NAAM JAP - WHICH WAY IS THE BEST

sadhak_insight Fri, Jan 9, 2009 at 11:34 AM
Reply-To: gita-talk@yahoogroups.com
To: gita-talk@yahoogroups.com
:Shree Hari:
Ram Ram

Manyavar,
I have a dilemma. Which type of "japa" (divine name repetition) is
better.

1. One round with holy beads (mala) performed one time, sitting in
silence in one place or

2. Whenever the mind thinks about japa, done anytime, in whatever
state, while walking, strolling, doing work, and which is not
tracked (counted) but is more than one round of holy beads (mala).
Yours, Anant

IN HINDI

Ek duvidha hai.

Kaun sa Jaap jaata aacha hai

1. Siimit Mala Jaap jaise ki 1 mala ek baar ek jagah beth kar kiya ho

2. jab man me aaye Jaap jo ki kabhi bhi kiya ho or kissi bhi avastha
mein jaise chalte phirthe, kaam karte kiya jaye or uski counting na
ki jaaye par 1 mala se adhik ho

Aapka
Anant
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Shree Hari
Ram Ram

Has Bhagavad Gita alluded to Japa (with or without beads) anywhere?
Please point out specific shloka (verse) in the Gita and
significance of Japa.
Gita Talk Moderators' Addition
Ram Ram
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NEW POSTING

My dandavat pranams to all in this forum.....

I have heard many times one beautiful story of Hanuman and Lord
Ramachandra. Hanuman was friends with one bhakta, who would always
chant "Rama, Rama". Always and everywhere, this bhakta would
chant. One time, while passing stool, the bhakta was chanting, and
Hanuman was annoyed. He decided to kick the person. Later that
day, he saw his beloved Rama. Rama was groaning in pain, holding
his back. Hanuman inquired, "what has happened?" Lord Ramachandra
said, "Oh, you have done this to me". Hanuman inquired, "I???"
Lord Rama explained, "Because I am not different from my Name, when
my bhakta was chanting my Name, I was persnally present there. You
should not have kicked him....actually, as I was present, you have
kicked me".
Always the holy Name is pure, never contaminated by any
condition. There is no higher or lower method, only we have to know
within our own heart if we are giving our love to the Name. In
truth, the Holy Name is chanting us. We are being allowed, by the
Name Himself, to serve that transcendental sound vibration.

There is also another short story, one time a muslim was gored by
a bull. While dying, he was calling out, "Ha ram! Ha ram!"
(meaning "how horrible") He attained the abode of Lord Rama upon
leaving his body, because the power of the holy Name is such that
even if unknowingly, one calls out the Name, the effect is still
there. Whether one chants with knowledge or without, the Name is so
merciful, the effect will take place. One should never think that
if a person is inattentive, or chanting in a mimicking way, that
there is no effect. Just as fire will cause it's presence to be
known, whether one is aware or not, the holy Name will burn the
contaminations from our sinful heart, whether we recognize this to
be happening or not.

Respectfully, Mahalaksmi Dasi
----------------------------------------------------------
Ram Ram

usually we get so many opinions on any topics at any discussion
group that the
person who wants an answer ends up at the same point where he
started !!

it is suggested that after a month or so moderator should summarize
the answer and provide only ONE ANSWER to sadhaka and close the
subject matter. the moderator can take help from other jnaanis in
Rishikesh to come up with a definitive and practical answer.

this is just my humble opinion and suggestion.

hariom Roy
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Shree Hari
Ram Ram

HARI ANANT, HARI KATHA ANANT
ONE PARAMAATMAA, MANY PATHS...

We have had the exact same thoughts, however struggled a bit
summarizing, due to possibility of mistating what sadhaks meant,
missing important learnings while summarizing and also picking the
one best definitive and practical answer.

Sadhaks your input in regards to how we can provide a single
practical answer or any other improvement opportunities is most
welcome.

Gita Talk Moderators
Ram Ram

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PRIOR POSTING

Hari Om

Any chanting of Divine name, any mantra for any number of times is
in itself a great Karma. It never fails to produce "sattwikness" in
you. But only a "great karma" It is not yet "divine karma"- however
much quantity there may be of mantra/naam japa !!

How to convert this " great Karma" into "Divine Karma"?

Become of God !!

There should not be over insistence on naam/mantra Japa alone. If
you have to insist then you should insist on the "mineness with
Paramatma". If you "become" of God , thereafter whether you indulge
in Naam Japa or you indulge in your "duties" , it hardly matters.

A traditional Indian wife never utters the name of her husband
throughout her life (even after the death of her husband) ! What
binds her to husband is "mineness". Similarly once you
establish "mineness with Paramatma" , everything is done. Thereafter
whenever you are free , you may indulge in naam/mantra japa.

Yardstick: You don't do "japa" - it happens automatically. One step
further- WHATEVER you do is "japa" only !!

Says Goswami Tulsidasji

"Hohi Raam ko naam japi, Tulsi taji kusamaaj"

First "become" of Raam( God) and then chant (japa) His Divine Name
and renounce bad company.(Renounce bad company means- Doosara na koi-
nothing else is mine- the world is not mine )

This is key. Rest all - quality/quantity/type/frequency of Mantra /
Divine name, beads, which mantra, which name, which way, fasting,
sitting before deity, meditation, holy dips, visiting sacred places,
penances, sacrifices, renunciations, service, charities etc etc are
secondary.

Primary is "Mere to Girdhar Gopal , Doosaro na koi" .

Jai Shree Krishna

Vyas N B
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from what i have gathered or heard we should attain the mental
stability where there will be peace and automatically the meditation
happen. my guruji always says you can eat meditatively, sleep
meditatively, drink milk or coffee meditatively and speak
meditatively. you can be in the meditative state all the time
provided you are able to control your mind. so get that state chant
a mantra which you feel is good for you. i do this even in mid of
traffic jam. i feel happy instead of getting irritated bcos i get
some time to think about god and chant his mantra

Shoba Sarathy