Prognosis And Diagnosis Of Sin

1. Flattery
Vedanta explains it by saying that in every individual, in every person, in everybody, there is the real Self, the real Atman, which is, as a matter of fact, the greatest of the great, the highest of the high. There is in reality something in you which is the highest of the high and that makes its existence felt. When the flatterer comes, and begins to admire us and pay us compliments, we feel elated, we feel cheered. Why? The cause is not that these statements are true, but Vedanta says that the real cause lies in our real Self. There is something behind the scenes, some potent force, something stern and indestructible, the greatest of the great, the highest of the high, which is your real Self and deserves all flattery, all compliments; and no compliments, no flattery, no aggrandizement can be unworthy of the real Self.

2. Vanity
There is in you the Greatest of the great, that is your real Self. You will have to realize that and know that; and when you realize and know the true Self, the Atman, you will no longer stoop down to seek praise for this little body...The true Atman within, the true Self being the Greatest of the great, the Highest of the high, the God of gods, how can it give up its nature? How can this Atman degrade itself, believe itself to be poor, wretched, vermin or worm? How can it degrade itself to that depth of ignorance? It cannot give up its nature; it cannot give up its nature. 

3. Avarice
Vedanta explains it by saying that "there is in you, O man, the reality, the true Self, the real Atman asserting itself; it cannot be crushed." They say that no energy can be destroyed, no force can be annihilated...Through the error, through the ignorance of attributing the glory of the Atman to the body and the worthlessness of the body to the Atman, by this mistake you fall a victim to greed. Eradicate this error, and you are God immortal. Redeem the real Self in you, take a firm stand in the true Self, and realize yourself to be the God of gods, the Holy Of holies, the Master of universe, the Lord of lords, and it becomes impossible for you to seek these outside things and accumulate them round this body."

4. Attachment
What is the cause of attachment, which means that the person subject to this evil wants that the things around him should not change? A man is filled with sorrow and anxiety at the death of a loved one. What does his sorrow or anxiety show? What does it prove? Can we expect conditions to remain as they are; can we expect to keep our loved ones always with us, when we know intellectually that everything in this world is changeful, is in a state of flux? And yet we wish that there should be no change, how is it? Vedanta says, "O man, in you there is something which is really unchangeable, which is the same yesterday, today and for ever, but by mistake, by ignorance, the unchangeable nature of the true Self is ascribed to the circumstances of the body. That is the cause of it. Eradicate ignorance and you stand above worldly attachments."

5. Sloth
According to Vedanta, the cause of the universality of sloth or indolence is that the real Self within each and all is perfect rest, is peace, and the real Self being infinity cannot move, the infinite cannot move. It is the finite only that can move... In the infinity there must be no change. The Atman, the true Self within is infinite; it is all rest; it is all peace. There is no motion there. That being the case, the infinity, the Atman’s peacefulness is through ignorance carried to the body and the body suffers from sloth and has indolence in it. That is the cause of indolence or sloth being universal in the whole world.

6. Rivalry
Vedanta says, "The real cause is that in you, O man, is the true Atman which is one without a second, which is rivalless, matchless; and by ignorance, by mistake, is the oneness and the glory of the Atman being attributed to the body, and there is the tendency to have no rivals of the body."

7. Sensuality
"We are all beauty, the unchangeable Self is all beauty now and for ever" and the realization of this will show us that what we are trying to get for the physical body belongs to, or is the real Self.

8. Anger
It is because of our real Self which is free now and for ever, that we are not satisfied to be limited in any way. It was never born, will never die, remains the same for ever. Free it must be. If it were true that you were bound, you never could be free. 

A man was suffering from two diseases. He had a disease of the eyes and a disease of the stomach. He came to a doctor and asked him to treat him. The doctor gave to this patient two kinds of medicines, two kinds of powders. One of the powders was to be applied to the eyes. It contained antimony or lead sulphide, and if taken internally, it is a poison. It can be applied externally to the eyes and the people in India use this powder for the eyes. So the doctor gave him the powder for the eyes containing antimony or lead sulphide. Another powder he gave him to be taken orally. This powder contained pepper and chillies; chillies which have a very cold name, but which are very hot. He gave him one powder containing chillies to be taken. This man being in a state of confusion just interchanged the two powders. The powder which was to be taken orally he applied to the eyes, and the antimony and other things, which were poisons, he ate. Here were the eyes blinded and the stomach worsted.

