Contending with highly negative thoughts during Japa

[Guest guest]

Dear Narasimha,

 

Namaskar

 

Thank you for answering all my queries. I really have a nagging problem

which others may be experiencing at various intensities.

 

Without fail, my mind thinks of a very particular highly negative thought

whenever I am

doing Japa.

Often I try to negate it in my mind with the obvious result that my Japa gets

destroyed.

I am paranoid about these bad thought coming true, especially as I am thinking

them

while doing Japa. In my heart I definetly do not want them to materialize. How

should I

proceed?

 

Please advise.

 

Thank you yet again.

[Guest guest]

respected narasimha garu,namaskarThis is a very important question. More or less I find the same difficulty of the mind wandering in many 'rajasik' thoughts. Kindly help to control the mind and to divert it toward Japa.

regards,JituOn Wed, Feb 11, 2009 at 9:18 PM, sbm_sharma <sbm_sharma wrote:

 

 

 

 

Dear Narasimha,

 

Namaskar

 

Thank you for answering all my queries. I really have a nagging problem

which others may be experiencing at various intensities.

 

Without fail, my mind thinks of a very particular highly negative thought whenever I am

doing Japa.

Often I try to negate it in my mind with the obvious result that my Japa gets destroyed.

I am paranoid about these bad thought coming true, especially as I am thinking them

while doing Japa. In my heart I definetly do not want them to materialize. How should I

proceed?

 

Please advise.

 

Thank you yet again.

[Guest guest]

Japa is putting thought frames in front of you. Conscience is

classifying the thought frames into good and bad. An elevated soul

might have ability to classify thoughts in the correct manner without

any biases. For normal people, it is better to ignore and continue

doing japa. I watch it like a movie which shows good and bad deeds of

the characters and try not to judge the movie after walking out of the

theater -- this is hard .

 

The objective of japa is to find the ultimate Truth -- not to qualify

the thoughts. For most of us, this thought qualification phase has to

be passed to realize our judgment is insignificant compared to Nature.

 

asmad gurubhyo namaH!

 

-Kishore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

, Jitendra Trivedi <trivedijv

wrote:

>

> respected narasimha garu,

>

> namaskar

>

> This is a very important question. More or less I find the same

difficulty

> of the mind wandering in many 'rajasik' thoughts. Kindly help to

control the

> mind and to divert it toward Japa.

>

> regards,

>

> Jitu

>

> On Wed, Feb 11, 2009 at 9:18 PM, sbm_sharma <sbm_sharma wrote:

>

> > Dear Narasimha,

> >

> > Namaskar

> >

> > Thank you for answering all my queries. I really have a nagging

problem

> > which others may be experiencing at various intensities.

> >

> > Without fail, my mind thinks of a very particular highly negative

thought

> > whenever I am

> > doing Japa.

> > Often I try to negate it in my mind with the obvious result that

my Japa

> > gets destroyed.

> > I am paranoid about these bad thought coming true, especially as I am

> > thinking them

> > while doing Japa. In my heart I definetly do not want them to

materialize.

> > How should I

> > proceed?

> >

> > Please advise.

> >

> > Thank you yet again.

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Sir,

I also agree with this mail. I feel I have double minds. One is reading Chandipath or doing Japam and other mind is thinking on various thoughts. Is it possible that we have two minds at a time? Because when we think on other issues while reading Chandipath, the first mind reading Path is not at all stopped. Path is going on mentally.

Dr. Ashwin Rawal--- On Wed, 2/11/09, sbm_sharma <sbm_sharma wrote:

sbm_sharma <sbm_sharma Contending with highly negative thoughts during Japa Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 5:18 PM

 

 

Dear Narasimha,NamaskarThank you for answering all my queries. I really have a nagging problem which others may be experiencing at various intensities. Without fail, my mind thinks of a very particular highly negative thought whenever I am doing Japa.Often I try to negate it in my mind with the obvious result that my Japa gets destroyed.I am paranoid about these bad thought coming true, especially as I am thinking them while doing Japa. In my heart I definetly do not want them to materialize. How should I proceed? Please advise.Thank you yet again.

