Sri Guru Gita – 1 February 2014 – Episode 45

Anantha koti pranaams at the lotus feet of Our Dattavatara Sadgurudeva _/\_!!

Summary:
Jaya Guru Datta! We were talking about the style of chanting. Some people chant loudly. It is said that it is better to chant without letting out any sound, murmuring to yourself, while your lips are moving. Feels like that is better. This gives mediocre results. But, chanting in your mind, without the lips or tongue moving is the best and yields benefits a thousand times over. So, one way to chant is to loudly chant “Rama, Rama”, the second is to chant “Rama” without making any sound, just moving the lips and the third is to chant “Rama” in your mind, without moving your lips or tongue.
While chanting, you should chant joyfully, without any sorrows or anxiety. Lot of people think chanting joyfully means to have a wide grin on your face. Is that real happiness from within? When chanting, the mind should be free from all anxiety. If you chant while experiencing that happiness, it will automatically reflect in your face. That is called “ajapa japam” (constant awareness of the mantra). Om Namo Hanumate Namaha. Om Namo Hanumate Namaha. Om Namo Hanumate Namhaa. While chanting, if you close your eyes and see Lord Hanuman’s life history, His divine form, His glories as sung by millions of people, as if He’s flying in the sky, visualizing His form from His feet to His head, as if His form spans from the lower most worlds to the higher most, that peace will automatically radiate on your face.
Lot of people chant with anger or sorrow, with tears flowing down their face, or with annoyance, cursing someone in between. Is that real chanting? No. You should experience inner joy and that will automatically reflect in your face. If you feel that joy within, your face will bloom like the lotus flower touched by sun rays. Seekers that experience such joy will automatically have a smile on their face. When some people chant, their face looks distorted. That’s because, one part of their mind is chanting, while the other is immersed in some anxiety. Lot of people cry when they are chanting. They keep remembering their sorrows. Some others experience and express the wholesome joy of chanting. Chanting without any anxiety or annoyance is real chanting.
So, Mother Goddess asked for such an initiation. Lord Shiva said that nobody ever asked him such a question. Those saints are not ordinary people. They are very accomplished, well-versed in all Vedas and scriptures, capable of creating and sustaining life. Yet, they never asked such a question because arrogance comes naturally to spiritual seekers.
Some people who buy something new, like a new phone, approach someone to show them how to use the phone. When the person starts explaining, the owner of the phone cuts him off midway saying he’s understood how to use the phone. A few days later, he realizes he only knows a little. But, he’s too embarrassed to ask the same person, so he asks someone else.
In the spiritual path, arrogance comes naturally. Let’s see what happens ahead. Jaya Guru Datta. Sri Guru Datta.

Jai Guru Datta Swamiji.