“Daily self-analysis and self-examination are indispensable requisite. Then only the Yogic student can obviate his defects and can grow rapidly in spirituality. What does a gardener do? He watches the young plants very carefully. He removes the weeds daily. He puts a nice strong fence round them. He waters them daily at the proper time. Then alone they grow beautifully and yield fruits quickly.
Even so, the Yogic student should find out his defects through daily self-analysis and then eradicate them through suitable means. If one method fails, he must take recourse to a combined method. If prayer fails, he should take recourse to Satsanga, Pranayama, meditation, dietetic regulation, inquiry, and so on. He should destroy not only the big waves of pride, hypocrisy, lust, anger, etc. that manifest on the surface of the conscious mind, but also their subtle impressions that lurk in the corners of the subconscious mind.
These subtle impressions are very dangerous. They lurk themselves like thieves and attack the aspirant, when he is a bit careless, when he slackens a bit his spiritual practices, and when he is provoked.
If these defects did not manifest even under extreme provocation on several occasions, even when you are not practising daily introspection and self-analysis, you can rest assured that the subtle impressions are also obliterated. Now you are safe.
The practice of introspection and self-analysis demands patience, perseverance, leech-like tenacity, application, iron will, iron determination, subtle intellect, courage, etc. But you will get a fruit of incalculable value. That fruit is Immortality, Supreme Peace and Infinite Bliss. You will have to pay a heavy price for this. Therefore do not grumble when you do daily practice. You should apply your full mind, heart, intellect and soul. Then only rapid success is possible.“
Swami Sivananda – Sadhana
Chapter 15
Yoga Sadhana – Inner Yogic Discipline II
Page 388 – 6th. paragraph
One of the ways that we can follow Swamiji’s teachings is by maintaining a Spiritual Dairy where we write our daily practices – some may be good and some others may need improvement. We should acknowledge all of them and strive for discipline in our practice. To know more about how this practice can guide you in your spiritual journey, please feel free to get in touch with one of our staff members at the Toronto Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre!