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:_________
Date
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?