Guest guest Posted March 12, 2007 Report Share Posted March 12, 2007 Here is a letter given in Om-Namo-Shivaya group.Regards Chetan " Om Shivaya Namaha> > A devotee asked, Can anyone get any benefit by> repeating sacred syllables (mantras) picked up casually?> Sri Bhagavan replied, No. He must be competent and> initiated in such mantras.> To illustrate this Ramana Maharishi told the following story.> A KING VISITED his minister in his residence. There he was> told that the minister was engaged in repetition of sacred syllables> (japa). The king waited for him and, on meeting him, asked> what the japa was. The minister said that it was the holiest of all,> Gayatri. The king desired to be initiated by the minister but the> minister confessed his inability to initiate him. Therefore the> king learned it from someone else, and meeting the minister> later he repeated the Gayatri and wanted to know if it was right.> The minister said that the mantra was correct, but it was not> proper for him to say it. When pressed for an explanation the> minister called to a page close by and ordered him to take hold> of the king. The order was not obeyed. The order was often> repeated, and still not obeyed. The king flew into a rage and> ordered the same man to hold the minister, and it was> immediately done. The minister laughed and said that the> incident was the explanation required by the king. How? asked> the king. The minister replied, The order was the same and> the executor also, but the authority was different. When I> ordered, the effect was nil whereas, when you ordered, there> was immediate effect. Similarly with mantras.> > Om Shivaya Namaha> Ramya" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 15, 2007 Report Share Posted March 15, 2007 Revered Chatan, And Bhagavan Maharshi, being a realized soul of the highest order, never fails to get it right. However, the key words in this case are: " picked up casually " . Sri Ramakrishna often spoke in metaphors in order to capture a truth about which our present languages-and perhaps even belief systems-are silent. He said that one must row one's boat carefully up the narrow, winding river, in a roundabout way, to reach the nearby village. But, when the monsoon rains fall and the whole countryside is flooded deep under water, one can row one's boat straight across the fields to the goal. Bhagavan spoke of initiation occasionally, and always to those for whom it was a genuine concern. However, he much more often said that, " here, the diksha is Silence " . And the record of Thakur Ramakrishna's giving initiation is also sketchy; at most he would simply write " something " on the tongue of a disciple with his finger. When the monsoon season arrives and the rains fall unceasingly, there is nowhere one can stand and not get wet. When the Avatara descends-with or withour fanfare-but with unlimited Power and Grace, coins minted in the past no longer have current value. We are no longer sustained solely by past customs, but by every Word which falls from the mouth of the Guru. Most Respectfully, Tanmaya , Chetan Merani <meranicv wrote: > > Here is a letter given in Om-Namo-Shivaya group.Regards > Chetan > " Om Shivaya Namaha > > > > A devotee asked, Can anyone get any benefit by > > repeating sacred syllables (mantras) picked up casually? > > Sri Bhagavan replied, No. He must be competent and > > initiated in such mantras. > > To illustrate this Ramana Maharishi told the following story. > > A KING VISITED his minister in his residence. There he was > > told that the minister was engaged in repetition of sacred > syllables > > (japa). The king waited for him and, on meeting him, asked > > what the japa was. The minister said that it was the holiest of > all, > > Gayatri. The king desired to be initiated by the minister but the > > minister confessed his inability to initiate him. Therefore the > > king learned it from someone else, and meeting the minister > > later he repeated the Gayatri and wanted to know if it was right. > > The minister said that the mantra was correct, but it was not > > proper for him to say it. When pressed for an explanation the > > minister called to a page close by and ordered him to take hold > > of the king. The order was not obeyed. The order was often > > repeated, and still not obeyed. The king flew into a rage and > > ordered the same man to hold the minister, and it was > > immediately done. The minister laughed and said that the > > incident was the explanation required by the king. How? asked > > the king. The minister replied, The order was the same and > > the executor also, but the authority was different. When I > > ordered, the effect was nil whereas, when you ordered, there > > was immediate effect. Similarly with mantras. > > > > Om Shivaya Namaha > > Ramya " > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 Namaskar Tanmayaji, I fully agree with you. may God bless you. Chetan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 Dear Chetan, First and formost, please forgive me for misspelling your name in my last post; I was leaving for work and didn't take enough time to re-read what I had written. ...though tamas has no excuse. And I also understood, and perfectly agree with, what you had written. It was only to present the other side of the coin, thus giving its full value, for those who may need that viewpoint, that I wrote. The concept of a spirtual samashti of devotees connected by invisible waves continually fascinates me. When life was first organized on this planet, first a few electrical conducting cells began to link up in various ways. Then, when the form and time were propitious, consciousness associated itself with that new unity. But, again, I'm out of time; will have to finish that thought some other time. Most respectfully, Tanmaya , Chetan Merani <meranicv wrote: > > Namaskar Tanmayaji, > I fully agree with you. may God bless you. > Chetan. