Greed, 201, 370. See also Desires, selfish; Lust
Growing up, 111
Gunas, 93–95, 235–238: desires and, 182; going
beyond, 95, 238. See also Rajas; Sattva; Tamas
Guru, 54–55. See also Spiritual teacher
Guruvayur Temple, 71
* * *
H Top of Index
Habits, 165, 241–242, 359, 366
Hail Mary, 17
Hare Rama, 166
Hatred, love overcomes, 29–30, 35, 44, 178–179, 220, 223, 245–246, 251, 264–265, 320, 338, 342–343, 356, 390
Health, 157, 237, 308. See also Body, physical; Exercise, physical
Heaven and hell, 40
Heroin, 175, 206
Himalayas within, 337–339, 345
Holy hammer, 224
Holy indifference, 103. See also Detachment
Holy Name, 17, 95, 167, 254, 269, 308–309, 366, 374. See also Mantram, repetition of
Householders, 174, 269–270, 338–339. See also Family context
Hrishikesha (Krishna), 30
Huang Po, 163
Human context, 50–51: E.’s Grandmother on, 50; recent arrival in, 190
Husband and wife, 37–38, 106–107, 120–121, 128–129, 162, 208, 220, 256. See also Children; Family context; Marriage; Parents
Huxley, Aldous, 115, 244
* * *
I Top of Index
I-consciousness, 106, 135. See also Ahamkara; Ego
Immortality, 58–62, 65–78, 145–146: Jesus on, 59, 76; Ramana Maharshi on, 59. Stories: Anglo–Saxon king’s question, 75–76; E’s Grandmother corrects syllogism, 280. See also Body, physical, identification with; Change; Death; Physical level, rising above; Time
Impersonal path, 122. See also Jnana yoga
Inaction in action, 98, 153, 246–248: Gandhi’s example, 247–248. See also Instrument of the Lord
Incarnation, divine, 222–224: comes in crisis, 176–177, 220, 222–223; devotion to, 132; three levels of, 223. See also avatara
India: caste system, 238–239; unbroken spiritual tradition, 13, 215. See also Gandhi, M. K.
indriya, 206, 208. See also Senses
Inertia, see Tamas
Inhibitions, freedom from, 367
Inner resources, see Deeper resources
Inspirational passage: bringing mind back to, 16, 258, 337, 340, 360, 368; concentration on, 184, 258, 340, 360, 362, 366, 368; effect of, 17, 104, 184, 303, 368, 377; suggested, 16, 104, 105n.6, 393–394; tape recorder effect with, 360; words of, open their doors, 368. See also, Meditation Instructions, following spiritual, 380. Story: swimming lessons, 379–380
Instrument of the Lord: Gandhi’s example, 98, 238, 246–248; qualities of, 255–257, 259–260, 308–309. See also Lord within, is the operator
Intellect: and the will, 147, 278, 301; cannot prevent depression, 254; cannot transform character or conduct, 15; cannot transform consciousness, 15, 302; categorizes, 148, 261, 294–295, 321; detachment from, 207, 210; identification with, 58, 68, 144; selfish desires of, 207. Story: tight, loose, or medium, 294. See also Opinions, identification with Intellectual knowledge, see apara; Knowledge, intellectual
Intentional living, 360–361. Story: cars without drivers, 361
International relations, 58, 143, 220–221, 330
ishvara, 92
* * *
J Top of Index
Jackfruit, 298–299
Jalalu’l-Din Rumi, 219, 342
Janaka, King, 169–170
Janardana (Krishna), 147
Japam, 17. See also 77 Mantram, repetition of
Jealousy, 121, 262–263
Jesus the Christ: a rebel, 177; a divine incarnation, 176, 223; denied by Peter, 141; effect of his touch, 295; on law of karma, 88; parable of the sower, 79–81; temptation of, 201–202; passim
Jesus, Jesus, 17, 144, 254, 274, 308–309
jnana, 278, 283–284, 286. See also Spiritual wisdom
Jnana yoga, 149, 334–336. See also Spiritual wisdom, path of
John of the Cross, St., 285
Joy, abiding, 321–324, 367–370: beyond dualities, 109, 262, 321; capacity for, 42; is goal of meditation, 17, 131; is like bashful girl, 370; is nirvana, 357; is Rama, 41, 262, 322, 344; need for, 191; only one way to receive, 109–110; seeking, outside ourselves, 323–324, 367–368; selfish desires and, 33, 369–370
Joy and sorrow, 184–185, 343–344
Judgment, 42, 95. See also Discrimination
Jung, Carl, 62
* * *
Kabir, 230
Kalidasa, 262
Kaliyuga, 176, 328–329
Kama, 41, 92, 106, 139, 199, 202–208, 330: and
krodha, 199, 330; cannot live with Rama, 41–42, 92; compulsion is, 203; conquest of, 208, 330; is like dust on a mirror, 202; is obstacle, 199, 330; is the external examiner, 156; names of, 139; three houses of, 206–207. See also Desires, selfish; Self-will
Kamadeva, 139
Karma: personified as Chitragupta, 153–154; reduced by jnana, 286; working out, 248.
