Guest guest Posted May 29, 2005 Report Share Posted May 29, 2005 THE MAHARSHI Letters and Comments Chanting the Names of God I recently bought a book on Ramana Maharshi's teachings and found the website with your e-mail address. I read that he stated that japa meditation can be useful. I heard, many years ago, that chanting can be harmful unless the mantra is given by a guru. I also read somewhere, written by another guru, that some mantras can be used freely by all seekers. Can I chant the names of God on my japa beads without fear of harmful results? Could you recommend any mantras? In the past I have meditated/chanted 'I Am' and found it to have beneficial results. I have been seeking, searching, reading, and practising countless 'systems' for many years; everything from mainstream religions to Western occultism to Eastern mysticism, but I have not found that which brings me to the permanent stillness which Sri Ramana Maharshi mentions, in the little I have recently read (I first started studying his ideas only a week ago!). Any advice? Any devotees in Chicago? Any help you can offer would be appreciated. Thank you for your time. If you chant the name of God with sincerity and devotion no harm can come to you. On the contrary, only good - spiritual good - will come to you. Sri Ramana Maharshi said, "'I Am' is the greatest of all mantras, the first name of God." It is an excellent mantra. Help is always there for the sincere seeker. Just like a man who chooses only one woman to marry and stays with her for his entire life, one should choose one guru and one path and stay with that. There is no harm in seeking what suits you, but at some point one should make a decision and stick to one practice and one guru. — Editor First let me say how valuable the Letters and Comments section of the newsletter is. I hope you will keep this section and maybe even expand it. The questions are to the point and the answers are extremely helpful clarifications. My questions: What is the exact translation of Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Ramanaya? And is it appropriate for use as a mantra? — California, USA Is it appropriate for use as a mantra? Yes, of course. The repetition of a mantra is an established, traditional method of realizing the eternal japa that is always repeating within us. The Maharshi never denied its efficacy. In fact, he had recommended to a number of devotees to repeat mantras, and we know of one instance wherein he even recommended "Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Ramanaya." It means "I bow to Lord Sri Ramana". For those who have taken to the path of Self-enquiry and look to Sri Ramana Maharshi as their Guru, it is very appropriate to repeat this mantra. Bhagavan has taught that all practices ultimately lead to the Vichara, Self-enquiry of 'Who am I?'. But we may not be able to practice this at all times, in which case the repetition of the mantra with prayerful humility will keep us attune to Him and open to His ever-present Grace. Please read "How the Mantra Came to me" in At the Feet of Bhagavan, by T. K. Sundaresa Iyer. — Editor ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 1, 2005 Report Share Posted June 1, 2005 Hi, My first mail here, a question : Did Ramana Maharshi ever say that you should stick to one Guru? - I am remembering some statements to the contrary - that some sages had as many as 16. Bala --- michael bindel <michael_bindel wrote: > > THE MAHARSHI > > > > Letters and Comments > > > > > > Chanting the Names of God > > I recently bought a book on Ramana Maharshi's > teachings and found the website with your e-mail > address. > > I read that he stated that japa meditation can be > useful. I heard, many years ago, that chanting can > be harmful unless the mantra is given by a guru. I > also read somewhere, written by another guru, that > some mantras can be used freely by all seekers. > > Can I chant the names of God on my japa beads > without fear of harmful results? Could you recommend > any mantras? In the past I have meditated/chanted 'I > Am' and found it to have beneficial results. > > I have been seeking, searching, reading, and > practising countless 'systems' for many years; > everything from mainstream religions to Western > occultism to Eastern mysticism, but I have not found > that which brings me to the permanent stillness > which Sri Ramana Maharshi mentions, in the little I > have recently read (I first started studying his > ideas only a week ago!). > > Any advice? Any devotees in Chicago? Any help you > can offer would be appreciated. Thank you for your > time. > > > If you chant the name of God with sincerity and > devotion no harm can come to you. On the contrary, > only good - spiritual good - will come to you. > > Sri Ramana Maharshi said, " 'I Am' is the greatest of > all mantras, the first name of God. " It is an > excellent mantra. > > Help is always there for the sincere seeker. Just > like a man who chooses only one woman to marry and > stays with her for his entire life, one should > choose one guru and one path and stay with that. > There is no harm in seeking what suits you, but at > some point one should make a decision and stick to > one practice and one guru. — Editor > First let me say how valuable the Letters and > Comments section of the newsletter is. I hope you > will keep this section and maybe even expand it. The > questions are to the point and the answers are > extremely helpful clarifications. > > My questions: > > What is the exact translation of Om Namo Bhagavate > Sri Ramanaya? > > And is it appropriate for use as a mantra? > > — California, USA > > Is it appropriate for use as a mantra? Yes, of > course. The repetition of a mantra is an > established, traditional method of realizing the > eternal japa that is always repeating within us. The > Maharshi never denied its efficacy. In fact, he had > recommended to a number of devotees to repeat > mantras, and we know of one instance wherein he even > recommended " Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Ramanaya. " It > means " I bow to Lord Sri Ramana " . > > For those who have taken to the path of Self-enquiry > and look to Sri Ramana Maharshi as their Guru, it is > very appropriate to repeat this mantra. Bhagavan has > taught that all practices ultimately lead to the > Vichara, Self-enquiry of 'Who am I?'. But we may not > be able to practice this at all times, in which case > the repetition of the mantra with prayerful humility > will keep us attune to Him and open to His > ever-present Grace. > > Please read " How the Mantra Came to me " in At the > Feet of Bhagavan, by T. K. Sundaresa Iyer. — Editor > > > > > ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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