Japa Meditation

[Triniboy108]

I recently purchased a japa meditation kit from krishna.com, and i'm going to start practicing jaap, i even have a little wrist mala to take with me wherever i go. :mrgreen:

does anyone practice jaap? and if you do, what type of mala do you use, i'm using a mala made out of tulsi wood.
what is your favorite mantra for jaap?

[brag]

Triniboy108, please study the writings about the Gayatri mantra on the internet by different authors. Sathya Sai Baba wrote much about about the Gayatri. (http://sathyasaibaba1.tripod.com/gayatari_mantra2.htm). There is also a book relating to distortions about the Gayatri Mantra. (http://www.scribd.com/doc/85891/gayatri ... istortions (http://www.scribd.com/doc/85891/gayatri-sadhana-truth-distortions))

Some western scientits are currently studying the Gayatri for its postencies. I forgot the name of the American scientist who said that every home should have it posted on its front door because of its potency.

Now don't take my word for it. I am glad to share this little bit with you. Know that it takes time to understand how these practices work. Read "thought for today" and "thus spake the Lord" posted today. Both messages are very powerful about the purpose of our religious practices.

[serenity]

I used to Jaap almost everyday. It was one of those things my parents made us do. That, and offer jal everyday. And we couldnt ever still be sleeping at dawn. Sun mustnt find u in your bed!
I used a tulsi mala too. And later opted for a crystal mala when I jaaped Mother Saraswati.

[brag]

Triniboy108, here is a quote about the Gyatri mantra from two scientists. The link has some other interesting information on which to ponder.

"The great western thinker, Arthur Koestler, had once said that the Gayatri Mantra has the power of a thousand atomic bombs, and the famous scientists J.B.S. Haldana wrote: "The Gayatri Mantra should be carved on the doors of every laboratory of the world".

http://o3.indiatimes.com/lovetush/archi ... 95940.aspx (http://o3.indiatimes.com/lovetush/archive/2005/10/18/295940.aspx)

[Triniboy108]

I used to Jaap almost everyday. It was one of those things my parents made us do. That, and offer jal everyday. And we couldnt ever still be sleeping at dawn. Sun mustnt find u in your bed!
I used a tulsi mala too. And later opted for a crystal mala when I jaaped Mother Saraswati.
you say "used to", does that mean you don't perform jaap anymore?

i like the crystal malas, they were kind of pricey tho

[Triniboy108]

thanks brag for the gayatri info, i've studied up on the subject a little while back myself

i normally chant the gayatri when i light my deeya for the sandhya period

[brag]

Also remember that bhajan singing is a form of japa. Bhajan singing is a powerful tool for awakening the divine within and bringing us closer to moksha.

[sapodila]

I own a couple 'Rudraksha ' and 'Sandalwood' malas. I perform 'Jaap'. Gayatri Mantra, Maha Mantra and others. I also sing many many bhajans. I love singing!

[Triniboy108]

I own a couple 'Rudrasha ' and 'Sandalwood' malas. I perform 'Jaap'. Gayatri Mantra, Maha Mantra and others. I also sing many many bhajans. I love singing!
I have a Rudraksh Mala for my murti of Siewji.
I've been thinking, do you guys think the Maha Mantra is only prominent among the Hare Krishna's?

Oh nice, you should record yourself so we could hear! :D

[sapodila]

Next time I visit FL, I would go to the Shiva Mandir in Sunrise. Will let you know That I'm coming, we'll hook up with BRji (Brag) :)

No! Maha Mantra is not "prominent amongst the Hare Krishna's". Maha Mantra is Universal. For me it's a personal thing..... My preference! When in satsangh, if I am opening, I start with a Ganesh Bhajan, then I automatically switch to a Krishna Bhajan then any other would follow. again ... personal preference.

[Triniboy108]

Next time I visit FL, I would go to the Shiva Mandir in Sunrise. Will let you know That I'm coming, we'll hook up with BRji (Brag) :)

No! Maha Mantra is not "prominent amongst the Hare Krishna's". Maha Mantra is Universal. For me it's a personal thing..... My preference! When in satsangh, if I am opening, I start with a Ganesh Bhajan, then I automatically switch to a Krishna Bhajan then any other would follow. again ... personal preference.

