Now that you have established a daily routine of meditation, you will want to extend your practices and newly awakened attitudes into daily life. Unless you are particularly enthusiastic, it is unlikely that you are meditating for more than a small part of each day—an hour or two at most. What about the remaining hours? Are they spiritual tar pits? Unfortunately, many people think so. It is quite common to hear the sentiment, “I can’t wait to get off work and back to my spiritual life.” Even long-time seekers make the mistake of creating a polarity between their “regular lives” and “spiritual lives.” But for a successfully integrated life, activity and meditation must be brought into proper balance, and both must be spiritualised.
Every wholesome activity is spiritual. God gave us hands and feet, bodies and brains for a purpose. If we can see the hidden divinity behind all outward forms, we will live in a world of wonder and magnificence. But this way of seeing comes only when the mind is calm and uplifted. It begins as we develop an attitude of inner self-offering.
Yogananda said it beautifully in this simple poem:
I Was Made for Thee
I was made for Thee alone.
I was made for dropping flowers of devotion gently at Thy feet on the altar of the morning.
My hands were made to serve Thee willingly, to remain folded in adoration, waiting for Thy coming; and, when Thou comest, to bathe Thy feet with my tears.
My voice was made to sing Thy glory.
My feet were made to seek Thy temples everywhere.
My eyes were made a chalice to hold Thy burning love and the wisdom falling from Thy nature’s hands.
My ears were made to catch the music of Thy footsteps echoing through the halls of space, and to hear Thy divine melodies flowing through all heart-tracts of devotion.
My lips were made to breathe forth Thy praises and Thine intoxicating inspirations.
My love was made to throw incandescent searchlight flames to find Thee hidden in the forest of my desires.
My heart was made to respond to Thy call alone.
My soul was made to be the channel through which Thy love might flow uninterruptedly into all thirsty souls.
All creatures, all people, all life are but extensions of the one Creator. We will have true vision only when we see unity where others see diversity, when we see God where others see only matter.
Deep meditation gives us expanded awareness, but we can lead daily life in such a way that it, too, will raise our consciousness. One secret is to be aware of how activities affect our level of consciousness. We constantly exchange energy with everything around us. Improve the quality of that exchange and you will improve the quality of life.
Start by evaluating your immediate environment. It will either enhance or diminish any effort you are making to improve yourself. Yogananda often said, “Environment is stronger than will power.”
Look around your living space. Is it uplifting? Is it beautiful? Is it even clean? Messy environments create low vibrations. Once a great yogi, Swami Chidananda, was visiting Ananda Village. As he walked through the garden, he spotted a rusty can lying on the ground.
“What is that used for?” he asked.
“It is a watering can,” replied one of the gardeners.
“Then,” Chidananda responded, “it should be painted and given its own place. Dirty objects attract lower astral entities.”
Your social environment is as important as your physical environment. What kind of friends do you spend your time with? Are they likely to uplift you or to bring you down? Where do you work? Where do you go for entertainment?
Most of us wouldn’t choose to spend time in the company of thieves, murderers, or emotionally unbalanced people. Yet, thoughtlessly, some of us are with such people for hours every day! Be aware of what you watch on TV and at the movies! It has a powerful effect on your consciousness.
The same goes for books, magazines, and other sources of entertainment. These are food for your mind. Are you feeding yourself in a way that will make you healthy? If not, change your habits.
Music is one of the most powerful influences of all, because it is pure vibration. Pay careful attention to music you habitually play—it should lift your spirits. Make sure that it is not ego-affirming or depressing. As we have learned, everything is energy. Be very careful about the quality of the energy in your life.
To change your consciousness, change your environment. Spend time in beautiful places. Be more in nature. And especially spend time in the company of uplifting people.
In the teachings of yoga, satsang (spending time in the company of other truth-seekers) is the second most powerful influence on the spiritual path. The first is the grace of the guru.
Group meditation is very helpful. Try to find others with whom you can meditate regularly. Friendship and encouragement from those who have been meditating longer than you is a powerful spiritual force. We encourage you to come to Ananda Sangha Chennai and join us for meditation (see our calendar for more details). If you find yourself traveling, Ananda also has numerous groups around India & the world. This link will help you find an Ananda Sangha near you.
The most powerful influence of all is to spend time with saints. In the Indian Scriptures it says, “One moment in the company of a saint can be your raft over the ocean of delusion.” While it is not always easy to be with a living saint, you can read books by and about those who have found God.
Develop this simple habit:
Immediately after meditating, spend a few minutes reading spiritual literature. This will connect you to a saintly consciousness and provide a perfect bridge to outward
activity. Before going to bed, you might read something uplifting to keep your mind elevated throughout the night.
Try also, in other ways, to create a bridge between meditation and activity. Make the first few minutes of daily activity a continuation of your meditation, a kind of
walking meditation. Feel yourself to be centered physically in your spine and acting from there. Make your movements an extension of the peace you have experienced.
Be graceful. Be joyful!
Build short periods of meditation into your daily schedule. Every hour or two take a few minutes to become centered. If you are with others, simply close your eyes as if you are resting for a few moments. If possible, meditate for a short period before lunch. This will help you stay connected with your inner self. Be creative and think of practices you can use to keep your spirits high.
