ImportanceofSpiritualDiary SwamiSivananda

Thekeepingupofadailyspiritualdiaryisanindispensablerequisite.AdiaryisawhipforgoadingthemindtowardsrighteousnessandGod.Thediaryisyour teacherandguide.Itistheeyeopener.Itwillhelpyoutodestroyallyourevilqualitiesandtoberegularinyourspiritualpractices. Abigthiefishidinghimselfinyourbrain.HehassnatchedawayyourAtmicpearl.Heisgivingyouimmenseworriesandtroubles.Heisdeludingyou.Thethief is your mind. You must not be lenient towards him. You must crush him. You must kill him ruthlessly. There is no other sword sharper than this diary to kill him. It checks his happygolucky ways and destroys him eventually. All your daily mistakes will be corrected if you maintain daily spiritual diary. A good time willcomewhenyouwillbeentirelyfreefromanger,untruth,lust,etc.Youwillbecomeaperfectman. ThereisnootherbetterfriendandmorefaithfulteacherorGuruthanyourdiary.Itwillteachyouthevalueoftime.Attheendofeverymonthcalculatethe totalnumberofhoursyouhavespentinJapa,studyofreligiousbooks,Pranayama,Asanas,sleep,etc.Thenyouwillbeabletoknowhowmuchtimeyouare spending for religious purposes. You have got every chance to increase the period of Japa, meditation, etc., gradually. If you maintain a daily diary properly 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