25. For dhyana-yoga (the way of meditation), it is thus seen that one-pointedness of mind, disciplined living and a friendly and balanced outlook are necessary. Besides these, two other aids, detachment and practice, are mentioned. The first is a negative, destructive method, the other, positive and constructive. To uproot and throw away the weeds from the field is destructive work - this is vairagya, detachment. To sow seeds in the field is constructive work. To think good thoughts again and again is abhyasa, practice. Vairagya is negative, abhyasa is positive work.

26. How to acquire vairagya? The mango, we say, is sweet. But is this sweetness only in the fruit? No, it is not in the fruit alone. We pour the sweetness of the Self into objects and then they taste sweet. Therefore, learn to taste the sweetness within. The sweetness of external objects is not in themselves. But the sweetness of all sweet things, "rasaanaam rasatamah" the sea of this sweetness, is the Self within me. As I go on meditating that all sweet objects, gain their sweetness from the Self, vairagya fills the mind. Mother Sita gave a pearl necklace to Hanuman. Hanuman pulling out the pearls, bit them one by one, tasted each and threw it away. In none of them could he find Rama. Rama was in his heart. For these same pearls, people give even lakhs of rupees!

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