[Guest guest]

Namaste,

 

The nature of mind is to wander and think various things. Mind will stop thinking only when it is in samadhi. Until then, it will continue to get some good thoughts and some bad thoughts. That is its nature.

 

The goal of sadhana is to train the mind to focus on one thing. Some may train the mind to focus on a mantra. Some may train the mind to focus on musical notes. Some may train the mind to focus on the breathing. In various types of spiritual sadhana, you have one object for the mind to focus on. Still, mind tries to wander off all the time.

 

If a computer is running a program and a virus or spyware or adware starts running, an anti-virus program's watchdog task that is running in the same computer detects it and deletes it (before it does much harm). Similarly, install a watchdog task in your mind. Suppose you are meditating or doing some sadhana and trying to focus the mind on something. Suppose some other (good or bad!) thoughts come to the mind. As soon as you are aware of it (i.e. the watchdog task detects them), simply delete the thoughts.

 

I recommend not getting aggravated or frustrated at the bad thoughts. Just become aware of them and tell yourself to focus on the mantra. It is *natural* for the mind to be thinking of those bad thoughts. By being aggravated or frustrated, you are only increasing the distraction. It is like picking fight with a heckler who interrupts a speech you are giving or a song you are singing. Become aware and move on. If you pick a fight with the heckler it does more harm than the original heckling!

 

By being aware of the distraction, acknowledging it and then consciously trying to ignore it, you are maximizing your chances of successfully returning the full attention of the mind to the mantra. Of course, the distraction will keep coming again and again. But the best option is to tell your mind to focus on the mantra each time you are aware of the distraction. Do NOT get frustrated. As you keep doing this over and over and over, the heckler may decide to shut up. Similarly, as you ignore distractions of the mind, eventually oneday a pleasant accident will happen and mind will achieve absolute focus on the mantra, with no other thoughts! THAT is when you experience the mantra and deity. Until then, it is a rehearsal.

 

All thoughts - good or bad - are distractions. When you are meditating with a mantra, the mind should be focused on ONE thing. That one thing can be the sound of the mantra or an image of the deity you have in your mind or a thought that "so and so deity is supreme. I am an insignificant servant" etc. Try to focus your mind on that one focus point. As other thoughts come, become aware and move on without any frustration or sadness or anger or disappointment.

 

Original mail said: "In my heart I definetly do not want them to materialize.". Please realize that one's thinking or not thinking of something has nothing to do with something happening or not happening. Thinking that you make several things happen, that there is a cause-effect relationship between various things in the universe and you have a role in it is an unnecessary burden. Tell yourself that She (or He) does it all and you are just an insignificant servant who happens to be there observing it all. It is a simpler world view and one that does not burden you. Moreover, it is a more accurate view.

 

Best regards,NarasimhaDo a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homamDo Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/tarpanaSpirituality: Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org

 

-

Ashwin Rawal

Thursday, February 12, 2009 12:08 PM

Re: Contending with highly negative thoughts during Japa

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Sir,

I also agree with this mail. I feel I have double minds. One is reading Chandipath or doing Japam and other mind is thinking on various thoughts. Is it possible that we have two minds at a time? Because when we think on other issues while reading Chandipath, the first mind reading Path is not at all stopped. Path is going on mentally.

Dr. Ashwin Rawal--- On Wed, 2/11/09, sbm_sharma <sbm_sharma wrote:

sbm_sharma <sbm_sharma Contending with highly negative thoughts during Japa Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 5:18 PM

 

 

Dear Narasimha,NamaskarThank you for answering all my queries. I really have a nagging problem which others may be experiencing at various intensities. Without fail, my mind thinks of a very particular highly negative thought whenever I am doing Japa.Often I try to negate it in my mind with the obvious result that my Japa gets destroyed.I am paranoid about these bad thought coming true, especially as I am thinking them while doing Japa. In my heart I definetly do not want them to materialize. How should I proceed? Please advise.Thank you yet again.

