Spiritual Import of Religious Festivals -16-5.

22/06/2018
Chapter 16 : The Significance of Ekadasi - 5.
A talk given on the 17th of January, 1970, on the request of devotees.


How is Ekadasi related to the movement of moon and mind? We have certain centres, called Chakras, in the body.

The Chakras are nothing but energy-centres which whirl in some direction, as water whirls in a river. Chakra is a wheel or circular motion. They form in a spiral shape. They are not physical, but are psychophysical and psychological.

These Chakras are neither in the mind nor in the body; they are in the astral body. The moon's influence physically on the body has an influence on the Chakras, which tells upon the mind ultimately. The mind moves through these Chakras.

The passage of the mind is through these Chakras, up and down. When this operation takes place consciously, it is called Yoga. When done unconsciously by the mind, it is just influence. When the moon waxes or wanes, the mind is vehemently influenced.

So people who are not normal in their minds become very disturbed on the full moon and new moon days. You cannot see the moon's influence on the earth because it is solid, but it can be seen on the ocean which is liquid. The moon influences the whole earth, and its influence is visible on the large body of waters in the sea.

This happens due to the twofold pressure of the relation of the earth and moon. The sun influences the moon and the moon influences the earth. When the influence occurs automatically, we are instruments in the hands of Nature.

When it is done consciously, we are said to practise Yoga. We can be involuntarily dragged from place to place, or we can walk voluntarily. The difference is obvious.

The moon's movement tells upon the movement of the mind through the Chakras.

To be continued ...