Perseverance

Very difficult thing to follow in life? Doing exercises is something I am not so happy to persist...I like to do but whenever I want to...But for the past few days we in the family and my neighbour try to persist and achieve doing exercise everyday for 30-45 with a thought for the day in the end. But I managed to run and started walking after 2-3 days and today even reduced the number of rounds which no one know :p. But still I did some exercise accountable.

The next step in the discussion (Discussion only but attaining is not anywhere near) was trying to find out the 18 qualities and what we lack what to do about it. Significance of 18 steps in Sabarimala was listed in a site. Thanks to them. Just copy pasting it here. The first 5 steps signify the five indriyas or the senses (eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin), the following 8 the ragas (tatwa, kama, krodha, moha, lobha, madha, matsraya, and ahamkara), the next 3 the gunas (satwa, rajas and thamas) followed by vidya and avidya.

1. Ears (sound) - Listen only to good talks avoid listening to gossiping that strengthen our Ego of finding fault with others and feel us superior.
2. Eyes (sight) - See things that are good and create inner inspiration. Avoid sensual sights that trigger unwanted desires in us, like sexual content or material possessions. But those things that meet our basic needs of life and not that fulfills our wants (greed).
3. Skin (Touch) - Stimulating touch (sex) is to be avoided. Enjoy sense of touch of japa-maala (rosary beads) that helps in chanting God's name. Feel the feather soft of flowers and feel that we should show that soft compassion to others.
4. Nose (smell) - associate smells of flowers and scents related to Lord's pooja. Pay attention to addictive smell of food.
5. Tongue (taste). Eat very satwic food that does not create addiction and over-indulgence like sweets and spicy hot foods. Eat food that are healthy and natural. One can eat natural sweets like dates, raisins and honey
6. Kama (Desire or possession)
7. Krodha (anger when desires do not get fulfilled or when desired possession is lost).
8. Lobha (greed to fulfill the desire or not allowing anyone partake in one's possession),
9. Moha (Infatuation of the obtained result or having the possession).
10. Mada (pride of getting the desire fulfilled or having a possession)
11. Matsarya (Jealousy that others should not get what we have fulfilled our desire or when others have a possession that we have.)
12. Tamas: The Inertia (not to do action) or lazy or sluggish attitude is Tamasic. This is overcome by doing getting up early in morning having cold-water-baths doing pooja or worship. We dont want to do these because we are lazy in doing this. Only by doing these we overcome Tamasic nature.
13. Rajas: Action oriented with the feeling of "I". By constant mantra Japa of Saranam Ayyappa, this I doing the action feeling get diminished.
14. Sattva: Goodness. The feeling of I am good is also a Ego feeling. That also should be transcended as Krisha says in Gita. Feel everyone who are doing bad are doing due to ignorance. We should not ignore them, by by compassion help them to grow out of it.
15. Raga: The strong likes or attachments that we use in making decisions. This is possible only by developing Bhakthi to Ayyappa. This means to surrender all likes to Lord for the common good.
16. Dvesha: Same way the strong dislikes also should be given up in making decisions. Also through surrender attitude (Bhakthi) we can transcend this attitude.
17. Avidya: The Knowledge about physical material things alone is Avidya. Vidya is the knowledge of Truth. By attending satsangs of Guru alone will help to gain the highest knowledge.
18. Ahamkara (Identity): All the attachments is summarized as this one factor, the identity felling of "I". This is the final step or block in learning about one's self.