[Guest guest]

Dear Narasimha,

 

Thank you for this. I really like your analogy about the heckler. I

just need to proceed and give it my best.

 

By the way, thank you to all the others who replied as well.

 

Kind Regards

 

 

 

 

, " Narasimha P.V.R. Rao " <pvr

wrote:

>

> Namaste,

>

> The nature of mind is to wander and think various things. Mind will

stop thinking only when it is in samadhi. Until then, it will

continue to get some good thoughts and some bad thoughts. That is its

nature.

>

> The goal of sadhana is to train the mind to focus on one thing.

Some may train the mind to focus on a mantra. Some may train the mind

to focus on musical notes. Some may train the mind to focus on the

breathing. In various types of spiritual sadhana, you have one object

for the mind to focus on. Still, mind tries to wander off all the

time.

>

> If a computer is running a program and a virus or spyware or adware

starts running, an anti-virus program's watchdog task that is running

in the same computer detects it and deletes it (before it does much

harm). Similarly, install a watchdog task in your mind. Suppose you

are meditating or doing some sadhana and trying to focus the mind on

something. Suppose some other (good or bad!) thoughts come to the

mind. As soon as you are aware of it (i.e. the watchdog task detects

them), simply delete the thoughts.

>

> I recommend not getting aggravated or frustrated at the bad

thoughts. Just become aware of them and tell yourself to focus on the

mantra. It is *natural* for the mind to be thinking of those bad

thoughts. By being aggravated or frustrated, you are only increasing

the distraction. It is like picking fight with a heckler who

interrupts a speech you are giving or a song you are singing. Become

aware and move on. If you pick a fight with the heckler it does more

harm than the original heckling!

>

> By being aware of the distraction, acknowledging it and then

consciously trying to ignore it, you are maximizing your chances of

successfully returning the full attention of the mind to the mantra.

Of course, the distraction will keep coming again and again. But the

best option is to tell your mind to focus on the mantra each time you

are aware of the distraction. Do NOT get frustrated. As you keep

doing this over and over and over, the heckler may decide to shut up.

Similarly, as you ignore distractions of the mind, eventually oneday

a pleasant accident will happen and mind will achieve absolute focus

on the mantra, with no other thoughts! THAT is when you experience

the mantra and deity. Until then, it is a rehearsal.

>

> All thoughts - good or bad - are distractions. When you are

meditating with a mantra, the mind should be focused on ONE thing.

That one thing can be the sound of the mantra or an image of the

deity you have in your mind or a thought that " so and so deity is

supreme. I am an insignificant servant " etc. Try to focus your mind

on that one focus point. As other thoughts come, become aware and

move on without any frustration or sadness or anger or disappointment.

>

> Original mail said: " In my heart I definetly do not want them to

materialize. " . Please realize that one's thinking or not thinking of

something has nothing to do with something happening or not

happening. Thinking that you make several things happen, that there

is a cause-effect relationship between various things in the universe

and you have a role in it is an unnecessary burden. Tell yourself

that She (or He) does it all and you are just an insignificant

servant who happens to be there observing it all. It is a simpler

world view and one that does not burden you. Moreover, it is a more

accurate view.

>

> Best regards,

> Narasimha

>

> Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homam

> Do Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/tarpana

> Spirituality:

> Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.net

> Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.org

> Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org

>

>

> -

> Ashwin Rawal

>

> Thursday, February 12, 2009 12:08 PM

> Re: Contending with highly negative

thoughts during Japa

>

> Dear Sir,

> I also agree with this mail. I feel I have double minds.

One is reading Chandipath or doing Japam and other mind is thinking

on various thoughts. Is it possible that we have two minds at a time?

Because when we think on other issues while reading Chandipath, the

first mind reading Path is not at all stopped. Path is going on

mentally.

