Viveka & Vairagya –25– Space For God In Your Mind

Hello,

Noble soul.

Today,

With the help of the technique of mindful breathing,

Anapanasati,

We will delve into and explore the importance of self-sufficiency.

Find a comfortable,

Quiet place where you can sit on any surface,

Preferably semi-firm or firm.

It could be a chair,

Or you can sit in a half-lotus or lotus position.

Allow yourself to momentarily set aside all worries and thoughts and immerse yourself in the world of your inner tranquility.

Close your eyes.

Breathe slowly and deeply,

Feeling every inhale and exhale like the ebb and flow of the tide.

Focus on each inhale.

Focus on each exhale,

Allowing them to be your guide in this moment.

Try to breathe slowly,

Calmly,

Releasing any tension and anxiety,

Allowing a state of silent consciousness to manifest.

Throughout this meditation,

Try to sit still,

Maintaining an upright posture,

And regularly recall and return to your breath,

Tracking how inhales smoothly transition into exhales,

Exhales smoothly transition into inhales.

Observe how long you can maintain your attention on the point beneath your nostrils,

Without being distracted by thoughts.

Throughout our lives,

We often chase after joy in the form of possessions,

Connections with others,

And personal successes.

Yet,

Authentic joy isn't something we can find in these external things.

It's something that comes from within.

As the proverb goes,

People search for happiness in places where it doesn't exist.

Realize that all that we gather in this life,

All that we hold dear,

Will eventually fade or change.

In this world,

Disorder and confusion often reign supreme,

Leading to a cycle of decay.

This is simply how things are.

Life is again to an educational journey,

And our mission is to absorb its teachings.

A crucial lesson it offers is the practice of non-attachment to worldly possessions and external situations.

Life is a school,

And our goal is to learn.

One of the important lessons life teaches us is non-attachment to material things and external circumstances.

Everything that surrounds us cannot replace inner peace and mindfulness.

We strive to fill this inner void with external things and events,

Creating attachments that become obstacles on the path to our inner development.

The things we surround ourselves with cannot fill the void of inner peace and awareness.

We try to fill this emptiness with external treasures and experiences,

Forming attachments that block our path to inner growth.

The individual who cultivates their awareness engages in spiritual practices like meditation,

Understands that they have a choice in this matter,

Unlike those who do not see any alternative.

It's misguided to expect lasting fulfillment from these external sources,

And such expectations can only lead to further disappointment.

Humanity universally pursues happiness,

Creating bonds with things they believe will bring joy.

Yet,

These bonds often lead to downfall.

As history and wisdom suggest,

The pursuit of happiness can paradoxically become a journey towards despair.

This concept is echoed in sacred writings,

Including the Bible,

Which warns,

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Man seeks happiness where it is not.

Allow yourself to understand that everything we acquire in this life,

Everything we become attached to,

Sooner or later,

Will depart.

In this world,

Adharma,

Or in other words,

Immorality,

Foolishness,

Always prevails.

Therefore,

Everything will continue to decay.

This is the natural order of things.

Life is a school,

And our goal is to learn.

One of the important lessons life teaches us is non-attachment to material things and external circumstances.

Everything that surrounds us cannot replace inner peace and mindfulness.

We strive to fill this inner void with external things and events,

Creating attachments that become obstacles on the path to our inner development.

Under the guise of seeking happiness,

Many are inadvertently heading towards a spiritual void,

Because the divine is absent from their consciousness.

In our times,

There are more places of worship than ever before,

Ranging from the most orthodox to the most unconventional,

From solemn to vibrant.

Yet the divine seems absent,

Leaving people feeling empty because they fail to discover the true unifying principle within.

In this void,

They seek fulfillment,

Often mistaking fleeting pleasures for true happiness.

Instead of looking inward to their own divine nature for the source of joy,

They become fixated on material things and external circumstances.

And by chasing these mirages,

They stray from their true path,

Which often leads to suffering.

Remember,

Pain is inevitable.

Suffering is optional.

Remember,

Pain is inevitable.

Suffering is optional.

When the Buddha spoke after his enlightenment,

Let's say,

When he surfaced from a luxurious spa after a long golden radiance massage,

And he arose from deep relaxation and stated,

Life is suffering.

Buddha's insight is straightforward.

Life,

In essence,

Is suffering.

Patanjali echoes this sentiment,

Saying,

For the wise,

Everything is indeed suffering due to their discerning nature.

It's vital to recognize that this view isn't just a pessimistic philosophy,

But contains a hopeful vision for the universe,

One that can ignite a profound sense of non-attachment within us.

This realization shifts our focus from fleeting pleasures and guides our consciousness towards the divine,

Ultimately leading us to experience eternal,

Infinite bliss.

And under the banner of happiness,

In reality,

Everyone is marching into the abyss,

Because there is no God in people's minds.

Today,

There are so many churches as never before.

They are diverse,

From the most traditional to the most unusual,

From blue to red,

And there is no God.

People feel empty because they do not find the true connecting principle within themselves.

In this vacuum,

They search for something,

And often mistake illusory happiness for real happiness.

People often feel an inner desire for something greater,

And often they confuse it with true happiness.

Instead of turning to their inner God and seeking the source of happiness within themselves,

They attach themselves to material objects and external conditions,

And,

Following the illusory happiness,

They deviate from their true path,

Which often leads to suffering.

Remember,

Suffering is inevitable.

Pain is optional.

Buddha's view is simple.

In general,

Life is suffering.

Patanjali expresses a similar thought when he says,

All is indeed painful suffering for the enlightened doer to discriminative wisdom.

It is important to understand that this perspective is not just the philosophy of pessimists,

But carries within it a beautiful optimism for the universe,

Capable of awakening a deep sense of vairagya in us.

This helps to distract our consciousness from sensual pleasures,

And inspires us to direct our attention and consciousness towards the divine,

Ultimately leading to the realization of eternal,

Infinite bliss.

Meditation on breathing helps us understand that true happiness comes to us when we can control our minds and free ourselves from attachments.

It is a state where we are not attached to the results of our actions,

Where we can live in the moment,

In harmony with our inner being.

Give yourself the opportunity to feel this harmony,

Delving even deeper into your breath.

With each inhale and exhale,

Feel the influx of new energy,

Mindfulness,

And tranquility.

Allow yourself to be free from attachments,

From attachment to things,

To people,

To events.

No one owes anything to anyone.

We come here alone,

And we will leave here alone.

Be like birds,

Free in your flight but not attached to any place or time.

Remember,

Suffering is inevitable,

Pain is optional.

Let's understand that true happiness comes to us when we can control our minds and free ourselves from attachments.

It is a state where we are not attached to the results of our actions,

Where we can live in the moment,

In harmony with our inner being.

Give yourself the opportunity to feel this harmony,

Delving even deeper into your breath.

With each inhale and exhale,

Feel the influx of new energy,

Mindfulness,

And tranquility.

Allow yourself to be free from attachments,

From attachment to things,

To people,

To meditate.

Being aware of each breath.

Is your breath short or deep?

Recognize yourself as the air that is inhaled,

As the air that is exhaled.

Recognize yourself in every moment,

Without identifying with mental images,

Releasing them,

Releasing,

Releasing.

As it was said in Patanjali's Yoga Sutra,

When consciousness ceases to identify with the images,

Suffering ceases.

Continue to observe your breath until the end of the audio session.

Only then will you develop true tranquility and inner peace.