Guest guest Posted May 7, 1999 Report Share Posted May 7, 1999 Thank you for your clarification. You have said one's own ishta mantra should not be spoken or written down. Can you please clarify? And what exactly is ishta mantra? R. Dinakaran Chennai India vraja wrote: Dear Sir There is certainly nothing wrong in saying " Hari Om " or in writing it down. It is a very common expression and it's also a very common greeting. What should never be either spoken or written down is one's own personal ishta mantra. Yours sincerely, Pravrajika Vrajaprana Vedanta Society of Southern California Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 7, 1999 Report Share Posted May 7, 1999 In a message dated 5/7/99 6:08:16 PM Eastern Daylight Time, DYNES writes: << Thank you for your clarification. You have said one's own ishta mantra should not be spoken or written down. Can you please clarify? And what exactly is ishta mantra? R. Dinakaran Chennai India >> who said that? Because I didn't get a mail that had anything to do with this. But, isn't it helpful to repeat the mantra aloud as well as write so that one gets very familiar with the syllables, sounds, and momentum of the mantra so that eventually one can evolve to repeating the mantra without even moving the lips and repeat it very sublty and effectively. Isn't it true that when one is first starting to repeat the mantra that one is not that focused and to repeat it in the mind is difficult and hard to concentrate on and and because of this one does not always give the desired effect? That's what i feel. Hari Om -Om Lala Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 8, 1999 Report Share Posted May 8, 1999 On Fri, 7 May 1999 Vidya123 wrote: > Vidya123 > > In a message dated 5/7/99 6:08:16 PM Eastern Daylight Time, > DYNES writes: > > << > Thank you for your clarification. You have said one's own ishta > mantra should not be spoken or written down. Can you please clarify? > And what exactly is ishta mantra? > > R. Dinakaran > Chennai > India >> " Ishta Mantraa " is the mantraa Of the form of Supreme Lord which ones like most . Someone whom one worships daily n recites his Mantraa daily.Guru Mantraa is also " Ishta Mantraa " n Guru is also " Ishta Devtaa " I feel this is the definition of " Ishta " . If there is no " Ishta Devtaa " than Guru is the " Ishta Devtaa " . I think u can write it but offer it in ur Guru's or Ishta Devtaa's feet. Ask ur Guru or some high yogi abt this for confirmation. One is not supposed to utter some mantraa before someone if someone asks wat mantraa is that. For as far as i know a part of watever u have gained through that mantraa will go to the one. > who said that? Because I didn't get a mail that had anything to do with > this. > But, isn't it helpful to repeat the mantra aloud as well as write so that one > gets very familiar with the syllables, sounds, and momentum of the mantra so > that eventually one can evolve to repeating the mantra without even moving > the lips and repeat it very sublty and effectively. It too feel that it is right to do so till one becomes familiar with the syllables , sounds , and momentum. But the mind should be with the utterance of the mantraa. But also there r different types of Mantraa Japaa depending on mantraa 1. Recited so that one can hear the syllables. 2. Recited like mumuring 3. Reciting in mind. > Isn't it true that when > one is first starting to repeat the mantra that one is not that focused and > to repeat it in the mind is difficult and hard to concentrate on and and > because of this one does not always give the desired effect? > That's what i feel. > When one is beginner it does take time to concentrate but as u go along with the prctices a time will come that as soon as one sit down for meditation ones body will automatically go in to a strong meditative phase. Also daily recitation of mantraa should be done at specific routine times for the body will automatically go in to that phase at that time. I think mornigs n evenings r the best for the nature n world around us is at peace at these times. When one sits for Mantraa recitation one should try to become as calm as possible n than start reciting the mantraa. Start reciting the mantraa with the thought that u r all in n with ur Guru or lord i.e. fill urself with full devotional thoughts towards ur Guru or Lord n than start reciting the Mantraa that will help in making perfect the first utterance of mantraa in mind n will also accelerate the effect one wants to have from Mantraa. When one goes to sleep try asking forgiveness with true heart from Lord n Ur Guru for any thing wrong u would have done in that day. This will help in obtaining the effects of Mantraa soon. > Hari Om > > -Om Lala > Wat does " Pranava " mean n in this light wat does " Pranava Mantraa " mean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 10, 1999 Report Share Posted May 10, 1999 Dear Devotees, > But, isn't it helpful to repeat the mantra aloud as well as write so that one > gets very familiar with the syllables, sounds, and momentum of the mantra so > that eventually one can evolve to