> Dr. Ashwin Rawal

>

> --- On Wed, 2/11/09, sbm_sharma <sbm_sharma wrote:

>

> sbm_sharma <sbm_sharma

> Contending with highly negative

thoughts during Japa

>

> Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 5:18 PM

>

>

> Dear Narasimha,

>

> Namaskar

>

> Thank you for answering all my queries. I really have a

nagging problem

> which others may be experiencing at various intensities.

>

> Without fail, my mind thinks of a very particular highly

negative thought whenever I am

> doing Japa.

> Often I try to negate it in my mind with the obvious

result that my Japa gets destroyed.

> I am paranoid about these bad thought coming true,

especially as I am thinking them

> while doing Japa. In my heart I definetly do not want

them to materialize. How should I

> proceed?

>

> Please advise.

>

> Thank you yet again.

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Narsimhaji,

 

Whenever i concentrate on any subject i am getting sleep ,it also seen

with my kids.When they preparing for exam for next day they getting

sleep very earlier than regular day,but watching a interesting film

they did not got sleep even up to 2am.

 

What are the reason?Lack of interest in the subject or some thing

else?It is related to concentration power and ability how to over come

from this sleepiness at the time of concentration?

 

Thanks,

 

M.S.Bohra

 

 

 

 

, " Narasimha P.V.R. Rao " <pvr

wrote:

>

> Namaste,

>

> The nature of mind is to wander and think various things. Mind will

stop thinking only when it is in samadhi. Until then, it will continue

to get some good thoughts and some bad thoughts. That is its nature.

>

> The goal of sadhana is to train the mind to focus on one thing. Some

may train the mind to focus on a mantra. Some may train the mind to

focus on musical notes. Some may train the mind to focus on the

breathing. In various types of spiritual sadhana, you have one object

for the mind to focus on. Still, mind tries to wander off all the time.

>

> If a computer is running a program and a virus or spyware or adware

starts running, an anti-virus program's watchdog task that is running

in the same computer detects it and deletes it (before it does much

harm). Similarly, install a watchdog task in your mind. Suppose you

are meditating or doing some sadhana and trying to focus the mind on

something. Suppose some other (good or bad!) thoughts come to the

mind. As soon as you are aware of it (i.e. the watchdog task detects

them), simply delete the thoughts.

>

> I recommend not getting aggravated or frustrated at the bad

thoughts. Just become aware of them and tell yourself to focus on the

mantra. It is *natural* for the mind to be thinking of those bad

thoughts. By being aggravated or frustrated, you are only increasing

the distraction. It is like picking fight with a heckler who

interrupts a speech you are giving or a song you are singing. Become

aware and move on. If you pick a fight with the heckler it does more

harm than the original heckling!

>

> By being aware of the distraction, acknowledging it and then

consciously trying to ignore it, you are maximizing your chances of

successfully returning the full attention of the mind to the mantra.

Of course, the distraction will keep coming again and again. But the

best option is to tell your mind to focus on the mantra each time you

are aware of the distraction. Do NOT get frustrated. As you keep doing

this over and over and over, the heckler may decide to shut up.

Similarly, as you ignore distractions of the mind, eventually oneday a

pleasant accident will happen and mind will achieve absolute focus on

the mantra, with no other thoughts! THAT is when you experience the

mantra and deity. Until then, it is a rehearsal.

>

> All thoughts - good or bad - are distractions. When you are

meditating with a mantra, the mind should be focused on ONE thing.

That one thing can be the sound of the mantra or an image of the deity

you have in your mind or a thought that " so and so deity is supreme. I

am an insignificant servant " etc. Try to focus your mind on that one

focus point. As other thoughts come, become aware and move on without

any frustration or sadness or anger or disappointment.

>

> Original mail said: " In my heart I definetly do not want them to

materialize. " . Please realize that one's thinking or not thinking of

something has nothing to do with something happening or not happening.

