Dhyana Vahini - Post 20

Chapter VIII

 

One-pointed Attention is Essential for Meditation

 

It is not correct to say that the qualities and attainments needed for temporal progress and spiritual progress are different from each other. The spiritual is only the purification of the temporal. Success or failure in both depends on one-pointedness (ekagratha). For every item of work, one-pointedness is very important. This too is but spiritual discipline.

Avoid no-pointedness and many-pointedness

There are two paths along which this spiritual discipline may proceed: no-pointedness and many-pointedness. No-pointedness is the stage of sleep; it is also called the quality of ignorance (thamoguna). Many-pointedness is the result of the restless quality (rajoguna), turning the vision of the opened eye on creation and its sights. 

Avoiding both of these, without falling into these two extremes, if the eye is neither closed as in sleep nor opened wide as in the fully awakened stage, but half-opened and directed to the point of the nose, the pure quality (sathwaguna) will become one’s nature, and concentration of the mind can also be easily acquired.

Of course, this does not mean that mere fixing the sight on the tip of the nose is enough. Fix it there in the beginning and then turn the vision to the name and form you have in mind; that is meditation (dhyana).

When you are engaged in repetition of the name and meditation, other thoughts might enter you at first, but you shouldn’t worry about this. There is no great danger on account of them. When you begin remembering the name of God (nama-smarana), sit down with enthusiasm. If you enter upon any task with firm determination, no impurity can affect you. 

Your only concern is to see that you are fully pure when you start the repetition of the name, etc. Do not worry about formalities for this. Select the name that you like and the form of that name. That name is itself the mantra. That mantra is ever pure, ever active, everything.

Stick to one name and form

But do not change the name and form to suit the fancy and have one thing one day and another the next. Whatever the name and form that first gave you contentment, hold fast to them without swerving. They will get implanted in the heart, without fail. Afterward, everything will happen through His grace. If workers are ordered to dig the earth, their work is simply to go on digging. The gardener alone knows how much of the earth is to be put under which plant and how the earth is to be so put. So too, the order is to “Constantly dwell on the Lord’s name”! Provided you continue to do that work, He Himself will direct where and how that has to be utilised.

Introspection

In spiritual sadhana, the aspirant has to give his whole hearted, dedicated efforts without measuring his efforts, without expecting quick response from God for his efforts. 

One pointed devotion, implanting Lord’s name and form into one’s heart as Swami says, this cannot go hand in hand with expectations from Lord to yield to our prayers / devotion. 

As Swami has given the example of workers digging the earth and the gardener knowing the actual depth up to which the digging has to be done to get the desired results, in same manner, the duty / dharma of the spiritual aspirant is to put his whole hearted efforts without any “ifs” and “Buts”.

It is the Lord to reward for the intense sadhana, which is His grace.  Since we have stories of great spiritual masters who have crossed the ocean of Samsara with their purushartha, there need not be any doubt about the Lord rewarding a sincere sadhaka at all. In fact, He is ever waiting for such sincere sadhakas to whom He can give His hand at the penultimate stage in their spiritual evolution and take them to Prashanti, His abode of peace.

Love.

 

Dhyana Vahini - Post 19

Chapter VII

Swami continues with His gospel on the relevance of focussing on Name and Form of Lord.

Do not discuss the path with everyone

"However, be careful not to discuss these paths with all and sundry, because each one’s path appears the best. If the people consulted are treading another path, they will decry your practice of repetition of the name and meditation and treat them with scant respect. They will look down upon them, as if they were very elementary and as if you were but a beginner in school. As a result, you will start doubting the efficacy of your chosen path! You will get concern where before you had joy, disgust where before you had love.

Therefore, reflect within yourself which among these is sweeter. Or you can approach those who have tasted the nectar of that name and ask for details of their experiences. Do not argue about these things with everyone you meet. The time spent in these haphazard disputations is best used for the cultivation of joy through the repeated bringing of the name (nama) to memory and meditation on the form (rupa) of the Lord."

 

Introspection

Hallmark or the identification of a true and sincere spiritual sadhaka is that “He / she shall never criticize the path followed by the other, though it may be totally / partially different from the path he / she  has been following”.

Criticism, comparison of my path with your path etc. would be there only when there is ego, when one has not reached advanced stage in sadhana and one has not experienced the unity in all, in everything.

The more one gets deeper into one’s sadhana, more silence, more acceptance of all, more love towards all would be there automatically.

Even when the other person argues with such a sadhaka and puts down the path followed by the sadhaka, upholding the path followed by the other, drawing reference to supports the other person’s argument with relevant quotes by Swami / other masters, all that this sadhaka would be transmitting would be “Love” in “silence”.

