Japa and my mantra, not working for me

[Jainarayan]

Maybe it's because my mind is not disciplined, but I cannot seem to derive anything (feeling) from the mantra Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya. Certainly I know it's meaning, but I don't "connect" with it. I know that properly a mantra should be given by a guru, but I do not have a guru, and most likely never will.

I picked Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya because I've been told that is the one to use for Vaishnavas, that it brings you close to Krishna. I've used it, but I can't "get into it". I feel more by using Om Sri Krishna sharanam mama (Lord Krishna is my refuge). Maybe it's the rhythm of the mantra's syllables and sounds. Or, maybe it's because that when I first encountered it by reading somewhere I felt connected. I feel that when I recite it I am enveloped by Lord Krishna. I feel like I am running to Him and He is there to envelope me and protect me.

Is this a common occurrence? Have I gone wrong somewhere? Or is Lord Krishna indeed telling me something?

 

[Vinayaka]

Maybe it's because my mind is not disciplined, but I cannot seem to derive anything (feeling) from the mantra Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya. Certainly I know it's meaning, but I don't "connect" with it. I know that properly a mantra should be given by a guru, but I do not have a guru, and most likely never will.

I picked Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya because I've been told that is the one to use for Vaishnavas, that it brings you close to Krishna. I've used it, but I can't "get into it". I feel more by using Om Sri Krishna sharanam mama (Lord Krishna is my refuge). Maybe it's the rhythm of the mantra's syllables and sounds. Or, maybe it's because that when I first encountered it by reading somewhere I felt connected. I feel that when I recite it I am enveloped by Lord Krishna. I feel like I am running to Him and He is there to envelope me and protect me.

Is this a common occurrence? Have I gone wrong somewhere? Or is Lord Krishna indeed telling me something?

Personally, I think you might be a bit impatient. The effects of any sadhana may be subtle and take a lot of time. There most likely has been some effect; just you haven't noticed. I remember when I first started out nearly 40 years ago I felt I should see some dramatic changes right away. Does a child notice he is growing? Give him 10 years and he'll notice. So it is with mantra japa. Of course this is just my personal take.

 

[Jainarayan]

Well, you may be right. I may be expecting that I should have this mastered, and if I don't I am somehow lacking in devotion. I also know I have to fight to concentrate. In fact, when I'm doing prayers and japa I use foam earplugs to block out distracting sounds. That may be cheating, but it helps me concentrate. I find I can concentrate better when I am seated. I can work on this.

 

[Wannabe Yogi]

Well, you may be right. I may be expecting that I should have this mastered, and if I don't I am somehow lacking in devotion. I also know I have to fight to concentrate. In fact, when I'm doing prayers and japa I use foam earplugs to block out distracting sounds. That may be cheating, but it helps me concentrate. I find I can concentrate better when I am seated. I can work on this.

Concentration comes and goes. Whats the Goal ? For me the Ideal is just to sit 3xs a day. To do my best and except what ever comes my way. If I was unable to focus then I was unable to focus. Except with love in your heart what ever the Ishta offers. Sometimes it is just the mind running amuck. Well now I better understand the nature of my mind. Or, oh my God I am really lusting over my friend at work. I need to do something about that. I just try to lay it all at the feet of the ishta. If anything good happens in my times of sitting it is never the mind that is the cause any way.

Thats just my simple view.

 

[Jainarayan]

I see, so God(dess), depending on one's Ishta-devata, understands that we may have the attention span of a squirrel. It's the attempt at controlling it and asking for help that is important, and spending time with God(dess), I suppose. Maybe I was hasty to criticize myself, and worse, the mantra.

When I hear the Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya mantra being sung or chanted (my collection of iPod bhajans) I feel overwhelmed, and I feel it's power. Only when I try to chant by myself does my mind "run amuck" as you so aptly put it. But I admit there are times when I can focus on the mantra, and I feel something come through. Maybe I can keep my favorite version in my head and sing it to myself. This is it...

[youtube]3ep4Y16cWeg[/youtube]
((( Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya ))) ~^~ Pure Bliss ~^~ - YouTube

In fact this is the one that caused me to choose my user name; I heard it and it brought me to tears. It still does. I will keep at this endeavor, and Give Lord Krishna the opportunity to help me.

