ImportanceofSpiritualDiary

SwamiSivananda

Thekeepingupofadailyspiritualdiaryisanindispensablerequisite.AdiaryisawhipforgoadingthemindtowardsrighteousnessandGod.Thediaryisyour
teacherandguide.Itistheeyeopener.Itwillhelpyoutodestroyallyourevilqualitiesandtoberegularinyourspiritualpractices.
Abigthiefishidinghimselfinyourbrain.HehassnatchedawayyourAtmicpearl.Heisgivingyouimmenseworriesandtroubles.Heisdeludingyou.Thethief
isyourmind.Youmustnotbelenienttowardshim.Youmustcrushhim.Youmustkillhimruthlessly.Thereisnootherswordsharperthanthisdiarytokill
him.Itcheckshishappygoluckywaysanddestroyshimeventually.Allyourdailymistakeswillbecorrectedifyoumaintaindailyspiritualdiary.Agoodtime
willcomewhenyouwillbeentirelyfreefromanger,untruth,lust,etc.Youwillbecomeaperfectman.
ThereisnootherbetterfriendandmorefaithfulteacherorGuruthanyourdiary.Itwillteachyouthevalueoftime.Attheendofeverymonthcalculatethe
totalnumberofhoursyouhavespentinJapa,studyofreligiousbooks,Pranayama,Asanas,sleep,etc.Thenyouwillbeabletoknowhowmuchtimeyouare
spendingforreligiouspurposes.YouhavegoteverychancetoincreasetheperiodofJapa,meditation,etc.,gradually.Ifyoumaintainadailydiaryproperly
withoutanyfaultinanyoftheitemsyouwillnotliketowasteevenasingleminuteunnecessarily.Thenaloneyouwillunderstandthevalueoftimeandhow
itslipsaway.

SpiritualDiaryforMonth:___________Week:_________
Questions
1.Whendidyougetupfrombed?
2.Howmanyhoursdidyousleep?
3.HowmanyMalasofJapa?
4.HowlonginKirtan?
5.HowmanyPranayamas?
6.HowlongdidyouperformAsanas?
7.HowlongdidyoumeditateinoneAsana?
8.HowmanyGitaSlokasdidyoureadorgetbyheart?
9.Howlonginthecompanyofthewise(Satsanga)?
10.HowmanyhoursdidyouobserveMouna?
11.Howlongindisinterestedselflessservice?
12.Howmuchdidyougiveincharity?
13.HowmanyMantrasyouwrote?
14.Howlongdidyoupracticephysicalexercise?
15.Howmanyliesdidyoutellandwithwhatselfpunishment?
16.Howmanytimesandhowlongofangerandwithwhatselfpunishment?
17.Howmanyhoursyouspentinuselesscompany?
18.HowmanytimesyoufailedinBrahmacharya(Celibacy)?
19.Howlonginstudyofreligiousbooks?
20.Howmanytimesyoufailedinthecontrolofevilhabitsandwithwhatself
punishment?
21.HowlongyouconcentratedonyourIshtaDevata(SagunaorNirgunaDhy
ana)?
22.Howmanydaysdidyouobservefastandvigil?
23.Wereyouregularinyourmeditation?
24.Whatvirtueareyoudeveloping?
25.Whatevilqualityareyoutryingtoeradicate?
26.WhatIndriyaistroublingyoumost?
27.Whendidyougotobed?

Date