Saturday, January 4, 2020
Friday, January 3, 2020
Sri Brahmachaithanya pravachan-Jan.3
How Long Should We Repeat Nama?
How long should we repeat nama? We should do this as long as our breath continues or we are conscious of ourselves. Just as we continue to breathe till the moment of death, so, too, we should repeat the nama till the moment of death. To put it more precisely, just as the body ceases to live when breathing stops, so, too, we must feel as if we are dead if nama stops. We must take nama literally until life becomes extinct, or until the 'self' or the 'individual I' ceases to exist. The last stage is when the 'individual I' feeling becomes dead, and what remains is only nama. One can, indeed, never do 'enough' or 'too much' of it. It is commonly believed that there is nothing further to be done when one attains beatitude or 'ultimate liberation'; however, if any duty remains even thereafter it is only nama- smarana.
The common man so completely identifies himself with the body that normally he is not even conscious that he has it. Conversely, when the sadhaka engaged in nama-smarana becomes unaware that he is doing it, we can conclude that he has attained real' solitude', or oneness with the cosmic soul.
A man suffering from insomnia takes enough of the prescribed sedative to induce sleep; similarly we must take nama until we achieve enduring inward contentment. Nama being free from all upadhi, we will not be able to realise its true bliss unless we become likewise.
Should we keep a record of our japa, that is to say, should we note the number of times we have repeated nama? Yes, this is necessary if we have resolved to do it upto a specific minimum number every day, or to do a certain total number. To accustom oneself to a regular practice of japa, as also to ensure that not a day passes without a certain minimum japa, it is advisable to keep a daily note. While doing this, however, one shouldn’t feel that, 'now that I have completed the number proposed for the day, I have nothing to do with the nama until tomorrow.' After the daily quota is done, during the rest of the time also we should repeat nama as far as possible, for akhanda (i.e. unbroken) japa should be the ultimate goal.
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Thursday, January 2, 2020
Sri Brahmachaithanya Pravachan-Jan..2
Nama Imparted by a Sadguru
The question is often raised if one may begin to repeat a nama of one's own choice, or must one be first initiated by a sadguru and assigned a specific nama which he should then repeat? Nama is self-existent and complete in itself, and needs nothing else to make it perfect. And yet, nama imparted by a sadguru certainly is something very special, distinctive, in that it is reinforced by his spiritual strength and support, and consequently there is no scope for pride of doership to rise in the sadhaka's mind. When a sadhaka repeats nama imparted by a sadguru, he gradually develops a relish, a zest for it, and in due course, derives a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. It is therefore highly desirable that nama should be obtained by initiation by a spiritual master, a sadguru. However, till we meet a sadguru we must keep on repeating the nama of our choice; for, this itself will expedite our meeting the sadguru.
It is, however, not easy to come across a sadguru, to recognize him, and to feel faith in him. Therefore we should, till then, steadfastly repeat the nama of our choice. It is common knowledge that ants don't need to be invited to a lump of sugar; they like it and are themselves in search of it. Similarly, if you do what the saints like, namely, maintain constant awareness of God's presence and keep up ceaseless repetition of His name, the sadguru will himself search you out and hasten to shower grace on you.
It may happen that the sadguru initiates you in the nama that coincides with your own choice; it is then possible that you may feel that the sadguru has given you nothing new, for you were already repeating the same nama. Now, being initiated by the sadguru has the distinctive merit that it precludes the rise of ego, for the sadhaka thereafter does nama-smarana at the sadguru's behest, and not on his own. This elimination of ego is most important, for even a vestige of pride or ego may vitiate the very purpose of meditation, just as even a grain of salt suffices to turn a pailful of milk sour. It is therefore of the utmost importance completely to renounce pride of' doership'.
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