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Chapter V -
Obstacles in Meditation
There are several obstacles to meditation. Vedanta describes
the obstacles to be Laya, Vikshepa, Kashaya and Rasasvada.
Patanjali says: "Disease, dullness, doubt, carelessness,
laziness, worldly-mindedness, illusion, missing the point,
unstability - these are obstacles in Yoga." Grief, melancholy,
tremor of the body, inhalation and exhalation are auxiliaries
to these main obstacles. You will have to remove all these
obstacles. During meditation, if you are overpowered by sleep,
stand up, dash cold water on the face, practice a few Asanas
and Pranayama. Sleep will go. Another age-old practice is, for
those who have a 'choti' (tuft of hair), to tie the tuft to a
nail of wall by means of a thread - if you doze during
meditation, the nail on the wall will pull you up. Take light
food at night. Abhyasa and Vairagya are the best means of
avoiding obstacles. Vairagya is not running away from the
world. Vairagya is a mental state. Analyze your thoughts.
Scrutinize your motives. Give up the objects that your mind
likes most, at least for some time. When the craving for them
has vanished, then you can take them, as a master.
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