Guest guest Posted October 4, 2008 Report Share Posted October 4, 2008 Namaste Ajit, A really learned and elevated soul like you is asking a fool like me for my view - how weird is the play of the Mother! You read shastras far more thoroughly than me. I read only a little and mostly go by my instincts, words of gurus and insights from practical experience. Anyway, as you asked, here are my 2 cents. The purpose of sadhana is to instill discipline and control the mind. If the wandering mind slows down, oneday there is a possibility of mind stopping completely for a little time. When that happens, you perceive the underlying reality that an overactive mind normally stops you from perceiving. As this happens more frequently, you are able to control your mind far better. If you do things in a business-like attitude, in haste, IMHO, it is not really conducive to slowing the mind down and creating a useful complete/partial silence of the mind. It is very counter-productive. Before any ritual, we are expected to do praanaayaama. The idea is that you get as much control over breathing and hence on mind, and then rely on the meditation/japam/homam to take the mind further into calmness. If you are somebody who can maintain calmness of your mind even as you rush through some hymns in haste, then I see no problem. But, normally, rushing through something under time pressure destroys the calmness of the mind. On the other hand, if you do not have artificial pressures to meet a count and go calmly as long as you can, it is more conducive to the calming down of the mind. Thus, I strongly recommend doing japam at the pace that is comfortable and not detrimental to the calmness and focus of mind. If necessary, I recommend dumping restrictions like meeting a count. In fact, in this age and time, it is probably better to not have a target count at all and have a target time only. In other words, don't say "I will do this mantra for 1008 times" and instead say "I will do this mantra for 40 minutes". Then, for those 40 minutes, you can focus on the mantra calmly. Of course, quantity also matters. Doing japam for 4 hours everyday is definitely better than half hour. But quantity without quality is useless. Very focussed meditation for half hour is better than distracted meditation for 4 hours. If you can maintain the quality, then quantity starts to matter. Best regards,NarasimhaDo a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homamDo Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/tarpanaSpirituality: Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org - Ajit Krishnan Narasimha P.V.R. Rao Thursday, October 02, 2008 1:47 AM : quality vs quantity namaste mahodaya, I have a doubt that I've wanted to ask for a while. Please do reply on . Assuming that one has limited time for japa (or other sadhana), which is better -- doing a smaller count slowly and deliberately, or trying to do the japa very quickly in order to have a higher "count"? Since it is navaratram, take devi-mahatmyam as an example -- is it better to read a few chapters slowly each day, or is it better to try and finish the parayana of all 700 shlokas at superspeed? bhavadIyaH, ajit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2008 Report Share Posted October 4, 2008 Adarniya Guruji Namaste, I had the same doubt because due to time restriction & in the run to do more quantity I too rushed. But I was wondering whether such a speed is ok or it is better do it calmly. But then observing the Brahmins who recite the mantras at Super Super speed I thought that it may be allright as Brahmins are Supreme. I was in Dilemma. After reading you post the doubt is crystal clear & feels like the truth is being revealed directly from God & no second thought on that. Your views/postings are a Great Blessing. Hope that many such wrong practices will be corrected in time. Regards Vinayak P Tandle--- On Sat, 10/4/08, Narasimha P.V.R. Rao <pvr wrote: Narasimha P.V.R. Rao <pvr Re: : quality vs quantity"Ajit Krishnan" <ajit.krishnanCc: Date: Saturday, October 4, 2008, 10:20 PM Namaste Ajit, A really learned and elevated soul like you is asking a fool like me for my view - how weird is the play of the Mother! You read shastras far more thoroughly than me. I read only a little and mostly go by my instincts, words of gurus and insights from practical experience. Anyway, as you asked, here are my 2 cents. The purpose of sadhana is to instill discipline and control the mind. If the wandering mind slows down, oneday there is a possibility of mind stopping completely for a little time. When that happens, you perceive the underlying reality that an overactive mind normally stops you from perceiving. As this happens more frequently, you are able to control your mind far better. If you do things in a business-like attitude, in haste, IMHO, it is not really conducive to slowing the mind down and creating a useful complete/partial silence of the mind. It is very counter-productive. Before any ritual, we are expected to do praanaayaama. The idea