SIVANANDA DAILY READING FOR 14 SEPTEMBER INSTRUCTIONS IN MEDITATION

Just as the light is burning within the hurricane lamp, so also the
divine flame is burning from time immemorial in the lamp of your
heart. Close your eyes. Merge yourself within the divine flame.
Plunge deep into the chambers of your heart. Meditate on this divine
flame and become one with the flame of God.

If the wick within the lamp is small, the light will also be small.
If the wick is big, the light also will be powerful. Similarly if the
jiva (individual soul) is pure, if he practises meditation, the
manifestation of the self will be powerful. He will radiate a big
light. Likewise the purer the soul, the greater the expression.

If the magnet is powerful, it will influence the iron filings even
when they are placed at a distance. Even so, if the yogi is an
advanced person, he will have greater influence over the persons with
whom he comes in contact. He can exert his influence on persons even
when they live in distant places.

During meditation note how long you can shut out all worldly
thoughts. Watch the mind. Try to increase the period. Fill the mind
with thoughts of God again and again.

In meditation do not strain the eyes. Do not strain the brain. Do not
struggle or wrestle with the mind. Relax. Gently allow divine
thoughts to flow. Steadily think of laksya (point of meditation). Do
not voluntarily and violently drive away the intruding thoughts. Have
sublime (satvic) thoughts. The vicious thoughts will vanish by
themselves.

If there is much strain in your meditation, reduce the duration of
each sitting for a few days. Those who meditate for four or five
hours at a stretch can have two meditative poses. Keep the spine
erect.

You must daily increase your vairagya (dispassion) and meditation on
satvic virtues such as patience, perseverance, mercy, love and
forgiveness. Vairagya and good qualities help meditation. Meditation
increases the satvic qualities.