SADHANA PAD SUTRA --48

                                           TATO  DWANDWA  ANABHIGHATAH

      (WHEN THE  ASAN  OR POSTURE /POSITION  IS PERFECTED)  THEN  ONE IS NOT

                                                 AFFECTED  BY  DUALITY

     We are told in past as to what kind of 'SIDDHI' that we achieve when we get perfection in certain part of meditation. So most of us do not get perfection in the typical posture or ASAN that is recommended for the meditation. When we have no problem maintaining the posture , we are comfortable and then we tend not to get distracted by duality of the Nature. This world has two things,one is relativity and second is Duality. Everything in the world has these two qualities . Once we have perfected the posture for the meditation , we do not get affected by the contrasting things like Heat or Cold, Rich or Poor and so on. 

SADHANA PAD SUTRA 46 AND 47

                                                      SHTIR  SUKHAM  AASANAM-46

                              PRAYATNA  SHAITHILYA  ANANTA  SAMAPTTIBHYAM-47

            THE POSITION OF THE BODY THAT LEADS TO COMFORTABLE BODY AND                           STABLE                                                         MIND IS THE AASAN. -46

THE NATURAL TENDENCIES OF THE BODY IS THE 'EFFORT' (PRAYATNA) . TO QUIETEN THAT EFFORT AND CONCENTRATE THE MIND ON 'INFINITE' WILL LEAD TO STABLE AND PLEASURABLE AASAN- POSITION.-47

        In these 2 sutras we are told the necessary things that are needed to have successful meditation. If we want to be successful in meditation. we must have comfortable posture and steady mind. So the position must be comfortable. In HAT YOGA there are AASANAS and breathing techniques and many other things . These things will help in meditation. If our physical body is not comfortable,then we can not concentrate as we will always try to make change in our position so that we are comfortable. Same is the case with mind. If we want to concentrate on the LORD the one which does not have end or is infinite, we need to have steady mind.
      The typical posture that is suggested as perfect position is not an easy one. Again one can select any position that is comfortable . But to stay in same position without  moving a bit for prolonged period of time is not easy. And if we are unable to continue the same position, for the entire duration of meditation, we will think to change the position. If we resist it then we are loosing the concentration and if we change the position often then we are breaking the concentration. So we need to practice the various AASANA that are taught in Hat Yoga, we will have easier time in keeping the same position when we are doing the meditation. And if the desire to change the position is gone ,then the concentration is achieved easily and not broken. And mind has one less thing to worry or disturb.

SADHANA PAD - 45

                                   SAMADHI  SIDDHIR  ISHWAR  PRANIDHANAT

               WITH    SURRENDERING TO GOD,  ONE  ATTAINS  THE SAMADHI

         When one surrenders to the God , his thinking changes . He looses the 'Ines' or the Ego in doing anything and that reduces the attachments. If I do something good or great, I develop the attachment, thinking that "i" DID it. So If I have invented anything , written anything , done any painting or done any sculpture, I am proud of it , I am possessive of it and in doing that develop the attachment. This attachment is an obstacle in achieving the highest level of SAMADHI or deepest level of consciousness, which makes one closer to GOD and FEEL the highest level of pleasure. As long as we continue to think oneself as the 'Doer' will can not separate our self from the physical body.The Ego is soul that is confined to the body. So as long as we are limited by the body , we will never get the experience of one with the GOD. So when we do complete , unconditional surrender to the GOD , then only we can get in the SAMADHI of highest level . We do surrender many a times to the GOD when we are in trouble. But it is neither complete nor unconditional. We always look at people other than the GOD. We also 'ask' Him to help us in our situation and difficulties. So this will not help us in getting any where closer to the GOD , but it gets us more attached to the body , this life and this mortal world. 

SADHANA PAD SUTRA - 44

                               SWADHYAYAT  ISHTA  DEVATA  SAMPRAYOGAH

BY  DOING THE SWADHYAY  -STUDY -PRACTISE  OF  SCRIPTURE,  ONE  ATTAINS THE

                                                CHOSEN  PERSONAL  GOD

   This one is little different one for Non Hindu to understand. In Hinduism, we have several Deities. All of us allowed to worship their Personal God. The Supreme Being has no Form, or appearance.But we can not concentrate on unknown , formless Supreme Being. So we have different forms, or different forms of the DEITIES.I remember one day some one asked a question to one of the SHE in Swami, that was giving a lecture.The question was ,'if I see the GOD, what form would be , will HE look like Lord RAMA or Lord Krishna or any other?' The answer was 'Whosoever you want Him to be.' This form of Deity is the ISHTA DEWATA.
    So in this sutra we are told that when one starts doing the study of the scriptures, (reading the VEDAS , UPANISHADS ETC) , and does chanting of Mantras, and lives the life according to it, he will Perceive the God. So when one concentrates , meditates on a particular Deity, he can talk , get advise get guidance from the Ishta Devata. There are many examples of this. The famous Ramakrishna Paramhauns used to 'talk' with KALI MATA.When Shabari (who was a Prices who had given up her life as Princes and was constantly chanting name of Lord Rama ,waiting for Him for her entire life) DID MEET Lord Rama. We have heard the story of Vivekananda. One day he had to give a lecture to big crowd when he was visiting US,he could not think as to what can he say in the lecture. He was alone in the hotel room and in the next room his assistant was staying. He heard Lord talks at night . He could recognize the  voice of Vivekananda, but could not recognize the other voice. It was too late so he did not go there . Next day he asked Vivekananda as to who was visiting late night, Vivekananda told him , NO ONE . But he had no problem giving lecture. The conclusion was that the LORD HIMSELF was giving him the guidance. Again the language , form time , place are are our limitation and expectations. HE COULD BE ANYONE AND ANY FORM , ANYTIME AND CAN TALK TO US IN ANY LANGUAGE OR EVEN WITHOUT MAKING A SOUND !
    But this can happen only when we have perfected the SWADHYAYA.

