Consciousness: devotion unifies, 54–55, 131–132; disruption of, at death, 219; effect of inspirational passage on, 104, 368; highest, see Unitive state; loyalty unifies, 54, 140–141; physical, see Body consciousness; reaching lower levels of, 40, 82, 225, 248–249, 366–367; transformation of, 40, 79, 82–83, 104, 303, 368; window open in, 79, 280-281, 387.
– disunited consciousness: and divided attention, 19; blocks resources, 130–131; external signs of, 40. Story: four wheels of a car, 130. See also War within
– unification of consciousness: by devotion, 54–55, 131–132; is deliverance from time, 145–146; requires loyalty, 140–141; through spiritual teacher, 54–55; transforms ordinary people, 41.
– See also Body consciousness; Physical level; Unitive state
Consideration, 376. See also Personal relationships; Putting others first; Respect
Control of the palate, see Palate, controlof
Cosmic consciousness, 88
Courage, 35, 42–43: E.’s Grandmother taught, 35
Cravings, see Desires, selfish; Sense cravings
Creation, 39, 176, 189. Stories: spider brings forth its web, 176; the Lord was lonesome, 189
Creative faculties, 130, 140, 170, 260. See also Deeper resources
Criticism, 86–87. See also Praise and blame
* * *
D Top of Index
Damodaran, Geetha, 164, 174, 191, 193, 227, 266–268, 294, 315, 343, 389–390
Damodaran, Meera, 164, 174, 191, 193, 227, 266–268, 315
Darkness and light, forces of, 27–28, 331
David and Goliath, 56–57
Death, 58–59, 62, 76–78: disruption of consciousness at, 219; E.’s Grandmother’s attitude toward, 65–66, 72, 82; fear of, 62, 65–66, 78; going beyond, 58–59, 145–146; is change of rooms, 72. See also Change; Immortality
Deeper resources: detachment from results brings, 101; E.’s Grandmother on, 165, 239–240; kundalini and, 140; magnified for selfless service, 44, 77, 101–102, 165, 170, 186–187, 230, 239–240, 249–250, 252, 260, 306, 337; of instrument of the Lord, 246, 260; released in defeat, 102, 252; sankalpa prevents access to, 337; self-will and, 311; unification of desires and, 130. Story: the elephant’s eyes, 14, 165. See also Creative faculties
Defeat: as spiritual aid, 102, 252; impossible on spiritual path, 30, 43, 384. See also Success and failure; Victory and defeat
Delusion, 282
Depression, 63–64, 252–254
Desire: desire to, 302, 367; infinite capacity to, 233–234, 273, 302–303; is prayer, 231–232; prana and, 273; to possess, 121; unification of, 130–131, 233–234, 275, 302–303, 364; Upanishads on, 126, 233; will and, 126, 140, 232, 233. Story: mud pies, 234
Desires, selfish, 125–127, 138–140, 205–208, 231–235, 364–366: action motivated by, 158, 167–168, 239, 250–251; anger and, 126–127, 199, 330–331; the Buddha on, 135, 330; can never satisfy, 42, 125, 142, 168, 233, 367; change, 125–127, 302, 358; cloud vision of unity, 92; complete removal of, 106, 142, 228, 251, 369–370; desire to go against, is grace, 224; diminish capacity to love, 233–234, 302–303; disrupt relationships, 30, 41, 121, 125–127, 199, 330–331; effect of meditation on, 119, 139–140, 184, 233, 302–303, 364–365, 370; endless in number, 142, 302; freedom from, 339; Gandhi’s removal of, 251; identification with, 92–93, 138–139, 182, 184; imprison joy, 369–370; William Law on, 42; margin for experimentation with, 90, 158, 234–235; obstacles to supreme goal, 199, 330; of the intellect, 