Introspection

Introspection means examining one's own self. Man's life is along three angles:

(1) Nature;

(2) Self and

(3) Society.

For a successful and happy life, one has to understand the nature of the three aspects. Introspection is a necessary practice for this enlightenment. In the SKY (Simplified Kundalini Yoga) system practiced and taught by many Light of Life Society Directors, Introspection is classified into five subjects:

(1) Analysis of Thought;

(2) Moralization of Desire;

(3) Neutralization of Anger;

(4) Eradication of Worries; and

(5) Self ‑Realization or "Who Am l?"

ANALYSIS OF THOUGHT

For any achievement we have to follow a perfect system of approach. Taking up the first subject viz, "Analysis of Thought," we should know there are six sources from which thoughts arise. They are:

(1) Need;

(2) Habit;

(3) Environmental conditions;

(4) Imposition of another person's thought;

(5) Hereditary imprints; and

(6) Divinity.

As action follows thought, all the thoughts that arise in the mind are to be analyzed and introspected for a better pattern of thinking and a better pattern of living.

When a thought arises, you have to catch the thought and identify its root. I will explain this with some examples.

Suppose the thought of taking food arises in you. You put the thought into introspection. Hunger could have given rise to the thought, Here need is the source of the thought. If you find that you are not actually hungry and yet the thought of lunch has come, examine whether habit could have generated it. It is one o'clock say ‑ the usual time for your lunch. Today it so happens that you are not hungry, having had a somewhat heavy breakfast. So you find that the thought of taking food has emerged out of habit.

In another situation, you are neither hungry nor it is your usual lunch‑time. And yet the thought of taking food has come while you are driving past an open‑air cafeteria. Here the thought has come merely at the sight of others plying their fork and spoon. This is an example of environmental conditions generating a thought.

You are attending a Yoga‑meeting for the first time. There all are discussing the science of life and the value and benefit of spiritual development. You, being in that atmosphere, think, " I also should learn the technique of spiritual development. " This thought, again, has emerged from environmental conditions.

You are taking a stroll when you pass by a fruit stall. You have had no intention to make any purchase; yet you retrace you steps and get some grapes from the stall and return home. There you wonder what made you to purchase the grapes, particularly when you have never been fond of them. Well, the reason for the needless purchase was the imposition of the thought of the vendor on your mind. His interests lay in pushing off his goods, you came along with a mind that was disengaged at that moment and so his will to sell got the better of your judgment. This is an example of thought arising due to imposition from others. High‑pressure advertisements for consumer‑goods, on TV and in newspapers, are oriented to have this effect.

You may suddenly get a thought that you should build a school or a hospital in your native village but you do not have the resources to do so. How did this thought come into being? It could be the revival of the suppressed imprints of the thoughts of your parents or grandparents. As every limb, sense and part of one's own body is evolving from the imprints of the physical structure of the parents, any character or desire of theirs will also blossom as a new thought in the offspring. Such thoughts are to be taken as "hereditary imprints." Many of the temperamental moods develop in a person only by the hereditary imprints.

Every person has come through millions of births through the hereditary link, So in addition to the imprints of habit of all the past births, the experience and enlightenment are also developing within everyone. So when the development reaches a stage, one may come to think of realizing the ~elf or to understand the Truth. Such thoughts are the outcome of the evolutionary force of Nature, which means they are thoughts from Divinity.

Now after analyzing the thoughts and finding out the source to be one of the six enumerated by me, what is your mental state? You are coming to Self‑awareness. Wavering of thought decreases in force. You are coming to a calm state of mind, Keeping the thought on thought is a valuable practice to shape up a man into a real man. After finding out the root, you have to continue the introspection: "What will be the result, if I go in action with the thought? Will it be beneficial or otherwise to me or to others, at present and in the future?" Thereby you will have a clarity in visualizing the result of your action. You have to decide whether a particular thought is to be translated into action or to be eliminated in the beginning itself. If you assess the thought is not ‑worthy or could be pain‑resulting, you have to give an autosuggestion that the thought is improper for such and such a reason and that you should not go in action with the thought. Whenever the same thought comes again, you will be able to remember your introspection and decision and you will be protected by being on guard against unnecessary involvement.

