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Sadhaka : What preparation has to be done to make this lofty exercise of meditation for attaining supreme blessedness successful? Gurudev : You have to march step by step, stage by stage. Lay the foundation of yama (right conduct), niyama (observances), asanas (postures), pranayama (regulation of breath) and pratyahara (abstraction). The superstructure of dharana, dhyana and samadhi will be successful then only. You will be able to enter into deep meditation only if you lead a moral life. Purify the mind first through the practice of right conduct. Remove all distractions. Get rid of all vasanas (cravings) and ambitions. Get yourself established in sadachara or good conduct. Have ethical perfection. Purify your heart first through selfless service, recitation of the Lord's names, pranayama, etc. The mind is ever wandering. It ever runs towards sense objects. Steady the mind through practice of vairagya (dispassion) and abhyasa (concentration). Cultivate burning dispassion, burning aspiration or longing for Self-realisation. Swamiji : It is very important to have a proper foundation first of all by being established in virtue, in self-restraint, in control of senses and in dispassion; so the importance of ethical perfection. If one becomes a man of self-control and goodness, a man who has overcome desires, then it becomes easier to meditate upon higher, subtle object. If a transformation has not been brought about in the lower nature and if you try to force the mind towards meditation, what happens? There is a conflict inside. It tends to result in various undesirable results.
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