10. Jap - Chant

[Guest guest]

Jap

Chant

 

Regularly, constantly, repeat in the mind this Knowledge which is

encapsulated in the mool-mantra given by the Teacher.

 

Ik Onkaar Sat-Naam Kartaa-Purakh Nirbhau Nirvair Akaal-Moorat Ajuni

Saibangh Gurparsaad... It should not be a parrot-like, mechanical,

hasty repetition of the mantra, the way most people chant it. rather,

it must be a slow, gentle and loving repetition, the way a lover

calls out the name of his beloved again and again.

 

The mere repetition of the mantras over a sustained period brings

about concentration and single-mindedness, which is absolutely

essential for meditation. When done with devotion, this jap serves to

purify the mind. But the Truth is revealed only when we contemplate

on and understand the meaning of the mantra while repeating it in the

mind again and again.

 

Let the mind repeat the mantra and become quite while the intellect

rides on the meaning of these " secret indicators " of the Reality, and

lifts itself to dissolve into the Truth in the state of samaadhi

or 'meditation'. Repeat the names of the Lord, not with mere words

but with all the feelings in your heart. When you call out to your

beloved, or when you call out the name of your child or friend, do

not all your feelings of love, your knowledge of your loved one, the

memories and the relationship, all come to mind at once? In the same

way, understanding its meaning, one should repeat the mantra with

love.

 

As you repeat in your mind, Ik Onkaar.... Bring in all the knowledge

understood earlier: that He is one without a second; that He pervades

the entire universe of names and forms; that He is the Creator,

Sustainer and Destroyer; the entire universe arises in Him, is

sustained in Him and gets dissolved in Him; He is the Consciousness

that is the one witness of all the three states of waking, dream and

deep sleep.

 

You may take the entire mool-mantra and repeat it. or take any one

word from it and repeat it again and again. For those who tend to see

the world as full of divisions and differences, without unity or

harmony, it would be helpful to place more emphasis on the word Ik

Onkaar.

 

Those whose mind and intellect are not integrated and who find that

they cannot live up to their convictions, are insecure and afraid of

change, should particularly concentrate on Sat Naam.

 

Those who have a strong ego with a great sense of vanity and pride

should absorb their mind in Kartaa Purakh. Those who suffer from

constant fear and anxiety should stress on Nirbhau. Those who harbor

enmity and hatred, on Nirvair.

 

Those who are afraid of dying and are full of attachments should

contemplate on Akkal Moorat. Those who wish to end all suffering, on

Ajuni. Those who seek knowledge and wisdom, on Saibangh, and for

devotion and surrender one should constantly meditate on Gurparsaad.

 

All these words indicate the one same Truth and each divine quality

cultivated invariably leads to the other divine qualities.

 

Start, start the jap today. The grace of the lord and the Guru is

ever with us. Listen carefully to the meaning, reflect on it,

understand, contemplate, meditate and realize.

 

Shri Guru Nanakji completes the " Japji " with a message in the 38th

pauree (set of verses); " JAT PAHAARAA DHEERAJ SUNIAAR, AHARAN MAT VED

HATHIAAR. BHAU KAHALAA AGAN TAP TAAO, BHAANDAA BHAAO AMRIT TIT DHAAL.

GHAREEAI SHABAD SACHEE TAKSAAL, JIN KAU NADAR KARAM TIN KAAR. NANAK

NADREE NADAR NIHAAL. Let forbearance be the furnace and patience the

goldsmith, let understanding be the anvil and Veda, spiritual

knowledge, the hammer. Let fear be the bellows and austerity, the

fire, and let love be the crucible in which pour down thou the

ambrosia. Thus in the true mint wilt thou coin the Shabad, the Name

divine. Such alone who have His grace and kindness adopt this way. On

them, O Nanak rain showers of grace divine. Absorbed are they forever

and ever. Theirs is the eternal bliss. "

 

 

About the Author

 

This explanation of the mool mantras has been made possible only by

the Grace of the Guru. These reflections are humble offerings at the

lotus feet of Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda and dear Guruji Swami

Tejomayananda, and a Shradhaanjali at the lotus feet of Shri Guru

Nanak Dev.

 

May the blessings of the Guru be ever upon us.

 

 

" Ik Onkaar, Meditations on the One Indivisible Truth " is also

available in audio cassette form in the author's own voice.

 

Few men are called to serve humanity the way Swami Swaroopananda

does. Fewer actually achieve the unique impact and response that

Swamiji has.

 

In just slightly over a decade, Swamiji has crissed-crossed the globe

several times over and touched the lives of thousands of eager

listeners in cities as diverse as London, Sydhey, Singapore, New

Delhi, Gibraltar and Jakarta. So fantastic has the feedback to his

discourses been, that every audio or videocassette he produces is an

instant sellout.

 

A disciple of the world-renowned Master of Vedanta (The Science of

Right Living) and champion of India's spiritual wisdom, Swami

Chinmayananda, Swami Swaroopananda left his family's thriving

business in Hong Kong at a rather early age to seek what he now

calls " real answers to real problems " .

 

" I was convinced that beyond our everyday, superficial joys and

sorrows, there was something higher. " he says. " A greater, deeper and

more compelling Truth that provides the solutions to all our

problems.... enabling man to live a truly happy and positive life in

both the inner and outer worlds. "

 

After undergoing intensive monastic training and an exhaustive study

of the Scriptures at the Chinmaya Mission headquarters in Bombay,

Swamiji returned to Hong Kong in 1986 to spread the timeless message

of Vedanta, first as Brahmachari Susheelji, and later, under his

present name as the acharya-in-charge of the Chinmaya Seva Ashram.

Throughout his preaching career in Hong Kong, Swamiji held his

audiences - children, youths and adults alike - completely spellbound

with his amazingly practical and extremely user-friendly approach to

spirituality.

 

Since 1994, Swamiji has been based at the Chinmaya Dham in Melbourne,

where he continues to reach out to spiritual seekers by translating

Vedanta into a most effective and relevant way of life for the modern

man and woman.

 

Long Live Sanatan Dharam

 

February 2003

 

http://esamskriti.com/