Thinking that you make several things happen, that there is a

cause-effect relationship between various things in the universe and

you have a role in it is an unnecessary burden. Tell yourself that She

(or He) does it all and you are just an insignificant servant who

happens to be there observing it all. It is a simpler world view and

one that does not burden you. Moreover, it is a more accurate view.

>

> Best regards,

> Narasimha

>

> Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homam

> Do Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/tarpana

> Spirituality:

> Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.net

> Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.org

> Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org

>

>

> -

> Ashwin Rawal

>

> Thursday, February 12, 2009 12:08 PM

> Re: Contending with highly negative

thoughts during Japa

>

> Dear Sir,

> I also agree with this mail. I feel I have double minds. One

is reading Chandipath or doing Japam and other mind is thinking on

various thoughts. Is it possible that we have two minds at a time?

Because when we think on other issues while reading Chandipath, the

first mind reading Path is not at all stopped. Path is going on mentally.

> Dr. Ashwin Rawal

>

> --- On Wed, 2/11/09, sbm_sharma <sbm_sharma wrote:

>

> sbm_sharma <sbm_sharma

> Contending with highly negative

thoughts during Japa

>

> Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 5:18 PM

>

>

> Dear Narasimha,

>

> Namaskar

>

> Thank you for answering all my queries. I really have a

nagging problem

> which others may be experiencing at various intensities.

>

> Without fail, my mind thinks of a very particular highly

negative thought whenever I am

> doing Japa.

> Often I try to negate it in my mind with the obvious

result that my Japa gets destroyed.

> I am paranoid about these bad thought coming true,

especially as I am thinking them

> while doing Japa. In my heart I definetly do not want them

to materialize. How should I

> proceed?

>

> Please advise.

>

> Thank you yet again.

>

[Guest guest]

Dear M. S.

 

Namaste

 

You are indicating of two different things here,

 

About you feeling sleepy while concentrating, this is not abnormal,

There are two ways to look at it:

 

One as mind concentrates it feels rested and tranqalised so I donot

think it is a bad thing. I have felt similarly when reading some

spiritual books, a couple of books that I always try to read I fall

sleepy and it is a good type of feeling.

 

The second type is due to increase in tamasic qualities at the time

of trying to concentrate and as result one looses interest and does

not want to concentrate. This does not give good feeling, to overcome

this, one should try to avoid tamasic foods for an extended period of

time and eat more satvick food, along the satvick lines lead a life.

 

Children or all should sleep well before exam, there is nothing wrong

in that. why do you see that as a problem?

 

Hope this gives a different perspective ....

 

Best Regards

Mitesh

 

 

, " msbohra62 " <msbohra62

wrote:

>

> Dear Narsimhaji,

>

> Whenever i concentrate on any subject i am getting sleep ,it also

seen

> with my kids.When they preparing for exam for next day they getting

> sleep very earlier than regular day,but watching a interesting film

> they did not got sleep even up to 2am.

>

> What are the reason?Lack of interest in the subject or some thing

> else?It is related to concentration power and ability how to over

come

> from this sleepiness at the time of concentration?

>

> Thanks,

>

> M.S.Bohra

>

>

>

>

> , " Narasimha P.V.R. Rao " <pvr@>

> wrote:

> >

> > Namaste,

> >

> > The nature of mind is to wander and think various things. Mind

will

> stop thinking only when it is in samadhi. Until then, it will

continue

> to get some good thoughts and some bad thoughts. That is its nature.

> >

> > The goal of sadhana is to train the mind to focus on one thing.

Some

> may train the mind to focus on a mantra. Some may train the mind to

> focus on musical notes. Some may train the mind to focus on the

> breathing. In various types of spiritual sadhana, you have one

object

> for the mind to focus on. Still, mind tries to wander off all the

time.