– law of karma: Blake on, 171; the Buddha on, 171; going beyond, 88, 240; includes words and thoughts, 243–244; is opposite of fatalism, 327; is universal, 154, 187–188; Jesus on, 88, 154
Karma yoga, 97, 99, 101–102, 149, 152, 239, 243, 294, 334, 338. See also Selfless action, path of
Katha Upanishad, 15, 126, 316
Kathakali, 45, 216, 225
Kaunteya (Arjuna), 63n.
Kauravas, 27
Kerala: children, 114; jackfruit, 298–299; monsoon, 96; New Year, 315–316; stone parapets, 169, 307
Kerala Kalamandalam, 216
Keshava (Krishna), 104–105
Kahn Abdul Ghaffar Khan, 42–43
Kingdom of heaven within, 50, 323, 326, 330, 368. See also Lord within, the
Knowing, higher mode of, 148, 149, 391. See also para; jnana; Spiritual wisdom
Knowledge, 141, 278, 301–302: and action, 35, 147, 301; concept of, 278; St. Francis on, 147, 301; intellectual, 15, 26, 35, 147, 278, 301–302; intuitive, 141, 148, 149, 391; is within, 20; path of, see Spiritual wisdom, path of; two kinds of, 301–302. See also apara; jnana; para; Spiritual wisdom
Koran, 176
Krishna: and Radha, 167, 228; arrival of, in Kathakali, 45; as spiritual teacher, 48–51; derivation of name, 28; is avatara, 223; is incarnation of Vishnu, 15; is playful, 217; is the boAtman, 284; is within, 28, passim; worship of, at Guruvayur, 71. Stories: Arjuna’s ally, 346; Dharmaputra’s dog, 372; Draupadi’s sari, 255–256; his empty flute, 167, 228; rope could not go around Gopala, 112–113.
Krishna-consciousness, 88
krodha, 199, 330
Kundalini, 140, 225, 272, 355
Kurukshetra, 23, 24
kusha grass, 351
* * *
L Top of Index
Language, respectful, 207
Law, William: on selfish desires, 42
Laws, divine, see Spiritual laws
Leadership: Gandhi’s concept of, 250–251
Lethargy, 150, 180, 237. See also Tamas
Light, forces of, 27–28, 331
Likes and dislikes, 128–129, 194–196: allergies and, 128, 242; concentration and, 151–152, 196; E’s Grandmother’s capacity for changing, 299–300; in jobs, 151–152, 159–160, 196; in personal relationships, 194–195; overcoming, 128–129, 194–196, 300; Ramakrishna on, 129; Sai Baba on, 194; spontaneity and, 198. Story: licorice ice cream, 242. See also Attraction and aversion; Habits; Nervous system
Lila, 286. Story: soccer match, 285–286 Living for others, see Welfare of all, living for
Living waters, 96
Lord within, the: as last resort, 389; calling, see Mantram, repetition of; drawing upon, 13, 51, 99, 165; is storekeeper, 385; is disguised as many, 189–190; is hidden, 203; is like Kerala parapet, 169, 307–308; is not ‘out there,’ 92; is our only support, 169, 252, 255–256, 261, 307–308, 323, 340, 341; i
s supreme goal, 46; is the boAtman, 284; is the landlord, 143, 205, 259; is the operator, 168–169, 225, 229, 240, 246–248; is waiting, 55; magnetism of, 387; many names of, 13, 28; play of, 71, 286; seeing, in everyone, 37, 40, 131, 347–348, 363, 367, 372–373; surrendering to, 229, 252; those dearest to, 391. Stories: demonstrators go limp, 247; Draupadi’s sari, 255-256; rope would not go around Gopala, 112–113. See also Instrument of the Lord; Unity of life
Love: becoming, 339; emphasis on, on spiritual path, 216; heals, 342; overcomes hatred, 29–30, 35, 44, 220, 223, 245–246, 251, 264–265, 320, 338, 342–343, 356, 390; secret of, 291; translating, into selfless service, 178, 230
– capacity for love: prana and, 273; St. Bernard on, 323; deepening, 178, 264, 291, 342–343, 379; E’s Grandmother on, 291; for all equally, 316–319; for the wrongdoer, 314, 338, 347; St. Francis on, 291; is glued as by jackfruit, 299; is inborn, 299; is released through selfless service, 263–264, 293, 335; with out expectations, 323, 347.
