Thursday Thought

Hari OM

Part of saadhana, as enjoined by the Saadhana Panchakam's very first line, is,

वेदो नित्यमधीयताम् 

Vedo-nityam-adhiiyataam-—Let the scriptures be studied daily.

This is not merely a Sanskrit injunction. Most faiths of the world will have similar words in adjunct texts intended to guide the spiritual seeker. I am sure all who read here will know of someone, close or merely acquainted, who does indeed read daily of the sacred writings.

Now the question arises - are you the one who reads daily? By this, as this is a portal of spiritual growth, it is meant of words that are from the spiritual and sacred library.  Not literature or escapism. Works of direct spiritual value. If not the scriptures themselves, then at least related items (this blog would be an example, albeit something of a weak one, but at least a start!)

One of the famous anecdotes of Swami Chinmayananda is that once when lamented to by an ardent devotee that they had gone through the Bhagavad Gita countless numbers of times and that they felt it had made no difference to their life, his rejoinder was, "Ah, but how many times have you let the Gita go through you?!" The point is that we are not merely to cast our eyes over the words, but let the words enter us, swim in us, let our minds churn upon what has been read and, finally, have the learning drawn from those words settle within us and build our character and stamina for more. Each time we take up scripture to read, have we prepared ourselves mentally and physically? It is good to have a certain space where one can settle for such reading that is conducive not just to bodily comfort but also to the environment's calmness and stillness of mind. The best state in which to draw in the essence contained within and around the words. If we only read out of a sense of 'gotta do this' hurriedly, rotely, we are much less likely to inculcate any lessons and experience growth as a result. We must be fully 'present' to gain the most.

Taking time, settling well and unencumbered, take up your text and let it enter you...