If you practice this method of analysis of thought for a week or so, a wonderfully constructive habit will form within you by which you will be able to filter every thought as through a sieve and bring out only the best thoughts in actions. This is the first process of introspection which will help to shape your life to a better personality. This introspection on thought will also assist you in gaining success in the introspection of other aspects starting with Desire,

MORALISATION OF DESIRE

Innumerable desires arise in us in the course of our lifetime. Not all the desires are good and successful and that is the reason we find ourselves in disappointment, frustration and misery from time to time. Mind works at such speed that body cannot keep pace with it. So it is the mind that has to be trained to adjust to the pace, necessity and welfare of the body. If there is no cooperation between body and mind very many troubles would afflict us, Therefore the process of Moralization of Desire is a must for all people who want to lead a better, prosperous, healthy and peaceful life.

Desire is after all a thought and so whenever a desire arises, one has to first understand:

(1) What is the root of the thought ;

(2) Whether this desire is good;

(3) "Without this enjoyment or desired thing, can I not live?"

(4) "What will be the result if I achieve the desired thing or enjoyment?"; and

(5) "If I can live without such enjoyment or thing, why should I unnecessarily create an involvement?"

With these questions, every desire should be introspected. If the desired thing is necessary for life and is assessed to be good, then we have to expand our introspection to find out what is the method of planning and achievement. (1) The desire, (2) Plan, (3) Approach, (4) Achievement, (5) Enjoyment and (6) The assessment of the benefits ‑ all six should go in line and in coordination with one another,

Suppose you desire a particular thing. You conclude the desire is good by introspection. Then you have to think about other aspects regarding the desire such as ability, environmental opportunity and the sentimental

feelings of others. In case your ability is not equal to the task of getting the desire fulfilled, you have to first devise a method for improving your ability. Then only there will be no conflict between the desire and the achievement.

For this process I will give you a practicable formula. Take pen and paper and make out a list of all your desires, in the order of importance, by putting to yourself the necessary questions as already explained. Write down your answers and decisions in the column opposite. Select the desires that you are confident you could carry through and eliminate the others. Work out now the methods for achievement and write down the planning also against each item. This brings you to the take‑off stage and you may put your effort to fulfill the desire in a proper way.

This kind of introspection will make the mind calm, relaxed, lighter and more peaceful, Follow this system and enjoy life as you should.

NEUTRALISATION OF ANGER

Anger is the worst enemy of mankind. Anger is one of the six temperaments arising out of inordinate or unchecked desires. Anger strains the relationship between body and life‑force, between life‑force and mind and between individuals and society. The people in family life are losing their happiness and creating pains and miseries for themselves and others because of anger. Anger raises the blood‑pressure, contributes to heart palpitation, trembling of hands, burning of eyes, ulcers in the stomach and so on.

Controlling or suppressing anger after it has arisen is of no use whatsoever, for the harm to health has already occurred. The force of suppressed anger will generate vengeance, depression and grief. So the best method is to neutralize Anger by or filled up when the mind is fixed on duty and effort is made perseverently with systematic planning.

Everyone has some problems at any given time, and these may come and go. One should not get baffled with the problems, Problems are part of life. Pause and consider what happened with the problems that had already come into your life and how they were settled. Similarly the problems confronting you at present would also be solved in time.

Instead of worrying over a problem, be courageous and find out what best you can do to solve the problem. If a solution does not occur to you at the moment, leave it to Nature and wait for some time. The appropriate solution will come of its own in proper time. Here you have to understand a fact of Nature. A problem would appear daunting only in the beginning; the solution is inbuilt and would become available without fail. We have to find out a formula for this; and if only one follows it systematically, it would be easy to get success in solving all the problems and in relieving the mind of the burden. In the manner you have learnt to deal with thoughts and desires, get paper and pen and list out all the problems you have. Then analyze them and place each problem in any one of the categories given below:

(1) Problems to be faced or endured because they cannot be solved or changed by any means;

(2) Problems which should be ignored because they are insignificant and no difficulty would arise when we neglect them;

(3) Problems which should be shelved for the present because they will have to be solved by Nature or by the society, at the proper time.

(4) Problems to be taken up for immediate disposal without delay.

These are the four categories under which we have

to classify the problems according to their merits.