–Stories: Geetha learns to read, 343; swimming lessons, 379–380, 390. See also Bhakti yoga; Devotion
Love of God: in everyone, 216–217, 231; Ramakrishna on, 132. See also Devotion
Loyalty, 54, 140–141, 350: and concentration, 350; to spiritual teacher, 54; unifies consciousness, 140–141
Lust: the ego’s elephantry, 85. See also Desires, selfish; Kama madhyamarga, 270. See also Middle Path
* * *
M Top of Index
Madhava (Krishna), 37
Madhusudana (Krishna), 377
Magazines, 19, 115, 124. See also Books and reading
Mahabaho (Arjuna), 379
Mahabharata, 14, 255, 346, 372
Mahatma, 224
manas, 206. See also Mind
Manmatha, 139
Mantram, repetition of, 17–18: and breathing rhythm, 274, 333, 373; and purification, 69; for capacity to forgive, 95, 181; for control of palate, 18, 358; in notebook, 369; in the unconscious, 249; instructions in, 17–18; is asking for help, 132; is calling the Lord, 144; is best tranquilizer, 175; remembering, 131; to extinguish self-will, 167, 170, 380; to keep mind in the present, 155; to overcome likes and dislikes, 129; when afraid, 17, 167, 366; when agitated, 17, 75, 89, 95, 175, 264, 297, 319, 366, 373–374; when angry, 17, 89, 167, 319-320, 366; when elated, 63–64, 86, 253, 254; when lethargic, 237; when swept away by desires, 18, 93, 139–140, 358; when waiting, 17; when walking, 89, 93, 237, 274, 319–320, 333, 366, 373–374; while falling asleep, 17, 253, 308–309, 359, 374; writing, 369. Stories: E. takes student for long walk, 373–374; the elephant’s bamboo stick, 18
Mara, 139
Margin for experimentation, 90, 234, 314
Marriage: concept of rights in, 106–107; place of sex in, 120; putting the other first in, 121. See also Husband and wife; Personal relationships
Mary Magdalene, Mass media, 33, 115, 124
Material possessions, 204, 323. Story: the large wardrobe, 204
Means and ends, 97–99, 185, 314–315. See also Selfless goal
Meditation, 15–17, 334–392
allied disciplines and, 16–20, 40–41, 89, 91, 94, 191, 210, 286–287, 357, 365, 380
as last resort, 389
benefits others, 15, 81, 272–273, 338, 355, 386
bhakti yoga based on, 335–336
breathing rhythm in, 274
class in, 7, 8–9, 96, 272
climax of, 55, 131, 144–145, 219, 249, 289, 331–332, 347, 360
concentration in, 16, 18, 138, 141, 184, 258, 333, 340, 349, 352, 353–354, 362, 368, 391
criticism at initial practice of, 77, 273
decision to practice, 90–91, 191, 387
desire for liberation deepens, 241, 378
devotion, path of, based on, 335–336, 390–391
distractions in, 16, 163, 258, 337, 360, 365–366, 368, 378
drugs harm capacity for, 382–383
dryness in, preventing, 16–17
early stages of, 56, 81, 118, 131, 257–258, 324, 375, 382, 388. See also Dharana
effect of, see Effect of meditation
effort in, 89, 155, 258, 329
enthusiasm for, 15, 80, 150, 192, 258–259, 329, 381, 391
equipment advertised for, 351
experiential discoveries in, 58–59, 212
eyes, position of, in, 16, 332–333, 355
final stages of, see Meditation, later stages of
frees mind from past and future, 286, 337
fulfills goal of evolution, 329
giving up, 382–385
goal of, 16, 131, 140–141, 357, 363. See also Supreme goal
grace in, 132, 184, 351
guidance in, 54, 192–193. Story: the escalator, 192–193
harnesses aggression, 46
harnesses restlessness, 214, 238. 388
hearing about, 79–81, 88, 104, 387
heat, rising, in, 272
insight gained in, 30, 34. 38, 58, 112, 115, 182, 207, 212
inspirational passages for, 16, 104, 105n.6, 393–394
instructions in, 16–17
is a dynamic discipline, 349
is a learning tool, 366
is an exercise in concentration, 18
is Brahmavidya, 15
is dull dreary work, 131, 258, 324, 333, 360
is like demolishing and rebuilding a building, 375
is like surfing, 200–201
is never wasted, 89, 383–386
is raja yoga, 378
jnana yoga based on, 283, 286, 334, 336
knowledge, path of, based on, 283, 286, 334–336, 390–391
karma yoga based on, 334
