Be intense in whatever you do

PROLOGUE

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INTENSITY - A
FORM OF
LIVING
ENERGY THAT
RiSES AND
FLOWS
THROUGH
THE SEVEN
CHAKRAS IN
THE BODY

In the Shiva sutras, intensity is described as a form of living energy that rises and flows through the seven chakras in the body, which are the main energy centers. This form of energy does not create conflict but flows smoothly and strongly. It can be described as a river which flows intensely and smoothly through various paths and courses to reach the ocean. It is indeed remarkable, that rivers always find their way to the ocean, without any navigators. It is so intense in its purpose, that even when an obstacle presents itself, it flows around, to reach the ocean. The river, unlike the human ego, does not get hurt when an obstacle presents itself. Often times, human beings feel hurt by an obstacle on their path and stop flowing. They then become like a lake that has decided to remain where it is, without achieving its goal.

If like the river, people decide to
continue persistently on their
path, making necessary
modifications or turns on their
life course as and when necessary,
they will achieve their goals. If
obstacles frighten or hurt the
ego, then people may stop
flowing completely. This can lead
to stagnation in growth and
possibly depression and
frustration.

LIVING WITH
INTENSITY IS TO
LIVE WITHOUT
INNER OR OUTER
CONFLICT.

When a person is strongly
connected with an idea or
thought, they feel they can
overcome any obstacle. They can
flow towards the positive
achievement of their goals.
However, people can also
intensely create conflict. This is
not the expression or radiation of
true living energy within the self.
Intense people who constantly
create conflict can be described as
people who are not flowing
smoothly with people and life.
They have the intensity, but it is
used to create blocks and
obstacles. There is no flow or
natural expression of life energy.

A stylized illustration of a young, enlightened-looking figure with dark hair, a tilak on his forehead, and wearing rudraksha beads and gold jewelry, seated against a dark, starry backdrop.

Source: Nithyanandapedia.org

There are people who are intense but
who lost the ability to flow; similarly,
there are people who just flow but are
not intense. In Sanskrit there is a word
– “Jnanavarishta bhakti”, used by the
famous Indian enlightened master
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. This
means that it is important to have
devotion or deep bhakti, but it is also
important to have the intensity with
knowledge. It is important to have
both the qualities of intensity and flow
to achieve life’s goals.

YOUR iNTENSiTY
iS THE ONLY
THiNG THAT
DECiDES WHEN
YOUR OBJECT
OF SEEKiNG WiLL
HAPPEN

Tantra, the mystical science of
meditation techniques, says that to
know the truth one needs only one
condition, intensity. Be total in
what you are, what you do. Live
intensely in the moment and taste
the real life. Otherwise, you are not
living. You are just waiting for
death.

When you eat, intensely eat.
Let your whole attention
and energy be on the food.
Do not divert your
attention and thoughts to
what you need to get done
at work tomorrow or where
you want to go for your
next vacation. Enjoy the
food with all your senses.
Taste the food in your
mouth, enjoy the feast in
front of your eyes, touch
the food with love, and
smell the aroma of the
food.

A person in orange robes sitting in a meditative posture

When you eat this way
totally, you will enjoy
every morsel and you
will actually feed into
your system the living
energy the food is
meant to give. If you are
drinking water, drink it
intensely. Become the
thirst. Feel the coolness
of the water going into
your mouth, throat and
down your food pipe.
Let each drop of water
that goes into your
mouth give you the
feeling of fulfillment.

The Tamil classic, Periya Puranam,
describes the stories of
the Nayanmars, the ardent devotees
of lord Shiva. There are so many
instances of the devotees realizing
the Ultimate by simple activities
like making garlands for the Lord.

An example is Gananaatha
Nayanaar, a devotee of Shiva,
engaged in simple services like
plucking flowers for worship,
making garlands for the Lord,
sweeping and washing the floor of
the temple and keeping the lamps
in the temple burning. Just this
simple life led him to reaching the
Ultimate and brought him his
name 'Gananaatha' meaning the
chief of the ganas (attendants) of
lord Shiva.

REACH THE

DiViNE THROUGH iNTENSiTY

Don't cheat yourself and be
hypocritical by not admitting
what you feel. You cannot
hide anything from the
Divine. He knows you better
than you know yourself.
Your intensity is the only
thing that decides when your
object of seeking will
happen. If the intensity is
total, it will happen that
moment. If the intensity is
not integrated and total, it
will take more time because
the intensity has to gain
strength in that time.

Portrait of a man with vibhuti on his forehead surrounded by a lotus pattern

A beautiful story:

The Sufi mystic Junaid, was taking a
walk one morning when a man came
up to him asking, 'I need to reach the
capital of this kingdom. How long will
it take?'

Junaid just looked at the man and
continued walking. The man was
going
in the same direction. He followed
Junaid thinking maybe he did not
hear him properly.

So, he asked Junaid again, 'Can you
please tell me how much time it will
take me to reach the capital of the
kingdom?'

A portrait of a smiling man with vibhuti on his forehead

A beautiful story:

Junaid continued walking.

The man gave up trying to ask further. After some distance, Junaid said, ‘You will have to walk at least ten hours.’

The man was surprised and exclaimed, ‘You could have said that before!’ Junaid replied, ‘How can I say before? I needed to watch your speed first. Then only I could tell you how long it will take to reach the capital.’

In the same way, the time it takes to realize also depends on your intensity. If you are intense enough, it does not need time to reach the Ultimate. Where you are, who are you is irrelevant. You can reach here and now.

A portrait of a person with a tilak on their forehead

BE INTENSE
IN
WHATEVER
YOU DO