207–208; of the mind, 138–139, 206–207, 367; of the senses, 52–53, 125–127, 206, 365–366; Patanjali on, 125, 142; postponing, 358; prevent freedom in action, 167–168, 369–370; rebellion against, 177; recalling, 233, 275, 302–303; repetition of the mantram to overcome, 93, 139, 140, 358; vital energy and, 142–143; yielding strengthens, 142, 183, 205–206. Stories: sweeping the veranda, 364; wasting fuel on local flights, 234–235. See also Kama; Personal satisfaction, pursuit of; sankalpa; Sense cravings
Detachment, 226–228: E.’s Grandmother’s example, 227–228; from money and material possessions, 204–205, 259, 323; from opinions, 113–114, 207–208, 210–211, 224, 335, 380; from results, 97–102, 184–185, 249–251, 312; from self-will, 335; from the ego, 380–381; from work, 95, 150, 159; Gandhi’s example, 97–99, 204, 250–251, 271; in personal relations, 227; pain in developing, 226; parents require, 227–228. Stories: E. looks for ashram site, 100; eating the jackfruit, 298–299
Devil, the, 342
Devotion, 131–132: path of, 131–132, 334, 335–336; to spiritual teacher, 54–55. See also Love of God
Devotional reading, 20
Dhammapada, 16, 26, 43, 245
Dhananjaya (Arjuna), 30
Dharana, 118, 200–201
Dharma, 166, 197, 220
Dharmaputra, 372
Dhritarashtra, 23n., 25n.
Disappointment, 102, 257. See also Expectations
Discrimination: cultivating, 243; is lost when angry, 127. See also Judgment
Dissatisfaction, 214. See also Restlessness
Distractions, see Meditation, distractions in
Divine Ground, 12, 230, 291, 326
Donne, John, 39
Doubts, 53, 291–292, 382–383: E.’s Grandmother on, 291
Draupadi, 255
Dreams, 281, 309
Drinking, 61, 83, 175
Dropping out, 98, 153, 236, 304, 306
Drugs, 64, 83, 175, 205–206, 325, 382–383: and physical consciousness, 83; as medication, 325; damage capacity to meditate, 383; Meher Baba on, 382
Dual forces, see Darkness and light, forces of
Dualities, the: equanimity in, see Equanimity; going beyond, 87, 109, 299; intellect thrives in, 261 jnana transcends, 149; tyranny of, 242. See also Elation and depression; Equanimity; Likes and dislikes; Pleasure and pain; Praise and blame; Success and failure; Victory and defeat
duhkha, 85, 136. See also Suffering
Duryodhana, 25n., 346
Duties, see Rights and duties
Dvarapala, 372
dvija, 165
Dwelling upon ourselves, 49, 74, 110, 135, 220, 263–264, 311. See also Needs of others, sensitivity to
* * *
E Top of Index
Ears, training the, 116, 350
Easwaran, Christine, 38, 227
Easwaran, Eknath, Sri: basis for his vegetarian diet, 12, 134; as family man, 13; passed through Kurukshetra, 24; meets Anandamayi Ma, 38; with college friends, 50; his love for his Grandmother, 54, 279–280; as boy, sees death, 65; criticized for taking to meditation, 77; plants vegetable garden, 80–81; looks for ashram site, 100; waits for practical question, 104; about living 5,000 years in the past, 129; will perform funeral of the ego, 142; addresses Indian businessmen, 154; goes to Indian concert, 155; goes to Berkeley marina, 170–171, 173; sets example for children, 174; walks with nieces, 191; on the escalator with them, 193; training his dogs, 209; on news of friend’s death, 226; visits Gandhi’s ashram, 247; with children in Santa Rosa, 266–268; absorbed Grandmother’s spiritual awareness, 279; gets ride on train to see her, 279; is asked how he likes America, 349; learned lessons of sorrow, 359–360; changed food habits, 365–366; plays ping-pong, 367–368; sees calf led to slaughter, 372; takes student on long walk, 373–374; hears mantram in sleep, 374; learned swimming from Grandmother, 379; hears fiery sermon, 384; suitability of his family context, 385; gives swimming lesson, 389–390