Swami continues,

Mere weighing of the pros and cons, like which is greater among the two, will end only with the quick loss of all the success gained after great efforts through spiritual discipline. Until you become an expert, bring the name constantly to memory and repeat it firm and unruffled, either alone or in the company of devotees. Then, nothing can waver you.

Look at the fish! In early stages, it breeds its newly hatched young ones in a quiet shallow spot. Then, it pushes them into the wide-open sea, rough and rude with its monstrous denizens! They can then survive there, courageously, and grow without fear. 

If the young ones were bred in the open sea from the earliest stage, they would certainly be swallowed up even by minor fishes! So, remembrance of the name (namasmarana), repetition of the name (japa), and meditation (dhyana) must be practised with a great deal of care, according to a planned routine, and without any discussion with others.

Repeating the name is safest and easiest

Nowadays, many aspirants are discarding the name and taking up yoga and breath control (pranayama). These are fraught with many dangers. To follow them correctly is difficult. Even if correctly followed, preserving, and protecting the fruits achieved is even more difficult.

If people grope in the water while spreading the net on the bank, can they find fish in the net? To give up repetition of the name and faith in that path and to sit in yoga and penance is as foolish as hoping to catch fish by this means. If the name is taken as the refuge and support, He can be realised tomorrow — if not today. If the name of a thing is known, the thing itself can be easily acquired. But if the name is not known, even if the thing is right in front, it cannot be recognized.

So, repeat the name without intermission or faltering. By means of the name, love (prema) is developed; through love, meditation of the Lord can be practised. If love is deeply rooted in you, God, who is composed of love, becomes your own. However, many the paths for the realization of the Lord, none is as easy as this.

Note this. When a peculiar disease is prevalent in a country, the drug that can cure it is also found in that very country, more so than anywhere else. Though available after vigorous search in other lands, it will not be so good or plentiful. Similarly, this specific drug is available now, in the present age (the Kali-yuga)! In this age (yuga), the ghastly evils of injustice, immorality, and falsehood infect the world. 

That is why the scriptures (sastras) have been proclaiming again and again, with greater and greater emphasis that in this Kali age, there is no means of salvation other than the name! Of the four ages, the Kali-yuga is the best on account of this. Remembrance of the name, repetition of the name, and meditation strain out the evil in mankind. Human nature is guarded and protected by these three. Hence, the fruits of meditation are greater than those secured with great difficulty through yoga, sacrifice (yajna), or breath control (pranayama).”

Introspection

Swami has emphasized that yoga should not be merely physical, should not be aimed at physical perfection. The meaning of “Yoga” itself is Union and hence, even in the path of yoga, the aim / goal should always be drawing ourselves nearer to the supreme, call it SELF or GOD.

This Kali yuga avatar, Bhagawan Baba has always stressed the importance and value of Namasmarana.

Since the age of Kali has witnessed drastic decline of values, of dharma, the chances of a human being getting astray and succumbing to the tempting call from this objective world is huge, Swami has prescribed namasmarana, constant remembrance of Lord’s name  as the most effective means to always feel / experience the divine presence and divine guidance within."

 

Love.

 

Dhyana Vahini - Post 18

Chapter VII

 

Remember God and Meditate

 

Whatever the tangle in which people are caught, if they get immersed in the Lord’s name, it will make them free. Moreover, by this means, they can realise without fail the name and form through which they constantly remember the Lord. There is no iota of doubt in this.

All religions remember the Lord’s name

The spiritual disciplines of yoga, breath control (pranayama), and penance (tapas) are beset with pitfalls at every step, and they are also full of dangers. But in the spiritual practices of repetition of the name (japa), meditation (dhyana), and remembrance of the name (namasmarana) there is no likelihood of a fall or of any other danger. 

In the former type of spiritual disciplines, the practices differ according to the caste or religion. 

In the practice of the name (nama-sadhana), there is not even a trace of such distinction. Hindus, Muslims, and Christians may differ on many points, but they are all one in the glorification of the name of the Godhead. 

All of them take the name of the one Lord, though the language through which the name is expressed is different. Each one recites, repeats, and remembers the name as formed on his own tongue. Each one turns with his fingers the rosary appropriate to their religion. But for everyone there is nothing so fruitful, so universal, or so holy among spiritual disciplines as these: repetition of the divine name, meditation, and remembrance of the Lord’s name.

Crave the Lord’s name rather than the form

The Lord and His name are both one, but the sweetness of the name is seldom found in the form. 

When the name of the flower, rose, is remembered, its fragrance, tender petals, and deep color spring to memory; its thorns and the trouble one has undergone to get the flower are all forgotten. Instead, if its origin and previous story are considered, and if the plant, leaves, and branches are taken into account, the flower — the most important, most beautiful, and most attractive part— is likely to be forgotten and only “the plant” is discussed. 