is that you get as much control over breathing and hence on mind, and then rely on the meditation/japam/ homam to take the mind further into calmness. If you are somebody who can maintain calmness of your mind even as you rush through some hymns in haste, then I see no problem. But, normally, rushing through something under time pressure destroys the calmness of the mind. On the other hand, if you do not have artificial pressures to meet a count and go calmly as long as you can, it is more conducive to the calming down of the mind. Thus, I strongly recommend doing japam at the pace that is comfortable and not detrimental to the calmness and focus of mind. If necessary, I recommend dumping restrictions like meeting a count. In fact, in this age and time, it is probably better to not have a target count at all and have a target time only. In other words, don't say "I will do this mantra for 1008 times" and instead say "I will do this mantra for 40 minutes". Then, for those 40 minutes, you can focus on the mantra calmly. Of course, quantity also matters. Doing japam for 4 hours everyday is definitely better than half hour. But quantity without quality is useless. Very focussed meditation for half hour is better than distracted meditation for 4 hours. If you can maintain the quality, then quantity starts to matter. Best regards,Narasimha------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ homamDo Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ tarpanaSpirituality: http://groups. / group/vedic- wisdomFree Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro. home.comcast. netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAst rologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagan nath.org------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- - Ajit Krishnan Narasimha P.V.R. Rao Thursday, October 02, 2008 1:47 AM : quality vs quantity namaste mahodaya, I have a doubt that I've wanted to ask for a while. Please do reply on . Assuming that one has limited time for japa (or other sadhana), which is better -- doing a smaller count slowly and deliberately, or trying to do the japa very quickly in order to have a higher "count"? Since it is navaratram, take devi-mahatmyam as an example -- is it better to read a few chapters slowly each day, or is it better to try and finish the parayana of all 700 shlokas at superspeed? bhavadIyaH, ajit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2008 Report Share Posted October 4, 2008 Adarniya Narasimha Guruji Namaste, A small doubt arose in mind. You wrote: "The purpose of sadhana is to instill discipline and control the mind. If the wandering mind slows down, oneday there is a possibility of mind stopping completely for a little time. When that happens, you perceive the underlying reality that an overactive mind normally stops you from perceiving. As this happens more frequently, you are able to control your mind far better." After astrological consultation people are asked to recite particluar mantra for a ovrercoming a specific problem e.g., Marital problem/ Debt. Here does it mean that by reciting the particular mantra the mind will b calm & we will take better decision or it is something else. Please elaborate. Regards Vinayak P Tandle --- On Sat, 10/4/08, Narasimha P.V.R. Rao <pvr wrote: Narasimha P.V.R. Rao <pvr Re: : quality vs quantity"Ajit Krishnan" <ajit.krishnanCc: Date: Saturday, October 4, 2008, 10:20 PM Namaste Ajit, A really learned and elevated soul like you is asking a fool like me for my view - how weird is the play of the Mother! You read shastras far more thoroughly than me. I read only a little and mostly go by my instincts, words of gurus and insights from practical experience. Anyway, as you asked, here are my 2 cents. The purpose of sadhana is to instill discipline and control the mind. If the wandering mind slows down, oneday there is a possibility of mind stopping completely for a little time. When that happens, you perceive the underlying reality that an overactive mind normally stops you from perceiving. As this happens more frequently, you are able to control your mind far better. If you do things in a business-like attitude, in haste, IMHO, it is not really conducive to slowing the mind down and creating a useful complete/partial silence of the mind. It is very counter-productive. Before any ritual, we are expected to do praanaayaama. The idea is that you get as much control over breathing and hence on mind, and then rely on the meditation/japam/ homam to take the mind further into calmness. If you are somebody who can maintain calmness of your mind even as you rush through some hymns in haste, then I see no problem. But, normally, rushing through something under time pressure destroys the calmness of the mind. On the other hand, if you do not have artificial pressures to meet a count and go calmly as long as you can, it is more conducive to the calming down of the mind. Thus, I strongly recommend doing japam at the pace that is comfortable and not detrimental to the calmness