Raja Yoga : 5.

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5. Obstacles in Meditation

There are several obstacles to meditation.

Vedanta describes the obstacles to be 1. Laya, 2. Vikshepa, 3. Kashaya and 4. Rasasvada.

Patanjali Maharishi says :

"Disease, dullness, doubt, carelessness, laziness, worldly-mindedness, illusion, missing the point, unstability - these are obstacles in Yoga."

Grief, melancholy, tremor of the body, inhalation and exhalation are auxiliaries to these main obstacles.

You will have to remove all these obstacles.



During meditation, if you are overpowered by sleep, stand up, dash cold water on the face, practice a few Asanas and Pranayama.

Sleep will go.

Another age-old practice is,

for those who have a 'choti' (tuft of hair),

to tie the tuft to a nail of wall by means of a thread -

if you doze during meditation, the nail on the wall will pull you up.



Take light food at night.

Abhyasa and Vairagya are the best means of avoiding obstacles.

Vairagya is not running away from the world.

Vairagya is a mental state.



Analyze your thoughts.

Scrutinize your motives.

Give up the objects that your mind likes most, at least for some time.

When the craving for them has vanished, then you can take them, as a master.

Next : 6. Three Classes of Aspirants

Swami Sivananda
To be continued.....


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