Chanting

[Guest guest]

Namaste to all...

 

I realize that two of our strongest posters are not currently

checking up on the club as much as usual (Uma and Silentsoul, that

is!) but I, for one, would love to see the club thrive even in their

absence. I would encourage all to post stories, quotes, or start a

discussion. Or, if you prefer, send a private email and ask a

question to be posted. The moderators are here to help the club

thrive; how can they make it even better for us? Suggestions are

always welcomed, I'm sure.

 

One subject that is close to me is chanting. I have a musical

background, so I think I am naturally drawn to chanting and bhajans

and I particularly love to listen while I am working or driving. I

find myself very calmed by it.

 

Do any of you have any recommendations for singers/recordings of

traditional or not-so-traditional spiritual music? What sort of

meaningful experiences have you had from chanting? What are its

effects on us: physically, mentally, spiritually? Is it useful for

our sadhna?

 

Looking forward to your replies...

 

With much love,

Erica

[Guest guest]

Jaya Sri Radhey! Namste dear Erica.

 

I do recommend you to please visit the 'BHAJANS' page of the

website :

 

http://www.divinelovemission.org

 

http://divinelovemission.org/media/Bhajans/

 

Also more divine chantings are at:

 

http://jkp.org/chantings/index.html

 

Jaya Sri Radhey!

[Guest guest]

Chanting or Japa purifies one's heart, of all the impurities. It

surely is useful in the spiritual path, as it is the easiest path

especially in times of agony. In difficult times, it sure is

difficult (at least in the beginning stages) to shower love /Bhakthi

on God. It is also difficult to pursue the path of Jnana or enquiry

when our mind is restless with preoccupation of worldly pursuits.

All the other paths towards God require some amount of concentration

and effort on our path to experience it.

 

On the contrary, Japa or chanting requires only a small trivial

effort or repeating His name. Even if our mind is preoccupied with

other engagements, and if we continue the chant thro' our mouth, we

find ourselves getting calm in just a few minutes. Follwing the peace

(even in small amounts), our mind gets tuned to the higher realm and

it is easier to pursue the path of Bhakthi or Jnana. One can also get

Moksha or Liberation by just chanting the Holy name of the Lord.

 

One needn't even undertake restraints to Chant. Constant chanting

purifies one's heart, and paves the way for other spiritual

undertakings like Bhakthi and Jnana. One can even achieve control of

senses and emotions throu'gh constant chanting.

 

Chanting is the one that comes to our rescue, when all else seem

difficult. This is b'cos all that it takes is mere repetition of the

Holy name. By constantly repeting, eventually all other thoughts will

be warded off. Thus its result is the same attained thro' meditation,

where in one consciously tries to ward off all other thoughts,

holding onto just one thought. (at least in the initial stages).

 

Following is a Q&A that a devotee asked Ramana Maharshi on Japa or

Chanting.

 

Visitor: I am taught that Mantra Japam is very potent in practice.

 

Bhagavan: The Self is the greatest of all mantras and goes on

automatically and eternally. If you are not aware of this internal

mantra, you should take to it consciously as japam, which is attended

with effort, to ward off all other thoughts. By constant attention to

it, you will eventually become aware of the internal mantra, which is

the state of Realization and is effortless. Firmness in this

awareness will keep you continually and effortlessly in the current,

however much you may be engaged in other activities. Listening to

Vedic chanting and mantras has the same result as conscious

repetitions of japam — its rhythm is the japam.

 

Visitor: As far as I can see it, it is impossible to realize the Self

until one has completely succeeded in preventing the rushing

thoughts. Am I right?

 

Bhagavan: Not exactly. You do not need to prevent other thoughts. In

deep sleep you are entirely free from thoughts, because the `I-

thought' is absent. The moment the `I-thought' rises on waking, all

other thoughts rush out spontaneously. The wisest thing for one to do

is therefore to catch hold of this leading thought, the `I-thought',

and dissect it — who and what it is —giving thereby no chance to

other thoughts to distract one. There lies the true value of the

vichara and its efficacy in mind control.

 

Hari Aum !!!

[Guest guest]

Jaya Sri Radhey! Namaste all.

 

More wisdom on 'Chanting the Names of the Lord':

 

kRte yad dhyAyato viSNuM tretAyAM yajato makhaiH

dvApare paricaryAyAM kalau tad hari kIrtanAt

 

(Srimad Bhagavatam 12.3.52)

 

Each Yuga has its own standard - high or low - of Dharma, and in

accordance with the moral fibre of the people of that Yuga, its own

prescription for attaining the Lord.