That is what is being done by the people, and that is the cause of all the so-called sins in this world. Here is the Atman, the Light of lights within you and here is the body, the stomach, so to say. What is to be done to the body is being done to the Atman, and the respect and honour and glory of the Atman are being paid unto the body; everything mixed up; everything put into a state of confusion. That causes this phenomenon of so-called sins in this world. Get things right and right you are, you prosper materially, you are God of gods spiritually.

"In the beginning was the word; the word was with God". Realize it, realize it. The Heaven of heavens is within you. 
 - Swami Rama Tirtha
http://www.ramatirtha.org/vol1/prognosis.htm

Vipassana Meditation - S.N. Goenka - Day1-11

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Day11

Meditation - Healing - Relaxation

Man's Eternal Quest

"Lead me from darkness to light. Lead me from hatred to love. Lead me from limitations to Thine inexhaustible power; lead me from ignorance to wisdom. Lead me from suffering and death to everlasting life and enjoyment in Thee. Above all, lead me from the delusion of human attachment into realisation of Thy love eternal, which plays hide-and-seek with me in all forms of human love."

“Father, Mother, Friend, Beloved God, reveal Thyself unto me! Leave me in ignorance no longer. All delusion I cast from the sacred shrine of my soul. Be Thou the only King sitting on the throne of my ambitions, the only Queen in the castle of my love, the only Deity in the temple of my soul. Keep me awake in Thy consciousness, that I may pray and demand unceasingly until Thou dost open all doors into Thy home of wisdom, and there receive me, Thy prodigal child, and entertain me with the fatted calf of immortality and eternal joy."
- Man's Eternal Quest, Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda

http://worldtracker.org/media/library/Metaphysics%20&%20Spirituality/Paramahansa%20Yogananda%20MAN'S%20ETERNAL%20QUEST.pdf

Tips:Curing Mental Alcoholics

Mental Alchoholics: Particular psychological extreme, which might be chronic anger, fear, sex, sadism, gambling, stealing, jealousy, hate, greed, moods, craftiness, or stupidity.

When a person displays extraordinary tantrums of anger, fear, jealousy or any other of the aforementioned characteristics- then one may know that he has acquired those abnormal mental habits in a previous existence.

Parents who notice any such evil psychological tendencies in their child, even in its infancy, should get busy and take some steps to prevent the child from becoming a psychological alcoholic; if possible, by placing him in another environment under the good care of spiritual teachers.

If possible, the angry mental alcoholic should be placed with one or more individuals who do not become angry, even under irritating circumstances. The sexual person ought to be surrounded by self-controlled people, the habitual thief needs the society of honest people. The chronically timid can be helped by association with the brave, and by reading stories of men who were heros. Moody or scornful or "sourpuss" types should have the companionship of habitually cheerful people.

An abundance of fruits and vegetables in the daily diet, and each week a one-day fast on fruit juices - with a longer fast occasionally - will greatly help to change the cerebral grooves that entrench the pernicious habits. 

Overindulgence in sex impairs the nervous system and the brain cells, aggravates anger, destroys will power, also. Hence all mental alcoholics should learn control over the sex impulse, that they may practice moderation in marital relations, as nature intended.

Self-control practised daily, even in insignificant matters, will help the mental alcoholic to come out of his drunken indulgences little by little.
Man's Eternal Quest - Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda

http://worldtracker.org/media/library/Metaphysics%20&%20Spirituality/Paramahansa%20Yogananda%20MAN'S%20ETERNAL%20QUEST.pdf

How The Universe Was Formed

Technique:Sandwich Technique - Positive Critiicism

1. Use sincere praise in a "Compliment Sandwich Technique". When you use the sandwich technique, you sandwich one bad point (as a request not a direct complaint) offset between two good points (compliments). Don't sound unfriendly or too intense, yet not so mushy as to not make the point clearly.

2. Use condiments of smiles; be on the other person's side. Let the other person know that you are empathetic; feel concern, but it's not pity or sympathy. And rather than being antagonistic, you are showing that you recognize several good points, too.

3. Keep it real: know what the issues are. Relax and be personable; don't magnify the facts or descriptions: as if you're some cheap, "B-movie" actor, and faking it with made-up, or silly, slapstick compliments.

4. Start with a slice good characteristic or special gift of the person: be pretty accurate to "not" exaggerate or to be outrageous.

