Guest guest Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 Namaste, > Repeat 200 malas of Japa daily. If one is able to spend 4-5 hours everyday in chanting a mantra or any name of god, one will surely start to make brisk progress spiritually. If one is unable to formally do japa with a maalaa for hours, I suggest mentally repeating a mantra whenever one is free. For example, one may be on a bus or a train traveling to work or sitting in a conference room waiting for a conference to walking from one place to another or standing in front of the stove cooking food or eating some food or whatever. If one's *mind* has a little *free time*, irrespective what the body is doing, one can chant one's mantra (whichever it is). Sitting in one place and doing japa with some rules is definitely better, but, one can *supplement* such sadhana with chanting the mantra while walking or sitting in a train etc, which is also good. It is better than mind wandering here and there and gossipping about this and that. Use the mantra as a tool to stop the mind from wandering and to focus it on god. Best regards, Narasimha Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homam Do Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/tarpana Spirituality: Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.net Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.org Jyotish writings: JyotishWritings Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org - " chaudhuri.krishnendu " <krishnenduchdhr Wednesday, October 07, 2009 10:52 AM Swami Sivananda Maharaj on Japa Yoga In this Kali Yuga (iron age) Japa alone is the easy way to the realisation of God. The famous author of a commentary on the Gita and of the Advaita-Siddhi, Swami Madhusudana Saraswati, had direct Darsan of Lord Krishna through Japa of the Mantra of Lord Krishna. The reputed Swami Vidyaranya, the author of the Panchadasi had direct Darsan of Mother Gayatri through Japa of Gayatri Mantra. At the present moment many educated persons and college-students have lost faith in the power of Mantra, owing to the morbid influence of the study of science. They have entirely given up Japa. It is highly deplorable indeed. When the blood is warm they become hot-headed, proud and atheistic. Their brains and minds need a thorough overhauling and drastic flushing. Life is short. Time is fleeting. The world is full of miseries. Cut the knot of Avidya, and drink the Nirvanic Bliss. That day on which you do not perform any Japa is simply wasted. Those who simply eat, drink and sleep and do not practise any Japa are horizontal beings only. A Mantra, in the Hindu religion, has a Rishi who gave it to the world; a metre which governs the inflection of the voice; and a Devata or a supernatural being, higher or lower, as its informing power. The Bija, seed, is a significant word, or series of words, which gives it a special power. Sometimes this word is a sound which harmonises with the key-note of the individual using it and varies it with individuals; sometimes this word expresses the essence of the Mantra, and the result of the Mantra is the flower springing from this seed. The Sakti is the energy of the form of the Mantra, i.e., the vibration-forms set up by its sounds. These carry the man to the Devata that is worshipped. The Kilaka, the pillar, is that which supports and makes strong the Mantra, or the pin which fastens the Mantra together; this is the ceasing of sorrow, by the freeing of oneself from imperfections. Do not bother yourself about Mantra, Para and Pasyanti, etc. Do Japa of your Ishta Mantra mentally with its meaning and right Bhava. You will realise the spiritual benefits. Why do you waste your time in counting the pebbles on the bank? Take a dip immediately in the Ganges and enjoy the bath. Become wise. All Mantras have equal potency or power. It is incorrect to say that Om Namo Narayanaya is superior to Om Namah Sivaya or Radhesyam or Sri Ram, and so on. You can attain God-realisation by doing Japa of any Mantra. Valmiki attained God-consciousness by repealing even Mara-Mara. Some people think that Om or Soham is superior to Om Namo Narayanaya, or vice versa. This also is wrong. The state gained by doing Japa of Om or Soham can be attained by doing Japa of Sri Ram or Radhesyam also. You should not doubt the teachings of the scriptures. Flickering faith will lead to downfall. A man of weak will, who has no faith in Japa, cannot expect to have progress in the spiritual path. If he says, " I am practicing `who am I' enquiry " -this is all wild imagination. Few are fit for " who am I " enquiry. You must have the Bhava that Atman, Isvara, Devata, Mantra are one. With this Bhava you will have to repeat your Guru Mantra or Ishta Mantra. Then alone you will have Mantra Siddhi or God-realisation quickly. The Japa of a Mantra can bring to the practitioner realisation of his highest goal though he may not possess knowledge of the meaning of the Mantra. Such a mechanical Japa may take a little more time in realisation than when it is practiced with a knowledge of the meaning. There is an indescribable power or Achintya Sakti in the Mantras. If you repeat the Mantra with concentration on its meaning, you will attain God-consciousness quickly. Form a strong habit of repeating the Name of the Lord. Then only it will be easy for you to remember Him at the time of death. To define God is to deny God. You can give the definition of a finite object. How can you define limitless or the Infinite Being who is the source and ultimate cause for everything? If you define God you are limiting the limitless one, you are confining Him with concepts of mind. God is beyond the reach of the gross mind, but He can be realised through Japa and meditation with a pure, subtle and one-pointed mind. Japa is the repetition of any mantra or name of the Lord.In this iron age Japa is the easiest and surest way for God-realisation. Repeat 200 malas of Japa daily. Mala or rosary is a whip to goad the mind towards God. Wear a mala on your neck. It is the most precious jewel or ornament as it reminds you of God. Practice of Japa removes the impurities of the mind, destroys sins and brings the devotee face to face with God. Japa must become habitual. Be regular in your Japa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 Respected Shri Narasimha Ji, **Repeat 200 malas of Japa daily. Mala or rosary is a whip to goad the mind towards God. Wear a mala on your neck. It is the most precious jewel or ornament as it reminds you of God.** Is it good/ bad oman to wear the mala on neck with which one have taken Japa? Sincerely, Ganesh , " Narasimha P.V.R. Rao " <pvr wrote: > > Namaste, > > > Repeat 200 malas of Japa daily. > > If one is able to spend 4-5 hours everyday in chanting a mantra or any name > of god, one will surely start to make brisk progress spiritually. > > If one is unable to formally do japa with a maalaa for hours, I suggest > mentally repeating a mantra whenever one is free. For example, one may be on > a bus or a train traveling to work or sitting in a conference room waiting > for a conference to walking from one place to another or standing in front > of the stove cooking food or eating some food or whatever. If one's *mind* > has a little *free time*, irrespective what the body is doing, one can chant > one's mantra (whichever it is). > > Sitting in one place and doing japa with some rules is definitely better, > but, one can *supplement* such sadhana with chanting the mantra while > walking or sitting in a train etc, which is also good. It is better than > mind wandering here and there and gossipping about this and that. Use the > mantra as a tool to stop the mind from wandering and to focus it on god. > > Best regards, > Narasimha > > Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homam > Do Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/tarpana > Spirituality: > Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.net > Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.org > Jyotish writings: JyotishWritings > Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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