Skip to content
  • Home
  • Videos
    • First Steps
    • Stories
    • Yoga Perspectives
    • Essential Life Skills
    • Spiritual Development
    • Devotional Yoga
    • Yoga in Daily Life
  • Talks
    • Higher Yogas Classes
    • Yoga Basics
    • Bhakti Yoga
    • Sri Ramakrishna
    • Go Farther with Meditation
    • Theme of the Month
    • Devotional Chants
  • Writings
    • Yoga as a Spiritual Path
    • Discover the Miracle of Prayer
    • Keys to Higher Consciousness
    • Growing on the Path
    • Relating with Spirit
    • Spiritual Living
    • Interviews
  • Courses
    • Introducing Courses
    • Online Seminars
    • Online Retreats
    • Initial Mysteries
  • Explore
    • Lifelines
    • Topics
    • Yoga Terms
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Favorites
    • Recent Additions
  • About
    • Ramakrishna Ananda
    • Why Are We Doing This Now?
    • Our Ideals
    • Get Updates
    • Contact Us
    • Terms and Privacy
Menu
  • Home
  • Videos
    • First Steps
    • Stories
    • Yoga Perspectives
    • Essential Life Skills
    • Spiritual Development
    • Devotional Yoga
    • Yoga in Daily Life
  • Talks
    • Higher Yogas Classes
    • Yoga Basics
    • Bhakti Yoga
    • Sri Ramakrishna
    • Go Farther with Meditation
    • Theme of the Month
    • Devotional Chants
  • Writings
    • Yoga as a Spiritual Path
    • Discover the Miracle of Prayer
    • Keys to Higher Consciousness
    • Growing on the Path
    • Relating with Spirit
    • Spiritual Living
    • Interviews
  • Courses
    • Introducing Courses
    • Online Seminars
    • Online Retreats
    • Initial Mysteries
  • Explore
    • Lifelines
    • Topics
    • Yoga Terms
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Favorites
    • Recent Additions
  • About
    • Ramakrishna Ananda
    • Why Are We Doing This Now?
    • Our Ideals
    • Get Updates
    • Contact Us
    • Terms and Privacy
Auther

Ramakrishna Ananda

First Technique — Self-Discipline

Find out how to take charge of your life

When you say you’ll be there at eight a.m., be there at eight a.m.

When you say, “No, thank you, I don’t wish dessert,” mean it and keep your word.

When you tell someone, “You can count on me, I’ll be there,” then be there.

When you say the job will be ready at two o’clock, be sure and have it ready at two o’clock.

Growing on the Path, Helpful Qualities

When you say the project will cost fifty dollars, don’t expect to jack the price up to three hundred dollars while maintaining your sense of well being. Mean fifty dollars. If you don’t know how much a job is going to cost, or how much time it will take, say so. Don’t hurt other people through misinforming them. The world is suffering enough as it is from gross misinformation.

Until we can do what we decide to do, until we can be true to our own word, we’re a mess inside. We’re stress victims and stress is thought to be the principal contributor to heart disease, cancer, and self-destructive behavior. A good part of stress is due to lack of trust — living in fear of the harm that strangers and acquaintances alike may do to you. At the same time you may feel tremendous guilt feelings for behaving badly and taking advantage of acquaintances and strangers. It’s vitally important, not only for peace of mind but also for greater success in your life, to say what you mean and mean what you say.

Mean What You Say

Meaning what you say” doesn’t mean you need to become a fanatic, nor that there won’t be exceptional times when extreme circumstances may prevent you from fulfilling your resolve. However, these occasional lapses must be very rare and few in your lifetime. Note also, it is possible to be constructive and avoid harming others unnecessarily, even in extraordinary circumstances.

Recently, a reservations clerk for a large airline received a phone call. The man said, “I’m very sorry. I won’t be able to keep my reservation and fly to New York this morning. You see, my house has just burned down and I have to look after a large number of details. But I just wanted to let you know I won’t be able to come today. Please make my seat available to someone else.” Something else of great significance interrupted this man but he kept in mind that he had made a commitment and he tried to deal with that commitment as fully and honorably as he could. He had learned the lesson of self-discipline.

Are you ready for the excitement of a challenge? You can meet this challenge at home and in your office. Further, you will gain immense satisfaction every time you successfully meet the challenge of self-discipline.

When you determine to go jogging or exercising, do it! When you make up your mind to improve your life in any area, get at it. Self-discipline will enable you to achieve benefit and fulfillment which you cannot realize by any other means.
When you start to practice self-discipline, you determine that you have yielded to willy-nilly circumstances long enough.