For example, a child in the family is afflicted with poliomyelitis and a limb is impaired. Is there any use worrying over this problem? Will not the worrying and grieving weaken you and weaken the child too? You should do all you can to aid the child and equip for its future. This problem would fall in category (1) " to be endured. "

Next, one of your elder relatives is constantly proffering unsolicited advice, or a neighbor is itching to provoke you through sarcastic comments. A quarrel with the critic will only be a waste of energy. Place this, problem in category (2) "to be ignored" and keep your poise. The bother will abate in a very short time if you accord this treatment to it.

You are all ready for a trip abroad but there is delay in getting a visa on account of some change in the policy of the Government. Is there any point in fuming and fretting and kicking against the pricks? Accept the delay, for this problem is in category (3) "to be shelved ."

You are willing to get married but a suitable partner is not in sight. A solution to the problem depends on social and environmental conditions. While not slackening your efforts, you have to develop patience and wait for the proper time. The society and Nature will have to solve the problem. This problem, again, belongs to category (3).

You are afflicted with abdominal pain all of a sudden and you rush to a hospital. They diagnose the ailment as Appendicitis. Surgery is the only way and postponing it may result in danger. What next? Agree to the surgical operation forthwith. In a partnership‑ firm or even among brothers and sisters in a joint‑family, dissension could arise necessitating division or partition of property. Sentiment should then be kept aside and legal steps taken for the separation, as any further delay would only mean increased bitterness and all‑round misery. Such problems fall in category (4) "to be taken up for immediate disposal.

In this manner, when you analyze all the problems your mind will come to the state of settlement and peace. Your work is only to act on the decision you have made.

We should also remind ourselves frequently of the reality of life so that we may not generate unnecessary problems. We came into the world at a point of time and we have to leave it one day. We brought nothing material when we arrived on the planet and we would not be able to take anything on our departure. Circumstances and opportunities are giving everyone some duties according to their personality and responsibility. Just think what best you can do with every incident and occurrence. Limit your mind to your duty. Whatever happens beyond your effort is to be taken as the Divine Will. That is the Law of Nature which is the greatest force that was existing before our birth and would be existing even after our disappearance. Where is the worry? Leave worry itself to do the worrying! While we are alive we have certain responsibilities in regard to our own self and the society. These should be understood well and performed dutifully and successfully, to the satisfaction of self and others. The mind will then become lighter and peaceful. Clarity and ability of the mind will also develop enabling you to solve the problems easily and also to refrain from creating new problems in life.

SELF‑ REALISATION

Self ‑Realization is the perfection of the sixth sense and it is the peak of wisdom. Self ‑Realization, actualization of the Universe, realization of Truth are all the same. The entire Universe can be analyzed into four principles; they are

(1) Truth;

(2) Energy;

(3) Mass; and

(4) Consciousness.

Truth is the static State around the created universe, Truth is called by many names including the primordial State, Universal Being, Absolute Space,

Vacuum, Omnipotence and Omniscience. This is the basic phenomenon from which all the movements start. Energy is the moving state of the static State. It is a minute particle with self‑rotative action; actually it is just a wave of the static Being.

Because of its self rotative action it spans a volume or area and hence it is called a particle. Mass is only the association of such energy‑particles. Consciousness is the function of the Universal Being, understanding, feeling, calculating and enjoying its own beauties and values through the living beings and man.

When this understanding comes, whatever you see, everything is a part and parcel of Nature. Oneness in multiplicity and. unity among diversity are very clearly realized. This enlightenment will blossom as brotherhood among mankind. Man will understand the needs and feelings of other living beings and lead a life with the three virtues, Morality, Duty and Charity.

When a man realizes himself, he realizes the value of everyone on the Earth. And to respect the needs, aspirations and ambitions of others and to restrict and moralize one's own activities in life become part of his Being. That is why we have to stress that the above‑said three virtues are imperative.

Nature is the Totality and man is a fraction, Nature has taken the shape of man to develop the Consciousness from fraction to Totality. All are having the same aims, the same inner urge and the same potentiality within. So everyone has to understand the aims of birth and help one another and at the same time avoid creating pains and miseries. In this kind of realization, realist ion of Truth, actualization of the Universe and realization of Self are completed.

When one comes to this stage, that is the perfection of knowledge, the liberation of the Self from all unnecessary bondages. There is the peace, there is the happiness, there is the Bliss. In addition to Meditation and Introspection practices, simple physical exercises also are prescribed in SKY to keep the blood, heat and air in the body regular in their flow.

These exercises are taught in all SKY Centers

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