Mantra

Sound

Sound is all around us, all kinds of sound at all the time. Every hour of the day has it's characteristic sounds. For me the chirping of birds is a sign of dawn, while a cacophony of excited birds, dusk. The mornings a clutter of utensils and cooking in kitchen, vehicles on street etc. Afternoons are quiet with the T.V. chattering in the next room. The most beautiful sound hours are, the Night and Early morning hours. There is a divine rhythm vibrating at that hour. The serenity and depth of those hours are relaxing and calming. As if the nature is meditating and the vibrations are reverberating through us. Wow !

Songs and poems are there with us since childhood. In the form of lullabies and later songs. A poem written to depict joy brings joy to us when we listen to it. Though it was another's experience. A song of patriotism raises our patriotic spirit. A song or sound of pathos makes us sad. Sometimes we cry. An inspirational song fills us with courage. These feelings are triggered or evoked from inside us whether we understand the language or not. Often listening to National Anthems of different countries, during Olympics, used to make me feel for that country and it's nationals. Mantras are a spiritual followers sound choice. :)

Spiritual Anthem. 

Mantra

A mantra is a verbal expression of an elevated state of being. A vibration, sound and collection of words that is connected with that state. When we repeat it, whether we understand or not, it recreates that state within us. Be it Mahamrityunjay Mantra, Maha Mantra, Gayatri Mantra, Saundarya Lahari, Vishnu Sahsranaman or Shiv Shadakshar Stotra or Durga Dvatrinsha Mala. Any mantra has within it the frequencies and energies of of its state. Sound is energy of varying frequencies and amplitudes. There are audible sounds and there are humanly inaudible sounds that effect us, as well. Sounds are constantly effecting us at gross level. A mantra effects us at deeper levels of sub conscious and unconscious. Loud chanting of mantras in groups for a prolonged period on a regular basis at a regular spot increases the vibration of the environment manifolds. It gets imprinted/recorded into the magnetic field of the space. Just as sound used to be recorded on magnetic audio cassette tapes.

Everything around is emitting sound radiation which we can tune in to, if we wish. We can also tune in to our internal frequency. The Guru Mantra is a bridge to our personality. The other path is Silence or Mauna. 

Mauna

When we are silent. Really silent our inner sound starts coming through clearly without the external clutter. These may manifest as inspired words or music or song or compassion. Mauna is a very powerful practice. It helps us develop focus and mental clarity. It stops the dissipation due to extreme verbosity. Most of us are insecure and uncomfortable around silence or quiet people. We start chattering and making small talks. Those who practice Mauna have a sweet, deep and steady personality. They appear more gathered and kind. Sri Aurobindo Ghosh was a Muni.

Kirtan and Bhajans

One of the best way to heal from the kleshas (disorders) in this complex times, is Kirtan. The Kirtan is way of connecting with the divine. The words extol the virtues of great devotees and the devoted beings. Bhajans are a way of re-aligning our frayed emotions. We live in times where we feel lost and faithless. There is no one we can trust. Values are being challenged, There is new order of living coming into existence, which we do not want to accept. We are comfortable with old out dated ways and feel comfortable only that way. Kirtans and Bhajans give us a feeling of serenity and stability.  we feel more and more inclined to accept changes. We feel courageous and confident in the new order. We don't feel left out. We develop tolerance and feeling of connecteness. It is generally a community activity. People do it in gatherings, either on regular basis or occasionally for special events.

Atah Yoga Anushasanam

(A couple of paras from the article "Mind Management in Everyday Life" in the BSY Magazine publication Yoga Mag September 1999 issue)


When we try to enforce or live or bring a concept into our lives, it becomes a philosophy or an idea with which we identify. But when the concept becomes a philosophy it is not translated into action. There is a split between our personal philosophy and our actions in the outer world. Why? Lack of discipline, lack of awareness. Yoga has been very clear in saying that the beginning of yoga is through discipline – discipline which is not enforced but which is the outcome of the awareness spanning all the different dimensions of the human personality.






In the first statement of the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali says that yoga is anushasanam. This word has been translated in English as discipline, but it is not discipline. Anushasan means 'awareness of the inner personality that is manifesting in the outer world'. Anu means 'subtle', shasanam means 'to rule, to govern, to be in control of'. Therefore, according to Patanjali, yoga is a form or method of governing the inner nature. It is a method of directing the inner nature harmoniously so that it can manifest externally. And this is the beginning of yoga.


~Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati

Dealing - Objective path to Healing

On an introspective note, i wondered about the attitudes that make our life. The inability to deal with pain and difficult situations often lead us to sickness mental or physical. There are so many of us who are depressed, disillusioned, struggling or have simply given up. Then comes prayers to get healed and nourished once again.

I can relate to those feelings. I have been through there. I wondered what i did or did not. The attitudes at the root of those moments. 

Perhaps, the one thing that worked most effectively was the attitude of "dealing with it". May sound like a strong command. I found it powerful. Facing the situation squarely. It works. Maybe, we need to work more on the dealing attitude than on the healing. Healing is spontaneous. Nature heals. However, dealing is a conscious step taken with awareness. I am not saying that one should not think of healing energies. Of course, one must do so. While doing that, i would say my approach is taking a conscious step towards the RESULT you seek through the healing. If you break a bone. It will heal naturally whether you do something about it or not. Then again, even if done deliberately and yet not done properly it will heal improperly. So if it is done consciously with the objective of healing and joining it as original to restore to normal action, then the result is bound to be more effective and desirable. With such an objective, you are set in a direction to find the correct resources and means to achieve it. You will find solutions. If your resolve is to heal effectively, you will work with balance and directed energy. Your positivity will attract the solution. Your resolve will guide you through the obstacles. Half the battle is won, simply by making a positive resolve. Having an objective. The resolve will shape the outcome.

"Dealing With It" is an essential attitude towards taking charge of your life. As long as we live we will do the right things and the wrong. Things will happen to us, Fantastic and Pathetic stuff. And we have to live through it.

The best part of situations in life is, we are passing through them. Being a reluctant student of Physics, I liken the life situations we pass through to the process of Annealing, making it a life science. Shaping our personality through it all. Maintaining balance and stability and dealing with these situations objectively, would be useful for us to come through them gracefully and beautifully. We are stronger, gentler and more compassionate beings at the end of each of these trial and glories. They will go on and on.

Living consciously would make a great deal of difference in passing through life stories. Healing energies charge our conscious efforts in a positive way.

We need the Healing Power, like a battery to run an equipment. Healing Energies give life to effort. Healing Power along with conscious efforts would result in effective outcome. Faith and Belief are very important in guiding our thoughts and efforts. In creating our resolve, Sankalpa. Bringing in a collaboration of the matter, mind and the spirit is essential.

It is very satisfying and settling at the end of it, when we are healed effectively.

To sign of this post with a few nice quotes:

"When you're going through something, whether it's a wonderful thing like having a child or a sad thing like losing somebody, you often feel like 'Oh my God, I'm so overwhelmed; I'm dealing with this huge thing on my own.' In fact, poetry's a nice reminder that, no, everybody goes through it. These are universal experiences." ~ Caroline Kennedy

"A lot of life is dealing with your curse, dealing with the cards you were given that aren't so nice. Does it make you into a monster, or can you temper it in some way, or accept it and go in some other direction?" ~ Wes Craven

"Knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with the darknesses of other people." ~ Carl Jung

Surreal but Nice

Those moments of life, when you are not so sure if you are awake or asleep. If all that is happening is actually just a dream which happens to feel real. And i am not to take it seriously at all and just experience as i would experience a movie. Those moments of disconnected connectedness.

And there are times we come alive in our dreams and wake up talking, physically reacting, walking and making motor reactions. Taking them seriously, as if it is actually happening. On the edge of real and unreal. Nightmare if bad and unnerving. Most times the events are related to intense emotions so much that in some ways we actually feel and experience them. We believe it is happening.

But what i am talking of and am interested in right now is the one i mentioned first, the other way round. A real event where one feels disconnected, almost like an outsider viewing the whole thing happen. Not sure if anything you say or do, will have any effect at all. You know, it is those moments when we pinch ourselves. Honestly, i feel even a pinch would make no sense. The distance is greater, the view larger and distant, such that a pinch may not cause a connect. A kind of conscious and waking OBE.

You are in safe custody

There was this little child. One day he was taken to the beach by his parents. There he built a sand house and made friends he loves. He was so engrossed and involved in making the house, it became his reality. He was living in that world he created totally oblivious of his surrounding. With great attention he collected shells, stones, and anything that caught his attention. He decorated his house. Around him there were other kids playing, there was noise, his parents and siblings were sun bathing and cheerfully sitting in the background. He was oblivious to all of that.He was unaware of the sound of the approaching tides. So immersed in his world was he, he could not even hear the voice of his parents calling out to him for coconut water. He did not even realize when he even took a few sips and returned back to his sand house. He could hear his sand friends. He spoke to them.