:namaste

 

[DreadFish]

I think any mantra sadhana usually starts out with a minimum of 40 days. Can anyone else confirm this?

You choose your mantra and how many times a day you will do it, then you do it that many times for the allotted period of time (at least 40 days). I definitely echo everyone elses comments to stick with it and give it time, it certainly wont become apparent right away until you have been doing those kinds of things for a long time I think. I am also doing a mantra sadhana (and I have not been as disciplined with it as I should ), and I find some days the focus is strong, other days he minds wonders. Just do what you do, when your mind wanders off, just go back to the japa and dont fret. The mind isn't fully under our control, so dont get frustrated, it's like taming an ox (also, I find that the mind becomes defensive, if you will, when it is at risk of being tamed to a certain degree or that sort of thing).

 

[Vinayaka]

I think any mantra sadhana usually starts out with a minimum of 40 days. Can anyone else confirm this?

Totally depends on Guru's instructions, sect, sampradaya traditions. For me it is once a day, every day for the rest of my life.

 

[DreadFish]

Totally depends on Guru's instructions, sect, sampradaya traditions. For me it is once a day, every day for the rest of my life.

Ah thanks, good to know.

 

[Marble]

Have you got initiation?
Usually you need initiation for mantras to work.
Notice that there is a difference between Mantra japa and Nama japa.
Nama means name and Nama japa means to repeat the name of one's choosen deity.

For instance, Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya is a Mantra for which you need initiation while repeating Hari, Hari is Nama japa which can be done by everyone.
Om Sri Krishna sharanam mama is a Mantra, Krishna, Krishna,... is Nama japa.

 

[Jainarayan]

No, I have no guru for initiation. The likelihood of having one is slim to none.

 

[Jainarayan]

So unless and until I ever receive initiation and a mantra from a guru, I should not use Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya or Om Sri Krishnaya Namaha, or another mantra, rather, I should just chant "Krishna, Krishna, Krishna..." or "Govinda, Govinda, Govinda..." or Rāma, Rāma, Rāma... " on my mālā? If so, I think that's very nice in itself.

 

[Jainarayan]

Well, another mystery of the universe solved. There is nothing wrong with the Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya mantra for me... it is me. Or rather was, has been... whatever verb tense you like... all along.

It is my breathing and rhythm that's been off. I also used a melodic chant this time. By focusing on those and bringing them together, though my mind did wander from time to time (to be expected, I suppose), I found it easier to bring myself back and focus on japa. It was a pleasant feeling.

After my japa tonight I sat for a few minutes, eyes closed, breathing easily and letting my mind empty (which isn't hard

). It was a nice effect. I should do the calm breathing and mind-clearing before japa. I have to do this regularly. I know this will take practice.

 

[Vinayaka]

Well, another mystery of the universe solved. There is nothing wrong with the Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya mantra for me... it is me. Or rather was, has been... whatever verb tense you like... all along.

It is my breathing and rhythm that's been off. I also used a melodic chant this time. By focusing on those and bringing them together, though my mind did wander from time to time (to be expected, I suppose), I found it easier to bring myself back and focus on japa. It was a pleasant feeling.

After my japa tonight I sat for a few minutes, eyes closed, breathing easily and letting my mind empty (which isn't hard

). It was a nice effect. I should do the calm breathing and mind-clearing before japa. I have to do this regularly. I know this will take practice.

For what its worth to you, I've been doing japa off and on for a very long time, and it is still inconsistent. My moods vary, if something 'big' is going on in my life, I get distracted more easily, there are sounds in the house, sometimes I have to clear my throat, and more. Other days it just flows as if it isn't even me chanting ... as if its a nice tape of someone else inside the top of my head singing down at me. Some days one round feels like 20 seconds, other days it feels like 3 hours. Some days I can sit and do 10 rounds, (usually about 8 minutes per round) almost effortlessly, other days I'm lucky to do one. So this inconsistency is just part of the process.

 

[Me Myself]

My moods vary too.

