Guest guest Posted February 13, 2008 Report Share Posted February 13, 2008 Nama Article 14th February 2008 Namakirtan is Mediation - 1 Doing japa of a form of God or Mantra with the mind is called dhyana (meditation). Those who enquire of me with regard to dhyana yoga hold the opinion that meditating on a form of God like Krishna or Rama is only dhyana. They think that to meditate only on a ‘saguna’ (form), on a ‘roopa’ (form) of God is dhyana. It is no doubt dhyana but it does not mean that only this is dhyana. We do japa of a Mantra, don’t we? We do japa of Rama Nãma (Name) or Krishna Nãma, don’t we? Performing incessant japa of such a Mantra is also dhyana. Namakirtan is Mediation - 2 Vedanta granta speaks on the performance of such japa. It says, ‘Vittukarudalinãl ãru nei viizhchi pola Vittidã dunnale undee para Visedamãm munnave undeepara’ Vazhutthalil vãkkuccha vãikkut jabatthil Vizhuppamã mãnada mundii para Villambund dhyanami undee para’ What does it mean? While pouring out a liquid, that is full of viscosity, it runs down in a continuous flow without a break - ‘ãru nei viizhchi pola’ - It is known as ‘thaila dhãrai’ - the flow of oil. Likewise the flow of a river - let us take the movement of a river like the Cauvery or the Ganga. Just as the water flows continually without a break so, too, the constant thought of a God whom we love very much is also dhyana. Or doing japa of a Mantra of the God is also dhyana - ‘Rama! Rama! Rama!’ - saying this within the mind constantly is also dhyana. Namakirtan is Mediation - 3 How should one utter this? There should be no thought between one Rama Nãma and the next Rama Nãma. We should utter this within the mind without any worldly or other thoughts. Not only worldly thoughts but also thoughts such as, ‘I am doing japa. When will I see the Lord?’ should not arise. Thinking only of the ‘Nãma’ (the Name of the Lord) while doing ‘Its’ japa without any other thought is called dhyana. This is also dhyana. Namakirtan is Mediation - 4 Such japa can be done within the mind in the sitting posture. If we are unable to do this we can do the japa uttering the Nãma loudly; we can do the japa as we walk; we can do japa as we go circumambulating a temple. When practiced in this manner the ‘shakti’ (power) to do the japa within the mind is earned at a point of time. Doing japa continually in this manner is also called dhyana. Namakirtan is Mediation - 5 Sometimes when we find that our mind does not come under control we can do japa of Rama Nãma once, then think on the form of Rama once. Then again do japa of the Nãma followed by the thought of the form of Rama. Japa of the Nãma and thinking of the form of God can be done alternately in this manner. This is also dhyana - Nãma and the God of the Nãma. Thinking of the ‘murti’ (form) of the Mantra that we do japa of can also be resorted to. Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan : Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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