In today's media age it is well and easy to get lost in the sea of information that is readily available to us. Today more and more people often find that they are lost and confused because of this and more often than not journaling is the ideal solution. Journaling is an activity that seems difficult at first because it is like assessing yourself in a mirror, but it has numerous spiritual benefits. Not only that, but scientific studies have shown the psychological and health benefits of journaling.

In the Vachanamrut (G.P.38 & Sarangpur 18), Sahajanand Swami has told His devotees to keep a journal of their time in Satsang from day one. We should be keeping an account of how much 'vasna' or desires we have whilst in Satsang so that we can stop, look where we are AND look back on past entries to reflect on how much we have improved and in what areas. This reflection should be done on a frequent basis so it can be more fruitful.

How to keep your personal naamu

First, establish how much better your life is today because of Satsang. Keep a diary or notepad and answer the preceding questions.  If this is your first time or you have not been doing a naamu monthly or daily, consider completing as many of the questions as possible to get started. Remember to set a date for your yearly and monthly note-taking. Use the below as a template and over time you will be able to tailor the questions around your lifestyle. Do not feel this is a complete list of questions! 

"From the time a Satsangi enters the Satsang, he should examine his mind by thinking ‘In the first year, my mind was like this, then it was like this. Previously, I had this much desire for Bhagvãn and this much desire for the world’. In this way, he should repeatedly reflect on his yearly total of desires and always attempt to gradually, yet constantly eradicate all worldly desires that remain in the mind. However, if he does not assess himself constantly, and allows those desires to accumulate, then they will never be overcome. Consider the analogy of opening an account with a merchant: If a person settles the debts regularly on a monthly basis, then it will not be difficult to repay the debt. But, if he waits until the end of the year to repay the debt, it will be extremely difficult to settle the account. Likewise, a person should assess himself constantly."

Vachanamrut - Gadhada Pratham 38


“Just as a merchant keeps an account of all his transactions, if a person keeps an account of his svabhãvs from the very day he entered Satsang, then they can be eradicated. He should think, ‘When I was not in Satsang, I had these vicious svabhãvs. But, ever since I have entered Satsang, they have diminished’. Then, every year, he should check to see if he has progressed or if there is still some deficiency remaining. However, a fool does not keep an account as the merchant does. Therefore, any svabhãvs, which a person may have, can be eradicated if he continuously examines himself while doing Satsang.”

Vachanamrut - Sarangpur 18