Remove the obstacles

Remove the obstacles

by Swami Sivananda

If you strain yourself in meditation and go beyond your capacity, laziness and inactive nature will supervene. Meditation should come naturally on account of serenity of the mind induced by the practice of Sama, Dama, Uparati and Pratyahara.

When you practise Samadhi, many obstacles such as sleep, laziness, break of continuity, confusion, temptation, infatuation, desire for worldly pleasure, and a feeling of blankness will assail you. You must be on the alert. You must be vigilant and circumspect. You will have to get over these impediments step by step through patient, dauntless efforts. You will have to cross this void also. What appears to you as a void when all the Vrittis have perished is not really a void. This is Avyaktam. If you cross this void also, you will rest in your own Self. Terrible fear will try to overpower you when you come face to face with the void because you are left alone now. You have nothing to see, nothing to hear. There is none to cheer you. You will have to depend on your own self. Presence of mind is needed now at this critical juncture. Draw courage and strength from within. Sage Uddalaka also encountered much difficulty in crossing this void. No impediment can stand before a man of fiery determination and iron will.

Some aspirants stop their Sadhana after reaching Avyaktam. They get false contentment. They have wrong imagination that they have reached the highest goal. This is a sad mistake. They get themselves merged in Avyaktam and become Prakritilayas. Prakritilayas are born again in this world with powers. You should try to go beyond this Avyaktam or the unmanifested Prakriti. Then you will reach the Bhuma or the unconditional Brahman.

The Vasanas are very powerful. The senses and the mind are very turbulent and impetuous. Again and again the battle must be fought and won. That is the reason why the spiritual path is called the razor path in the Kathopanishad. There is no difficulty for a man of strong determination and iron will even in the razor path. Strength comes from within at every step.

Extreme asceticism and self-torture are not necessary for the attainment of knowledge of the Self. You will have to adopt always the middle course. Too much fasting brings much weakness and retards vigorous spiritual Sadhana. You can have occasionally mild fasts. Live on milk and fruits on Sundays and Ekadasi.

Ethical culture is of paramount importance. The curiosity for acquiring Siddhis must be abandoned. That man who thirsts for Siddhis is still within the dominion of Maya. Only when this thirsting dies, the student enters the borderland of Jnana or the spiritual kingdom. Every student should maintain daily spiritual diary. Then only defects can be rectified and the mind can be controlled. The spirit of service of humanity must be ingrained in the heart of every aspirant. Sattvic virtues such as mercy, generosity, tolerance, forgiveness and nobility must be developed to a high degree. Teachers of Yoga and sages lay great emphasis on the above points.

Do not become despondent under any account. Walk like a spiritual lion. Overcome difficulties one by one. Be not afraid of public criticism. People are still abusing Lord Mahadeva, Sri Sankaracharya, Lord Krishna and Lord Rama. They will continue to do so from eternity to eternity. The world abounds with Tamasic people. Sattvic people are very rare. Discipline your mind. Stand adamant under all conditions and at all times. Keep a cool balanced mind. Serve the world with redoubled force and energy. May you prosper gloriously! May you attain the state of Kaivalya!

When the mind is Sattvic you will get glimpses, flashes of intuition. You will compose poems. You will understand the significance of the Upanishads beautifully. But this stage will not last long in neophytes. Tamas and Rajas will try to enter the mental factory. In the beginning stage, progress may be like the frog’s, never steady and continuous. You may think that you have almost reached the goal and experience for the next 6 or 20 days nothing but disappointment. It will be a jump from position to position but not a continuous development. Have sustained, intense Vairagya and do intense protracted Sadhana. Be under the guidance and close contact of your Guru for some years. You will have steady and continuous progress.

O Ram! Thou art Satyakama, a lover of Truth. Thou art very dear to me, because thou art treading the path of Truth or the path of Self-realisation though with faltering steps. You are bound to succeed. All obstacles will vanish like mist before the sun. Be not troubled. Be not anxious if there is a little delay in the descent of divine light. March boldly in the spiritual path.

O Beloved Ram! You are within a strong spiritual fortress now. No temptation can influence you. You are absolutely safe. You can do vigorous Sadhana now without fear. You have a strong spiritual prop to lean upon. Become a brave soldier. Kill your foe, the mind, ruthlessly. Wear the spiritual laurels of peace, equal vision, contentment. You are already shining with Brahmic splendour on your face. The All-merciful Lord has given you all sorts of comforts, good health and a Guru to guide you. What more do you want? Grow, evolve, realise the Truth and proclaim it everywhere.