Easwaran’s ancestral home, 8, 45, 314
Easwaran’s Grandmother: on people working together, 13; taught by her life, 35; her courage, 35; gives message of the Gita, 43, 239–240; could be harsh out of love, 48, 50; on sorrow, 48–49; cleaned cow shed herself, 50; overhears E.’s friends, 50; on human context, 50; E.’s love for her, 54, 279–280; takes him to the dying, 65; her physical beauty, 69, 161–162; her attitude toward death, 72, 82; on pleasure and pain, 85, 321; her equanimity, 98; goes to sacred spring every morning, 146; sheds he
r body holding Rama’s feet, 146; on human potential, 165; on the elephant’s eyes, 165; on grace of one’s mind, 214; on postponement, 236–237, 341; on living for others, 239–240; attends performance of Draupadi episode, 255–256; her wisdom, 279; corrects E.’s syllogism, 280; taught him about learning patience, 288; on divided love, 291; changed likes and dislikes at will, 299–300; not trapped in action, 308; on dreams, 309; on cooking and spilling, 314; on pleasure and pain, 321; on sankalpa, 336; swept the veranda, 364; taught E. to swim, 379
Easwaran’s mother, 75, 173, 192–193, 195–196, 266–268
Easwaran’s spiritual teacher, see Easwaran’s Grandmother
Eating, 163–164: and physical consciousness, 61, 83, 225, 275; compulsive, 119; Huang Po on, 163; is a sacrament, 157, 164; Jesus on, 163; restraint in, see Palate, control of; with detachment, 308; with one-pointed attention, 19, 350. See also Body, physical, keeping, fit for selfless service; Food; Nutrition; Palate, control of; Vegetarian diet
Eckhart, Meister, 74, 166, 213, 285, 296–297, 335, 340, 363
Ecology, 12, 164, 205, 287, 327. See also Environmental crisis; Pollution
Effect of meditation on: anger, 184, 355, 374–375; awareness of unity, 186, 287, 289, 310, 329, 392; breathing rhythm, 274, 333; capacity for selfless service, 131, 165, 169, 186, 306, 334, 337; character, 40, 303; competition, 38; concentration, 18, 138, 141, 184, 349–350; conduct, 40, 303, 367; consciousness, 17, 40, 41, 104, 303, 365, 368; deeper resources, 15, 35, 174, 186, 303, 311, 392; desires, 119, 139–140, 184, 233, 302–303, 364–366, 370; diet, 287; doubts, 292; ego, 34, 212, 378; energy, 35, 94, 306, 337; environmental crisis, 118, 164–165; eyes, 332; family, 215, 272; fear of death, 62, 65–66; fears, 89, 184, 356; forbearance, 44, 338; forgiveness, 181, 184, 297; habits, 165, 241, 356, 359, 366; health, 40, 392; identification with body, 58–59, 66, 78, 82, 219, 225; inhibitions, 366; intellect, 41; likes and dislikes, 182, 300, 335; loyalty, 140, 350; mind, 41, 119, 138, 253, 337, 340, 355, 362, 368, 378; negative emotions, 40, 356, 374–375, 377–378; nervous system, 194–195, 274, 324, 354; patience, 44, 46, 338; personal relations, 41, 112, 186, 310, 335–336, 338, 347–348, 356; physical and emotional problems, 15, 148–149, 274; rajas, 94; resentments, 363, 366; sankalpa, 337, 364; security, 38, 41, 392; selfish attachments, 184, 226–227, 337, 351; senses, 182, 364–365; spiritual disciplines, 286–287; tamas, 94; view of life, 134–136, 235, 363; will, the, 35, 41, 241, 354
