You have to know enough theory for a working basis; there is no need to read the subtleties of the intellectual background yet.
THEORY
- Read Part I, Introductory
- Read the following sections of Part II (a) Chapter II, Supreme Self(b) Chapter III, Yoga-s of the Self.(c) Chapter IV, Action and Arjuna’s Disbelief(d) Chapter V, Knowledge(e) Chapter VI, Meditation and The Thinker, East and West
MEDITATION PRACTICE
The teaching given in the Bhagavad Gītā is for crisis.
- Read Part IV, Pointers for Practice
- Establish a daily rhythm of study, meditation, self-discipline and devotion as explained in the readings. The following is an outline:
Make a firm resolve to do the Yoga practices faithfully for six weeks to give them a fair trial.
Get up one hour earlier to create space for the practices. Set apart a quiet place to do the meditation and study without fail at the same place and time.
Wash hands and feet and sit as described in Thinker: East and West. Read a holy text for five minutes.
Take several deep breaths and consciously relax the body remaining upright. Make a reverence to Truth. Choose one meditation text from Chapters IX or X for the six week period and focus on it for twenty minutes.
Now practice the Line of Light for fifteen minutes.
For fifteen minutes, visualise an incident from an Avatar’s life.
Repeat OM audibly twenty seven times as described by Swami Rama Tirtha.
DAILY LIFE PRACTICE
As practice develops you will find that the contents of Part III will be helpful, especially Line of Light Section. Once the Line of Light has been established in the meditation period, it can be maintained during the day, at first at quiet moments, and then even in disturbance. It gives many advantages both physical and mental.
Evenness of mind in daily actions is central. Independence of circumstances is equally important, appearing in nearly every Gītā chapter.
