Question: I am aged 20 years and have just completed the 6th Semester in B. Tech. I have been reading lots of spiritual books and also I practise some Mudras, Pranayamas, Hatha Yoga, etc. I am not formally initiated, however I continuously chant mentally the Narayana Mantra (Om Namo Narayanaya) throughout the day. … I have tried to meditate in different ways, but has not been able to carry out it out systematically. I have read Swami Vivekananda’s ‘Raja Yoga’ and Swami Yatiswarananda’s ‘Meditation and Spiritual Life’. I have the following doubts regarding Japa and Meditation:
1. What exactly is Nididhyasana ? If Shravana is hearing / reading and Manana is ratiocination, what is the third process ? It is somewhere defined as “Swajaatiya Vritti Pravaaha and Vijaatiya Vritti Tiraskaara”; in this regard, it just seems to be an intensified Manana – is it so ? If so, how does it complete the metaphor – eating, chewing the cud / ruminating and finally absorption of ideas ?
2. When I think, I usually hear sound inside the mind or see pictures. Is this the way everyone thinks ? Is there a way to think a thought only and not hear or see it ? If so, how can I do that ? Is hearing the ‘Madhyama’ stage of thought ?
3. How is one thought to be held up in the mind continuously ? For example, is repeating continuously ‘Aham Brahmasmi’ (‘I am Brahman’) equivalent to holding on to that thought ? Is the thought to be continuously spoken or visualized ? Is there no other way ?
4. Swami Yatiswarananda asks to visualize the Lord along with Japa. When I do Japa, however I feel the Lord all around me and more so near the hypothetical points. When I make deliberate effort to place the form of the Lord in the heart, I feel like localizing what is more pervasive – I am unable to see Lord in a figure. Further, when I do Japa for a long time, I feel a lightness of the body and head and a feeling to dissolve in the God who is enveloping me which I can’t, because I am still associated with my body. …. Is this inability to go across body consciousness due to the fact that the Mantra I use is not the one for me ?
Answer: 1. Shravana is hearing from the teacher or coming to know from any other authoritative source, about the Truth. It should give conviction about the Truth. Manana is constant thinking or reasoning about the Truth. Nididhyasana or meditation is a stream of ideas of the same kind as that of the Truth excluding the every other ideas. In this state, ratiocination is absent; the aspirant goes on contemplating on the Truth, till he gets established in the Truth. These three terms are not so difficult to understand; rather, more difficult it is to do proper Shravana and Manana, which are more beneficial. Take an idea from an authoritative scripture or person, and go on contemplating on it; this will help you to do Nididhyasana properly and in course of time, to live that idea in your life. Swami Vivekananda said, “Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life – think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success. … If we really want to be blessed, and make others blessed, we must go deeper.” (Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Vol. 1, page – 177)
2. When thinking goes on inside, probably you also think of form and name. That is why you hear the sound. When one advances in spiritual life, and goes deeper and deeper, there does not arise thought, name and form; you will also hear the sound – ‘Om’ to the exclusion of all other thoughts and sounds. As you grow in spiritual life, thought waves gradually reduce. Every one may not think as you think and do. Each has got his own method. To go beyond thoughts, sound, name and form – must be the goal of every spiritual aspirant. You can do this by gradual and sincere uninterrupted practice and under the guidance of a competent Guru. Only hearing will help you to clear some of the doubts you may be having and to strengthen the faith you already have about the goal to be achieved.
3. You have already answered your question in your doubt no. 1, as ‘Swajaatiya Vritti … Tiraskaara’. Hold on to one thought – ‘Aham Brahmasmi’ and repeat the Vedic dictum with intense contemplation on it which will, in time, lead you to realize it. There is no other way.
4. We understand from your e-mail that you are not formally initiated by getting a Mantra from a competent Guru. You have written, “I have tried to meditate in different ways, but haven’t been able to carry it out systematically.” We therefore request you to follow one method of meditation according to an authoritative book for the time being, and in the meanwhile, you should seek for a guru. And also sincerely pray to the Lord to find a competent Guru. In the proper time, the Lord arranges the sincere aspirants to get a competent guru who is able to show him the spiritual path faultlessly.
After finding a proper guru you should get yourself initiated by him who will give you a Mantra and instruct you how to meditate. According to his instructions, you should proceed slowly. However, it is generally advised to meditate in the heart than in the head. If you so desire to take initiation from the Ramakrishna Order, please contact any of our centres. We find from your letter that there is lot of confusion in your mind. We, therefore, request you to find at first your spiritual preceptor and then, it is better to consult him regarding these personal doubts than to seek too many individual opinions and thus get more confused.