SPIRITUAL FESTIVAL 2007
STABILIZING THE SPIRITUAL MINDFIELD


Here is a short list of endeavours which may take a considerable amount of time, it would seem. But actually, these are simple services one can perform easily with a little dedication, a little feeling of giving importance to them.

You do so much for yourself — now increase what you do for others. This is your action plan, a business plan for living a full life.

ONE
Let your selfless service increase, whether by one percent or five percent or whatever. Increase the time and energy you spend in SELFLESS service of others. That is the first concrete action you can begin with.

TWO
Refine your personal practices and include:
a) Concentrating more on exhalations. This will help you achieve 2:1 ratio of breathing without physical effort. Send to SVB brief feedback on having achieved this feat through just this concentration and how long it took.

b) Repeat the homework that was given for the period July 2005 to February 2007, that is, (1) Symptoms of weak and strong mind and how to develop a strong mind, and (2) “Marks of Spiritual Progress” homework, until perfected. (Download the soundfiles from: www.swamiveda.com

c) Ityukta mantra Swamiji introduced on 28 February 2007;

d) You can download the recording of the initiation of the new mantra and the booklet on special mantras from www.swamiveda.org.

e)  Keep your regular meditation time. In addition to that, you may sit at other times in the day.

f)   Do not forget to take 2 minutes, 3 minute breaks, for breath- awareness many, many times in the day.


THREE
Prepare a study and practice plan for yourself. This month I will read this, next month I will read that, the following month, I will read that. Plan for the last breath of your life, what will be the state of your mind at that moment, and thereby what you wish to be in your next life, what kind of life would you like to have next time. Plan for that elevation of yourself and thus, preparing a study plan and spiritual plans.


FOUR
Popularize the full moon meditations so that many more people can benefit from them. Let them know of the benefit and availability.

FIVE
Plan for a silence retreat of 3 days, 7 days, 10 days. If you are courageous, 40 days, and if you are really, really more courageous, 90 days. Come to refresh your heart, mind, and soul. Build it into your year’s plan.

Do small retreats in your regions. We have established a system of regional AHYMSINs. You do not have to have lectures all the time. Five, six, seven or any number of you can join together and go to some place of silence; you can even do it in a home if you have room for five or seven to lie down in your basement. Set a day’s program modelled on the ashram: hatha at such time; breakfast at such time; a period of silence and meditation; and listening to tapes and CDs.

Plan from now when you will come next for a teachers’ training retreat.

SIX
If you are a teacher, prepare your students to become linked to the Guru lineage by way of initiation.

Prepare your students—when they take a hatha class, what is the next step?
o Give them the book Philosophy of Hatha Yoga;
o Give them our booklets on meditation and mantra.
o Have a study plan for them.

The number of traveling teachers is going to increase now. Do facilitate their coming to your area.

You can also help many people spiritually, and this ashram in extending its teaching as well as financially, by forming groups to come to the ashram on a regular basis.


Ask for advice. There are a lot of teachers who can advise you on that, for example:

• Swami Ritavan Bharati (formerly Pandit Ananta; swamiritavan@gmail.com)
• Dr. Stoma Parker (who has now taken preliminary vows; parkpsych@yahoo.com)
• Pandit Harishankar Dabral (sadhakam@yahoo.com)
• Dr. Dinesh Sharma (an international expert on ayurveda, vaastu and jyotish / vedic astrology; dr.dineshsharma@yahoo.com)
• Brahmachari Vishnu at the ashram (brahvishnu369@yahoo.com)
• Maya Balog (mayabalog@yahoo.ca)
• RadheRani (Donna Marie) (rrsrsg@yahoo.com)
• Carolyn Hume (hch@olypen.com)
• We will soon circulate a list of expanded Adhyatma Samiti (Spiritual Committee) members, each of whom has special areas in which to advise.


Check the Websites regularly, and especially the newsletter that appears in www.swamiveda.org.

We currently have the following websites:
http://www.swamiveda.org
http://www.themeditationcenter.org
http://www.meaus.com/friends-of-gurukulam.htm
http://www.yogaineurope.eu