instructing you through the spiritual preceptor and it is this same Divine Self which aids your reflect-
ing and understanding process.
GoodAssociationPart 2
GoodAssociationisaformofgrouptherapyandcounseling.Itissimilartotheprocessofpsycho-
therapyofWesternpsychologists,helpingtheindividualtoseetheerrorinunderstanding,whichis
causingtheinabilitytocopewiththeworld.ThemajordifferencebetweenGoodAssociationin
Yoga,traditionalWesternformsofgrouptherapyandindividualcounselingisthatthroughthespir-
itualpreceptor,GoodAssociationassistsandurgestheindividualtounderstandhisorhertranscend-
entaltrueSelfwhiletraditionaltreatmentsseektohelptheindividualcopewithlifesituationswhich
producestressandmentalanguish.Fromayogicpointofview,ordinaryhumanlifeisbasedonaner-
roneousviewofexistence,andpsychologicaldisciplineswhichdonotincludeanunderstandingof
thehumansoul,arealsobasedonignorance.Thus,treatments,whicharebasedonignorance,cannot
provideeffectiveandabidingresults.Fromthispointofview,modernpsychiatry,psychologyand
modernmedicalsciencemustbeunderstoodasdisciplineswhichareonlyintheirinfancybecause
theyhavenotyetacknowledgedanddiscoveredthehiddenmysteriesofthesoul.Ordinarypsycho-
logyisusefulintakingextremelydegradedindividuals(psychotic)fromthedepthsofabnormality
andtosomedegree,helpingthemtobecomelucidenoughtoexistintheworld.However,thislevel
ofexistenceandwhatmodernpsychologyconsiderstobe“normal”isnotconsiderednormalbyyo-
gicscience.Mentalabnormalityexiststothedegreeofintensificationoftheegoanditsaccompany-
ingcomplexes.ThestateofenlightenmentorSelf-knowledgeisthentheonlystatethatcanbecalled
“the state of optimal mental health.”
GoodAssociationisateacher-disciplerelationshipwhereinyogicteachingsarepresentedtopromote
spiritual,andthusmentalandphysicalhealth.Throughcontinuousassociationwithsagesorother
spirituallyadvancedpersonalities,theaspirantisledtodiscoverher/histruespiritualidentity.When
thisprocessoccurs,thegeneralhealthoftheindividualisimprovedbecausementalcomplexesand
stress diminish and in so doing, the body is able to maintain itself at a more optimal level.
Note:Withfewexceptions,televisiondoesnotprovidegoodassociation.Youshouldstrivetocurb
yourviewingtimeinthebeginningofyourprogramandforthenextthreeyears.Acasualtimespent
watchinganeducationaltelevisionshowmaybeusefulinstimulatingthemind,however,whentele-
visionbecomesanecessitytoyouandyouspendmuchofyourtime“glued”toitforyour“entertain-
ment,”televisionpromotesdullnessofthemindandintellectualweaknesswhichleadtospiritual
insensitivity.
Also,“hangingout”withthosepersonalitieswhoareSetianinnature(thosewhoarecontinuouslyaf-
fectedbyanger,hate,greed,lust,impulsiveness,selfishness,brutishnessforce,demoniac
thoughts,thugs,thievery,violence,etc.)isdetrimentaltothementalpeaceofanaspirant,especially
toaneophyte(abeginner;novice).Thosewhoareconstantlymovingaround,constantlyargumentat-
iveandconstantlyagitatedareafflictedwithintenseidentificationwiththeirbodiesandsensesand
are unaware of their divine nature.