Page 145 - Wisdom Unfurled

the mind. The physical withdrawal helps in mental withdrawal. It also helps us to concentrate when our energy does not get dissipated in various directions.
The posture should be steady and this is achieved through regular practice. We have already the occasion to discuss about posture or asana. Needless to say that it is impossible to achieve success in meditational practices if one is unable to master the physical posture. The Master says that the posture must always be the same for the reason that in this way the aspirant gets associated with the great power, the very thing he takes up in the beginning for the attainment of his particular objective. Again it has been held by many in the field of yoga from the very ancient periods that it is advantageous for the abhyasi to hold the backbone, neck and head in one line and keep this erect throughout the meditation period. The Gita mentions it as samam kaya sirogreevam (BG-VI-13), the justification being that the flow of divine grace is facilitated by such a posture. The Master however says that in our way of practice this is not insisted upon. He also advises that one should not strain himself unduly in maintaining the posture. Further as one develops a submissive attitude before his Master in whose presence he is seated, the head is automatically bowed and in this posture it is easy to stay blissfully absorbed in the thought of the Divine. As a matter of fact posture is not confined merely to the physical plane. It has a lot to do with the mental attitude as well. The suppliant and grateful attitude adopted by the aspirant before the Great Master makes the body follow suit expressing it through the forward drooping of the head and neck in comparison with the ramrod like straight posture indicative of pride and arrogance. Again the bowed posture also conveys the helplessness of the aspirant to do the sadhana on his own and the prayerful attitude inviting the grace of the supreme Master into his heart to enable his progress on the path. Master also mentions that we shall be attentive in the posture similar to the soldier in the parade standing in attention before his superior officer ready to take any order, more so because the person before whom we think we are seated is the Master or God Himself.
The Master advises that the practice of meditation be done in the grey of the morning or the sandhya, when night gives way to the morning. A state of perfect calm and balance prevails during the sandhya periods akin to what existed just prior to creation. As we are attempting to restore the state of balance and harmony within ourselves of a similar kind the periods ofsandhya are best suited to offer Puja.
The commentary by the Master on the 1st Commandment (Ref. Imperience Beckons) called by Him as the first and foremost commandment addresses in great depth and detail the basis of and the logic behind sandhya upasana and