Yoga and Meditation

HOW TO MAINTAIN A SPIRITUAL DIARY

Every one of you should maintain a Spiritual Diary. The importance of a Spiritual Diary cannot be overestimated. Those students who are already in the habit of doing so, know its incalculable advantages. A Spiritual Diary is a whip, as it were, to goad you on towards God. The Diary is therefore your teacher and guide. If you wish to grow spiritually and morally, if you wish to evolve more rapidly, keep a daily record of all your actions.

All great men of the world keep diaries. The life of Benjamin Franklin is known to you all. He kept a daily diary. He noted down the number of untruths and wrong actions for which he was directly or indirectly responsible during the course of the day and endeavoured to rid himself of those faults. By doing so he became a perfect man in course of time. He had full and perfect control over his mind.

You should note down in your Diary the answers to the several questions set forth in the foregoing table after having done or fulfilled the particular thing expected of you. You should turn over the pages of your Diary once in a week. If you can maintain a record of your actions every hour, need I say that your progress will be even more rapid? You will develop your will and will in time be free from all defects and vices.

The diary helps you to rectify your mistakes then and there. You will know the value of time. Calculate the number of hours you spent for each and every item at the end of every month. You should not utter any falsehood in recording your daily actions. You should, on the contrary, realise that the Diary is meant for your own growth and advancement. You should realise that it is the Diary of a spiritual aspirant treading the path of truth to realise Truth. You should accept your faults boldly and frankly and should endeavour to get rid of them. You should compare the progress of your Sadhana of the present week with that of the previous week. If you are unable to do this, do it at least once in a month. Then you will be in a position to make the various adjustments in the various items and increase the period of meditation and decrease the hours of sleep. Blessed are those who maintain Spiritual Diaries for they shall realise God quickly.

THE SPIRITUAL DIARY (Weekly)

The Spiritual Diary is a whip for goading the mind towards righteousness and God. If you regularly maintain this diary you will get solace, peace of mind and make quick progress in the spiritual path. Maintain a daily diary and realise the marvellous results.

Spiritual Diary Month : ________________
Questions	Date
1.When did you get up from bed ?
2. How many hours did you sleep ?
3.How many Malas of Japa ?
4. How long in Kirtan ?
5. How many Pranayamas ?
6.How long did you perform Asanas ?
7.How long did you meditate in one Asana?
8. How many Gita Slokas did you read or get by heart ?
9. How long in the company of the wise (Satsanga) ?
10. How many hours did you observe Mouna ?
11. How long in disinterested selfless service ?
12. How much did you give in charity ?
13. How many Mantras you wrote ?
14. How long did you practice physical exercise ?
15. How many lies did you tell and with what self-punishment ?
16. How many times and how long of anger and with what self-punishment ?
17. How many hours you spent in useless company ?
18. How many times you failed in Brahmacharya ?
19. How long in study of religious books ?
20. How many times you failed in the control of evil habits and with what self punishment ?
21. How long you concentrated on your Ishta Devata (Saguna or Nirguna Dhyana) ?
22. How many days did you observe fast and vigil ?
23. Were you regular in your meditation ?
24. What virtue are you developing ?
25. What evil quality are you trying to eradicate ?
26. What Indriya is troubling you most ?
27. When did you go to bed ?