SADHANA PAD -SUTRA 43

                         KAYENDRIYA  SIDDHHI  ASHUDDHHI    KSHAYAT  TAPASAH

    

WHEN TAPA OR ASTERITY  IS  PERFECTED  IMPURITIES OF BODY  AND ORGANS  IS  

                                      DESTROYED  AND THEY ARE PERFECTED

       When one does the austerity or what is here called TAPAH , then he develops the purity of the body and it's organs . So Let us first see what is TAPAH , or austerity. It could be as simple as fasting on certain days , which is very common in many religions, to strict dietary restrictions. Not eating certain foods all the time is also part of austerity. One could put control various desire or needs, is part of austerity. So when we are IN CHARGE of our various organs and MIND and not the other-way around , i.e. they are controlling our behavior, then that is austerity. So when we decide the restrictions on what we eat or drink or control outer temperature or here certain music and avoid other , etc this all is part of our training our mind and controlling the organs . But this is not just superficial control . So it is not enough that we don't eat certain food , but we don't have any desire to eat it or  no matter what we are eating our reaction to eat is same . 

     So when this perfected by every organ in our body we get some powers or Sidhhi . Again with bodily control will lead to purification of body . So Yogi can think much more clearly and sees better , hearing is great and every organ and mind works at it's peak . So one has to treat or feel same under any condition , No matter what we are eating or listening or seeing , we should have no attachment to it . Then only this can be achieved. 

SADHANA PAD SUTRA--42

                                     SANTOSHAT  ANUTTAM  SUKH  LABHAH

                   (WHEN YOGI )  IS  CONTENT,  HE  ENJOYS HIGHEST  BLISS

       The bliss or the pleasures that we get is due to satisfaction of the DESIRES. But this pleasure is dependent upon one's own desires and will be different in different person. Even in one person the pleasures will be different with different desires. So one may feel higher satisfaction with eating one thing over other. But it is transient and it does not take away the desire . In fact the desires become more intense when they are satisfied. But when one is content with whatever he has or gets, then the higher bliss is experienced. This bliss is unparalleled and is the highest form of pleasure and does not leave you with unsatisfied desires. Certainly when we experience the bliss with meditation ,we want to experience the same one again. But this DESIRE is different that the desire for food or music or sex. To get to this level one has to get rid of ordinary desires and be CONTENT with what we have . 

SADHANA PAD SUTRA - 41

SATWA SHUDDHI  SAUMANASYA  EKAGRYA  INDRIYA  JAYATWAM  ATMA  DARSHAN

                                                               YOGYATWANI  CHA

   MENTAL  PURITY LEAS  TO PURITY  OF HEART, HAPPINESS, CONCENTRATION  OF

   MIND (SINGLE POINTED MIND) . CONTROL  OF  THE  MIND  AND SELF  REALIZATION

     In the last Sutra we were told the benefit of cleaning the physical body. In this Sutra we are told the benefit of cleaning 'internally'. So what is meant by cleaning internally? The presence of  pure clean thought is the cleanliness of the mind. Anything that arises out of NATURE - PRAKRUTI, will always have the 3 qualities , namely the Satwic , Rajasic and the Tamasic , the PURE-ACTIVATING AND THE LAZINESS . So our mind and the intellect and the ego and the CHITTA - will all have these three qualities . And based on the predominance of one or other , we will have thoughts ,action and intelligent which is either one of theses three qualities. When the mind or the thoughts purify, our thoughts , and intellect becomes more PURE or SATWIC . this leads to the happiness of the mind , and better control over our sense organs and actions and this leads to ease in concentrating at the time of meditation.
     If one tries to analyze our thoughts or our actions, or use of intellect , then we realize that they belong to one of the 3 qualities or GUNAS. So if I want to drink alcohol or smoke or use drugs , these are TAMASIC thoughts. If I want to build a Temple or hospital or act in a play or be involved in a musical group, these are RAJASIC thoughts . If I want to build atomic bomb , then that is RAJASIC and TAMASIC intelligence. So now if I develop SATWIC qualities , I will never think about indulging in to sense organ pleasure or think of hurting anyone . So I will have better control on my organs . So at the time of meditation -concentrating on the LORD, I will not be distracted by thought of food , sex , drink or be distracted by music or some other thoughts . This will lead to better meditation and higher level of SAMADHI .