Japa and my mantra, not working for me

[Marble]

This is not true in my tradition.

Which tradition is yours?

 

[The Wizard]

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?

Treat every session as a new experience. Don't expect anything from a preconcieved notion or earlier experience. It is a natural unfolding process. Forcing an experience leads to failure and dissapointment.

Pateince is a necessity. Acceptence of everything around you, including thoughts and sounds is a necessity. In essence, become a detached mirror that only observes and NOT reacts. Dissipate reaction with concentration of breath or mantra...

 

[Marble]

Perhaps it helps when you try to think of every repetition as a kiss: When you kiss your beloved, it is always something special.
So even when you repeat it silent, you could imagine to feel the sylables in your mouth, taste them, swallow them, let them sink into your heart.

 

[zenzero]

Friend Marble,

Perhaps it helps when you try to think of every repetition as a kiss: When you kiss your beloved, it is always something special.
So even when you repeat it silent, you could imagine to feel the sylables in your mouth, taste them, swallow them, let them sink into your heart.

very good use of imagery!
Though am not into mantra sadhana is it possible to suggesst that the imagery could be extended to the heart being that of the diety worshipped and not of the *SELF*??
over to you!
Love & rgds

 

[Marble]

Though am not into mantra sadhana is it possible to suggesst that the imagery could be extended to the heart being that of the diety worshipped and not of the *SELF*??

I'm not sure what you mean.

Ramana Maharshi teached that, while the physical heart is on the left side of the body, the spiritual hear is on the right side.
But I suppose, for Bhakti purposes, it is better to concentrate on the physical heart because there one can fell the heartbeat.
Perhaps when one practises long enough, one can synchronize the repetition with one's heartbeat.

 

[zenzero]

Friend Marble,
True the heartbeat is felt but whose heart?
we are part of that WHOLE and so the heart is not mine but of that WHOLE of which Ramana or other yogis mentions.
Yes, intially to be in tune one needs to hold on to something even the heart beat.
Personally tune with the One hand clap or the soundless sound or what is also termed as anhata sounds.

Love & rgds

 

[Jainarayan]

Treat every session as a new experience. Don't expect anything from a preconcieved notion or earlier experience. It is a natural unfolding process. Forcing an experience leads to failure and dissapointment.

I see... like trying to tightly hold onto a fistful of sand. The harder you squeeze, the more that slips through your fingers.

Pateince is a necessity. Acceptence of everything around you, including thoughts and sounds is a necessity. In essence, become a detached mirror that only observes and NOT reacts. Dissipate reaction with concentration of breath or mantra...

Yes, that's the hard part... not reacting!

Perhaps it helps when you try to think of every repetition as a kiss: When you kiss your beloved, it is always something special.
So even when you repeat it silent, you could imagine to feel the sylables in your mouth, taste them, swallow them, let them sink into your heart.

Friend Marble,

very good use of imagery!
Though am not into mantra sadhana is it possible to suggesst that the imagery could be extended to the heart being that of the diety worshipped and not of the *SELF*??
over to you!
Love & rgds

Yes it is, isn't it?

 

[The Wizard]

I see... like trying to tightly hold onto a fistful of sand. The harder you squeeze, the more that slips through your fingers.



Yes, that's the hard part... not reacting!





Yes it is, isn't it?

In refference to your response to me. Yes, the art of being an observer and not reacting in anyway to your normal self or thinking program is a mastery key. Remember, it is an internal program and you are becoming a detached observer of it. You are not what you are observing at that point of time- while in meditation.

Nothing is forced. The art is developed to perfection with pateince and acceptance and just letting things unfold however they are going to naturally unfold. Pateince dissolves emotional compulsions that sabotage your practice in the first place. Without its application you allow compulsions to pull you in the wrong direction- still in a reaction mode and off balance. You must dispell your emotional/intellectual knee jerk responses to your own thoughts, thinking and internal program.

In normal life we are in a self conditioned thinking/reaction program. We normally use that thought matrix as our guide and reality. In meditation we are not. We only observe it. Anything you observe in a session is not you at the moment, so it can just be observed until it dissapates. Many people fail at understanding that part. Whatever you see or what your mind hands you is not you at the moment. You are what is observing it...

 

[zenzero]

Friend Wizard,

Nothing is forced. The art is developed to perfection with pateince and acceptance and just letting things unfold however they are going to naturally unfold. Pateince dissolves emotional compulsions that sabotage your practice in the first place. Without its application you allow compulsions to pull you in the wrong direction- still in a reaction mode and off balance. You must dispell your emotional/intellectual knee jerk responses to your own thoughts, thinking and internal program.

In normal life we are in a self conditioned thinking/reaction program. We normally use that thought matrix as our guide and reality. In meditation we are not. We only observe it. Anything you observe in a session is not you at the moment, so it can just be observed until it dissapates. Many people fail at understanding that part. Whatever you see or what your mind hands you is not you at the moment. You are what is observing it...

Well explained. Rather detachment from *thoughts* leads towards *stillness of mind* which then simply refelects like a clear still lake or a clean mirror.

Love & rgds

 

[The Wizard]

Friend Wizard,



Well explained. Rather detachment from *thoughts* leads towards *stillness of mind* which then simply refelects like a clear still lake or a clean mirror.

