TWENTY IMPORTANT SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTIONS

[Ms Tercy Lonan]

TWENTY IMPORTANT SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTIONS

1. Get up at 4 a.m. daily. This is Brahmamuhurta which is extremely favourable for
meditation on God.
2. ASANA:—Sit on Padma, Siddha or Sukha Asana for Japa and meditation for half an
hour, facing East or North. Increase the period gradually to three hours. Do Sirshasana,
Sarvangasana for Brahmacharya and health. Take light physical exercise as walking, etc.,
regularly. Do twenty rounds of Pranayama.
3. JAPA:—Repeat any Mantra as pure Om , 

4. DIETETIC DISCIPLINE:—Take Sattvic food (Suddha Ahara). Give up chillies,
tamarind, garlic, onion, sour articles, oil, mustard, asafoetida. Observe moderation in diet
(Mitahara). Do not overload the stomach. Give up those things which the mind likes best for a
fortnight in a year. Eat simple food. Milk and fruits help concentration. Take food as medicine to
keep the life going; eating for enjoyment is sin. Give up salt and sugar for a month. You must be
able to live on rice, dhal and bread without any Chutnie. Do not ask for extra salt for dhal and sugar
for tea, coffee or milk.
5. Have separate meditation-room under lock and key.
6. CHARITY:—Do charity regularly every month or even daily according to your means or
ten paise per rupee.
7. SVADHYAYA:—Study systematically Gita, Ramayana, Bhagavata, Vishnu
Sahasranama, Lalita Sahasranama, Aditya Hridaya, Upanishads or Yoga Vasishtha from half an
hour to one hour daily and have Shuddha Vichara.
8. Preserve the vital force (Veerya) very, very carefully. Veerya is Vibhuti (God in motion
or manifestation). Veerya is all power. Veerya is money. Veerya is the essence of life, thought and
intelligence.
9. Get by heart some prayer Slokas, Stotras and repeat them as soon as you sit on the Asana
before starting Japa or meditation. This will elevate the mind quickly.
10. Have constant Satsanga (company of the wise). Give up bad company, smoking, meat
and alcoholic liquors entirely. Do not develop any evil habits.
11. Fast on Ekadasi or live on milk and fruits only.
12. Have a Japa Mala (rosary) in your neck or pocket or underneath your pillow at night.
13. Observe Mouna (vow of silence) for a couple of hours daily.
14. DISCIPLINE OF SPEECH:—Speak truth at any cost. Speak little. Speak sweetly (Mita
Bhashana).
15. Reduce your wants. If you have four shirts, reduce the number to three or two. Lead a
happy, contented life. Avoid unnecessary worry. Have simple living and high thinking.
16. Never hurt anybody (Ahimsa Paramo Dharmah). Control anger by love, Kshama
(forgiveness) and Daya (compassion).
17. Do not depend upon servants. Self-reliance is the highest of all virtues.
18. Think of the mistakes you have committed during the course of the day just before
retiring to bed (self-analysis). Keep daily diary and self-correction register as Benjamin Franklin
did. Do not brood over the past mistakes.
19. Remember that death is awaiting you at every moment. Never fail to fulfil your duties.
Have pure conduct (Sadachara).
20. Think of God as soon as you wake up and just before you go to sleep. Surrender yourself
completely to God (Saranagati).
This is the essence of all spiritual Sadhanas. This will lead you to Moksha. All these
Niyamas or spiritual canons must be rigidly observed. You must not give leniency to the mind.