Be A True Disciple

[Ms Tercy Lonan]

Be A True Disciple
The disciple of Gurudev Swami Sivananda should have a furnace of aspiration. Then only
he is the real disciple of Gurudev. If we wish to call ourselves as true disciples of Gurudev Swami
Sivananda, it is expected of us to bear in mind the characteristic and the distinct features of the
discipleship of such a sage. It is the fire of burning aspiration which is the primary and common
characteristic of such a discipleship. If you want to lead the divine life, your inner heart should be a
place of aspiration: a fire of Yoga should burn inside you always. This blaze should be there. You
cannot completely change the outward mode of life, but inwardly there should be aspiration. This
fire should burn day and night, when you are alone, when you are among men, when you are in
meditation, when you are engaged in work. This fire should not be put out. This aspiration should
always form an integral part of your being. Then you are living the divine life. If this fire is there,
you need not worry what work you are doing, in which place you are living. Because you will be
leading the divine life. You cannot be a victim of sense-pleasures. But you must at any time know if
in spite of your vigilance, an object goes to the inner consciousness, how to burn it through
aspiration. There are two techniques—Pratyahara and Udaseenata. The first technique is to always
keep the mind indrawn. Never allow the mind to be completely extrovert, so that even apparently
when you are moving amidst objects, the senses are not outgoing, the senses are turned inward. This
is a very difficult technique, but this has to be practised. This Pratyahara is very essential. It is a very
difficult and intricate technique, but it is possible to perfect it. The ideal of the aspirant should
always be to acquire this important qualification, Pratyahara