Encounters with Him,
Relieve Stress
Learn to Talk to Him with
Humility & Total
Surrender
My eldest brother took me with him to the place of his posting
when I was in sixth class. His in-laws were also in the same town. We were
frequent visitors to his in laws. Their home used to bubble with life and
laughter as those were the days of large families - husband, wife, six sons,
three daughters, two daughters-in-law, one son-in-laws plus persons like me and
others.
One day when I with my brother went to them that laughter was
missing and everybody was serious. I had no guts to ask anybody as I was too
young for those matters. Subsequently, it transpired that their eldest son had
been transferred to interior North East and he did not want to go there perhaps
afraid of distance and conditions there in those days of late fifties. What to
do. Family had middle class means and almost no contacts with higher up anywhere.
So his going was certain. One day head of the family who was freelance priest
told his son that he can request Him to bestow His blessings on his son and he has
to ensure his stay at the same place for a short period probably 2-3 weeks. My
Masserji as I used to call him started his routine and he used to do a Jaap-Chanting,
for almost two hours daily. One fine evening son came from office and told that
the transfer order had been modified and he was retained at the same place,
life and laughter also returned. I was too young to understand this at that
time but now I am sure our Masserji was able to convince Him-the Lord about
their prayer. What was the Jaap-repeating a spiritual name again and again, or
mantra nobody was aware, but it was fruitful.
Decades later, once I went to Dargah Shariff, Priest put a
part of Chadar wrapped on Dargah on me and I bowed with all the obeisance and
reverence, immediately the Supreme gave me a feeling, an experience beyond
explanation, something unique and exceptional. What it was I can’t say but felt
so light and nourished.
The path of Love of God is such a path that whosoever steps
into it, loses himself.
On another occasion on pilgrimage, saw people in a temple
talking to the deity as if it was present before them, some were weeping too.
When I turned back I saw my son was also having tears in his eyes while praying
to the Lord. We reached home in the evening and saw a telegram lying at
entrance. This fulfilled what was prayed for by my son. The open secret is Lord
grants what you sincerely ask from Him.
How to pray, different people adopt different ways like
chanting a mantra, performing Yagya-haven, satsang kirtan etc. Recitation of
mantra is most common.
Chanting the Lords name
cleanses our selfish ego and allows true light of love within our soul to shine
towards God and all living beings.
–
Radhanath Swami
When one chants the names
of the Lord and has faith in the names of the Lord, every situation becomes
auspicious because of the pure consciousness.
-Radhanath Swami
Mantra in religious practice is a scared word, chanter sound
that is repeated, also called Jaap, during meditation to facilitate spiritual
power, concentration and transformation of consciousness. Mantras are, in fact, energy based sounds which create
positive energy waves. Mantras are tools of positivity and destroyers of
negativity. This practice is prevalent in all the religions and faiths world
over from time immemorial. Many religious teachers, even at present, give their
disciples guru mantra when taking them in their fold.
One must know the exact and true meaning of a chosen mantra
along with the context, so that he interacts with it from the inner soul. Just
repeating a mantra is not enough your conscious must feel it from the core and
have firm belief that would save us from all negativity. This knowledge of
meaning brings one nearer to the spirituality and divinity.
The secret of success of mantra is that one must have firm
belief that it is replica of Almighty and must have firm faith that it will
relieve him of all evils and bring him success and prosperity. Purity of conscious
is most important, when one is reciting a mantra or chant, should be free from
all other thoughts and mental permutations and combinations. He and He only He
be with you mentally, physically and all round.
Mantras-Jaap-Chants exist from time immemorial. In fact, they
are the essence of spiritual treaties by the supreme masters. They work. The
word "mantra" is derived from two Sanskrit words. The first is
"manas" or "mind," which provides the "man"
syllable. The second syllable is drawn from the Sanskrit word "trai"
meaning to "protect" or to "free from." Therefore, the word
mantra in its most literal sense means “to free the mind" from all
entanglements.
Mantra is, at its core, a tool used by the mind which
eventually frees one from its vagaries. The journey from mantra to freedom is a
wondrous one. The mind expands, deepens, widens and eventually takes a dip into
the essence of cosmic existence. On its journey, the mind comes to understand
much about the essence of the vibration of mind. Knowledge, as we all know is
power.
