Psychological and spiritual efforts required to bear the adverse times - 1

The rule of ‘Creation-Sustenance-Dissolution’ is applicable to every animate and inanimate being in the world. Even a country bound by geographical boundaries is not an exception to this rule and is bound to get destroyed sometime or the other. Conversely, if an individual performs spiritual practice in the present birth, he will get rewarded in each birth. Sachchidananda Parabrahman (Dr) Athavale is a ‘Moksha Guru’, who thinks of the welfare of the entire human race. Real welfare of an individual lies in God-realisation. Hence, on the backdrop of the impending World War 3, Sachchidananda Parabrahman (Dr) Athavale does not get thoughts about a country that is defined by its geographical boundaries; instead, He gets the thought that sattvik people (irrespective of the country they belong to) should survive so as to realise God. All said and done, as part of His duty and as gratitude unto the Nation, Sachchidananda Parabrahman (Dr) Athavale is incessantly active for the overall welfare of India.’ – H.H. Sandeep Alshi (3.12.2019)

1. Preparations at the psychological level to face the adverse times

Disasters such as floods, earthquakes, riots, World War lead to extremely adverse conditions. During such times, there are gruesome incidents such as destruction everywhere, fires, dead bodies lying in the streets. Upon seeing or hearing about such incidents, many experience distresses such as mental instability, stress, anxiety, fear, inability to accept the situation. For many, merely thinking of the possibility of occurrence of such crisis in future results in suffering from the abovementioned distresses.

Besides, during the actual crisis, such people will become emotional about the problems being faced by their relatives, which will further deteriorate their mental stability. Given ahead are some remedies on how to avoid such distresses, meaning, how to face the adversities with courage and without losing mental stability.

1A. To develop the mental strength to cope with the dreadful situation during the adverse times, use the autosuggestion technique

1A 1. What is an autosuggestion ? : An auto-suggestion is an appropriate suggestion given by an individual to his subconscious mind so that correct action or correct thought replaces an incorrect thought, emotion, action, reaction.

1A 2. Importance of taking autosuggestions : Incorrect thoughts, emotions, actions, reactions are generally called shortcomings. Our personality defects and ego are responsible for our shortcomings. These shortcomings are a result of the incorrect impressions on our subconscious mind. With the intention of preventing or controlling these shortcomings, aspects of personality defects and ego have to be identified and overcome. Among the various remedies on this, taking autosuggestions is one of the important remedies.

1A 3. Various autosuggestion techniques (Please see table on the right side)

1A 4. Doing an autosuggestion session

1A 4A. What is an autosuggestion session ? : The conscious mind has to give an autosuggestion necessary to the subconscious mind for overcoming a personality defect. This process of taking suggestions is called an autosuggestion session.

1A 4B. Aspects to remember in the context of an autosuggestion session

1A 4B 1. Autosuggestions on 1 to 3 personality defects can be taken in one autosuggestion session.

1A 4B 2. Do at least 3 autosuggestion sessions a day. If the psychological problem is still not under control, increase the number of sessions to 5, 7 and up to a maximum of 20 a day.

AS technique number	Description of the Autosuggestion (AS) technique
A1	Giving appropriate perspectives (to our mind) for correct action or thought taking into consideration the consequences of the wrong actions, thoughts or emotions
A2	Impressing correct reactions upon the incorrect reactions that appear in the mind or are expressed (This technique is used in situations that last less than 1-2 minutes to elicit the correct response instead of the wrong one. This autosuggestion technique can also be used for overcoming anxious or fearful thoughts about disasters such as floods, earthquakes, riots, World War.)
A3	By practising the incident mentally, impressing appropriate response in place of the incorrect reaction (This technique is used for preventing incorrect reactions arising in situations that last more than 1-2 minutes.)
B1	Reducing the stress by overcoming the personality defects of others or changing the situation
B2	When it is impossible to overcome personality defects of others or change unfavourable situations, looking at the situation from a philosophical perspective
C1	Impressing on the mind the importance of continuous chanting
C2	Even after taking autosuggestions according to the ‘A1’ to ‘C1’ autosuggestion techniques, if a wrong action keeps repeating or incorrect reactions are expressed, adopt the punishment techniques such as pinching yourself

A 4B 3. Keep a time gap of at least 30 minutes between two autosuggestion sessions.

1A 4B 4. An autosuggestion should be taken for 7 consecutive days or until the psychological problem subsides (A maximum of 4 weeks at a stretch). If the problem still does not subside after taking the autosuggestion for 4 weeks, stop taking the autosuggestion on that personality defect, and for the next few weeks, take it for some other personality defect. Then, again take autosuggestion on the earlier personality defect.

1A 4C. How to do an autosuggestion session ?

1A 4C 1. Prayer : Pray to your Deity of worship or the Guru – ‘May the autosuggestion I am about to take reach my subconscious mind’.

1A 4C 2. Chanting : To attain concentration, chant the Name of the Deity of worship for 2 minutes.

1A 4C 3. Taking autosuggestions

A. Taking autosuggestions by using the autosuggestion techniques A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 : The autosuggestion taken under these techniques is short, meaning, it comprises 3-4 sentences. Hence, in one session repeat each autosuggestion 5 times one after another.

B. Taking autosuggestions according to the A3 technique : The autosuggestion under this technique is lengthy, and usually comprises 8 to 10 sentences; therefore, it should be taken only once per session.

C. Remembering the autosuggestion and taking it mentally with concentration : A3 type autosuggestion comprises 8-10 sentences, and hence, read it for a few days. After some days, when you remember the lines, repeat them mentally.

D. What to do if you are not able to concentrate during an autosuggestion session ?

1. Read the autosuggestion mentally.
2. If you are unable to concentrate while reading the autosuggestion mentally, read it softly (murmur).

1A 4C 4. Expressing gratitude : Finally, express gratitude – ‘O’ God (or Shri Guru), it is only by Your grace that I was able to take autosuggestions. For this, I am grateful unto Your Holy feet’.

1A 5. Other aspects

A. The examples of autosuggestions mentioned here have been framed by Sanatan’s seeker and psychiatrist Dr (Mrs) Asha Thakar (from Goa, India). Readers should note the perspectives in these autosuggestions, and if necessary, modify them to make these autosuggestions acceptable to their mind. Based on these autosuggestions, similar autosuggestions can also be made in the context of disasters such as landslides, storms.

B. In some examples here, the autosuggestions have been framed according to two methods. Readers can select the method they find convenient or which is acceptable to them and take autosuggestions accordingly.

C. Detailed information on various techniques of autosuggestions and how to frame autosuggestions on various aspects of personality defects and ego is provided in Sanatan’s Text – ‘Removal of personality defects through autosuggestions’.

To understand the ‘Personality Defect Removal’ process in detail, read Sanatan’s Text series on this subject or visit Sanatan Sanstha’s website – www.Sanatan.org/en/personality-development

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