August 14, 2006
Viya Varusham
Greeshma Rithu
Aadi Maasam 29-th day
Monday
Spiritual Techniques for a Peaceful Mind
The world is firmly of the opinion that money is at the root of happiness.
But we see poor people who are happy and cheerful and we see
rich people who are unhappy and morose.
This is why the Siddhas tell us that happiness and unhappiness are both in the mind.
Tranquility and turbulence are both in the mind.
This raises an important question. If tranquility is in the mind, what can one do to get it?
There are ways, say the Siddhas.
The Siddhas say that one can be perfectly happy and cheerful even in the midst of endless worldly problems.
This is because mental peace is a gift from God and is available all the time to every one of us.
They say that Monday is the day for developing manas shakti (mind shakti).
The rational mind should meditate on time, for time is life. Different time periods have different potencies.
One should learn these differences and use each time period appropriately.
For example, the Chandra hora
is an ideal time everyday to work on manas shakti, mental courage and to cultivate a mental environment of peace and tranquility.
Practice mouna vrata (vow of silence) on Mondays. If you can't do this the whole of Monday, do this at least for 12 hours or 6 hours.
On Mondays, practice silent worship and dhyan (meditation) in Chandrasekhara and Chandra Mouliswara temples.
Not only should you practice this, but also communicate the same to your children and friends.
This is the way to keep this spiritual heritage alive.
Chandra is known as manas karaka, the dispositor of the mind. There will be a minimum of three
Chandra hora time periods (sometimes four) everyday.
Depending upon other nakshtra, thithi, yoga and karana factors, the type of manas shakti vibrations will vary.
For example, those subject to mental confusion about their jobs should worship that Ganesh who wears the crescent
moon on His head using arugam pul grass during the Chandra hora that occurs in the afternoon on Wednesdays.
This will help them get clarity of mind.
Wearing and using spiritually potent objects like darbha grass mats, ear rings, sthira kankan wrist ring, pavitra on ring finger, etc.
can also help with peace of mind.
How about people who live in foreign countries? They should make use of spiritual objects that contain moon stone and pearl during Chandra hora
and on Mondays. They should visit places named after the moon on Mondays and during Chandra horai. They can arrange freshly cooked food in the
shape of Om, moon, cross or Surya and do their spiritual practices in front of the same.
Today's thithi is Monday. On this Sashti Monday, make a five pointed star pattern using pushparatnam (also known as oridhazh thaamarai, Hybanthus enneasperma)
or draw a five pointed star kolam using the bhasma of pushparatnam. Place five full lotus flowers on the corners of this star pattern. Place a full lotus
flower in the middle of this star. Concentrate on this pattern and then meditate on it in the mind. Repeat this process till you can hold this pattern
in your mind for a long time. Practice this for a minimum of 24 minutes. If you are not able to hold the pattern in your mind, you need to practice more.
Follow this procedure during Chandra hora on those days when you feel confused. The pushparatnam plant has the power to center the mind.
There are many other techniques that can be learnt from a Sathguru. Only a true Sathguru who hails in an authentic guru parampara can
take one along the spiritual path all the way to God. The Sathguru does this as part of a spiritual community that he builds brick by brick
with the cement of spiritual love and affection. On this Sashti Monday, our manas offers our loving salutations at the feet of such a
Sathguru, Guru Mangala Gandharva Venkataraman.