Finally it was getting dark and the tide was really close. His mother decided to pull him away before the castle got swept, but he started sobbing, crying and begging that he wants his castle. His friends need him. His mother tried to explain the approaching tides. Somehow as the mother gathered him in her arms and started walking away, the child kept crying louder and thrashing and then ... to his shock he saw a huge tide crash on his castle and as it withdrew, the castle and friends were gone. He became quiet at the sight. The mother saw him and shook him a little. He suddenly broke out of his reverie and looked at his mother as if he were seeing her for the first time. Slowly he came to.

Yet he was quiet for the rest of the evening. He stayed close to his mother. Remembering the castle and friends and mumbling to her. The mother washed him clean, freshened him, dried him up, put fragrant powder, changed his clothes into night clothes.

She then fed him lovingly as she heard his stories about his castle and friends. Then holding him very close to her bosom, she rocked him, The child remembered the wave crashing onto his castle and friends and became sad and there was small tear in his eyes and he started sobbing. The mother held him softly closer and said said shh.. and cooed into his his ear. That all will be fine. He will get back his castle, and his friends will be back. The child holds on closer to the mother wiping his tears in the hollow of her neck. Reassuring him all along and smiling, she talks of beautiful things and says nice things to him till he falls asleep. The mother puts him to bed, covers him, puts the light off, makes the room comfortable, whispers a final comforting goodnight.

Next morning the child gets up sweet and happy. He hobbles to his mother and holds around her legs and burrows his head into the comfort of her warmth. He can smell her, he can smell the yummy pancakes too. He smiles and the sunshine lights up his face.

This is how we all are....  finding it difficult to let go. The gift of surrendering to God's will is most valuable. The gift of surrendering to its love and healing touch is most precious. Greater gifts await us when we let go. We cry and hold on to the sand castles. The child's virtue is his faith in his mother and surrender to her care and love. This gives him, strength, courage and confidence.

The faith and belief in God needs to be firm and unshakable in the face of adversity. Know that, when he takes away a little, he is going to give you something of more value and better.... and more powerful. 

God prepares you for that gift. Without fail.

Ek baar commit kar diya to.... the Divine is committed to you.

Have faith in god, Belief in your self and let go.

18 "ITIES"

A kirtan on the qualities you should possess. Simply put by our Sadguru Swami Sivananda Saraswati in his usual fun style.

SERENITY, REGULARITY, ABSENCE OF VANITY,
SINCERITY, SIMPLICITY, VERACITY,
EQUANIMITY, FIXITY, NON-IRRITABILITY,
ADAPTABILTY, HUMILITY, TENACITY,
INTEGRITY, NOBILITY, MAGNANIMITY,
CHARITY, GENEROSITY, PURITY,
PRACTISE DAILY THESE EIGHTEEN 'ITIES',
YOU WILL SOON ATTAIN IMMORTALTY.

BRAHMAN IS THE ONLY REAL ENTITY.
LISTEN! GO AND SOW SOME GOOD NOW GENEROSITY,
YOU WILL ABIDE IN ETERNITY AND INFINITY.
YOU WILL BEHOLD UNITY IN DIVERSITY.
YOU CANNOT ATTAIN THIS IN THE UNIVERSITY,
MADRAS UNIVERSITY, HARVARD UNIVERSITY,
OR EVEN OXFORD UNIVERSITY,
BUT YOU CAN ATTAIN THIS IN THE YOGA VEDANTA FOREST ACADEMY.

Wordlessness

There is a proverb "The pen, is mightier than the sword"
Word has such power
Words are living entity so as we are. Words, those loose strands of life floating and attaching to our fabric and bringing into being a tapestry of thoughts.
A sound by a little flower, rippling into eternity would resonate in the stars far away.


Words make, words break hearts. Words soothe, words give wound.
Word has  body. It touches us. Remember when a word touched ur skin and gave you goose bumps, or it touched you ever so tenderly and made you blush. Words that stabbed into your heart and the pain made you cry in pain.
Words are companions. They stay with us as long as there is a language in our head in our hearts, as long as there is a need to connect.
 Word is omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent

Then what is wordlessness?
The thought itself is like a magnet, a black hole. An unknown power that is at the same time mysterious and attractive. Have you evr been wordless. Even in sleep there are words.