SAI NAMA JAPA - A NEVER ENDING PROCESS

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SAI NAMA JAPA – A NEVER ENDING PROCESS

Beloved Sairam,

Baba said, "The simple remembrance of My name as "Sai, Sai" will do away with

sins of speech and hearing" in Sri Sai Satcharitra Ch.III.

Brihan-Naradiya Purana also stress the importance of nama japa, "Chant the holy

names, chant the holy names, chant the holy names. In this age of Kali [the age

of quarrel and confusion] without a doubt there is no other way, there is no

other way, there is no other way." (38.126)

Sai Nama Japa is a very simple method that everybody can follow. Though it is

simple, it does not mean that great benefits can’t come out of it. If we can

bring the essence of the method, then this also will give its maximum results.

The Mantra-Shastra is a secret, which tells us that every letter of the alphabet

is a condensed form of energy. Sounds are really energy manifest. The sound is

not merely an empty form of verbal manifestation, but energy that is made to

express itself in a particular shape. And this packet of energy, this tied up

form of force, which is a particular letter of the alphabet, is made to come in

contact with another packet of energy called another letter, they collide with

each other, or, we may say, they act upon each other or fuse into each other,

whatever be the thing that takes place there, so that the utterance of a group

of letters, which is the Mantra, produces, by the process of permutation and

combination of these letters, a new form of energy which gets infused into our

system, because it has arisen from our own mind, thought and the recesses of

our being. We get charged with that force, as if we have touched a live

electric wire.

What is the basic truth behind repetition of Sai Nama Japa? The divine

responding for the human call is that basic truth. When repetition of Nama Japa

ripens fully, it turns into an act of Calling Baba. For us to concentrate fully

on repetition of Sai’s name, we must keep the mind silent. If that is not

possible, at least our mind must stay focussed. Generally even with habitual

practitioners of nama japam, it is common for their mind to be on something

else while they are doing japa. In this condition even the minimum result will

not come. Therefore it is advisable for those who do japa to keep their mind

silent. Then we must train our mind to focus exclusively on japa. If that

focussing lasts only for 6 or 7 minutes then we must terminate japa with that

and next time try to extend it to 7 to 8 minutes. If we can carry the

concentration to 20 or 30 minutes, then our mental distraction will stop

bothering our japam. Practicing Japa in the morning and evening without

distraction is

the first stage.

The second stage is much higher. During non-working hours we can observe our

minds getting restless and indulging in worries. If during such idle hours, we

can arrest our mental ramblings and focus our minds on japa, then gradually we

can devote all our non-working hours to doing japa. That way throughout the day

japa stays in our mind. If we can silently repeat Sai’s Maha Mantra that will be

the crowning peak of japa.

I dedicate this article on this auspicious Mahasamdhi day, which coincides the

completion of Global Sai Nama Japa Yagnam that was commenced and continued from

January 9th 2003 onwards. It is my humble opinion that billions and trillions

are meaningless in spiritual sadhana, more over it will not bind us because we

are not doing anything, although we go through the motions of doing something.

Everything is divinely ordained. You cease to be the ultimate agent of action.

What really works is something higher than yourself. Baba Himself seems to be

doing Nama Japa sadhana for ourselves. Who can do things in this world other

than Baba?

Let us make Sai Nama Japa Sadhana an inseparable part of our life, let us chant

as much as possible, as long as possible, wherever possible, whenever possible

- without an end.

Om Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai.

Ever yours,

At the Feet of the Master

N. Sivanandam

 

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