Ritualism is like weeds, tends to overcome and cover metaphysics. We are very ritualistic, so it tends to overgrow everything else. The garden just becomes a garden of rituals, of we weeds. Sohave summarized a long essay in these ten points. One, meditate regularly. Two, have a fixed time. Three, avoid bad thoughts. Five, avoid bad company. Six, practise a little bit of asceticism. Seven, cultivate vastness, infinity, eternity. Eight, yearning for god. Nine, spiritualized daily activities, little bit of ritualism also. Ten, seek holy company.
The mind is very restless, turbulent, strong and obstinate, O Krishna. It appears to me that it is more difficult to control than the wind" - Bhagavad Gita (6.34)
"Lord Krishna said: O mighty-armed son of Kunti, what you say is correct; the mind is indeed very difficult to restrain. But by practice and detachment, it can be controlled" - Bhagavad Gita (6.35)
Inspired by these verses, Swami Sarvapriyananda provides invaluable guidance on improving our meditation.