Benefits of Japa/ Jesus mantra

[Guest guest]

Namah Shivaya,

 

This is the Jesus Prayer, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on

me, a sinner."

 

I think there is some debate on whether it is to be used by just

anybody; I actually got into a mantra discussion with an Orthodox

Christian who maintained that the Jesus prayer was only for very serious

devotees or monastics, should only be undertaken when under the care of

a spiritual guide (ie, monk, priest, deacon, etc) and in the context of

a devout Christian practice (regular worship and communion, and study of

scriptures), and that its use would provoke the devil to throw as many

obstacles in their way as possible; that it certainly wasn't a "mantra"

in his opinion.

 

(I would interpret that differently, but that's me.  Understand that

this person's context is one where he feels that Amma may be a great

humanitarian and example of devotion but would cause him to stray from

the path of Christ.)

 

Yes, this was just one person's opinion, but still.  It's a person who

knows a lot more about Orthodox Christianity than I do, so I defer to

him somewhat.

 

Perhaps Amma has initiated some devout Orthodox Christians into the

Jesus Prayer for their mantra.  Has anyone heard of such a thing

happening?

 

At any rate, I would personally tend, unless there is a strong desire in

the heart to repeat the Jesus Prayer, to be careful of something that

may be proscribed in its own tradition for use by just anyone.  Amma

says we can simply repeat the Divine Name (in this case "Jesus" or

"Jesus Christ"), and I would feel "safer", if you will, in following Her

advice more closely, if the goal is receiving Her grace for our

sadhana.  That's just me; your mileage may vary.

 

(Swami Sivananda Radha, a disciple of Swami Sivananda, wrote a book

called "Mantras: Words of Power", in which she suggested chanting "Jesus

Christ" to the same raga as "Hari Om".)

 

Hope this helps!

 

Namah Shivaya,

Laura

 

 

 

On Sunday, May 28, 2006, at 02:30  AM, ckeniley2003 wrote:

 

> There is the classic guidebook to christian japa called the "way of

> the pilgrim" (i beleive) from the russian orthodox tradition..a

> christian monk used japa to achieve an ecstatic union with Christ.

> He used "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me" I think this is

> correct, been a while since ive thought about this.

>

> Ammachi, val scalambra <vals_052> wrote:

> >

> >

> > Can anyone tell me of a Jesus Christ mantra and explain this

> concept of mantras to me please?

> >   

> >   Love to all,

> >   Val