The Self-Discipline Technique

Stand before a mirror. Look deeply into your own eyes and then read the thought-transforming passage found on the next page out loud to yourself. Look into your eyes with love, concentration, and good will for yourself. Do not strain or try to be fierce. Instead, focus on your own eyes with discipline and your very best wishes. Look into your eyes after you say each sentence and clearly consider the meaning of each of these intentions.

Feel free to pause as long as you like between each of these sentences. You may wish to repeat one of them several times before going on. You may also wish to read through the passage from your easy chair or during a break in your office activity. However, it is best to begin the day before your mirror and have a deeply meaningful focus on self-discipline.

Your Speech

“No more! will random events dominate or tyrannize my life! To my utmost I’m going to have the discipline to carry through with all my commitments. I will keep the appointments I make. The ideas which I have chosen to incorporate will actually be incorporated. When I say I’m going to rest, I will rest.

I’ve decided to be a more loving person so I’m going to give of myself. I’m going to pay more attention to my loved ones. When I commit myself financially, my word is good. When I make an error or fall short, I will face what I’ve done and do my level best to make amends.

Furthermore, I will do something extra just to underscore the intensity with which I seek to be in control of my life. As of this moment, in every circumstance, I will be a person who can be counted on. I will not let others down. I will not let myself down.

Similarly with this physical body. I’m going to train it to be helpful in my life. I’m not going to let its weakness or laziness dominate the important things in my life. My body is an important part of my overall being. I recognize its importance and will keep it well and fit. At the same time I require my body to be still when I want it to be still and vigorous when I choose to be active.

Furthermore, I’m going to practice these three techniques: a) self-discipline; b) introspection; and c) devotion. I’m going to read them, study them, and, when I choose, I’m going to practice them often, and well. I’m not going to allow outward circumstances, in any way, to tyrannize me or keep me from the goals I have chosen, the path I have selected. Enough is enough!

I am now and henceforth responsible and in charge of this life, and I appreciate the power within me to develop and richly enjoy self-discipline and its benefits.”

You Can Count On Me

In your self-discipline you’ll be a most refreshing person to know. You will also find yourself becoming more conscious, with added vitality and magnetic personality. Also, please note, you can practice self-discipline any time — night or day.

Be good to yourself and don’t make unfair demands on yourself or your body. Have good will for yourself and all concerned. The clue is to be a constructive person and not a destructive one.

Reflection

My thoughts uplift.
My heart is loyal.
My words are true.
You can count on me.

Watch Next

Having trouble letting go of old habits? Try yoga introspection
Discover how to see the Divine in everyone
Explore how steadiness can take you farther
Which of these is part of the triple transformation?
1. The true self replaces the false self
1. The true self replaces the false self
True, but there is a better answer
2. Love, light, bliss, and knowledge descend on you
2. Love, light, bliss, and knowledge descend on you
True, but there is a better answer
3. Your consciousness moves from mental to spiritual
3. Your consciousness moves from mental to spiritual
True, but there is a better answer
4. All of the above
4. All of the above
Correct

Learn more about the signs that you are progressing in your yoga practice.

New This Week

Meditative prayer helps you sense your soul
Discover the secret to more effective prayer
Overcome fears, lack, confusion and health challenges
Home > Writings > Growing on the Path > First Technique — Self-Discipline
Next
  • Home
  • Videos
  • Talks
  • Writings
  • Courses
  • Explore
  • About
  • Search
  • Home
  • Videos
  • Talks
  • Writings
  • Courses
  • Explore
  • About
  • Search
© Copyright 2023 Yoga World Fellowship
  • Terms and Privacy
  • Sitemap
#2 THE MYSTIC GAZE
A Classic Technique

This classic technique is one of the mystic’s greatest treasures.

It is designed to stimulate your mystical faculties and begin the process of spiritual awakening.

With the Mystic Gaze enjoy the developing sense of clarity, coordination and attunement with life in all you do.

  1. Sit calmly and relax your eyes
  2. Gaze slightly upwards 20-30 degrees
  3. Look into space 20 feet or more
  4. Gaze, don’t stare or strain your eyes
  5. Simply observe and appreciate your awareness of space
  6. Enjoy the dawning wholeness for several minutes
  7. Gear down and go about your day

Print this How to Card

Close

© 2023 Yoga World Fellowship

#7 EXPANSION THROUGH ATTITUDE AND GOOD WILL
Change Your Heart

Your practice of good will cultivates the heart’s truest, deepest feeling:  love.

These good will practices are a boon to mystical study.

The goal of good will practice is the change of the heart.

