Hari
Om
Monday is AUM-day; in search of meditation.
For the next stage of our investigation on
meditation, we are going to study - and practice! - japa as a means to tame the
mind and we shall investigate the Gayatri Mantra.
The
setting of thought-image with word was our discussion last week, in order to
demonstrate how interlinked the two are.
Thus the intellectual part of japa - the jnaana - is that of focus upon
the words of mantra and creating the associated image. What of the devotional -
bhakti - aspect?
Well,
similarly, it is repetition which sets the seal. Unless we are Realised in
Love, we tend as mere mortals to not automatically love something. It takes
time to build love. We have to give some thought to love. Clearly, this is made
easier by the continued presence of the object to be loved. We can always have
our heart open for our immediate family, but the further removed our uncles or
cousins are, the less likely we are to sincerely and deeply express love for
them. It is not that we don't have it; but out of sight out of mind and,
therefore, more tenuous the love. This speaks to the need to spend daily time
with japa to make it a saadhana you first love to do and then that it
transforms to love for that at which it is aimed. Constantly repeating the
names of the Lord, in a dedicated and unselfish manner, we find that the
chanting then stays with us even when we are not focused, just as the love and
memory of our family do, throughout the day; always in the back of our mind as
a motivation for our work.
It
is always the repetition of thinking which seals the attachment to anything.
That
which is Supreme Reality can only be reached through pure meditation. This has
been proven over centuries by all mahatmas who have gone before us. However,
the vast majority of us are incapable of the very deep and meaningful
separation of our egos which is required to attain that goal. We require
'crutches' to aid our journey up that particular mountainside! Japa is a most
valuable tool. Without the training and taming of the mind into a single point
of focus, any attempts at meditation will find us wingless, as it were, flying
around to all sorts of imagined landing strips. Meditation is keeping the mind
hitched to one post and one post alone. Japa is the best training tool we have
for this.
How
to start?
To
coin a phrase… just do it! With anything in life, the only way to accomplish
something is to involve oneself in it. Watching videos of swimming, reading
about the strokes and breathing techniques, even buying the flotation devices
and goggles, will in no way help us until we actually plunge into the water.
Only by being in the water, by extending our limbs and flapping them about,
albeit most ungainly at first, do we start to learn in the fullest sense of the
word. Experience alone is the teacher. Experience only comes by starting on
something.
Okay.
There are accoutrements, the floats and goggles of japa, to have on hand. What
are they? First and foremost, the japa mala. You will recall from earlier posts
that this is the 'rosary' of 108 beads. Most commonly available and affordable
are those of sandalwood or tulsi. It is possible to make one's own mala, but
all beads ought to be of same size and knot placed in between each bead. The
Meru (the 'head' bead) must be of larger size. If purchasing a mala (see below), be sure to
place it on the 'altar' for a day and dedicate it your heart's work. Be aware
also, wrist malas are available (27 beads - one quarter mala), which are useful
for ongoing practice in the day, but for purpose of dedicated saadhana, the
full mala is much preferable.
Mention
of 'altar' was made just now. This is next in 'equipment'; it implies of course
that you have a dedicated space - or even if lucky a whole room - in which to
sit for daily practice. It ought to be a spot that cannot become overwhelmed by
daily living. If you do not have the luxury of that spare room, perhaps a
corner of the bedroom which will not be cluttered or receive heavy footfall.
Make
the space conducive by having a raised platform or shelf upon which you can
place an image for your focus - this is the 'altar'. It can be a murti of your
chosen Lord, or it can be an image of the OM symbol - it can be as simple as a
large candle with a steady flame. Something to lead the eye to a single focus
is what is required. Your aasana (seat) ought to be at eye-level with centre of
the focal point - or at the feet of the murti. We have discussed aasana a few
times before - review
basics here. In aasana, go through the settling of the body, relaxing each
part; set the breathing pattern, easy and even; gaze upon the point of your
focus. If using a murti, starting at the feet, work your way up the body of
your Iishta-devataa, admiring his or her shape, elegance of hands, glory of
hair, beauty of face and depth of eye. Gaze into those eyes with only the name
of that Iishta in your mind… "Rama, Rama,
Rama… Laxmi, Laxmi, Laxmi… Yeshu, Yeshu, Yeshu..." They are your
beloved, you are besotted. If you are using OM, trace its curves with your
eyes, landing finally on the anu - the point sitting in the chandra (curve).
Gaze into it, imagine the space within it and let only AUM be your thought at
this time. If using a candle, start from the base and work up to the flame,
then gaze at the point between wick and flame. Know that what appears empty is
in fact filled with enormous energy. AUM is still the favoured chant for this
tool or you may still opt for the name of a favoured Iishta.
The
mala may now be taken from the altar. We shall investigate this more next week.
SAADHANA
If
you have not till now set out a spot in your home for dedicated spiritual
practice, make that an aim for this week. Practice sitting in aasana; remember,
the body must never feel strained, but also must never be slouched; held
correctly relaxation is automatic yet discipline remains. Obtain a mala and
dedicate it. Most outlets which promote yoga will have malas for sale; but for
a pure product, this page at CM
Publications is recommended.