> >

> > If a computer is running a program and a virus or spyware or

adware

> starts running, an anti-virus program's watchdog task that is

running

> in the same computer detects it and deletes it (before it does much

> harm). Similarly, install a watchdog task in your mind. Suppose you

> are meditating or doing some sadhana and trying to focus the mind on

> something. Suppose some other (good or bad!) thoughts come to the

> mind. As soon as you are aware of it (i.e. the watchdog task detects

> them), simply delete the thoughts.

> >

> > I recommend not getting aggravated or frustrated at the bad

> thoughts. Just become aware of them and tell yourself to focus on

the

> mantra. It is *natural* for the mind to be thinking of those bad

> thoughts. By being aggravated or frustrated, you are only increasing

> the distraction. It is like picking fight with a heckler who

> interrupts a speech you are giving or a song you are singing. Become

> aware and move on. If you pick a fight with the heckler it does more

> harm than the original heckling!

> >

> > By being aware of the distraction, acknowledging it and then

> consciously trying to ignore it, you are maximizing your chances of

> successfully returning the full attention of the mind to the mantra.

> Of course, the distraction will keep coming again and again. But the

> best option is to tell your mind to focus on the mantra each time

you

> are aware of the distraction. Do NOT get frustrated. As you keep

doing

> this over and over and over, the heckler may decide to shut up.

> Similarly, as you ignore distractions of the mind, eventually

oneday a

> pleasant accident will happen and mind will achieve absolute focus

on

> the mantra, with no other thoughts! THAT is when you experience the

> mantra and deity. Until then, it is a rehearsal.

> >

> > All thoughts - good or bad - are distractions. When you are

> meditating with a mantra, the mind should be focused on ONE thing.

> That one thing can be the sound of the mantra or an image of the

deity

> you have in your mind or a thought that " so and so deity is

supreme. I

> am an insignificant servant " etc. Try to focus your mind on that one

> focus point. As other thoughts come, become aware and move on

without

> any frustration or sadness or anger or disappointment.

> >

> > Original mail said: " In my heart I definetly do not want them to

> materialize. " . Please realize that one's thinking or not thinking of

> something has nothing to do with something happening or not

happening.

> Thinking that you make several things happen, that there is a

> cause-effect relationship between various things in the universe and

> you have a role in it is an unnecessary burden. Tell yourself that

She

> (or He) does it all and you are just an insignificant servant who

> happens to be there observing it all. It is a simpler world view and

> one that does not burden you. Moreover, it is a more accurate view.

> >

> > Best regards,

> > Narasimha

> >

> > Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homam

> > Do Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/tarpana

> > Spirituality:

> > Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.net

> > Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.org

> > Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org

> >

 

> >

> > -

> > Ashwin Rawal

> >

> > Thursday, February 12, 2009 12:08 PM

> > Re: Contending with highly negative

> thoughts during Japa

> >

> > Dear Sir,

> > I also agree with this mail. I feel I have double minds.

One

> is reading Chandipath or doing Japam and other mind is thinking on

> various thoughts. Is it possible that we have two minds at a time?

> Because when we think on other issues while reading Chandipath, the

> first mind reading Path is not at all stopped. Path is going on

mentally.

> > Dr. Ashwin Rawal

> >

> > --- On Wed, 2/11/09, sbm_sharma <sbm_sharma@> wrote:

> >

> > sbm_sharma <sbm_sharma@>

> > Contending with highly negative

> thoughts during Japa

> >

> > Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 5:18 PM

> >

> >

> > Dear Narasimha,

> >

> > Namaskar

> >

> > Thank you for answering all my queries. I really have a

> nagging problem

> > which others may be experiencing at various

intensities.

> >

> > Without fail, my mind thinks of a very particular highly

> negative thought whenever I am

> > doing Japa.

> > Often I try to negate it in my mind with the obvious

> result that my Japa gets destroyed.

> > I am paranoid about these bad thought coming true,

> especially as I am thinking them

> > while doing Japa. In my heart I definetly do not want

them

> to materialize. How should I

> > proceed?

> >

> > Please advise.

> >

> > Thank you yet again.

> >

>