kundalini in, 272, 355
later stages of, 58–59, 82, 248–249, 259–354, 363, 368
length of, 16, 60
less, for introversion, 150 mind in, bringing back the, 17, 258, 337, 340, 352, 360, 368. See also Meditation, distractions in
more, for extroversion, 149–150
movement between eyebrows in, 333
notebook for, 208
one-pointed attention in, 16, 18, 349, 352–354, 362–363, 391
patience in practice of, 258
picture of spiritual figure in, 16, 354
place for, 16, 351
posture for, 16, 351–352, 353–355
Ramana Maharshi on, 351
prajna and, 148
prepares for the day, 46
progress in, 59, 141, 192, 198, 303
purifies the mind, 364
reaching the unconscious in, 40, 248–249, 354
recalling desires in, 233, 302. See also Effect of meditation on desires
recalling vital energy in., 145, 316
reconditions nervous system, 194–195
regular practice of, 15, 96, 99, 324, 336, 337, 360, 364–365, 379–381, 391
releases joy within, 370
restlessness is call to, 214, 238, 388
rising early for, 60
sankalpa, frees the mind from, 337, 364
secret of, 17, 104
selfless action, path of, based on, 304, 334, 336, 390–391
selfless service and, 152, 186, 248, 297–298, 306, 310, 390–391
sincere practice of, 15
sleep and, 186, 358–359
sleeping in, 16, 184, 210, 257–258, 354–355
spinal column in, 16, 352, 353–355
spiritual progress impossible without, 304, 374–375, 391
spiritual wisdom, path of, based on, 283, 286, 334–336, 390–391
stages of, 118. See also Dharana; Dhyana; Meditation, early stages of; Meditation, later stages of
starts from previous sadhana, 387–389
still mind in, 138, 141–142, 253, 362, 368
success in, 329
suspension of breathing in, 274
sustained practice of, 391–392
systematic practice of, 15, 380–381, 391
tape recorder effect in, 360
tests in, 59, 156
thr
ee paths are based on, 304, 334–336, 390–391
time, awareness of, in, 60
time, deliverance from, and, 59, 145–146
time for, having, 204, 332
time of day for, 16
timing length of, 60. See also Meditation, length of
tradition of, 213, 214–215
transcending problems through, 148–149
transforms, 15, 17, 40, 94, 104, 165, 211, 303, 356, 366, 368, 374–375, 377–378, 391
unification and, 140, 209–210, 211
valid for all, 72–73
war within and, 24, 28, 46
when women take to, 38
work and, 150–152, 248, 297–298
Stories: internal and external examiners, 156; surfers, 200; sweeping the veranda, 364
See also Effect of meditation
meghashyama (Krishna), 105.6
Meher Baba, 11, 236, 344, 382
Men and women, 120–121, 125–129. See also Husband and wife; Personal relationships; Women
Menon, Vallathol Narayana, 307 308
Mephistopheles, 342
Merritt, Lake, 187, 241
Middle Path, 269–270, 357–358
Mind: breathing rhythm and, 274, 333; bringing, back to passage, 16, 258, 337, 340, 352, 360, 368; the Buddha on, 181, 258; constant activity of, 68, 108, 137, 296, 319, 358; desires in the, 138–139, 206–207, 367; excitement in, 63–64, 86, 253–254; fear exists in divided, 356; fear of stilling, 76; identification with the, 33–34, 58, 68, 144, 181; in meditation, 17, 258, 337, 340, 360, 368; like a garden, 80–81; like a grasshopper, 352; like a chained dog, 118; like motionless flame, 362; like the elephant’s trunk, 17–18; like the sea, 137, 139; many-pointed, 18–19; mechanical problems of, 366; negative emotions in, 17, 40, 201, 210, 258, 358, 374–375, 377–378; one-pointed, 18–19, 349–350, 351, 352, 362–363, 391; purified, 268, 364; Ramdas on, 41, 46; sex is in, 139; slowing down the, 138; the still, 76, 138, 141–142, 253, 360–363, 368–369; taste is in, 156, 160; training, 210, 211, 258, 358; undisciplined, 258; weeds in, 80–81
– agitated mind, 244–245: affects breathing rhythm, 274, 333; causes insecurity, 253; causes separateness, 321; eyes reflect, 350; hides deeper resources, 253; poor judgment in, 95; repetition of mantram for, 17, 75, 89, 95, 175, 319, 366, 373–374