Remove the Obstacles – Discipline, Courage, and Spiritual Progress

Remove the Obstacles is a practical call for every seeker who wants to advance in spiritual life. The path of truth is noble, but it is not always easy. The mind has old habits, the senses have strong attractions, and ego has deep roots. Because of this, many obstacles arise again and again. A sincere seeker should not become discouraged by them. Obstacles are not signs of failure; they are opportunities to grow stronger.

The first obstacle is laziness. Many people feel inspired for a short time, but when regular practice is required, laziness appears. The mind says, “I will meditate tomorrow,” “I will study later,” or “I am too tired now.” This delay weakens spiritual strength. To Remove the Obstacles, one must develop regularity. Even a small daily practice done sincerely is better than occasional enthusiasm.

Another obstacle is restlessness of mind. The mind runs toward many thoughts, plans, memories, desires, fears, and distractions. When a person sits for prayer or meditation, the mind may become even more active. This should not create hopelessness. Restlessness is natural in the beginning. Through steady practice, breath control, concentration, and self-observation, the mind slowly becomes calm.

Desire is a powerful obstacle. It pulls the mind outward and makes the seeker forget the higher goal. One desire fulfilled gives birth to another. If desire is blocked, anger appears. If desire is fulfilled, attachment increases. Therefore, desire must be understood and regulated. It should not be violently suppressed, but purified and redirected toward truth, service, devotion, and self-realization.

Remove the Obstacles also means overcoming doubt. Doubt can be useful when it leads to honest enquiry, but constant doubt weakens effort. A seeker may doubt the path, the teacher, the scriptures, the practice, and even their own ability. Such doubt can paralyze progress. Study, reflection, good company, and personal experience gradually create firm conviction.

Fear is another common obstruction. People fear failure, criticism, change, loss, loneliness, and spiritual discipline itself. Fear keeps the mind attached to old patterns. The seeker must remember that growth requires courage. One should move step by step, with faith and patience. Every small victory over fear increases inner strength.

Ego is one of the deepest obstacles. It creates pride, comparison, hurt, argument, and resistance to correction. Ego does not like humility, surrender, or self-examination. It wants importance and recognition. To Remove the Obstacles created by ego, one must practice humility, service, gratitude, and honest self-reflection. A humble heart learns faster than a proud intellect.

Bad company also blocks spiritual growth. The mind is influenced by people, conversations, books, entertainment, and surroundings. Restless and negative company increases desire, distraction, gossip, and carelessness. Good company strengthens discipline, purity, devotion, and wisdom. A seeker should choose influences carefully because the atmosphere around the mind affects its direction.

Uncontrolled speech is another obstacle. Harsh words, gossip, lies, criticism, and unnecessary talking disturb the mind and waste energy. Speech should be truthful, kind, useful, and moderate. Silence practiced wisely gives strength. A person who controls speech gains greater control over thought and action.

Remove the Obstacles requires control of the senses. The senses constantly seek enjoyment through sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell. If the mind follows every attraction, concentration becomes weak. Sense control does not mean hatred of life. It means moderation and wise use. Food, sleep, entertainment, pleasure, and social activity should be regulated for higher growth.

Impatience is also a serious obstacle. Many seekers expect quick results. They want peace, meditation, purity, and realization immediately. When progress appears slow, they become discouraged. Spiritual growth takes time because old impressions are deep. Patience, perseverance, and faith are essential. Every sincere effort has value, even when results are not visible.

Wrong understanding can also delay progress. Some people think spirituality means escaping duty. Some think knowledge alone is enough without purity. Some think devotion means emotional weakness. Some think meditation can succeed without moral discipline. These misunderstandings must be corrected through proper study and guidance. Clear understanding protects the path.

Self-examination is a powerful way to Remove the Obstacles. At the end of the day, the seeker may ask, “What disturbed me today? Was I ruled by anger, desire, fear, laziness, or ego? Did I remember my goal? Did I act with purity?” Such honest questioning reveals hidden weaknesses and gives direction for improvement.

Prayer and devotion also help greatly. Human effort is necessary, but grace is also valuable. Prayer softens the heart and gives strength during struggle. Repetition of a divine name, surrender, and remembrance of the Divine protect the mind from despair. Devotion turns difficulty into trust and effort into worship.

Service is another remedy. When a person serves others without selfish expectation, ego becomes weaker and the heart becomes wider. Service removes narrowness and self-centered thinking. It teaches patience, compassion, and humility. Many inner obstacles disappear when life is dedicated to a higher purpose.

In the end, Remove the Obstacles is not a one-time task, but a continuous discipline. Laziness, desire, doubt, fear, ego, restlessness, and distraction may rise again and again. The seeker must meet them with courage, patience, discrimination, devotion, and steady practice. Each obstacle removed reveals more inner strength. Step by step, the mind becomes pure, the heart becomes calm, and the path toward self-realization becomes clear.

Philosophy of the Mind