repeating the mantra without even moving > the lips and repeat it very sublty and effectively. Isn't it true that when > one is first starting to repeat the mantra that one is not that focused and > to repeat it in the mind is difficult and hard to concentrate on and and > because of this one does not always give the desired effect? > That's what i feel. It is true that initially, you might have to tell your mantra moving your lips, and then later you will be able to repeat it in the mind. But, this does not warrant a person to tell aloud, or write it down. A serious aspirant can never forget his Mantra, and if he is not that serious, it is to be considered whether he is prepared enough for initiation. The mantra by which a person is initiated is NOT to be written down or told to others. Even the instructions given by the Guru are to be kept to one's self till the person attains " Mantra Siddhi " , when the person gets full (two-way) communication with the Ishta. Till this, the aspirant has to do his spiritual practice with full faith in the Ishta, Guru and the Mantra. I have never heard of a Guru who gave permission to his disciple to share his mantra with others. After attaining Mantra Siddhi, the case is different. With love, Gomu. -- ---------- Email: gomu Phone: +91 80 6634617 Webpages: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/1863 http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/2973 ---------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 15, 1999 Report Share Posted May 15, 1999 Dear everybody, Namaskar, " A mantra is a holy name or word formula signifying God, with or without form and attribute. Mantra Yoga is the spiritual discipline that unites the individual (aspirant) with God through the repetition of a mantra. " [ref. Seeing God Everywhere, by Swami Shraddhananda, editor Pravrajika Vrajaprana, Advaita Ashrama Publication, Calcutta.] Suppose you tell your Ishta-mantra to your friend. He/she listens and comments, " Ha, what is so great in these words! Anybody can recite them, but nothing good is going to come out of it. we have seen many gurus who give mantras to the ignorant masses and they do more harm than good to the society. this all mantra business is fake and humbug. I wonder how a rational fellow like you is tricked in this! " Now, if you can digest these insulting comments without getting angry or irritated your telling mantra to others does not matter. But if you, like most of the sadhakas, cannot bear this discredit to your mantra and your Guru, it is better not to tell the mantra to anyone. There is nothing secret about mantra, but the mantra is very sacred. We should use with discretion in our life to see that its purity and sacredness is not compromised. Repetition of mantra aloud in isolation purifies the atmosphere, its repetition in whispers purifies the senses, and its silent repetition in the cavity of heart purifies the mind. dr c s shah " R. Dinakaran " wrote: > > " R. Dinakaran " <DYNES > > Thank you for your clarification. You have said one's own ishta > mantra should not be spoken or written down. Can you please clarify? > And what exactly is ishta mantra? > > R. Dinakaran > Chennai > India > > vraja wrote: > Dear Sir > > There is certainly nothing wrong in saying " Hari Om " or in writing it > down. It is a very common expression and it's also a very common greeting. > What should never be either spoken or written down is one's own personal > ishta mantra. > Yours sincerely, > Pravrajika Vrajaprana > Vedanta Society of Southern California > > ------ > Always wanted to set up a book club, but can't find the time? > > Create an online book club through ONElist. > ------ > Sri Ramakrishnaye Namah > Vivekananda Centre London > http://www.btinternet.com/~vivekananda/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 1999 Report Share Posted May 20, 1999 Dear all, Just to throw the spanner in this discussion. I read a very interesting story about Ramanuja. Ramanuja is one of the most famous saints of South India and leading proponent of Vasistha Advaita philosophy. Ramanuja received initiation from his guru, Nambi. He was given a mantra and the guru adviced him that this mantra is very powerful and the repetition of this will help him attain eternal peace and liberation. Now this fellow Ramanuja had tremendous love for humanity. He wanted everybody to enjoy the bliss of God. He gathered all the people and climbed the tower above the temple gate and shouted the mantra out loud to all the people. His guru was absolutely furiously and told him that he will go to hell and burn there forever. Ramanuja replied that he will gladly suffer the tortures of hell if millions of people can attain salvation. However, I do agree with the key points raised by Dr Shah. How many people are the equivalent of a Ramanuja. Ramanuja, like Ramakrishna (Ramakrishna helped Totapuri) - helped his own guru to attain true salvation. The power of Japa yoga helps build concentration, purify the mind etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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