 

After recounting the various defects of Kali Yuga resulting in the

people failing from the virtuous path, Vyasa extols Kali Yuga as

being exceptionally fortunate in that the easiest means for attaining

the Lord have been prescribed for this Yuga.

 

Though, admittedly, Kali is the repository of all evil - and most of

us today are witnessing the moral quagmire into which present day

mankind has pushed itself - yet it has a supreme virtue:

a person may free himself of all attachments and attain God

Realization simply by singing the glories of the Lord and chanting

and hearing His names.

 

In other words, whatever a person could attain in the Krita Yuga by

meditation on Vishnu; in the Treta Yuga by performing sacrifices; in

the Dvapara Yuga by devoted service and worship - all that he may

attain in the Kali Yuga by extolling the Lord.

 

This is the great advantage of the Kali Yuga and makes us

exceptionally fortunate, despite the all-pervading evil around us!

 

kalau kalmaSa cittAnAM pApa dravyopa jIvinAM,

vidhi kriyA vihInA nAM gatir govinda kIrtanam

 

'In the age of Kali (Dark Age), the hearts of men and women are

polluted, their minds are impure, their lives are spent in sin and

acquiring wealth for sense-gratification, devoid of spiritual

discipline and devotional practice.

 

So for such unfortunate souls of Kali Yuga, the ONLY way to attaining

the ultimate goal of life is devotional singing of the Names,

Attributes, and Lilas of Govinda.'

 

Veda Vyasa muni started the Bhagavatam with an invocatory hymn

addressed to the Ultimate Reality, and that verse contains the

essence of the Vedanta philosophy as expounded in the Upanishads and

the Brahma Sutras.

 

In the valedictory verse of the Bhagavatam, Veda Vyasa Maharsi

declares that chanting of the names of the Supreme Being alone is

capable of destroying all the sins which stand in the way of God-

realization.

 

In these days when people want God-realization and liberation while

holding on to the world at the same time, and are reluctant to put

forth mental or physical effort to acquire Jnana or study scriptures,

the easiest way to achieve the goal is by resorting to chanting the

name of the Lord, which can be done anywhere and at all times, for

example while engaged in eating, cooking in the kitchen, walking,

traveling, or any other activity for that matter.

 

The logical reasoning behind this process is as follows: Every letter

of the Sanskrit alphabet is an aspect of the universal force or the

power (Sakti), in which the Lord manifests Himself in the world. The

first letter €  ¥ (A) which stands for the power €

  '±Amrita-Varshini€  '², when

chanted over a long period of time, can bestow a long life. Similarly

the letter €  §ü (EE) stands for the power €  '±Eesaani€  '², which

can bestow

the ability of controlling others and, being the Maya Bija, also has

the influence of removing Maya.

 

The names of the Lord are all combinations of different sound forces

whose vibrations will permeate our mind and the body, and shall

purify them as well as the ambient atmosphere, and finally lead us to

the Super-conscious state of Samadhi, resulting in God-realization.

 

nAsti nAsti mahA bhAga! kali kAlasamaM yugaM,

smaraNAt kIrtanAt viSNoH prApyate paramaM padam

 

O great fortunate one! There is no age, there is no age equal to the

Kali Yuga during which the Ultimate Supreme Goal is attained simply

by the loving rememberence and devotional chanting of the Holy Names

of Lord Vishnu (Krishna)

 

Srimad Bhagavatam is not a mere book. It is the very Lord manifested

as the sound (word) force. The Lord is infinite and His words have

myriad interpretations - and each one of them is correct too - since

they are meant for Sadhakas with varying levels of spiritual

aptitude, capacity, etc. in the light of their Vasanas (latent

tendencies).

 

The very last verse of the Srimad Bhagavatam 12.13.23:

 

nAma saGkIrtanaM yasya sarva pApa praNAzanam

praNAmo duHkha zamanas taM namAmi hariM param

 

Let us all prostrate to that transcendental Lord Hari, thinking

(singing) of Whose Names destroy all sins, and surrendering to Whom

dispels all miseries and sufferings."

 

Jaya Sri Radhey!

[Guest guest]

Jaya Sri Radhey!

