KEEPING THE BALANCE
The most important thing as regards progress is balance. If a car is too heavily weighted on one side, then the driver will find it difficult to control and manoeuvre and problems will arise with the tyres and suspension etc. etc. The same happens to us if we pay too much attention to sitting in meditation, being introvert and not enough attention to relating peacefully to others. We may become withdrawn, living in our own inner world instead of the 'real world' outside and we may find that relationships with others become difficult.
To avoid such imbalance there are four aspects which we may need to bear in mind, and if equal weight is given to all four we will not only be balanced but also making natural progress. These four aspects are; knowing, being, becoming and giving.
"Knowing" refers to the understanding of knowledge. We have been given the basic facts; I am a soul, my true nature is peaceful, Ihave a mind, intellect and sanskaras etc. Now we have to fit them together. These facts are like the pieces of a jigsaw; so it is only when fitted together in the correct way that the picture emerges. Each piece has a little bit of a pattern on it, but on its own it can only hint at what the completed picture is. So by turning the information over in the mind, playing with it, matching it up to my life as it unfolds, I begin to create a coherent view. Once there is understanding I begin to feel that I am in control of any situation. When there is understanding my intellect remains clear and I am able to act in a positive and effective manner. Knowledge allows me to be detached from potentially stressful situations.
"Being" refers to meditation or yoga, the element of experience. Even if I can sort out all the logical connections between the bits of information that I have received, unless I have a grasp of their true meaning I cannot really say I have understood them. For instance, I could learn some simple phrases in Hungarian and be able to repeat them in the correct order, but unless my teacher had also told me the meanings of the words the phrases would be of absolutely no use to me.
So how are we to understand the meanings of words like peace, love, soul, detachment, etc.? Only by experiencing them. The experience of peace makes the word peace 'real.' It also gives me a basis of trust and faith, for it is when word and experience coincide that the soul can feel secure. For instance, often politicians or salesmen make us feel uneasy because we are aware of a lack of complete sincerity or truth. What they are saying is not necessarily a true reflection of what they feel or of the real facts. Whereas in the company of someone who is honest the soul at least 'knows where it stands' and so can experience stability and trust. The confirming experience of the knowledge that we have been given helps us to verify it, which leads to trust in it and through that trust and sense of truth I build a stable foundation.
"Becoming" refers to my actions. In the last paragraph harmony between knowledge and experience was emphasized. If there is contradiction then trust and stability disappear. This harmony is again vital here, between what happens internally and what happens externally. To sit in meditation and experience myself as the peaceful soul and then immediately afterwards to become angry with someone renders that peaceful experience meaningless and the soul feels lost and confused. Meditation must be made practical by reflecting its positive power in action. Then we will actually become that which we experience in our meditation.
Putting the results of yoga into practice, has on the whole to be a conscious thing. It won't happen miraculously without me paying attention to it. It is easy to see why, if you again consider how the soul performs actions through the cycle of mind, intellect and sanskaras. Even though I am creating peaceful sanskaras in meditation, the old peaceless sanskaras will continue to create negative thoughts in my mind, sometimes very powerfully. It is only through conscious choice within the intellect that I can discriminate and change my behaviour.
What is important to understand here is that I will never experience progress unless I make an effort to actually change my negative actions and habits. However good my experiences in meditation are, if they are constantly contradicted by my actions then I shall continue to create negative thoughts about myself, and my mind will become a battlefield instead of a haven of peace.
"Giving" refers to harmonious and altruistic relationships with others. Although becoming peaceful myself automatically helps my relationships with others, I still have to pay attention to this area, mainly because it is my relationships with others that sparks off peacelessness within myself. It is easy to be friendly and giving when those around me are friendly and giving also, but unfortunately, in today's world we often find ourselves in interpersonal situations which range from mildly uncomfortable to openly hostile. In these situations, the practise of giving is my protection. It protects me from experiencing negativity but also benefits whoever it is who is unfortunate enough to be feeling aggressive. I cannot give and receive at the same time, so having the thought to only spread peace and good wishes, means there is no room for responses of fear or resentment or the awakening of anger within myself.
These types of situation are the examinations which face me every day and it is how I cope in these instances which is the real test of my progress. When there is victory, then I realise that I have truly understood some aspect of knowledge. If however I do become angry or get careless, then the desire to'get it right next time'sends me back to review the knowledge again for deeper understanding. Sometimes I am in the position to help others directly by sharing my own positive experiences. When this happens, having put things in my own words makes me realise how much I have understood and also sends me back to the knowledge again, thus creating a cycle. Every time I return to the knowledge I have moved a little bit further forward, so natural progress is taking place.
Giving should be done without the desire for return or reward. It should be a natural process that is simply motivated by the wish to share with others the things of positive value that I have learnt or experienced. The return of feeling happy and content will come back to me without any need to desire or expect it. In this way my giving will become truly altruistic and pure. When I have practised meditation for some time giving becomes something beyond words. The knowledge and meditation experiences have become so much part of me that I give the experience of peace and virtues to others by simply being myself; my true positive self.
When all these four aspects of knowing, being, becoming and giving are in harmonious balance then the soul will be at peace with itself and in harmony with others. This state of practical soul-consciousness has been termed 'jivan mukti', or freedom in life.
Meditation Practice
Slowdown! Give yourself time to think before you act. Give your new, peaceful sanskaras a chance to be put into practice. Don't allow yourself to have the thought, T haven't got time'. This is the recipe for instant stress. Instead, just put full concentration into what you can do in the time available, and don't worry about the rest.
Practise being detached from your own thoughts. Feel that I, the soul am in the cinema watching my thoughts come up on the screen of my mind. As you watch them they will begin to slow down. Sort through them, savouring the good ones and discarding the negative or waste (mundane) ones. Have action replays of the best thoughts and allow your thoughts to lead you into the experience that lies behind them.
If you find your mind is still too active or at all negative, first concentrate on that basic thought of T am a peaceful soul.' Then observe the direction to which your thoughts flow from that positive source. Sometimes the mind will naturally go in a positive direction when we sit for meditation, but at other times it needs to be firmly steered and guided to avoid crashing into the rocks of negative emotions and thoughts!
Raja Yoga - Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University
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