is it if it remains just insights. Insights must change our vision. Every moment of life, try and apply the learnings. Discriminate voraciously between the right and the wrong, the real and the unreal, the Self and the not-Self. 

8) Do JAPA. This is a MUST. Whether you like it or not, do your Japa. Every day. If possible, twice a day - in the morning and at night. If not possible, at least once a day. But do it. Japa purifies, unifies and transforms the mind like magic. The Mantra or name of the Lord has tremendous positive impact on the body and the circumstances also. Like you eat every day, do your Japa DAILY. Don't ever compromise with your Japa. 

9) Meditate, meditate, meditate. Meditation is the most crucial instrument to harness the power of thought, cultivate more peace, clarity and happiness. Meditation has healing power for the body as well as the mind. Meditation is scientifically proven to enable us to move from higher frequency brain waves to lower frequency, which activates different centers in the brain.

Slower wavelengths = more time between thoughts = more opportunity to skillfully choose which thoughts you invest in and what actions you take.

Meditation is the only final leap into the Higher. True, we may not all be ready for Meditation right now. But every day, attempt to sit quietly and meditate at least for 5 minutes. 5 minutes can't be too much to ask, isn't it? 

10) BE ALERT. VERY VERY VERY ALERT. Pujya Gurudev always said: "Alertness is the price we pay for freedom." 

This is not an easy path. You want comfort? Choose another goal. This is the inconvenient truth about Sadhana. If you want to get anywhere, and you really start walking the path, you will realize how slippery it is. We already have minds which are filled with desires, temptations and unknown vasanas. If that is not enough, the world is sufficiently tempting and discouraging for a spiritual person. Its like trekking up a steep mountain without any support. In such circumstances, if one becomes inalert even for a single breath, one may slip to abominable lows. Even people like Vishwamitra and Naarad slipped. How careful each of us have to be. Just imagine. Therefore, be alert every moment. Don't ever allow the mind to compromise. NEVER. 

This is the manual of an ideal life given in Bhaja Govindam. But what use is a manual if you do not actually do what is written in it? Knowing is not doing. Doing is doing. 

Yes, trying to do all of this at once can be pretty difficult. Never mind. Try 2-3 of them. Follow the 40-day Discipline. Then add the next one for the next 40-days. Then add another 1-2. Within a year or so, you will realize that your whole life has changed. Then, and only then, studying Bhaja Govindam can be of any use at all. START NOW. Right now. 

TODAY'S REFLECTION IS BASED ON VERSE 27 & VERSE 30 OF BHAJA GOVINDAM.