Sometimes I don´t chant Namah Shivaya before going to sleep (I generaly chant before going to sleep, as bad of a timing for the practice as that may be ) because I think I will be more in tune with Shiva by simply trying to sit and breath, and be in tune with myself. (I don´t know if ONS is japa or nama, or however it is called, so sorry if mistaks around there :s )

I chant ONS many times without feeling a lot, but also many times I get surprised that after the chant is that I feel very calmed and at peace.

It´s mostly a come and go experience for me too I would say, so I´ll simply try to follow my gut and surrender to Shiva in the way I think it´s going to open myself more to him.

I know that a lot of times I haven´t consciously felt it, it still influenced me, because those things work in subtle ways, in our subconscious, in our surroundings, etc.

So, we just gotta chant I think

 

[DreadFish]

And plus, even if we can't keep our mind focused only on the japa, at least the mind is thinking a mantra or nama instead of something else. So there's a plus

 

[Wannabe Yogi]

No, I have no guru for initiation. The likelihood of having one is slim to none.

Why won't you will find one when the time is right?

 

[Jainarayan]

For what its worth to you, I've been doing japa off and on for a very long time, and it is still inconsistent. My moods vary, if something 'big' is going on in my life, I get distracted more easily, there are sounds in the house, sometimes I have to clear my throat, and more. Other days it just flows as if it isn't even me chanting ... as if its a nice tape of someone else inside the top of my head singing down at me. Some days one round feels like 20 seconds, other days it feels like 3 hours. Some days I can sit and do 10 rounds, (usually about 8 minutes per round) almost effortlessly, other days I'm lucky to do one. So this inconsistency is just part of the process.

My moods vary too.

I chant ONS many times without feeling a lot, but also many times I get surprised that after the chant is that I feel very calmed and at peace.

It´s mostly a come and go experience for me too I would say, so I´ll simply try to follow my gut and surrender to Shiva in the way I think it´s going to open myself more to him.

I know that a lot of times I haven´t consciously felt it, it still influenced me, because those things work in subtle ways, in our subconscious, in our surroundings, etc.

So, we just gotta chant I think

And plus, even if we can't keep our mind focused only on the japa, at least the mind is thinking a mantra or nama instead of something else. So there's a plus

Well I am glad to know that even the long time experienced souls experience the same issues. There are times when it seems an eternity to get through a round, then other times I feel like I've finished before I started. I do often find myself mentally chanting at the oddest times, at work, driving around, etc. I seem to have it in my head that chanting on the mālā is the only way to do it, but I think that's not true.

Why won't you will find one when the time is right?

Yes, maybe the time isn't right, and it will come when it's ready.

Thanks. :namaste

 

[DreadFish]

Well I am glad to know that even the long time experienced souls experience the same issues. There are times when it seems an eternity to get through a round, then other times I feel like I've finished before I started. I do often find myself mentally chanting at the oddest times, at work, driving around, etc. I seem to have it in my head that chanting on the mālā is the only way to do it, but I think that's not true.

Also, for what it's worth, I dont know how long you have been practicing japa, but when I first started I had gotten my first mala and was going to chant Namah Shivaya on it 108 times (one mala) every day for 40 days. At that time it felt like it took forever just to do one, and I rarely could do it without feeling agitated or just wanting to stop half way and do the rest later

Now, that feeling arises after 2 or 3 malas and on occasion 5 or more in im really in the zone. So, that isn't to say that im really focused and disciplined in my japa because im really good or some crap like that, but that after time and through practicing calming the mind (through japa or, mainly for me, breath rememberence) then gradually your mind just learns to rest naturally as a habit. Then you can apply it to anything with much more focus. It's all about mind habits, and develouping a calm mind habit is the most conducive to practice

 

[Jainarayan]

At that time it felt like it took forever just to do one, and I rarely could do it without feeling agitated or just wanting to stop half way and do the rest later

Whew! I thought it was only me!

 

[DreadFish]

Whew! I thought it was only me!

The moral of the story is that you just have to develoup a different disposition (for lack of a better word), through continued practice just keep redirecting that ox in the direction its supposed to go, then gradually it will keep on going with few distractions lol (just remember than getting really mad at the ox or beating it and that sort of thing just agitates it more too)