Sadhana Pada 1
With burning desire reflect upon and understand the self, understand the sacred text and surrender all actions to God.
The kindling of the inner psychic fire that at once burns away all the impurities (coloring) and limitations of the mind-stuff, the study both of scriptural texts and one's own reaction to situations from moment to moment, and the meaningful, dynamic and devotional surrender to the indwelling omnipresence - these three simultaneously constitute active yoga, or practice of the indivisible unity.
Sadhana Pada 2
Meditate profoundly on becoming completely absorbed to reduce afflictions.
When it is clearly understood that the instant realization of cosmic oneness, which is yoga, is not the product of any effort, how can one "practice" such unity?
Surely, active yoga is taught not because such practice results in the realization of oneness. However, it can aid in the direction of one 's attention towards enlightenment, and away from the elements that cause mental turmoil, which, as a result of such turning away, are weakened.
Sadhana Pada 3
Afflictions causing disturbance are lack of spiritual awareness, misapprehension, ego, desire, passion, greed, hate, jealousy, attachment to life, fear, anxiety and sorrow.
The mind is restless because of the many unresolved problems. The elements that disturb mental equilibrium and thus generate psychic distress are:
ignorance of the truth concerning
(2) one's self or egotism which seems to be the obvious truth in ignorance, and the belief in the separative individuality,
(3&4) psychological and unnatural extension of attraction and repulsion which, as neurological phenomena are natural, and
5) blind clinging to the present physical "life", born of the ignorant division of timeless eternity into life and death.
Sadhana Pada 4
Some afflictions and their source remain hidden waiting to be awakened. This is due to a lack of spiritual awareness and ignorance. Others afflictions have bloomed and are fully active.
Obviously, ignorance of the truth of oneness (or indivisibility of cosmic intelligence) is the cause of all the other sources of psychic distress - whether these latter seem to be completely hidden or dormant, veiled or weak, or actively spread out, creating the notion that they are not related to spiritual ignorance, that they are independent of ignorance, and can, therefore, be dealt with by means other than self-knowledge.
Sadhana Pada 5
The need for pleasures and the source of suffering comes from identifying with that which is impure and not eternal. True self is pure and eternal.
Ignorance gives rise to a "knowledge" of ego-sense - an assumed fact of the non-existent ego-sense. It is only in a state of spiritual ignorance that one identifies or confuses that which is impermanent with that-which is eternal, that which is impure or colored with that which is pure and unconditioned, pain with joy, and the unmodified consciousness (Self) with thoughts and modifications which are not Self. Realization of the spiritual truth or enlightenment on the other hand enables the impermanent, etc., to be seen as such, and the permanent etc., to be seen as such.
Sadhana Pada 6
Perception and thought intertwine to create ego.
In cosmic consciousness all activities happen. Thus, for instance, seeing happens: the power of sight sees. However, when the consciousness fragmented by the shadow of ignorance identifies itself as the seer, there is the ego-sense.
Sadhana Pada 7
Pleasure is seductive and causes deep attachments.
Attraction (or mental conditioning or coloring) follows, rests in, and is just another term for, the erroneous evaluation of an object or experience as pleasure. Because of the mental coloring something looks attractive.
Sadhana Pada 8
Hatred and resentment are related to fear and suffering.
Similarly, repulsion (which is another phase of attraction) follows, abides in, and is just another term for, the erroneous classification of an object or experience as pain-giving. On the other hand, what the human mind in ignorance regards as attraction and repulsion exist in nature and are inherent, invariable and constant in the manifestation of cosmic intelligence (e.g., the magnetic polarity). In nature, however, there is neither the cloud of ignorance nor its consequent ego-sense, and hence the attraction and repulsion in nature are of an entirely different quality to that found in the human psyche.
Sadhana Pada 9
Even the wise and spiritually progressed have attachment to life.
Blind clinging to life is an inexplicable yet undeniable fact of life which is self-sustaining (since it is just another phase or face of ignorance) and is therefore found to be a dominant factor even in wise beings as long as the physical body which is the operative seat of ignorance exists. It is the operation of the power that preserves the physical sheath for the unfoldment of self-knowledge, combined with the habit of dependence on objective sources for enjoyment and sustenance and fear of losing them, and the inability to see other states of existence.
Sadhana Pada 10
For progress these afflictions and obstacles must be removed. No matter how small they may be.
These sources of psychic distress are subtle, and not to be confused with their gross expansion as likes and dislikes, habits (good and bad), vanity and such personality traits. However, these subtle sources of psychic distress can be dispelled by resolving each in its own cause (or by confronting each of them with its own true opposite).
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