5. Criticize the actions not the person. Put the "meat" with "now ____" or "one thing is ____"
Avoid using "but" because that will even offend children.

6. End it with another good point -- in the critiqued person's favor. So finish with a slice of complimentary remarks. These examples stress the two compliments:  

1. "You are so good at making those grilled cheese sandwiches. They taste so good. Now, I really wish that you would clean up the kitchen area after you do it. It would help me out a lot. You are so good about helping around the house." Variations include:
2. "What I liked most was (______). One way you could improve this is (______). One of your greatest strengths is (______)."
3. "The first thing I observed was that you did (_____) just right. Well done. Now let's talk about this, if we can tweak this one thing. Could you (______)? It’ll be even better. There, you got it just right. You did great. I really like the way you (______)."
4. "One really good thing about your gardening project is (______). I would really appreciate it if, instead of doing (______), that you do (______). That would make me very happy. By the way, in case I haven’t mentioned it lately, I just want to say that one thing I really admire about you is (______)."
5. "You make a valid point. One thing I like about how you're thinking is (______). Let me counter your argument by saying... Like I said, you made a good point. One thing that always impresses me about you is (______)."

7. Explain your compliments -- being respectful: make your words real by saying something that sounds reasonable and full of meaning, such as:

• "And I noticed this because (______). It reminds me of the time that (______)."
• "I remember the time that you (______). That is the same kind of (______) that you know that I like so much; thank you so much."

http://www.wikihow.com/Criticize-Constructively

Commitment and Excellence in Life

Commitment is the language of the wise; complaint is the language of the fools. Commitment is a responsibility and also includes accountability. In life, one should be responsible as well as accountable. Generally one takes responsibility without accountability; this weakens one’s being.

Our weaknesses result in disappointment. Disappointment should be cremated and not garlanded. People derive a sadistic pleasure from disappointment. This is a primitive pleasure, like a grownup boy sucking his thumb. To cremate disappointment, one should strengthen one’s strengths. The greatest strength comes from the energy of commitment and brings in excellence in all walks of life. Few people traverse the road of success without a puncture or two but it is commitment to excellence that takes them through.

Commitment is not being ‘stuck,’ but it is an integration of one’s being. For example, if you are committed to honour your word, then the ‘lower self’ in you will discourage you to justify the failure in not keeping up your promise. If your energies are low, you will be sucked into its logic and reasoning. But if you follow the ‘higher self,’ the ‘lower self’ will be like a servant serving the master. Slowly the ‘lower self’ will be integrated with the higher. In such a state there will be integrity. Without integrity life is shallow.

We have, both - an actor and a thinker in us. Every time we lie, the thinker warns us that we are lying and the actor asks us to shut up and continue telling lies. In such a state, there is a split in our being – between the actor and the thinker. It is like riding a chariot with two horses, with the horses going in two different directions. Commitment creates integrity. In this state, it is easier to bring forth the excellence in our lives.

Observe Nature and see how other beings are committed. For example, look at an eagle.
• From a range of 5 km, it focuses on its prey.
   Can we focus on our goals like an eagle?
• An eagle does not eat a dead prey.
   Can we learn not to live on dead information?
• If there is a storm, the eagle can glide on the strong breeze. It tests its wings and enjoys the storm and the challenges associated with it.
   Can we enjoy difficulties and convert them into challenges?
• An eagle does not mix with other birds. It soars high on its own.
   Can we be part of an average crowd and still soar high on our strengths?
• An eagle tests before it trusts. Before mating, a female eagle tests its partner. It picks up a twig, flies high and as the male follows, it flies around to escape and finally drops the twig. Before the twig falls on the ground, the male catches the twig and gives it to the female. It repeats this act. If a male succeeds in catching the twig consistently, then it allows mating to take place.
Similarly, like an eagle, can we test before we trust?
• Eagles lay eggs on a cliff or at the edge of a high peak by making a nest of grass entwined with thorns. When the eggs hatch, the weight of the eaglets makes it uncomfortable as the thorns start pricking. Then the female pushes the eaglets out of the nest. As the eaglets are about to fall, the male picks them and brings them back to the nest. Meanwhile, the female removes the upper layer of grass, so that the eaglets rest directly on the thorns that prick them. The eaglets are yet to test their wings to fly. Now the male pushes the eaglets out of the nest. This process continues till such time that the eaglets are able to foresee the danger in falling and start using theirs wings. Slowly they realise their ability to use their wings and start flying.