People may not believe in the power of Mantra, but almost
everybody chants sometimes mantra like “Om Namah Shivay” (I bow to Shiva), “Jo Bole
So Nihal Satshri Akal” (Whosoever say Satshri Akal would be blessed), "Wa ʿalaykumu s-salāmu wa-raḥmatu -llāhi
wa-barakātuhū" (upon you be peace,
as well as the mercy of God and his blessings). Some people do it intentionally
others inadvertently without any involvement. Reciting the various names of God
are equally powerful to relieve stress. Simple say like “Shukar Hai Malik” (O
Lord thank you) serve the purpose provided you are true to inner self-His
replica.
People ask what are the most fruitful mantras, because there
are so many from the same religion and different faiths. This is because most
of us want instant results, for obvious reasons this is not possible because
when one thinks nature should do instantly it is violent, aggressive, full of
ups and down and destructive. Slow and steady the nature moves.
How to choose a chant, no criterion can be prescribed. Although
the answer is not simple, it all depends how sincere you are to your own-self.
Select the words that you feel would bring you in contacts and feel whom you
worship. If you are able to select such words, no need to follow any specific
mantra or words or sentences, rituals or procedures, follow you soul and inner self because He
listens without a language and voice. We are part and parcel of the Creator, he
lives in us, a feel and realization is enough to make a mantra, a jaap
fruitful.
However every dharma, religion, faith, sect have their own
Jaaps which are time tested and trusted, without any specific procedure anybody
can adopt any such mantra, jaap, word or a sentence. Some people still go
through rituals before adopting a particular mantra.
How to proceed with mantra, chants and recitations. Bhagavad Gita say that Yoga (Union with the
Lord) is not possible for the one who eats too much or the one who does not eat
at all, who sleeps too much or who keeps awake, but for the one who is moderate
in eating, recreation, working, sleeping and waking and this destroys sorrow.
Sit in a firm seat neither too high nor too low in a clean and comfortable
place, preferably facing East the sun rises in the East, or in the north, there
is great power of the north pole with a symbol of God at eye level.
Sit alone, having the mind and senses under control, free
from desires and attachments for possessions during the time you are with HIM
and try constantly to contemplate on the Supreme with whom you have the rapport-your
Ishat Dev, Kul Deva or Kul Devi. Hold the waist, spine, chest, neck, head straight
and firm. Sit motionless and steady. Fix the eyes and the mind steadily between
eyebrows. Do not look around. Sitting and concentrating mind on a single
object, controlling the thoughts and activities of senses practice mantra for
self-purification. One should be mentally alert and awake and physically
stable, motionless and comfortable.
The best time to connect
with HIM is from 4 to 6 A.M., known as Amritwela (when Nature showers Nectar on
its creations) in spirituality. In fact, this is time when physical needs and
disturbances are minimum and mind is fresh after a good night sleep. If this is
not possible, do it as soon as you wake up. In fact, there is no fixed time, it
is the intensity, sincerity and depth of your feelings that matters most. It is
bliss-permanent peace Anand (no exact translation) , once whosoever experiences,
it is a permanent treasure of stress free life.
There is now, new way
to meet HIM when people arrange for Satsang as directed by the founder, there
is no body to sing, no instruments to be played, everybody has to sit alone
with mobiles off, His Bhajans are played for a limited period say 60-120
minutes, you have to listen with silence and involvement, if you are able to
do, it is such a beautiful experience that one feels refreshed.
There is but one God,
True is His Name,
Creative His personality,
And immortal His form,
No Fear, No Hatred,
Image of The Undying,
Beyond Birth,
Self-Existent,
By the Guru’s grace,
He is obtained.
Japji Sahib
You are never alone.
He is always with you.
Call Him, Make Him Listen,
Speak in the
language He understands
And Have Him.
Anonymous
Chant and Meditate
True in the Primal Beginning
True Throughout the Ages
True Here And True Now, O Nanak
Forever and Ever True
Japji Sahib
Make a sincere
effort and you will find Him near you ready to listen and grant.
Very truly said Sir. 🙏🙏🙏
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