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Slokas Chanting

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Namaste,

 

The discussion on Mantras was really wonderful. Here are my 2 cents.

 

I agree with Dr. Yadu, Radha kutir, Dr. Nachiketa and all the other

members who presented their views on whether to chant a Mantra

without knowing its meaning.

 

One thing we need to remember is Hinduism is not meant for only the

learned or for a select group of people. It is meant for all, which

is why Hinduism alone has various paths to suit the various

temperaments of different people.

 

In a school, there are children of various age groups. In

Kindergarten, children learn the letters of the alphabet. the letters

by themselves do not have any meaning. Or even words by themselves do

not have any meaning, unless we form a sentence out of it. For this

reason we cannot mock at the KG children for learning letters, nor is

it right to urge them to learn words and sentences. In their stage,

it suffices to learn letters and simple words, even if they do not

know the meaning. As they advance and learn the English language,

they will have to learn by. So it's not necessary to force them in

that stage. Contrarily, a child who is in 5th Grade and is lerning

the Language, must learn the meanings too. It would be wrong not to

learn the meanings.

 

Similarly, all of us r in various stages of saadhana. What holds good

for one need not hold good for another. As Ranjini said, chanting or

listeing to the Sloka even if one knows not the meaning is at least a

start. As some members pointed out, a dacoit was taught to

chant 'Mara', which when chanted continuously is nothing but 'Rama'.

And he became the all renowned 'Sage 'Valmiki'. Kalidasa too was

stupid and dumb in the begining, until he won the Grace of Goddess

Saraswathi, after which he entered the Indian history books. He too

prayed in ignorance.

 

Thus praying in ignorance is not contra indicated. However, this does

not apply to all. As one progresses, probably in a few life times,

one will have to learn the meaning. Like the 5th grade student, onne

needs to concentrate on the meanings. Not studying the meaning would

be like studying English w/o trying to know the meaning .

 

Again a stage will come, when one needn't bother about meanings, for

one goes beyond all. This is akin to a college student, who need not

learn the language, but concentrates on the subject one has chosen.

Similarly, when one advances higher, one needn't bother again, for

all is Brahman. One can concentrate on that alone.

 

Krishna said in the Gita, if one let's go of all thoughts, and fills

all his thoughts of only Krishna, and surrenders himself completely

to Krishna, then Krishna will take care of the his welfare. In this

stage it suffices just to think of Krishna.

 

Thus in Hinduism not one path is specified. In the beginning, we can

just chant even if we know not the meaning, for it's not only a

start, but also results in chittha suddhi( cleansing of the heart),

which will lead us to the next stage. As we go higher, we need to

know the meaning, to fully appreciate and understand what is being

said. This paves the way to higher stages. As we go higher towards

Brahman, we go beyond the realms of knowledge and guna. In this

stage, only a thought is enough. And in the higher stage even

thoughts must be rejected.

 

What matters not, is what we know, or how much we know, but what

counts is our sincerity. If we are sincere enough, help will come on

its own.

 

Ramana Maharshi said, " If you seek God with your whole heart, then

you may be assured that the Grace of God is also seeking you. "

 

Hari Aum !!!

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