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Question: 1. Swamiji, I have a doubt. What is the exact use of japa?? Is concentration the only outcome of JAPA ?? If suppose I am able to get very good concentration in my work, then does that mean JAPA is not necessary?? (I am discussing purely from materialistic point of view). What does JAPA exactly do ??? The one benefit which I clearly see is concentration.
2. My second question is: What is the speciality of a MANTRA (say, Om Namah Shivaya). Why can’t I say, “ABRACADABRA” and repeat it as a Mantra ? Please explain me the science behind this.
Answer: 1. The efficacy of Japa is to purify the mind. If you are concerned only about materialistic point of view, there is no necessity of Japa at all. By constantly doing Japa, more than concentration, it changes the whole personality internally and makes you a better and better man. You will reach a state where your personality will be – “Be good & do good”. When you reach that state, you will have absolute contentment and happiness.
2. The Mantra is the name of the Lord which has been spiritually charged with power by the Guru.
Question: I am a student. I always loose control on myself. Please help me out to control myself.
Answer: I am not been able to understand your problem correctly. Do you mean you are short tempered? If so, there are two methods: You have to practise meditation everyday and try to control you mind through it. Secondly, give constantly auto-suggestion to your mind saying, ‘I should not become angry.’ Both are no doubt a long process, but you are sure to attain success. There is a small booklet, “Mind and Its Control”, published by Ramakrishna Mission. If you can get a copy of it and read, it will also help you.
Question: I am 28 year old physician in States. I lead a fairly busy life. Please give me some simple spiritual exercises to practise. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Answer: Thank you for your letter & interest in spiritual practice. You should determine to spend fifteen minutes everyday in the morning before your work. Just sit and try to pray to whichever God you believe in for one or two minutes; and then try to concentrate your mind on ‘Om’ or on any light or on space. If you sincerely put your effort, you will be able to concentrate on it. It should bring peace. Continue it for one or two months and get back to me.
Question: I have a question that is disturbing me for quite some time and I have not been able to find an answer. Not that this would be the end of doubt, but think that on the path of self-realization, this is the most basic doubt in my mind.Is it possible for a householder to have self-realization or is being a monk a pre-requisite?
Answer: Religious History says that both Sannyasins (monk) and householders have realised the Self. Only it is easy for a Sannyasin, because of the non-botheration of the family. He can spend more time in his spiritual practices. But if a householder puts the necessary efforts, he also has the possibility of realising the Self.
Question: Can you tell me the various paths to the realization of God according to the Hindu yoga philosophy?
Answer: Your question is very vague. However, there are four main paths in Hinduism for the realization of God. They are – 1. Jnana Yoga (the path of reasoning), 2. Karma Yoga (the path of action in the spirit of service to God), 3. Bhakti Yoga (the Path of Love for God), 4. Raja Yoga (the path of Meditation). I don’t know from where exactly you are writing. However, you may ask for a catalogue of books from any of our centre and know more about it.
RESPONSE to the Above REPLY : Thank you for responding. I have been able to get detailed descriptions of each of these Yoga paths that you named. I used the information as part of what I taught to a class of middle school children. I am a Buddhist and my own practice is very close to Raja Yoga. I have traveled in India and have great respect for your religion. My first meditation teacher was a Hindu. I have been reading about Raja Yoga in the works of Swami Vivekananda.
Question: Even though I am performing my duties effectively and going in the right path without disturbing the others in the way of spatiality I think the people around me are going away from me as I don’t want to defend my mistakes and others too. when I say the same to my family members and friends they are treating me as the hurdle for there free and jolly life. Please suggest me the way to come out of it.
Answer: Do not bother about how the others speak of you so long your consciousness is clear and you are on the right path. After sometime they will come round and have regards to you. Truth takes time to get appreciation.
Question: I am a student at University and know that I have enormous potential and can achieve extremely high grades, however when I sit down to study I lack total concentration. How can I increase my concentration in whatever I do. Does concentration also depend on your goals, if so, what should be the ultimate goal and how can it be intertwined with ordinary everyday goals.
Answer: The concentration you can achieve after practice of long time. Whenever you do any work, you have to put your whole mind and energy for that work for that period. Usually, when we do something, we will be thinking so many other things simultaneously. That is why we fail to achieve maximum success.
Question: When I try to concentrate on the my thoughts – I can almost see the part of the mind which carries the impression that comes from my actions and engagements in day to day life , then I also see the part of mind that is really observing the flow, I feel I can take control on this process but this is also a thought which only stops the previous thought .
Then I feel for sometime the thought process becomes very vague and fuzzy – sort of blankness. but still I am quite aware that even that is a thought. I feel my body is sort of transparent but I am still aware that this is also a thought – I just can not reach anywhere beyond one form of thought to other. I feel I am just hitting a hopeless wall and do not know where to go from here. Though I feel quite relaxed and good after this process but I feel I am not going anywhere beyond this temporary relaxation. Is there something else that I can do ?
Answer: The real happiness will not come until you reach the thoughtless state. Try to make the mind free all thoughts by constantly observing what the mind is doing. Jumping from one thought to another is not a solution.
Response to the above Answer: Thank you for your kind guidance. The jumping of thought comes as I try to identify the “I” (who am I query as advised by many) and then try to reach the next observer of the current thought, as I perceive. Do I understand you correctly that you are asking me to stop this query and just observe the thoughts continuously as it comes. It is my good fortune to have your guidance.
Reply to the above Response: Try to control the thoughts and observe it. No need to think ‘who am I’. It is enough if you understand that you are different from mind. While observing, remember – mind should not be the observer, but mind is to be observed. If you patiently pursue it, it is possible to observe it. If you have time, have relaxation for about 30 minutes before meditation, then the process will be easy. During that time, try to make the mind as calm as possible.
RESPONSE to the Above REPLY : I am really grateful for your clear directive. Though at present I do not see or find any observer beyond my mind, I am sure if you have advised me to look for that, with your blessing I will be able to do it in course of practice. I mediate early morning at 5:00 AM. My mind is generally not very disturbed at that point. I do some initial slow deep breathing before I start attempting meditation. I will increase that time. Night I come home very late (around 9:30/10:00 PM) and find it difficult to sit for long. I would like meeting you sometime next month. … …
Reply to the above Response: I appreciate your sincerity. You will surely make progress, if you hold on to your practice. … …
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