Japa and my mantra, not working for me

[Vinayaka]

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.

I never went 'looking' for anything. What is there to look for? As for mantras, I have one and one only. Occasionally, just for one particular reason, I say another one loud and clear in a temple. But the one in sadhana ... always the same thing ... over and over ... that's usually the prescription.

 

[Jainarayan]

Something interesting from Nama Mantras - Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia especially the section on The Paradox of Name. I never thought of that in depth, though I know 'Vishnu' means all-pervading; 'Krishna' means dark; 'Shiva' means auspicious; 'Rudra' means fierce. When you think about it, even our human names are really just adjectives or verbs. My name, Frank, means 'free man'. Whooda guessed?

 

[zenzero]

Friend TbtL,
Names are labels for an understanding.
Who is Frank or free man??
There is something and that something is a vibration which has come from that stillness/void/nothingness/Brahman/God/etc.
Vibration when stilled is back in the fold of THAT void/.../.../.../etc.
Repetation of a label is used to train the mind so that no other thoughts are allowed to enter the mind as otherwise the mind is occupied with unnumerable thoughts.
Once the mind is trained to think about just one thought which is of that label/name used then slowly there arises a calmness of the mind and in that calmness a watchfulness develops and this watchfullness beacomes awareness and then to consciousness which then is like the light seeing which darkness [mind] shys away. Only then is Frank transformed to being FREE MAN and then Man to being and being to nothingness or pure consciousness.

Love & rgds

 

[Marble]

@TouchedbytheLord
You're a Ram Bhakta?
Do you know about Papa Ramdas?
His Anandashram is in Kerala.
Perhaps you could visit it and stay there for a while?
And perhaps one of the Swamis there can give you initiation?

 

[Jainarayan]

Not specifically Rama. I'd love to go to India, but the only way I'm going to get there and stay there is by having my ashes sent parcel post to be spread in the Ganges.

 

[Marble]

I'd love to go to India, but the only way I'm going to get there and stay there is by having my ashes sent parcel post to be spread in the Ganges.

Health problems? :sorry1:

 

[Jainarayan]

No, I'm perfectly healthy. I was being facetious, but sometimes my humor doesn't make it across. The only time I'm going to get to India is after my cremation (which I don't expect any time soon ). More than likely they'll be scattered in a local river or at the beach at the Atlantic Ocean. Finances and personal life preclude going anywhere, much less for an extended stay. I wish it were otherwise.

 

[Marble]

Finances and personal life preclude going anywhere, much less for an extended stay. I wish it were otherwise.

I know what you mean.
My wish would be to visit Ramana Ashram, were Ramana Maharshi lived.
Maybe in 10 years or so.

 

[zenzero]

Friends,

Personal understanding is that everything including us is HOLY is part of THAT. If one understands itself to be SUCH then one would be realising/actualising what Ramana himself pointed to. Besides by going deep within one can travel across the universe and planetary world is what have heard without having to leave or move an inch that is what STILLNESS of the mind means!

Love & rgds