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Definition of practice
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| Tatra Sthitau Yatno_Abhyãsah |
| ||1.13|| |
| The effort that steadies |
| Is practice |
Tatra: That , there , of these Sthitau: steadied, established
Yatna: effort, Abhyãsah: practice |
| 1.13 Q: What constitutes practice? |
| A: Whatever effort that ensures stillness of mind is practice. There are no prescriptions on practice.There are no dogmas. It is now left to the individual seeker and his teacher to arrive at a practice that is suitable to the seeker, yet one that ensures that there is steadiness and stilling of mind where are no modifications. |
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What is the aim of practice? The aim of practice is not happiness. The aim is to be in the state of Being The aim of practice is to be in a state of attribute-less-ness. Spiritual practice needs perseverance. Jumping from a seminar here to a week end workshop there does not constitute practice. They are activity oriented, propelling one to compare, discuss and deliberate. Such an exercise kindles mind activity instead of calming it.
Practice means different things to different people
The devotional |
Practice consists of always being with God. Not to separate oneself from his God. |
The duty bound |
Practice consists of devoting every bit of action of God and serving everyone looking at them as representative of God |
The intellectual |
Practice consists of constant scrutiny of the question of 'Who am I?' Constant reinforcement of the thought that one is bot his body |
The Yogi |
Concentration and meditation as often possible |
 Thinking of THAT alone, speking of THAT alone, conversing with one another about THAT alone and utter dedication to THAT alone,
is considered as constituting practice by the wise. |
| Yogavasishta |
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