 

Some beautiful doha from Sri Tulasidasji's 'Sri Rama-Carita-Manas'-

 

"mana krama vacana chaaDi caturaayee

bhajata hi kripa karata raghu raayee"

 

Leaving aside the egoism of learning, craftiness and word jugglery,

if the seeker sincerely worship the Lord with his heart, mind, words,

and actions, Lord Raghu Rama showers His Grace upon him and he is

blessed with DIVINE LOVE.

 

"kali yuga kevala naam adhaaraa

sumiri sumiri nara utarahi paaraa"

 

In the age of Kali, the Names of Lord alone are of support to mankind

for devotion.

By REMEMBERING and REMEMBERING LOVINGLY the Name of Lord alone, men

can CROSS the ocean of material existence.

 

"kali yuga kevala hari guNa gaahaa

gaavata nara paavata bhava thaaha"

 

In the age of Kali, there is ONLY one way to get RELEASE from the

worldly bondage,

that is to SING WHOLEHEARTEDLY the Glories of Lord HARI.

 

"nahi kali dharma na bhagati viveku

raamanaama avalambana yeku"

 

In the age of Kali, there is NO use of varnasrama dharma nor

ritualistic vaidhi bhakti, nor the subtle knowledge of formless

Brahman.

The only SUPPORT and SUSTENENCE is the Name of Lord Raama.

 

"kali yuga yoga na yajna na jaanaa

yek aadhaara raama guNa gaanaa"

 

In the age of Kali, Patamjali's astaangayoga, or the jnana of Advaita

Philosophy, or the fire sacrifices done to heavenly gods, are of NO

HELP!

For God realisation, there is ONE ONE HELP, i.e.,

SINGING LOVINGLY the Glories, Virtues and Lilas of Lord Rama.

 

So Saint Tulasidasji PRAYS to His Ramacandra Kripalu,

 

"ab prabhu kripa karahu yehi bhaamti

saba taji bhajana karaum dina raati"

 

O Lord, NOW Grace me in SUCH a way, that I will leave ALL other

USELESS sadhanas, other RITUAL practices, and ENGAGE myself day and

night in

LOVINGLY SINGING YOUR Names,

Extolling Your Grace and Your Virtues,

REMEMBERING Your Lilas and

CONTEMPLATING on Your Blissful Form.

 

Jai Sant Tulasi das ki!

 

Jaya Sri Radhey !

[Guest guest]

Jaya Sri Radhey! Namaste.

 

Here is an excerpt from the article written by Sri R.K.Tripathi,

published in the English and Hindi translation of Sri

Tulasdasa's 'Sri Rama Carita Manasa' by Professor R.C.Prasad.

 

" So far as the poet (Saint Tulasi dasa) himself is concerned, he

seems to consider 'nama-japa', i.e. repetition of name, to be the

BEST means of Bhakti.

He has devoted many pages in Balakanda to explain the IMPORTANCE of

Nama - name, especially of the name of Rama.

 

Firstly because the name and the named are one, secondly because it

is the name which makes the named intelligible and is, therefore,

even superior to 'Rupa' - form.

 

The name is SUPERIOR even to Rama. It is the mediator between the

abstract Absolute and the Personified Absolute.

 

Through 'Nama-japa' Hanuman was able to have a control over Rama.

 

In the Kaliyuga especially, 'Nama-Japa' is MOST effective. The name

of Rama is EFFECTIVE whether it is uttered with love or with spite,

in anger or even in moments of boredom and laziness. The IMPORTANCE

of 'name' is SO GREAT that even Rama CANNOT describe it FULLY!

 

When the climax of Bhakti is reached, the devotee leaves every thing

to God, does not ask for any thing and accepts only that which the

Lord considers best for him. When the Lord is pleased to appear

before the devotee, He offers to grant him whatever he wants and does

not impose His will on him.

 

This is because He wants that the devotee should first be free from

all desires and then be granted Bhakti.

 

When the Bhakta has NO personal desires, he begs ONLY Bhakti of the

Lord. "

 

Jaya Sri Radhey!

 

, pyari_h <no_reply> wrote:

> Jaya Sri Radhey!

>

> Some beautiful doha from Sri Tulasidasji's 'Sri Rama-Carita-Manas'-

>

> "mana krama vacana chaaDi caturaayee

> bhajata hi kripa karata raghu raayee"

>

> Leaving aside the egoism of learning, craftiness and word jugglery,

> if the seeker sincerely worship the Lord with his heart, mind,

words,

> and actions, Lord Raghu Rama showers His Grace upon him and he is

> blessed with DIVINE LOVE.