and focus of mind. If necessary, I recommend dumping restrictions like meeting a count. In fact, in this age and time, it is probably better to not have a target count at all and have a target time only. In other words, don't say "I will do this mantra for 1008 times" and instead say "I will do this mantra for 40 minutes". Then, for those 40 minutes, you can focus on the mantra calmly. Of course, quantity also matters. Doing japam for 4 hours everyday is definitely better than half hour. But quantity without quality is useless. Very focussed meditation for half hour is better than distracted meditation for 4 hours. If you can maintain the quality, then quantity starts to matter. Best regards,Narasimha------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ homamDo Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ tarpanaSpirituality: http://groups. / group/vedic- wisdomFree Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro. home.comcast. netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAst rologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagan nath.org------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- - Ajit Krishnan Narasimha P.V.R. Rao Thursday, October 02, 2008 1:47 AM : quality vs quantity namaste mahodaya, I have a doubt that I've wanted to ask for a while. Please do reply on . Assuming that one has limited time for japa (or other sadhana), which is better -- doing a smaller count slowly and deliberately, or trying to do the japa very quickly in order to have a higher "count"? Since it is navaratram, take devi-mahatmyam as an example -- is it better to read a few chapters slowly each day, or is it better to try and finish the parayana of all 700 shlokas at superspeed? bhavadIyaH, ajit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2008 Report Share Posted October 4, 2008 Namaste, If you succeed in making your mind relatively silent, the sound of the mantra and energy of the deity will fill that vacuum. When your mind reverberates with the energy of the mantra and deity, those gunas will drive your mind and create some changes internally. Internal changes facilitate some external changes. The whole world is connected. God's divine energy is present in every atom or even sub-atomic particle. When you have a desire for a specific result and create mental energy (through repetition of a mantra) that is sufficient to break the barriers created by the previous karmas as represented by planetary combinations in your horoscope, nature will remove the karmik barrier and make your desire fructify. What kind of mantras and deities have what kind of energy, what kind of karmas represented by horoscopic combinations create what kind of barriers and what kind of energy is needed to break them was well-understood by rishis and captured in a variety of works. Unfortunately, our own understanding of their teachings is corrupted by the nature and quality of the times we live in. Bottomline is: Without calming the mind down and creating some positive vibration, no mantra will work. If you routinely read a mantra without any devotion and with business-like spirit, hardly anything will happen. In order to get something from a mantra, be calm, surrender, have devotion, feel the mantra, imagine the form of the deity and let the mantra and its deity fill your mind eventually. Those who think that they can chant a mantra hastily for 10 min everyday and solve all their problems are kidding themselves. Best regards,NarasimhaDo a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homamDo Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/tarpanaSpirituality: Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org - vinayak tandle Saturday, October 04, 2008 2:01 PM Re: Re: : quality vs quantity Adarniya Narasimha Guruji Namaste, A small doubt arose in mind. You wrote: "The purpose of sadhana is to instill discipline and control the mind. If the wandering mind slows down, oneday there is a possibility of mind stopping completely for a little time. When that happens, you perceive the underlying reality that an overactive mind normally stops you from perceiving. As this happens more frequently, you are able to control your mind far better." After astrological consultation people are asked to recite particluar mantra for a ovrercoming a specific problem e.g., Marital problem/ Debt. Here does it mean that by reciting the particular mantra the mind will b calm & we will take better decision or it is something else. Please elaborate. Regards Vinayak P Tandle --- On Sat, 10/4/08, Narasimha P.V.R. Rao <pvr wrote: Narasimha P.V.R. Rao <pvr Re: : quality vs quantity"Ajit Krishnan" <ajit.krishnanCc: Date: Saturday, October 4, 2008, 10:20 PM Namaste Ajit, A really learned and elevated soul like you is asking a fool like me for my view - how weird is the play of the Mother! You read shastras far more thoroughly than me. I read only a little and mostly go by my instincts, words of gurus and insights from practical experience. Anyway, as you asked, here are my 