Effort: in meditation, 89, 155, 258, 329; on the spiritual path, 261, 365, 381, 386
Ego, the: battle against, 24, 30–31, 56–57, 85, 377; detachment from, 149, 227, 228, 298–199; drains capacity to love, 299, 363; effect of reducing, 167–168; elimination of, 62, 142, 144, 165–168, 212, 313, 339, 363, 377; expressed as ‘hum’ and ‘aham’, 200; fever of, 184, 185; funeral of, 142, 377; gets caught in results, 102; hides the Self, 167, 363; identification with, 111, 363; is a bore, 144, 212; is a mask, 167, 363; is a usurper, 34, 378; is like yoyo, 181; is the foe, 51, 56–57; obedience to, 33–34, 378; renunciation of, 298, 312–313; ripe, 225; seeks attention, 144; view of life through, 134–135, 239; world is coliseum of, 189. Stories: David and Goliath, 56–57; eating the jackfruit, 298–299; Exact Change lane, 240; going limp, 247; Krishna’s empty flute, 167, 228. See also Ahamkara; Self-will
Ego, Mr., 33 Ego-slit, 135–136
Ego smog, 244
Egoistic level, 108, 276
Eightfold Path, E’s, 16–20, 135
Einstein, Albert, 65, 335
ekagrata, 18–19, 349. See also Attention; Mind, one-pointed
Eknath Chippu Kunchi Ammal, see Easwaran’s Grandmother
Eknath Easwaran, Sri, see Easwaran, Eknath, Sri
Elation and depression, 63–64, 86, 253–254. See also Equanimity
Enemies: respect for, 141, 211, 347
Entertainment, 124
Enthusiasm, 80, 150, 192, 258–259, 329, 381, 391
Environmental crisis: caused by attachment, 116–118; spiritual living alleviates, 12, 118, 164–165, 297. See also Ecology; Pollution
Equal-mindedness, 195, 347, 373
Equanimity, 85–87, 97–99, 252–254, 260–263, 319–323: characteristics of one who has, 98, 109, 128–130, 320–323; E’s Grandmother’s, 98; Gandhi’s example, 86–87, 97–99, 247–248, 254; in dualities, 64, 109, 252–254, 260–262, 263, 319; in elation and depression, 64, 252–254; in likes and dislikes, 128–130, 194–195; in pain and pleasure, 85–86, 99, 109, 260–262, 321–322, 343; in praise and blame, 86–87, 97–99, 260, 262, 263, 312; in profit and loss, 87; in victory and defeat, 87, 98–99, 252–253, 257, 263, 312; is not lack of interest, 254, 261–262; repetition of the mantram for, 64, 253, 319–320; surrendering to the Lord brings, 169. Stories: applause machine, 260; J. F. Kennedy’s reply, 253. See also Detachment; Dualities, the
Eternal Now, 59
Eternity, 65. See also Immortality; Time
Even-mindedness, see Equanimity
Ever full, being, see Fullness within
Evolution, spiritual, 14, 39, 152– 153, 190, 238, 329
Evolutionary energy, see Kundalini
Example, personal: better than preaching, 171, 183; E.’s and children, 174–175; importance of parents’, 174–175, 177–178; importance of woman’s, 19–20; of Gandhi’s life, 178, 179, 183
Excitement, 253–254. See also Elation and depression
Exercise, physical: for rising heat, 272; to harness energy, 94; to overcome body consciousness, 70, 225; when introverted, 150. See also Body, physical, keeping, fit for selfless service; Work
Expectations, 184–185, 257, 336–337, 368. Story: girl daydreams and dances, 336. See also Disappointment; Results, detachment from; sankalpa
Experimentation, margin for, 90, 234, 314
Exploiter and exploited, 102
Eyes: in meditation, 332–333, 353–355; reflect the mind, 332, 350, 355; training, 116, 350. Story: beauty aids, 332.