When your heart naturally and spontaneously radiates forth a palpable good will, then you are a changed person.

  1. Consciously direct your thoughts and feelings toward an attitude of good will
  2. Bring a person to mind
  3. Or place your awareness on a person closest to you
  4. Direct good will toward this person
  5. Feel free to add specific well-wishes like health, love, courage, etc.
  6. Allow your heart to expand, to change

Print and Practice

Close

© 2023 Yoga World Fellowship

#6 EXPANSION LEVEL ONE
Quality of Life

Mystics break out of body bondage through numerous expansions of the heart — of the sense of self.

Your feeling of self-awareness imprisons or frees you.

Happily, you can do something powerfully liberating about the state of your heart and the quality of your life.

  1. Sit comfortably for 15 minutes
  2. Choose a person you know
  3. Imagine you’re walking in his/her shoes
  4. Feel you’re inside this person
  5. Say “If I were (name), I’d feel and think…”
  6. Have fun with it and let your heart expand

Print this How to Card

Close

© 2023 Yoga World Fellowship

#5 THE HEART AND ITS LIBERATION
Your Sense of Self

Mystics break out of mind and body bondage through expansions, expansions of consciousness.

Your “Heart” is your sense of self, your feeling about who you are.

Who are you as a distinct person from everyone else? This is your core individuality, your mystical heart.

  1. Focus on your mystic heart
  2. It is located in the right-central chest or inside the spine behind the heart
  3. Practice The Radiance or The Mist:
  4. Feel that your mystic heart…
  5. Radiates love, light and energy, or
  6. Generates a white mist flowing outward

Print this How to Card

Close

© 2023 Yoga World Fellowship

#4 THE MYSTIC BREATH
Your Window

Your breath is the key to the mystery of your life. The Mystic Breath is conscious use of this key.

Our individual natures will require different windows — different energy centers — from which to view the life force.

Allow the mystic breath to reveal your personal window.

  1. Stretch and then sit comfortably
  2. Take 5 to 7 deep breaths
  3. Focus on the center of your upper lip
  4. Witness the breath come and go
  5. Let your mind move to a natural center
  6. Watch your breath and the life force from this “window”

Print this How to Card

Close

© 2023 Yoga World Fellowship

#3 THE ASCENT
The Essence of Your Life

We begin meditation on the Infinite by focusing our awareness on Spirit, the life essence within us.

How can we do something so seemingly abstract? It’s easy. Spirit empowers your breath night and day.

Let the life force reveal itself to you. Sense the higher power which flows through you.

You’ll feel more alive.

  1. Stretch and relax your body
  2. Sit comfortably
  3. Take 5 to 7 deep breaths
  4. Focus on your nostril rims
  5. Witness the breath come and go
  6. Enjoy for 10 to 12 minutes
  7. Inhale deeply and stretch

Print this How to Card

Close

© 2023 Yoga World Fellowship

#0 THE MYSTIC SELF
Our True Nature

In the view of mystics, the major problem in life for most of us is ignorance of our true natures.

The Mysteries reveal many ways that you can actually contact your mystic self — and the Infinite Consciousness.

Do you, can you, contact your Mystic Self? Yes, indeed!

  1. Practice this anytime you like
  2. Probably your mind wanders quite often
  3. At times during the day, look at your mind and notice when it’s wandering
  4. Then, turn your attention to that part of your consciousness which observes that your mind is wandering
  5. That special overseeing awareness is part of your marvelous mystic self

Print this How to Card

Close

© 2023 Yoga World Fellowship

#1 MYSTIC AWAKENING
Benefits

Stimulate your mystical awakening.

When you wake up from a dream you realize you were only dreaming.

Consider too that this normal state of awareness in which you live may be a kind of sleep also.

As you do this technique you’ll find the world becomes more beautiful and enjoyable.

  1. Try this many times a day
  2. Whisper to yourself, “Wake up!”
  3. Mentally say, “Wake up!”
  4. Increase your attention, appreciation and feeling of love
  5. Just cheerfully exhort yourself
  6. Wake up!

Print this How to Card

Close

© 2023 Yoga World Fellowship

How to Succeed

As you may know, we do not charge for our courses. All Yoga World content is free and available to you with our blessings. However, we do have a simple, but important request that’s key to the transformations necessary to succeed on the path.

We ask you to commit two hours a week to selfless service. This service can be anything you choose ranging from helping a family member or neighbor to volunteering at a nonprofit organization.

I Commit to Serve

This commitment is solely between you and your inner self.

Why the Commitment?

Share with a Friend

NOTE:  We will not share your information with third parties.