See this from another angle. As soon as the name mango is mentioned, one is reminded of an incomparable sweetness. Instead, if an actual mango is held in the hand, the doubt first arises in the mind whether it is sweet or sour; then one is engaged in distinguishing the skin, fibre, juice, nut, rind, seed, etc. When the name alone is repeated, these things do not come to mind. Only the sweetness is brought to memory.

Such is the difference between the Lord and the Lord’s name! The pure essence of sweetness is in the name. In the case of the form, there is the chance of dread mixed with respect — sometimes, even attributes causing fear show themselves.

Here is another reason why the name of the Lord is to be craved more than the form. Riches are needed to secure any article in the world. With riches, articles are acquired, so it follows that the riches are superior to the articles obtained by means of them, right? With riches, one can get any article, any time. So too, it is by means of the riches of the name that the article, “the form (rupa) of the Lord” is to be earned. If the riches called name (nama) are steadily accumulated, the Lord can be realised through the path of meditation, easily and without difficulty.

Another special thing about repetition of the name (nama-smarana) is this: It is possible to acquire various occult powers (siddhis) through yoga and penance (tapas). And there is every likelihood of the Lord being forgotten when these powers come. Blinded by this pride, a person might even let go the basic victory won by their spiritual practices. This is not the case with remembrance of the name, repetition of the name, and meditation; no such dangers beset these paths. These three paths make love (prema) grow in people more and more. 

Through love, peace (santhi) is achieved. Once peace of mind is achieved, all other conditions are automatically attained. Through yoga and penance, extraordinary power; through remembrance of the name, repetition of the name, and meditation, extraordinary love — this is the difference between the two.

Introspection by a devotee

A sage writes, 

“Like human beings are called by a name, God also is summoned by a name. In ordinary parlance, this art of summoning the Almighty Creator is done by the recitation of a name that we associate with God's nature. 

The name of God is a description of the characteristic of God. According to Indian traditional parlance, when a name is given to a person at the time of birth, it is not that you just give any name that you like, as in modern days; considering the stars, the planets, and the day on which the child is born, a particular name is chosen indicating the influence exerted upon that child by the entire stellar and planetary system. So, the name suggests the actual characteristic and nature of the person. 

God also can be summoned by a name, provided that the name chosen, with which you summon, indicates the might and the majesty, and the affection God has for you. The mantra that people chant in japa sadhana, for instance, is supposed to be an indicator of the name of God. The mantra that you chant, into which you are supposed to be initiated, is the modus operandi adopted to create in one's own mind a suggestion of the nature of the God whom one worships and adores. In the Vishnu Sahasranama, the thousand names are a thousand different characteristics of the Supreme Being, and they are not just anything and everything.

There are infinite ways of calling God, because there are infinite qualities that we can associate with God. You can call Him by any name, provided it is in consonance with His nature. What are His qualities? They are immense capacity, and indomitable power; Almighty He is called. He is the greatest power you can think of before which nothing can stand; this is one quality of God. And He is the greatest beauty, enchanting, stunning, filling you with joy, making you feel as if you are drinking nectar; it is utter beauty, incomparable, the kind of which you cannot see in the world.”

 

Dear All,

In today’s text, Swami has spoken about the superiority of God’s name over God’s form.  

Why is it so??

Suppose, let us assume, we are looking at Swami’s form in photograph and keep looking at the image of Swami.

Initially, we would feel ecstatic but slowly, our thoughts may dry and we may not be thinking much about the form. Also, From childhood up to 2011, Swami’s form has under gone so many changes and each image may look different. 

Whereas, let us assume, we are chanting Swami’s Ashtothara namavali  in a slow pace, absorbing the inner beauty and significance of each of the 108  namavali. 

Such Japa Sadhana would take us to a great joy, an immense sense of completion because, we are able to go beyond the form and focus on the leelas / glory of the avatar while chanting the namavali and after some time, even the thought on Glory of Avatar somehow goes and even while our lips may be chanting, there is a deep silence within. We have almost merged with Swami (if the namavali is chanted slowly, in a particular scale, giving all the time to focus on the significance of each of the 108 names). The “Namah:” expression, which is at the end of each name, really takes us to the deepest inner prayer to our Lord. 

Thus name is subtler than the form and Japa Sadhana can take us to union with God, if taken up sincerely.

 

Love.

 

Note:- All that has been explained is relevant when we are not having direct darshan of the Lord. If one has ever been blessed to have darshan of Divine Lord in close proximity or even more blessed to be inside the interview room, watching and observing Swami for some time, then the inner experience one gets while being nearer to the form is million / trillion times more powerful, more impacting, more complete than any other possible experience in the world.

 

Love.