Antahkarans are often affected by three "diseases" that hinder spiritual development. They are MALA, VIKSHEPA, AVARANA.

MALA is impurity both physical and mental

VIKSHEPA are external and internal disturbances

AVARANA is the veil of ignorance that overshadows consciousness

Let's use an analogy: A coin is lying at the bottom of a container filled with water. If the water is cloudy (mala), stirred up (vikshepa) and if the container is also covered with a scarf (avarana), the coin cannot be seen. If we remove the scarf, the view of the bottom will be obstructed by the turbulent water. But even if the waves settle, we still won't see the coin because the water is murky. So what do we have to do if we want to see what is at the bottom of the container? We have to remove all three obstacles. First we put away the scarf, then we filter the water and finally let it stand. Only then will we see the coin and possibly fish it out.

MALA are impure thoughts. They cloud and darken the mind. If we believe that no one can read our thoughts, we are mistaken. At least we know about them ourselves. Freedom of thought is indeed an inalienable right, but on the other hand, we must not forget that not only every action, but also every thought comes back to us in the form of karma. External pollution can be removed easily. It is worse to wash away the dirt that lies in the depths of consciousness. We can handle the hygiene of the body in about an hour, but it takes several lifetimes to purify the consciousness.

VIKSHEPA are disturbing influences from the surrounding environment, but also from the inner environment. We have a number of protective measures against noise, heat or cold. Much more difficult is protection against attacks of inner anxiety, complexes, nervousness, worry, anger and the like. All of these are distractions that destroy the mind and prevent us from getting to the bottom line.

AVARANA is the veil of ignorance, covering the mind. It is this veil that prevents a person from knowing the true reality and the truth about who he actually is. It is told in the following parable.

A little lion cub got lost somewhere in the wilderness to his mother lioness and was taken in by a herd of goats. The goats fed him with their milk and the lion cub wandered everywhere with the herd. Of course he thought he was a goat too. He swaggered like a goat, and when he grew up, he began to graze on grass. One day a lion appeared nearby and wanted to catch a goat for breakfast. All the goats ran away and the lion cub with them - he thought he was a goat. An adult lion found it strange that a cub belonging to his species was behaving like a goat, and decided to investigate what was behind it. He caught the lion cub and he began to cry pitifully: "Leave me alone, don't hurt me, I'm just a poor little goat." The adult lion says: "What nonsense you are talking about! You're a lion like me!” But the lioness kept moaning and didn't want to believe him. The old man was no longer amused, grabbed the little one by the neck and carried him to the pond. "Look at yourself and tell me if you look like a goat!" And so the lion cub finally realized his mistake. He stopped behaving like a goat and started behaving like a lion.

The parable of the lion-goat shows how a false idea of one's own nature prevents a person from knowing his true nature and even leads him to deny it.

Our Atma (Self) is God Himself. Of course, we think that God is somewhere far away and that we are poor, sinful creatures. If we want to know our true self, we must look into the inner mirror of the soul. Many people are afraid of this and deliberately close their eyes to their image. In doing so, we are destined to take on our divine inheritance. But instead, many of us miserably waste our lives. An illustrative story is also connected to this.

Two old, poor husband and wife made a living by collecting wood for sale in the forest. Once Shiva and Parvati were walking by. Parvati's heart sank at those poor people and she began to blame Shiva for not providing them with help. "I really don't understand you! You throw money around among the villains, even if they don't believe in you and how many times they mock you. And you let these two devoted, pious poor people live. Give them something so they don't have to trudge and live out their lives in peace."

"You don't understand," said Shiva. "I would like to give them anything, but they are not able to accept it." Parvati looked incredulous, so Shiva said that he would do it for her on the spot. He placed a handful of gold coins on the road where the old man and the old woman were going. Then he and Parvati hid behind a bush and watched what would happen.

The old couple went, explaining about everything possible, and here the old woman says: "I would like to know how blind people know their way around the forest." It could very well happen that we too will stop seeing one day. You know what, we'll try out what it's like to be blind.''

"Why not," says the old man. "We'll blindfold each other with a scarf, I'll take the stick, you'll follow me and hold on to my shoulder."

As they said, so they did. When they came to the pile of gold coins, of course they didn't see it. The old man tripped over her and cursed: "Which rascal puts a stone in the middle of the road and doesn't think that a blind man will walk that way and fall and hurt himself!"

Shiva turned to Parvati with a sigh: "Do you believe me now? I have tried many times to give these two something, and it always turned out badly. And so I left it.'

How often does God place a precious opportunity right in front of us - and we don't take it. As wounded by blindness, we miss the best chance life. The story symbolizes "avarana" - a scarf over the eyes that prevents finding relief from misery, even though it is within reach. Ávarana means to be distracted at a time when attention needs to be concentrated. Or it means giving up right before the goal.

Avarana are also doubts and anxieties, an inner feeling of abandonment and hopelessness, as well as prejudice and intolerance, one-sided emphasis on the intellect, and more and more. Ávarana has many forms, which have in common that they obscure the view of the true reality, of God.

How to remove mala, vikshepa and avarana?

We purify the impurity of the mind (mala) during satsang, mantra and prayer.

We face disturbing influences (vikšepa) with positive thinking, relaxation, concentration and meditation.

The veil of ignorance (avaran) is removed by faith and trust, the words of the Master and the holy scriptures, which we will follow, efforts to get rid of prejudices and approach life openly.

A simple and very effective spiritual exercise that helps free one from mala, vikshepa and avarana is ANÚPASANA.

ANU is a tiny part, an "atom", UPÁSANÁ here means exercise, determination, resolution.

Anúpásana is a small resolution that costs neither time nor money, and at the same time brings unprecedented benefits. It supports spiritual development, willpower, self-awareness, purifies a person's "inner field" and protects him from external and internal disturbing influences.

Make a resolution every day that will benefit you or someone else. It doesn't have to be anything revolutionary, just start with small steps.

- Drink one less cup of coffee per day or limit your snacking.

- Develop spiritual habits: for example, recite a mantra five times in the morning before eating or in the evening.

- Do something beneficial for nature or animals. Feed the birds or forest animals if you have the opportunity.

- Do something useful for the family that you haven't done before.

- Treat people with more love. Prepare some small joy for colleagues whom you did not appreciate until now.

There are thousands of ways to make others happy with something small. And by doing so, we also make ourselves happy.

Let's keep in mind:

It is not me who does, it is God who does through me.