Dhyana

Man must give up the craving for material comfort and the attachment to sense-objects. He must discard the false fears, the absurd desires, the sorrow, the worries, and the artificial pleasures that now fill his mind. That is to say, he must discriminate and train himself to realize that everything is as illusory as the ghost in the well! Everyone has need for this self-education. The pathetic condition of every man is due to its absence. Dhyana (meditation) is the remedy for this state of mind.

The dhyani (one who meditates) considers the realization of atmic bliss as important; but the promotion of the welfare of the world is also an equally important aim. For carrying out that aim, he must bring under control certain physical, verbal, and mental tendencies. These are usually known as the tenfold sins—the three physical the four verbal, and the three mental. The physical tendencies are: injury to life, adulterous desire, and theft. The verbal sins are: false alarms, cruel speech, jealous talk, and lies. The mental attitudes are: greed, envy, and denial of God. The person intent on following the dhyana marga (path of meditation) must take every care that these ten enemies do not even approach him. They have to be eschewed completely. He needs tendencies that will help him to progress and not those that will drag him back.

Dhyana Vahini, P. 18-21

…If you really wish to be happy through dhyana, you must, as a preliminary to the process, be engaged either in joyful conversation or in happy thoughts or memories. Sweet and soft conversation helps dhyanam a great deal. Man must cultivate such a character, for character outlasts the body. Virtues are the strength and the glory of man. Character is power. So, train it and use it to attain the visualization of the Lord. Sakshathkara (self-realization), hold fast to that goal. You must have contentment, whatever the gain or loss, or state. This is essential. Contentment grants happiness and increases it. For the contented mind, life is an endless festival. The mind, worried by desire, will have no rest. With desire troubling you, concentration is impossible. Desire is the fire in your frame; it reduces you to ashes. Contentment is the effective drug to destroy it…

Dhyana Vahini, P. 55

Thus, every man must develop the virtue of contentment, through dhyana sadhana. Contentment is a satwik (pure) quality; it will not transform you into an idler, no, not at all! It will, on the other hand, permit the mind to travel toward the Lord, it will grant peace. It will also hinder unessential activities which have profit for oneself as the aim. The contented man will be fully satwik, he will lead an inner life, in communion with the atma. He can do any work without rest and without complaint. The waves of the mind that sway in many directions get a single aim. The Rishis, Bhikshus and Yogis (God centered men) of the past realized the total of life by means of the peace that came to them through contentment. It gives all sadhakas (spiritual aspirants) the enthusiasm and the vigor necessary for treading the path that leads to self-realization. Contented, the sadhakas can ignore the dangers and difficulties of that path. He treats as poison all the impermanent things of this life, he discards them as trash. Through contentment, discrimination, renunciation, and the spirit of inquiry develops.

Dhyana Vahini, P. 57