Mind is the greatest friend (offcourse after the Lord Krishna !) and also the worst enemy. It depends on the way you mould it. Soul is considered well above the mind and thus we (i.e. souls) are capable controlling the mind. The point is that when we trust our mind (in a good faith) then it results into streams of promises which at the last are rendered void. The reason which I believe is that our minds have been polluted and similar to a son who has become deviated due to wrong association, mind should not be trusted to follow us without being under a strict control. Now when we try to forcefully control the mind and ask it to concentrate on the process of chanting it renders the sacred process of chanting to be a mechanical or mundane one. The point over here is that when we consider any process to be a mundane one then our expected outcomes from the same will also be materialistic which is an injustice to the process of chanting as ideal outcome from this should be the pleasure of Lord Krishna and nothing else. I am caught in this loop which is effecting my chanting. Please guide me.
Solitude And Chanting
The Previous Acaryas Were Very Particular About Chanting In Ultra Quiet, Undisturbed Settings. Just Imagine How Tranquil Vrndavana Was Five Hundred Years Ago? Yet To Avoid Any Possible Distractions, The Medieval Saint Sanatana Gosvami Chanted Japa In A Cave Twenty Feet Under The Ground In Gokula! Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura Recommends Chanting In A Quiet “Distraction Free Zone” To Fully Concentrate On The Holy Name. In His House In Godrumadvipa, Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura Constructed A Small “Meditation Room” With A Thick Door To Create A Quiet Place For Concentrated Japa. He Advises Sadhakas To Make Similar Arrangements For Staying Alone In A Secluded Place In Order To Absorb The Mind In The Holy Name.
When The Mind Wanders, One Must Withdraw It From Sense Objects And Concentrate Intently On The Mantra. A Transcendental Sound Vibration That Can Free Or Deliver (Tra Or Trayate) The Mind (Mana) From Material Attraction And Attachment Is Called A Mantra. Meditate Deeply On The Meaning Of The Maha-Mantra. Do Not Be Distracted By Random Thoughts Or External Influences. Chant Krishna’s Names With Feelings Of Devotion. Lastly And Most Importantly, One Must Turn To Krishna In The Mood Of A Beggar, Praying Intensely For His Mercy. Seeing Your Sincerity, Krishna Will Surely Reciprocate And Capture Your Full Attention Once Again.
Effect Of Japa With Meaning
The Method Of Chanting The Holy Name Involves Deliberating On The Meanings Of The Syllables Along With Sincerely Crying For The Lord. Success In Any Yoga System Involving Mantra Meditation Depends On Remembering The Meaning Of The Mantras Being Chanted. Patanjali Stresses This Point In The Yoga-Sutra 1.28: “The Sacred Om Connotes Isvara (Supreme Controller). One Should Chant Japa Of Om Along With Understanding Its Meaning (Yad-Japas Tad-Artha Bhavanam). Vyasadeva, The First Commentator On The Yoga-Sutra, Says:
“The Yogi Who Fully Understands The Relation Between The Word And The Meaning Must Constantly Repeat It, And Habituate The Mind To The Manifestation Therein Of Its Meaning. The Mind Of The Yogi Who Constantly Repeats Om, And Habituates The Mind To The Constant Manifestation Of The Idea It Carries, Becomes One-Pointed (Ekagrata).”
For Yogis Of Devotion (Bhaktas), Achieving The State Of Ekagrata, Or One-Pointedness Of The Mind, Means To Become Absorbed In The Trancendental Sound Of Krishna’s Holy Name.[…]
The Practice Of Remembering The Meaning Of The Mantra With Affection Is Also Mentioned In Hari-Bhakti-Vilasa:
Manah Samharanam Shaucam, Maunam Mantrartha-Cintanam;
Avyagratvam Anirvedo, Japa-Sampatti-Hetavah.
To Be Attentive Purification Of The Heart Is Required. This Means Keeping Silence And Avoiding Unfavourable Talking. While Chanting, One Must Affectionately Remember The Meaning Of The Mantra. Steadiness, Patience, And Attachment To Chanting Are All Treasures Of Chanting.