>

> "kali yuga kevala naam adhaaraa

> sumiri sumiri nara utarahi paaraa"

>

> In the age of Kali, the Names of Lord alone are of support to

mankind

> for devotion.

> By REMEMBERING and REMEMBERING LOVINGLY the Name of Lord alone, men

> can CROSS the ocean of material existence.

>

> "kali yuga kevala hari guNa gaahaa

> gaavata nara paavata bhava thaaha"

>

> In the age of Kali, there is ONLY one way to get RELEASE from the

> worldly bondage,

> that is to SING WHOLEHEARTEDLY the Glories of Lord HARI.

>

> "nahi kali dharma na bhagati viveku

> raamanaama avalambana yeku"

>

> In the age of Kali, there is NO use of varnasrama dharma nor

> ritualistic vaidhi bhakti, nor the subtle knowledge of formless

> Brahman.

> The only SUPPORT and SUSTENENCE is the Name of Lord Raama.

>

> "kali yuga yoga na yajna na jaanaa

> yek aadhaara raama guNa gaanaa"

>

> In the age of Kali, Patamjali's astaangayoga, or the jnana of

Advaita

> Philosophy, or the fire sacrifices done to heavenly gods, are of NO

> HELP!

> For God realisation, there is ONE ONE HELP, i.e.,

> SINGING LOVINGLY the Glories, Virtues and Lilas of Lord Rama.

>

> So Saint Tulasidasji PRAYS to His Ramacandra Kripalu,

>

> "ab prabhu kripa karahu yehi bhaamti

> saba taji bhajana karaum dina raati"

>

> O Lord, NOW Grace me in SUCH a way, that I will leave ALL other

> USELESS sadhanas, other RITUAL practices, and ENGAGE myself day and

> night in

> LOVINGLY SINGING YOUR Names,

> Extolling Your Grace and Your Virtues,

> REMEMBERING Your Lilas and

> CONTEMPLATING on Your Blissful Form.

>

> Jai Sant Tulasi das ki!

>

> Jaya Sri Radhey !

[Guest guest]

Jaya Sri Radhey!

 

A few sublime verses from Srimad Bhagavatam (2. 2. 33, 34, 35, 36 and

37) glorifying Divine Love Devotion and Naama Sankirtana of the Lord:

 

na hyato 'nyaH zivaH panthA vizataH saMsRtAviha

vAsudeve bhagavati bhakti yogo yato bhavet

 

"For him who has fallen into the whirlpool of transmigration there is

NO OTHER blessed path other than that which makes for DEVOTION to

Lord Vaasudeva." (33)

 

bhagavAn brahma kAtsnaryena triran vIkSya manISayA

tadadhyavasyAt kUTastho ratir Atman yato bhavet

 

"Having critically studied Vedas with CONCENTRATED MIND thrice over,

Brahma CONCLUDED by force of reason that ALONE to be the HIGHEST

virtue, by which one is able to develop EXCLUSIVE DEVOTION to Sri

Krishna, the Self of the Universe."(34)

 

 

bhagavAn sarva bhUteSu lakSitaH svAtmanA hariH

dRzyair buddhyAdibhir draSTA lakSaNaignumApakaiH

 

"Lord Sri Hari ALONE is seen abiding in ALL animate and inanimate

beings as their very self; for the intellect and pther phenomenal

objects are adjuncts that LEAD us to infer the existence of the Lord,

Who is the All-witnessing seer." (35)

 

tasmAt sarvAtmanA rAjan hariH sarvatra sarvadA

zrotavyaH kIrtitavyaz ca smartavyo bhagavAn nRNAm

 

"Therefore, O king, men SHOULD always and under ALL circumstances

with their WHOLE being LISTEN to, RECITE and REVOLVE in their MIND

the stories of Lord Sri Hari alone." (36)

 

pibanti ye bhagavata AtmanaH satAM

kathAmRtaM zravaNapuTeSu sambhRtam

punanti te viSaya vidUSitAzayaM

vrajanti taccaraNa saroruhAntikam

 

 

"They who DRINK in the Nectar-like stories of the Lord, the Soul of

the universe, POURED into the CUPS of their EARS by HOLY men, are

ABLE to PURIFY their HEART, which has been contaminated through

contact with the pleasures of sense, and attain PROXIMITY to His

Lotus Feet." (37)

 

(Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 2, Chap. 2, verses 33-37)

 

Jaya Sri Radhey!