* * *
F Top of Index
Failure, see Defeat; Success and
failure; Victory and defeat
Faith, 288–289
Fame, 232–233, See also Attention-seeking; Prestige, pursuit of
Family context, 19–20, 264–270: basis of all relationships, 265, 379–380; climbing spiritual mountain in, 338–339; compared to monastic context, 269–270; competition in, 37–38; extended, , 141, 265–266; is a free university, 265; is a Mogul miniature, 266; is training ground, 19–20, 37–38, 110–111, 121, 129, 141, 256, 264, 265, 270, 293, 300–301, 304–305, 336, 338, 379–380, 389; learning loyalty in, 141; reducing self–will in, 19–20, 37, 129, 110–111, 256, 304–305, 389; seeing the unity in, 37, 39–40, 129, 265–268, 287–288, 336; war in, 330–331. Stories: E. with children in Santa Rosa, 266–268; the spiritual lone wolf, 304–305. See also Householders; Personal relationships
Fasting, 270
Fear: anger and, 356; control of, 201; Gandhi on, 356; is a mechanical problem, 366; is ego’s infantry, 85; is unnatural state, 370; mantram and, 167, 366; meditation overcomes, 89, 184, 356; of death, 62, 65–66; of growing up, 356; within, 40
Fishing, 170–171, 173
Food, 19, 52, 133–134, 163–164, 225, 275, 308, 365–366. See also Eating; Palate, control of; Vegetarian diet
Forbearance, 44, 288, 319–320, 377, 379
Forces of light, 27–28, 331
Forgetting self-interests, 12, 50, 135, 170, 220, 228, 231, 241, 313, 338, 371. See also Needs of others, sensitivity to; Self-will, extinguishing
Forgiveness: capacity for, brings joy, 107–108, 141; difficult, 31, 95; St. Francis on, 30, 108, 141, 181; heals, 342; mantram and, 95, 181; meditation and, 181, 184, 297; purifies, 70; transforms, 27, 44, 178–179, 181, 377
Four Noble Truths, 135
Fragmentation, see Consciousness, disunited; Separateness
Francis of Assisi, St., 143, passim: Prayer of, 16, 303, 337, 353, 360, 362, 368, 377–378
Freedom, 264–265, 331–332
Frontier
Gandhi, 42–43
Fullness within, 136–137, 138
* * *
G Top of Index
Gain and loss, see Equanimity
Gandhi, M. K., 42–43, 97–99, 220–223, 246–248: at best in difficulties, 179, 252; attitude toward wealth, 271; Bhagavad Gita and 23, 103–104, 123; charged doctors, 271; declined reward or office, 178; discovered taste lies in the mind, 156, 160; ecologist, 164, 287; embodies karma yoga, 97–99, 102, 152, 334; fund raiser, 271; his basis for noncooperation, 102, 180; his capacity to love, 179, 186; his concentration, 103–104, 254; his concept of leadership, 250–251; his courage, 42–43, 87; his detachment, 97–99, 102, 204, 247–248, 250–251; his equanimity, 86–87, 97–99, 247–248, 254; his example, 42, 86, 98, 102, 160, 167–168, 178, 183, 250–251, 345–346; his freedom in action, 167–168, 247–248; his life his message, 183; his ordinary boyhood, 221; his reply on sin, 289; his title Mahatma, 42; immortal, 158; in London, 123, 221; in N. W. Frontier, 42–43; invents neem chutney, 156–157; Indian independence and, 42–43, 97–99, 102, 178, 220–223, 317; instrument of the Lord, 98, 238, 246–248; isha Upanishad and, 293; loved storms, 252; on control of the palate, 133, 156, 160; on exploitation, 317; on imperialism, 317; on renunciation, 293; on right means, 97–99; on sat, 67; prays for common sense, 188; reformed India, 152, 238; resister, 93–94; respected opponents, 207, 211; suffix –ji to his name, 42; transformed by grace, 221, 223; transformed others, 278; untouched by action, 247–248
Gandiva, 35
Ganesha, 14, 236
Generation gap, 113–114, 210–211, 318. See also Children; Parents; Opinions, identification with
Gift of life, wasting, 42
Giving to selfless cause, 159, 271 273, 276–277, 290
Goal of life, see Supreme goal
God: not ‘out there,’ 92; personal or impersonal, 148. See also Lord within, the
God and Mammon, 41
God-seed, 340–341
Goliath, the ego, 56–57
Gopala (Krishna), 113
Govinda (Krishna), 34n.
Grace, 213–214, 221–224: accepting, 166, 221–222; chemical and mechanical, 351; E’s Grandmother on, 214; Eckhart on, 213; experience of, 132, 213–214; Gandhi transformed by, 221, 223; holy hammer is, 224; like a wind, 284; of one’s mind, 214