Haha..i love the Shiv Mandir in Sunrise..i've been to it many times, and to the Diwali celebrations they have!

Oh ok, i was just wondering, because I never really use to hear the Maha Mantra that often, and i mostly heard it being used with the Hare Krishna movement.

[brag]

Please do let me know when next you are in Ft Lauderdale as I would be happy to join your company at the mandir for sure.

[brag]

If we live in the constant integtrated awareness that all is God, then, I believe, we do not need anything else, no props. But then again all these props are for getting to the constant integrated awareness that all is God, and once we develop this awareness and live in it, we become liberated (moksha) from the cycle of birth and death.

[Mivo]

I started doing jaap every afternoon, at first I only chanted the maha mantra but now I do one for the devta/devi of a specific day

[Mivo]

When in satsangh, if I am opening, I start with a Ganesh Bhajan, then I automatically switch to a Krishna Bhajan then any other would follow. again ... personal preference.

I agree but lots of ppl doh sing a Ganesh bhajan eh! I sing Jai Krishna Hare when ask to sing since ah noe it by heart

wen I step into my puja room I chant the Ganesh mantra first, followed by the mantra to light the deeya

[brag]

From our American Sai Baba centers, I learned that a Ganesh bhajan always starts all worship, and it is always followed by a Guru bhajan. Elsewhere they all seem to do it differently. Most American centers only sing Ganesh bhajans as the invocation prayer. Indians sing Hanuman bhajans only at the end of bhajan singing as closing prayers. Only at Akhand bhajan (24 hours non-stop singing) singers are allowed to sing Ganesh bhajans and Hanuman bhajans any time throughout the 24 hours.

[sapodila]

The way I learnt it from my Guruji, is that Lord Shiva had bestowed the prestige of being worshipped first, to his son Shri Ganesh and hence the reason why at the Divine Light and it's affiliates, we always open with the invocation " Guru Bramha, Guru Vishnu..........." . Once that is done , the actual Pooja on the 'bedi' Start with Lord Ganesh, the first bhajan at satsangh is Ganesh's bhajans and so forth.

The same way there is no set ways for cooking, there is no set way for praying. .... I believe.

[Triniboy108]

From our American Sai Baba centers, I learned that a Ganesh bhajan always starts all worship, and it is always followed by a Guru bhajan. Elsewhere they all seem to do it differently. Most American centers only sing Ganesh bhajans as the invocation prayer. Indians sing Hanuman bhajans only at the end of bhajan singing as closing prayers. Only at Akhand bhajan (24 hours non-stop singing) singers are allowed to sing Ganesh bhajans and Hanuman bhajans any time throughout the 24 hours.
Ganapatiya devotees sing Ganesh bhajans all the time too. :)

[brag]

I know that some forms of meditiation are not easy for many of us. Baba advocates a variety of forms of meditation such as constant integrated awareness that all is God, for God, in God, by God and with God as meditation.

Baba's most powerful advocacy, however, is love through service to the less fortunate among us. Over time, it humbles us and brings us to the realization that we too can be like the ones we serve. Remembering God with love in all we think, speak and do is perhaps the best form of meditation for many.

We often wonder why we are asked to love God so much. Baba explains that loving God means loving all, because when we love God we love all at the same time since God is the One in all. Similarly, serving one is also serving all.

Service transforms the mind, and leads to the sublimination of the ego which usually claims doership because of its close identification with the body as the doer.

[brag]

Please read today's message in "Thus Spake The Lord." Whenever Baba speaks about japam or namasmarana and all other religious practices, the deeper underlying message is say it or do it with the love of God.

[brag]

"Krishna demonstrated that if you practice the saadhana of the constant presence of God, you are bound to achieve victory."

Reference: Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. IV, Chapter 38.

The above statement by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba summarizzes the benefits of Namasmarana, the repetition of the name of God. It is not always understood in the context of our scriptures which tell us that the name of God is the same as God Himself. Every time we mention a name, a form that corresponds to that name comes to mind and puts us in the presence of God's love. That love is also the power of Grace, and the more we repeat our favorite name of God, the more we become spiritually enlightened, and remain on the right road to Moksha.