Difficulties are like divine surgery. Do not resist difficulties. Nature expects us to use our heart and head to discover new and wiser skills to fly in life.

Observe the commitment of an eagle in bringing out excellence while choosing a partner first and parenting later. Bring similar commitment to all walks of life; be it at family, at work, in society or in your spiritual life.

Excellence happens when there is love to grow and contribute. Heart is like a musical instrument. Use it wisely.

Creativity occurs primarily through the power of intention. Intention is like sowing a seed in existence. Allow it to germinate. Allow the forces of nature to nurture life.

Commitment also involves dropping illusions. We do not see the world as it is. We see the world projected through our verbose minds. Minds are filled with thoughts, which are nothing but mere words. Words represent experiences. Words are also influenced by memory. Memory is of the past. From the past, we see the present. Hence we create illusions created by words, but we must filter them wisely.

The mind creates dreams. The self - awareness in you sees reality. Awareness without the arrogant ‘I’ is the ‘higher self.’ The mind with its illusions is the ‘lower self.’ Have the commitment to operate from the ‘higher self.’

Through commitment, balance all walks of your life... family, work, social and spiritual. Creativity is to balance all walks of life. Creativity is just not creating something new always. Creativity brings excellence in one’s life. It is a state of well-being. Well-being creates completion. When one is complete, one is alive and vibrant in all walks of life.

A teacher advised, ‘Let this not happen to you all.’
First, I was dying to finish high school with an ‘A’ grade.
Then, I was dying to enter the best college.
Then, I was dying to finish college.
Then, I was dying to get a good job.
Then, I was dying to get married.
Then, I was dying to have children.
Then, I was dying to see my children study well.
Then, I was dying to retire.
Then, all of a sudden I got this insight that I have forgotten to live.

-Swami Sukhabodhananda
http://www.speakingtree.in/spiritual-blogs/masters/self-improvement/commitment-and-excellence-in-life

The Desire That Satisfies All Desires

People try to find happiness in drink, sex, and money, but the pages of history are filled with tales of their disillusionment. The time I have spent in prayer has made my life unimaginably fruitful. A thousand bottles of wine could not produce the joy it has given me. In that joy is the conscious guidance of God's wisdom. When you are attuned with Him in this way, even though you unwittingly do wrong it will be righted by the Lord's omniscient direction; if you make a poor judgement it will be corrected by Him.

"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself." If you sincerely love God you will do only what is based upon truth. Your love will not allow you to err against Him.

All desires should be satisfied in the divine way. When you try to satisfy them in the wordly way, you only multiply your difficulties. If you learn to give every desire to God, He will see to it that your good desires are fulfilled and the harmful ones are overcome. There is no protection greater than your conscience, and the divine quality of your good desires. If you but looked at your soul, the all-perfect reflection of God within you, you would find all your desires satisfied! In that divine consciousness, having which no other gain is greater, you would be unmoved even if the whole world were given to you; neither would praise elate you, nor blame hurt. You would feel only the great joy of God within.
- Man's Eternal Quest, Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda

http://worldtracker.org/media/library/Metaphysics%20&%20Spirituality/Paramahansa%20Yogananda%20MAN'S%20ETERNAL%20QUEST.pdf

Who Will Persist Until God Answers?

Every day undertake something that is difficult for you and try to do it. Though you fail five times, keep on, and as soon as you have succeeded in that direction, apply your concentrated will on something else. You will thus be able to accomplish increasingly greater things. Will is the instrument of the image of God within you. In will lies His limitless power, the power that controls all the forces of nature. As you are made in His image, that power is yours to bring about whatever you desire. You can create prosperity and can change hatred into love. Pray until body and mind are completely subjugated, then you will receive God's response. I constantly find that my slightest wish is answered.

Your greatest necessity is God. He will give you not only your "neccessary neccessities," but your "unnecessary neccessities" as well. He will satisfy your every desire when you are one with Him. Your wildest dreams will come true.

Then Pray to your Father "Lord, this is my need. I am willing to work for it. Please guide me and help me to have the right thoughts and to do the right things to bring about success. I will use my reason and work with determination, but guide Thou my reason, will and activity to the right thing that I should do."
-Man's Eternal Quest, Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda

http://worldtracker.org/media/library/Metaphysics%20&%20Spirituality/Paramahansa%20Yogananda%20MAN'S%20ETERNAL%20QUEST.pdf