The initial stages in Sadhana will be one of ups and downs. Obstacles and unfavourable circumstances are God sent chances to make you more steady and strong in will. – Swami Sivananda
60 Guidances for Your Sadhana –
1. Reduce your wants and desires to the utmost minimum.
2. Adapt yourself to all circumstances.
3. Never be attached to anything or anybody.
4. Share what you have with others.
5. Be ever ready to serve all. Lose no opportunity. Serve with Atma Bhava.
6. Entertain Akarta and Sakshi Bhava.
7. Speak measured words. Speak sweet words.
8. Have a burning thirst for God Realisation.
9. Renounce all your belongings and surrender yourself to God.
10. Spiritual path is a sharp edged razor path. A Guru is absolutely necessary.
11. Have great patience and perseverance.
12. Never leave your practice Abhyasa, even for a day.
13. The Guru will only guide you. Tread the path yourself.
14. Life is short. Time of death is uncertain. Apply yourself seriously to Yogic Sadhana.
15. Maintain a daily spiritual diary and record correctly your progress and failures. Stick to resolves posted in your diary.
16. Do not complain that there is no time for Sadhana. Reduce sleep and extensive talks. Do your personal practice during the hours of Brahmamuhurta.
17. Let the thought of God protect you from the web of the material World.
18. Forget the feeling that you are a “so and so” male or a “so and so” female by doing vigorous Brahma Chintana.
19. Never postpone anything for tomorrow. Do it today.
20. Do not boast or make a show of your abilities. Be simple and humble.
21. Be cheerful always. Give up worldly worries.
22. Be indifferent to things that do not concern you.
23. Avoid the company of people and their discussions.
24. Be alone for a few hours daily.
25. Give up greediness, jealousy and hoarding.
26. Control your emotions by discernment and dispassion – Vairagya.
27. Maintain equilibrium of your mind, always.
28. Think twice before you speak and thrice before you act.
29. Give up back biting, criticizing and fault finding. Witness any of your reactions.
30. Study your faults, weaknesses and correct them. See only good in others. Praise the virtues of others.
31. Forgive & forget the harm done by others. Do good to those who hate you.
32. Shun lust, anger, egoism. Moha/Attachment and Lobha/Greed are both a venomous cobra.
33. Be prepared to suffer any amount of pain.
34. Have a set of maxims always with you to induce Vairagya.
35. Treat sensual enjoyment as poison. Sensual enjoyment cannot give you satisfaction.
36. Preserve your Virya carefully. Always sleep separately.
37. Revere females as the Mother Divine. Prostrate before all.
38. See God in every face, in every thing.
39. Take to Sankirtan, Satsanga and prayer when the mind is overpowered by lower instincts.
40. Face obstacles indifferently and boldly.
41. Care not for criticism when you are on the right path. Yield not to flattery.
42. Respect rogues and scoundrels. Serve them. Find the good in all beings.
43. Admit your faults plainly.
44. Take care of your health. Do not neglect daily Asanas and exercises.
45. Be active and nimble always.
46. Develop your heart by giving. Be extraordinarily charitable. Give more than expected.
47. Desires multiply misery. Develop contentment with what you are given.
48. Control the senses, one by one.
49. Develop Brahmakara Vritti – Divine thoughts.
50. Witness all your thoughts. Keep them pure, loving and sublime.
51. Do not lose temper when anybody insults, taunts or rebukes you. It is a mere play of words and a variety of sounds.
52. Rest your mind in God. Live in Truth.
53. Be up and following the path of perfection.
54. Have a definite aim in your life and proceed diligently and carefully.
55. Benefits of Mouna/Silence are incalculable. Never give up Mouna.
56. Four important means for passion to enter the mind are sound, touch, sight and thoughts. Be vigilant!
57. Have intimate connection with none but God. Mix little with others.
58. Be moderate with every thing and in every action.
59. Every day witness, have self analysis and introspection. Witness the amount of your growth.
60. Give up curiosities in spiritual path. Conserve your energy and concentrate. Think little of food, body and relatives. Think more of Atman. You must realize in this very birth itself!