2 cents. The purpose of sadhana is to instill discipline and control the mind. If the wandering mind slows down, oneday there is a possibility of mind stopping completely for a little time. When that happens, you perceive the underlying reality that an overactive mind normally stops you from perceiving. As this happens more frequently, you are able to control your mind far better. If you do things in a business-like attitude, in haste, IMHO, it is not really conducive to slowing the mind down and creating a useful complete/partial silence of the mind. It is very counter-productive. Before any ritual, we are expected to do praanaayaama. The idea is that you get as much control over breathing and hence on mind, and then rely on the meditation/japam/ homam to take the mind further into calmness. If you are somebody who can maintain calmness of your mind even as you rush through some hymns in haste, then I see no problem. But, normally, rushing through something under time pressure destroys the calmness of the mind. On the other hand, if you do not have artificial pressures to meet a count and go calmly as long as you can, it is more conducive to the calming down of the mind. Thus, I strongly recommend doing japam at the pace that is comfortable and not detrimental to the calmness and focus of mind. If necessary, I recommend dumping restrictions like meeting a count. In fact, in this age and time, it is probably better to not have a target count at all and have a target time only. In other words, don't say "I will do this mantra for 1008 times" and instead say "I will do this mantra for 40 minutes". Then, for those 40 minutes, you can focus on the mantra calmly. Of course, quantity also matters. Doing japam for 4 hours everyday is definitely better than half hour. But quantity without quality is useless. Very focussed meditation for half hour is better than distracted meditation for 4 hours. If you can maintain the quality, then quantity starts to matter. Best regards,Narasimha------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ homamDo Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ tarpanaSpirituality: http://groups. / group/vedic- wisdomFree Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro. home.comcast. netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAst rologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagan nath.org------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- - Ajit Krishnan Narasimha P.V.R. Rao Thursday, October 02, 2008 1:47 AM : quality vs quantity namaste mahodaya, I have a doubt that I've wanted to ask for a while. Please do reply on . Assuming that one has limited time for japa (or other sadhana), which is better -- doing a smaller count slowly and deliberately, or trying to do the japa very quickly in order to have a higher "count"? Since it is navaratram, take devi-mahatmyam as an example -- is it better to read a few chapters slowly each day, or is it better to try and finish the parayana of all 700 shlokas at superspeed? bhavadIyaH, ajit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 5, 2008 Report Share Posted October 5, 2008 Adarniya Narasimha Guruji Namaste, Thank you very much for revealing the deepest truth. No doubts on that. No more words to praise you. Regards Vinayak P Tandle --- On Sun, 10/5/08, Narasimha P.V.R. Rao <pvr wrote: Narasimha P.V.R. Rao <pvr Re: : quality vs quantity Date: Sunday, October 5, 2008, 2:00 AM Namaste, If you succeed in making your mind relatively silent, the sound of the mantra and energy of the deity will fill that vacuum. When your mind reverberates with the energy of the mantra and deity, those gunas will drive your mind and create some changes internally. Internal changes facilitate some external changes. The whole world is connected. God's divine energy is present in every atom or even sub-atomic particle. When you have a desire for a specific result and create mental energy (through repetition of a mantra) that is sufficient to break the barriers created by the previous karmas as represented by planetary combinations in your horoscope, nature will remove the karmik barrier and make your desire fructify. What kind of mantras and deities have what kind of energy, what kind of karmas represented by horoscopic combinations create what kind of barriers and what kind of energy is needed to break them was well-understood by rishis and captured in a variety of works. Unfortunately, our own understanding of their teachings is corrupted by the nature and quality of the times we live in. Bottomline is: Without calming the mind down and creating some positive vibration, no mantra will work. If you routinely read a mantra without any devotion and with business-like spirit, hardly anything will happen. In order to get something from a mantra, be calm, surrender, have devotion, feel the mantra, imagine the form of the deity and let the mantra and its deity fill your mind eventually. Those who think that they can chant a mantra hastily for 10 min everyday and solve all their problems