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Mind is the greatest friend (offcourse after the Lord Krishna !) and also the worst enemy. It depends on the way you mould it. Soul is considered well above the mind and thus we (i.e. souls) are capable controlling the mind. The point is that when we trust our mind (in a good faith) then it results into streams of promises which at the last are rendered void. The reason which I believe is that our minds have been polluted and similar to a son who has become deviated due to wrong association, mind should not be trusted to follow us without being under a strict control. Now when we try to forcefully control the mind and ask it to concentrate on the process of chanting it renders the sacred process of chanting to be a mechanical or mundane one. The point over here is that when we consider any process to be a mundane one then our expected outcomes from the same will also be materialistic which is an injustice to the process of chanting as ideal outcome from this should be the pleasure of Lord Krishna and nothing else. I am caught in this loop which is effecting my chanting. Please guide me.
YS
The Previous Acaryas Were Very Particular About Chanting In Ultra Quiet, Undisturbed Settings. Just Imagine How Tranquil Vrndavana Was Five Hundred Years Ago? Yet To Avoid Any Possible Distractions, The Medieval Saint Sanatana Gosvami Chanted Japa In A Cave Twenty Feet Under The Ground In Gokula! Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura Recommends Chanting In A Quiet “Distraction Free Zone” To Fully Concentrate On The Holy Name. In His House In Godrumadvipa, Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura Constructed A Small “Meditation Room” With A Thick Door To Create A Quiet Place For Concentrated Japa. He Advises Sadhakas To Make Similar Arrangements For Staying Alone In A Secluded Place In Order To Absorb The Mind In The Holy Name.
When The Mind Wanders, One Must Withdraw It From Sense Objects And Concentrate Intently On The Mantra. A Transcendental Sound Vibration That Can Free Or Deliver (Tra Or Trayate) The Mind (Mana) From Material Attraction And Attachment Is Called A Mantra. Meditate Deeply On The Meaning Of The Maha-Mantra. Do Not Be Distracted By Random Thoughts Or External Influences. Chant Krishna’s Names With Feelings Of Devotion. Lastly And Most Importantly, One Must Turn To Krishna In The Mood Of A Beggar, Praying Intensely For His Mercy. Seeing Your Sincerity, Krishna Will Surely Reciprocate And Capture Your Full Attention Once Again.
The Method Of Chanting The Holy Name Involves Deliberating On The Meanings Of The Syllables Along With Sincerely Crying For The Lord. Success In Any Yoga System Involving Mantra Meditation Depends On Remembering The Meaning Of The Mantras Being Chanted. Patanjali Stresses This Point In The Yoga-Sutra 1.28: “The Sacred Om Connotes Isvara (Supreme Controller). One Should Chant Japa Of Om Along With Understanding Its Meaning (Yad-Japas Tad-Artha Bhavanam). Vyasadeva, The First Commentator On The Yoga-Sutra, Says:
“The Yogi Who Fully Understands The Relation Between The Word And The Meaning Must Constantly Repeat It, And Habituate The Mind To The Manifestation Therein Of Its Meaning. The Mind Of The Yogi Who Constantly Repeats Om, And Habituates The Mind To The Constant Manifestation Of The Idea It Carries, Becomes One-Pointed (Ekagrata).”
For Yogis Of Devotion (Bhaktas), Achieving The State Of Ekagrata, Or One-Pointedness Of The Mind, Means To Become Absorbed In The Trancendental Sound Of Krishna’s Holy Name.[…]
The Practice Of Remembering The Meaning Of The Mantra With Affection Is Also Mentioned In Hari-Bhakti-Vilasa:
Manah Samharanam Shaucam, Maunam Mantrartha-Cintanam;
Avyagratvam Anirvedo, Japa-Sampatti-Hetavah.
To Be Attentive Purification Of The Heart Is Required. This Means Keeping Silence And Avoiding Unfavourable Talking. While Chanting, One Must Affectionately Remember The Meaning Of The Mantra. Steadiness, Patience, And Attachment To Chanting Are All Treasures Of Chanting.