3 tips for self-realisation that really work

When I got seriously into studying and practising spiritual sadhanas, I was super lucky to have a mentor and guide that pointed me in the right direction.

He helped me learn a vast range of concepts like health and fitness, self-defence, Breath, posture, yoga, meditation, and shamanism.

He was an encyclopedia of books, history, mantras, yoga asanas, breathing techniques and meditations. 

In the end, after learning from him for over 10 years it all came down to three things that I felt really hit home and had a lasting impact.

1. The body is your vehicle for self-realization, you have to keep it as optimally tuned as possible. This means keeping your diet clean and nutritious, drinking enough water, breathing correctly, addressing posture issues, Stretching, sleeping well, and learning to listen to what it is telling you. Pain is a sign you need to address something, don't ignore it. I will admit this is an aspect I always struggle with and have to constantly re-adjust and attend to. I used to get heavy insomnia when I was a youth worker and found myself with some pretty bad habits that were really difficult to change. I allow myself a certain level of vice which keeps me from falling too far, but I try...mostly
2. Read, Read, Read...Yoga, spirituality, and self-realization are terms that come with a ton of bullshit ideas that are majorly disconnected from their original import. Yoga in the modern age is more a business of "feel good" then a message of spiritual awakening, healing, and responsibility. In order to sift through and find the true essence of these topics its crucial you actually go to the source and learn the original texts, their commentaries, and find authentic teachers who can give the oral instructions correctly. Without knowing the difference between false teachings and fakes, it's easy to get sucked into and lost amongst the noise, fall for fake guru's and "godmen" and essentially be taken for a ride...This usually ends in serious resentment and spiritual doubts that can be really damaging to your quest. I spent hundreds of hours pouring through sacred texts of various traditions, memorizing their structures, and identifying key theological and metaphysical truths that kept repeating themselves. Over time I could see a common theme running through all of them. I feel this practice opened my mind to look past typical religious presentation and find something deeper, hidden in plain sight. My reading list has a list of sites I often go to in order to dig up texts I've read long ago to remind myself about certain stories, philosophical details, or simply for the joy of reading higher thought waves, do explore them!
3. Meditate... At the end of the day, no amount of knowledge and theory will satisfy you until you have a breakthrough experience and really get past the thought body and ego. Meditation is the key element to gaining equipoise and insight into yourself and reality. I believe you should spend as much time meditating every day as possible and then find a post-meditation technique which keeps you in the flow during the rest of your day. The key to meditation as I understand it is two-fold, practices which calm the mind, and practices which lead to insight. In my daily practice, I use my breath as a means of quieting down and I use mantras to gain insight or if need be remedy aspects of my life which may be out of balance. This is an aspect of life I really enjoy and I try to meditate at least twice a day. The results are pretty amazing, to say the least. Meditation is the gateway to higher realms, higher states of consciousness which can radically alter your perceptions of life, meaning, and the universe. If you are serious about Self-realization, meditation is a must.

That's my 3 essential tips for Self-realization. There is no easy road, no fast track, no magic pill, you gotta do the work and put in the time and energy. Just remember, what you give your attention, that grows and expands. Always try to give as much time and energy to you, because you are always #1.

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#JaiNitai