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 , " ty_maa " <dsjames wrote: > > > Dear Chetan, > > First and formost, please forgive me for misspelling your name in my > last post; I was leaving for work and didn't take enough time to re- read > what I had written. ...though tamas has no excuse. > > And I also understood, and perfectly agree with, what you had written. > It was only to present the other side of the coin, thus giving its full > value, for those who may need that viewpoint, that I wrote. > > The concept of a spirtual samashti of devotees connected by invisible > waves continually fascinates me. When life was first organized on this > planet, first a few electrical conducting cells began to link up in > various ways. Then, when the form and time were propitious, > consciousness associated itself with that new unity. > > But, again, I'm out of time; will have to finish that thought some other > time. > > Most respectfully, > > Tanmaya > > > , Chetan Merani <meranicv@> wrote: > > > > Namaskar Tanmayaji, > > I fully agree with you. may God bless you. > > Chetan. Namaste Tanmaya, Yes, one can convert to the Sanatana Dharma / Hinduism. However, one simply should not enter into it blindly, one must chose one of the sects to convert to - Saivism, Saktism, or Vaisnavism. Each is a distinct religion in and of itself, having its own saints, temples, metaphysics, and culture, although they all share a common ground with the Vedas - the source of all Hindu thought and the world's oldest scriptures. Could some one help me out! I need specific links / literature how one could FORMALLY CONVERT (in the Vedic culture) to Hinduism to EACH sect. I guess you call it initiation! Now a proud self-professed Hindu. Om Shanti. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Dear Self-professed, Thank you for your comments. The subject you raise, of the means of formally converting to the sects of Hinduism, goes beyond my knowledge and my experience. If you direct that question to Swami Satyananda, or perhaps to Nanda or Vishweshwara, who can relay the question to the Swami, I am sure you will receive helpful information. Good luck on your journey. Tanmaya , " alphansojohn " <alphanso108 wrote: > > , " ty_maa " dsjames@ wrote: > > > > > > Dear Chetan, > > > > First and formost, please forgive me for misspelling your name in my > > last post; I was leaving for work and didn't take enough time to re- > read > > what I had written. ...though tamas has no excuse. > > > > And I also understood, and perfectly agree with, what you had > written. > > It was only to present the other side of the coin, thus giving its > full > > value, for those who may need that viewpoint, that I wrote. > > > > The concept of a spirtual samashti of devotees connected by > invisible > > waves continually fascinates me. When life was first organized on > this > > planet, first a few electrical conducting cells began to link up in > > various ways. Then, when the form and time were propitious, > > consciousness associated itself with that new unity. > > > > But, again, I'm out of time; will have to finish that thought some > other > > time. > > > > Most respectfully, > > > > Tanmaya > > > > > > , Chetan Merani <meranicv@> wrote: > > > > > > Namaskar Tanmayaji, > > > I fully agree with you. may God bless you. > > > Chetan. > > Namaste Tanmaya, > Yes, one can convert to the Sanatana Dharma / Hinduism. However, one > simply should not enter into it blindly, one must chose one of the > sects to convert to - Saivism, Saktism, or Vaisnavism. Each is a > distinct religion in and of itself, having its own saints, temples, > metaphysics, and culture, although they all share a common ground > with the Vedas - the source of all Hindu thought and the world's > oldest scriptures. Could some one help me out! I need specific > links / literature how one could FORMALLY CONVERT (in the Vedic > culture) to Hinduism to EACH sect. I guess you call it initiation! > Now a proud self-professed Hindu. > Om Shanti. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Dear Friend, To my little understanding, in spiritual life, conversion is of little importance. What is needed is practice of what one knows and making it a part of his daily life. If he is sincere, God provides help at an appropriate time always. I am reminded of an incident that happened decades ago. A western couple approached one of the Shankaracharyas (He is no longer alive today) and wanted to be converted to Hinduism. Shankaracharya asked them if they have practiced faithfully the teachings of Christ. They could not say 'yes'. Shankaracharya advised them first practice what they already know and when they progress, further help will also come. People going to Sri Raman Maharishi benefited by just sitting in his presence without exchanging a word. Question of formal initiation just did not arise! Guiding force is always present within everyone of us. It needs to be tapped. May God bless you and full fill your desire of advancement in spiritual life. Regards Chetan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.