Love & rgds

Exacly, zenzero. It's ironic I think. We all have our different words, names, methods and practices, but I believe the values and direction is still shared and universal to everyone...

 

[zenzero]

Friend Wizard,

Exacly, zenzero. It's ironic I think. We all have our different words, names, methods and practices, but I believe the values and direction is still shared and universal to everyone...

It is because we are one before and after and surely in the middle HERE-NOW!

Love & rgds

 

[zenzero]

Friend TbtL,

I see... like trying to tightly hold onto a fistful of sand. The harder you squeeze, the more that slips through your fingers.

Yes, it is the nature of the mind.
Mind always holds on to something and so we do not stop the mind from its activity. We simply become an observer of the mind's activities. If he is thinking on anything, just allow him [mind] to do so but just observe the mind without interfereing.
Slowly you will find the mind shying away.
Thoughts are akin to darkness and observiting them are like bringing in light to darkness. Where does darkness go? it simply shys away. It is there just beyond the light waiting for the light to go when it can take over and slowly when there is total light and one is also such that i has eveloped the darkness then the observer and the observed are ONE.
A void or nothingness or everythingness!

Love & rgds

 

[sadhak]

Forgive me, but i don't understand what result you are expecting by chanting a mantra.

 

[Vinayaka]

Forgive me, but i don't understand what result you are expecting by chanting a mantra.

Yes, that would be helpful. Always good to know why you're doing anything.

 

[sadhak]

Yes, that would be helpful. Always good to know why you're doing anything.

Certainly, but i was expecting a more elaborate answer. Do you chant mantra for obtaining peace of mind or obtaining specific powers or for the sake of world peace

 

[Jainarayan]

Forgive me, but i don't understand what result you are expecting by chanting a mantra.

Certainly, but i was expecting a more elaborate answer. Do you chant mantra for obtaining peace of mind or obtaining specific powers or for the sake of world peace

For me, to draw closer to God. But maybe structured nama japa or mantra japa is not for me. Maybe I think I have to do it, because "that's what a Hindu does". I find myself mentally chanting at the oddest times and places. Lying on the chirpractor's table last night, alone while I had the electric stim. pads attached, I found myself mentally singing and chanting bhajans, stotras and mantras. I found myself running through my mind the story of the Ramayana, and Lord Narasimha and Hiranyakashipu, as well as other stories. I lost myself in this and felt connected to God.

I never pray for anything "material" in the sense of more money. What I pray for that I consider "material" is the strength and happiness to get by day to day in this material world; to conquer my fears, angers, and internal demons; to be a better bhakta; to be forgiven for my transgressions.

I pray to Mahalakshmi and Lord Narashimha for helping me live day to day without fear. I pray to Maa Saraswati to give me wisdom; to Lord Hanuman for physical strength; to Lord Dhanvantari for health; to Lord Shiva (especially via the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra); to Lord Ganesha. I pray to thank Them for the things I have, and don't have. And especially I pray to Lord Krishna directly because He is bhagavan svayam, and I am praying to Him through the deities. I know He is the ultimate grantor of blessings and help.

Vitually everything I do is mental in nature. I don't do puja, and of late, I rarely light candles and incense at the altar. But I will lose myself in thought and mentally do it... imagining myself at the altar, lighting the lights; I say the prayers.

Someone told me not to get carried away with it, but I think of this:

"Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend."

He is never very far from my thoughts.

 

[Vinayaka]

Certainly, but i was expecting a more elaborate answer. Do you chant mantra for obtaining peace of mind or obtaining specific powers or for the sake of world peace

I thought your question was directed at the OP, not at me. But I'll answer for me.

It's just part of the long and winding road to the Self, one of many many practises that I include in daily sadhana. Some side effects are calmness of mind, spiritual insight, better health, and more creativity.

 

[sadhak]

Thanks for answering my query. It's a bit of a surprise for me that you consider calmness of mind, spiritual insight, better health and more creativity as side effects. I thought these are what most sadhak's look for when they start sadhana.

 

[sadhak]

I pray to Mahalakshmi and Lord Narashimha for helping me live day to day without fear. I pray to Maa Saraswati to give me wisdom; to Lord Hanuman for physical strength; to Lord Dhanvantari for health; to Lord Shiva (especially via the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra); to Lord Ganesha. I pray to thank Them for the things I have, and don't have. And especially I pray to Lord Krishna directly because He is bhagavan svayam, and I am praying to Him through the deities. I know He is the ultimate grantor of blessings and help.

Going by the tradition you are right in worshipping as many dieties at the same time. I have come across a few people who claim that a sadhak who is into naam japa should focus his mind on a single diety only as focusing on more than one diety could hinder the progress.

 

[Jainarayan]

Going by the tradition you are right in worshipping as many dieties at the same time. I have come across a few people who claim that a sadhak who is into naam japa should focus his mind on a single diety only as focusing on more than one diety could hinder the progress.

I have heard (read) that also. When I attempt naam japa or mantra japa with mālā (differences abound on whether an uninitiate should use a mantra) it is only to Lord Krishna. I have not used mālā japa with any other deity's mantra or nama, for the very reason of the mind being all over the place, and not making progress.