COULD YOU FOLLOW THESE SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTIONS?

In his book, The Essence of Yoga, Swami Sivananda offers 20 spiritual instructions.  If you'd like to set a high standard for your spiritual growth, consider the Swami's advice for spiritual growth.  Here are some of his suggestions:

• get up at 4 am as this is the most "favorable" time for meditation;
  
• sit for 30 minutes but build it up to 3 hours;
  
• chant a mantra such as Om Namah Sivaya 108 times but 21,600 times daily is better;
  
• get your diet in shape. Eat moderately; eat simple foods such as milk and nuts, give up salt and sugar; try to live on rice, dahl and plain bread;
  
• study sacred texts such as the Gita or the Upanishads from 30 to 60 minutes daily;
  
• have spiritual friends. Give up bad company, eating of meat and consumption of liquor, including wine;
  
• donate ten percent of your income to charity every month;
  
• reduce your wants (If you have "four shirts reduce the number to three, then two")
  

If you'd like the full list from Swami Sivananda, his book is available free online as a .pdf file.