are kidding themselves. Best regards,Narasimha------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ homamDo Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ tarpanaSpirituality: http://groups. / group/vedic- wisdomFree Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro. home.comcast. netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAst rologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagan nath.org------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- - vinayak tandle Saturday, October 04, 2008 2:01 PM Re: Re: : quality vs quantity Adarniya Narasimha Guruji Namaste, A small doubt arose in mind. You wrote: "The purpose of sadhana is to instill discipline and control the mind. If the wandering mind slows down, oneday there is a possibility of mind stopping completely for a little time. When that happens, you perceive the underlying reality that an overactive mind normally stops you from perceiving. As this happens more frequently, you are able to control your mind far better." After astrological consultation people are asked to recite particluar mantra for a ovrercoming a specific problem e.g., Marital problem/ Debt. Here does it mean that by reciting the particular mantra the mind will b calm & we will take better decision or it is something else. Please elaborate. Regards Vinayak P Tandle --- On Sat, 10/4/08, Narasimha P.V.R. Rao <pvr (AT) charter (DOT) net> wrote: Narasimha P.V.R. Rao <pvr (AT) charter (DOT) net> Re: : quality vs quantity"Ajit Krishnan" <ajit.krishnan@ gmail.com>Cc: Saturday, October 4, 2008, 10:20 PM Namaste Ajit, A really learned and elevated soul like you is asking a fool like me for my view - how weird is the play of the Mother! You read shastras far more thoroughly than me. I read only a little and mostly go by my instincts, words of gurus and insights from practical experience. Anyway, as you asked, here are my 2 cents. The purpose of sadhana is to instill discipline and control the mind. If the wandering mind slows down, oneday there is a possibility of mind stopping completely for a little time. When that happens, you perceive the underlying reality that an overactive mind normally stops you from perceiving. As this happens more frequently, you are able to control your mind far better. If you do things in a business-like attitude, in haste, IMHO, it is not really conducive to slowing the mind down and creating a useful complete/partial silence of the mind. It is very counter-productive. Before any ritual, we are expected to do praanaayaama. The idea is that you get as much control over breathing and hence on mind, and then rely on the meditation/japam/ homam to take the mind further into calmness. If you are somebody who can maintain calmness of your mind even as you rush through some hymns in haste, then I see no problem. But, normally, rushing through something under time pressure destroys the calmness of the mind. On the other hand, if you do not have artificial pressures to meet a count and go calmly as long as you can, it is more conducive to the calming down of the mind. Thus, I strongly recommend doing japam at the pace that is comfortable and not detrimental to the calmness and focus of mind. If necessary, I recommend dumping restrictions like meeting a count. In fact, in this age and time, it is probably better to not have a target count at all and have a target time only. In other words, don't say "I will do this mantra for 1008 times" and instead say "I will do this mantra for 40 minutes". Then, for those 40 minutes, you can focus on the mantra calmly. Of course, quantity also matters. Doing japam for 4 hours everyday is definitely better than half hour. But quantity without quality is useless. Very focussed meditation for half hour is better than distracted meditation for 4 hours. If you can maintain the quality, then quantity starts to matter. Best regards,Narasimha------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ homamDo Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ tarpanaSpirituality: http://groups. / group/vedic- wisdomFree Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro. home.comcast. netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAst rologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagan nath.org------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- - Ajit Krishnan Narasimha P.V.R. Rao Thursday, October 02, 2008 1:47 AM : quality vs quantity namaste mahodaya, I have a doubt that I've wanted to ask for a while. Please do reply on . Assuming that one has limited time for japa (or other sadhana), which is better -- doing a smaller count slowly and deliberately, or trying to do the japa very quickly in order to have a higher "count"? Since it is navaratram, take devi-mahatmyam as an example -- is it better to read a few chapters slowly each day, or is it better to try and finish the parayana of all 700 shlokas at superspeed? bhavadIyaH, ajit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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