A story on mantras......

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A devotee asked, "Can anyone get any benefit by repeating sacred

syllables (mantras) picked up casually?"

 

Sri Bhagavan replied, "No, He must be competent and initiated in such

mantras".

 

To illustrate this he told the following story.

 

A King visited his Premier in his residence. There he was told that

the Premier was engaged in repetition of sacred syllables (japa). The

King waited for him and, on meeting him, asked what the japa was. The

Premier said that it was the holiest of all, Gayatri. The King

desired to be initiated by the Premier but the Premier confessed his

inability to initiate him. Therefore the King learned it from someone

else, and meeting the Minister later he repeated the Gayatri and

wanted to know if it was right. The Minister said that the mantra was

correct, but it was not proper for him to say it. When pressed for an

explanation the Minister called to a page close by and ordered him to

take hold of the King. The order was not obeyed. The order was often

repeated, and still not obeyed. The King flew into a rage and ordered

the same man to hold the Minister, and it was immediately done.

 

The Minister laughed and said that the incident was the explanation

required by the King. "How?" asked the King. The Minister

replied, 'The order was the same and the executor also, but the

authority was different. When I ordered, the effect was nil whereas,

when you ordered, there was immediate effect. Similarly with

mantras".

 

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our salutations to Bhagwan Ramana.

 

 

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