Welcome back after our pause to celebrate the life of Christine Easwaran. If you haven’t seen it yet, you might take a look at this special message honoring Christine Easwaran to learn more about Christine and her contribution to Easwaran’s work.
Here on the eSatsang, this week Easwaran highlights the necessary role of detachment for attaining the goal of life, as we continue chapter 10 of The Mantram Handbook, reading pages 144 to the top of 151.*
The topic of detachment continues a theme from earlier in this chapter, titled The Goal of Life: “When we overcome our identification with the body, the mind, and the ego, we are living in freedom.” Now Easwaran describes those stages of detachment from body, mind, and ego as a progression, and gives fascinating details of the tasks and rewards at each stage.
Here is one clue that inspired us: “[W]hen we turn our will against the ego, taking advantage of the innumerable little opportunities throughout the day to reduce self-will, then the will is helping us to grow to our full stature.” May we each learn to turn our will against the ego!
Is there a particular situation that causes you to get speeded up or agitated? What tips does Easwaran offer in this reading that you could try out in this situation? Even if the tips don’t seem to directly apply, try them anyhow and tell us what you find.
Let’s keep looking for ways to deepen our mantram exercises, for example by practicing more consistently or via a bit of extra effort or preparation.
This week, dedicate a specific hour per day for mantram focus. It might for example be between 7 and 8 a.m. while doing routine getting-ready-for-the-day activities, or during an afternoon walk and/or exercise time, or while gardening, or some other specific time. See if you can remember to use the mantram as frequently as possible during this whole hour.
* For those using electronic versions of The Mantram Handbook with different page numbering: this week’s reading comes from chapter 10, starting with the subheading “Detachment” and ending before the subheading “Effort and Grace.”
