A Reader asked me :
Would you please give me the mantra to prevent my mind from wavering and make my mind concentrate in devotion and prayers?
Dear Reader,
To keep your mind from wandering, I would prescribe:
1) Allow your mind to wander.
Only watch it. Be a witness to it.
Very soon you will realize that you have become a part of the mind, started wandering with it and stopped observing it.
At that point, do not get agitated, just start observing the mind again.
It is like watching a child doing its pranks without reacting.
The child eventually feels embarrassed and stops.
This child (mind) is more obstinate. You will require more patience.
Gradually learn to observe your breath as you inhale and exhale.
Then you could use any mantra of your choice.
‘Om’ would be fine, or ‘Soham’.
GLOSSARY (Pronunciation)
A Like in ‘but’
Aa Like in ‘Far’
Ai Like in ‘hair’
Ey Like in Whey
I Like in ‘Pin’
Oo Like in ‘Shoot’
Oon ‘n’ has got a nasal sound.
U Like in ‘Put’
SANSKRIT
Sanskrit believes that the sound of the word never gets ruined and that it has an everlasting value.
Words in Sanskrit open out from their seed (beej) form.
A root is always a single syllable that contains one of the basic sounds a, I, u, ri
The root or seed may create a word, yet the word will vibrate to its best, and gives it tremendous power.
The Vedic or the Sanskrit view gives more importance to the special sound it should produce, than to the meaning of the spoken word.
PRAYER
By Swami Shivananda
The kitten mews and the mother cat runs and carry it away. Even so, the devotee cries and the Lord come to his rescue.
Prayer is depending on God for help in distress. Prayer is giving an opportunity to God to comfort the devotee. Prayer lightens the heaviness of your heart by opening it to God. Prayer is expecting God to decide what is best for you when you are in a dilemma. Man learns to pray through despair.
A mystic state
Prayer is not asking, but a communion with God through single-minded devotion. Prayer is nearness to God. It is tuning of the mind with God. It is fixing the mind on God and meditating on Him. Prayer is surrendering oneself to God completely, and melting the mind and ego in silence, in God. Prayer represents a mystic state when the individual consciousness is absorbed in God. It is an uplifting of the soul to God, an act of love and adoration to Him. It is worship and glorification of God. It is thanksgiving to God for all His blessings.
Prayer is an invocation, a calling forth of spiritual forces ever flowing through the human heart, mind and soul. It is a great spiritual force that is as real as force of gravity or attraction. It is the very soul and essence of religion, the very core of man’s life. No man can live without prayer.
All can pray
The blind, the deaf, the lame, the armless, the puny, the ignorant and the debased, the lowliest and the forlorn- all can pray to God; for prayer belongs to the heart and its feeling, and not to the body.
Prayer does not demand high intelligence or eloquence. God wants your heart when you pray. Even a few words from a humble, pure soul, though illiterate, will appeal to the Lord more than the eloquent flowing words of an orator or a learned man.
The child does not know grammar and pronunciation. It utters some sounds, but the mother understands! When mother understands the language of the heart, what to say of the inner witness? He knows what you wish to say. Even if you make mistakes in your prayer to Him, even if there are mistakes in the Mantras you recite, if you are sincere, if the prayer comes from your heart, He listens to it, because He understands the language of your heart.
Whose prayer is heard?
Prayer should spring from the heart and should not be mere lip-homage. Empty prayer is like sounding brass or tinkling cymbal. Prayer that comes from a sincere, pure heart is at once heard by the Lord. The prayer of a cunning, crooked, wicked man is never heard.
God ever responds to the appeal of His sincere devotees. It is only the insincere man who says that God is deaf. He is ever watchful of the distress signals of His children. Open your heart to Him without reservation and the response will be instantaneous.
The practice of prayer
Breath has been given to you by the Lord to be spent in prayer. Kneel down and pray, but let it not cease when you rise. Prayer should be lifelong; and your life should be one long prayer.
There are no problems that cannot be solved by prayer, no suffering that cannot be allayed by prayer, no difficulties that cannot be surmounted by prayer, and no evil that cannot be overcome by prayer. Prayer is common with God, the miracle by which God’s power flows into human veins. Therefore kneel down and pray.
When the storms of lust and anger, vanity and viciousness rage within your bosom, kneel down and pray. For the Lord, and He alone, has the power over the elements. In thy supplication is thy strength, shielded by His mercy, and spurred on the path of righteousness by His Divine Will.
Kneel down and pray. Pray not for earthly goods or for heavenly pleasures, but pray for His grace. “Thy will be done, my Lord! I want nothing for myself.” This shall be thy prayer. For you know not what is good for you; you may be asking for trouble, and praying for perdition. Pray for Grace and that His righteousness might descend on the soul.
Greet the dawn of the day and bid adieu to the setting sun with a prayer of thankfulness- firstly for a fresh day granted, and lastly for His Grace received. Thus shall your life be blessed and thus will you radiate His blessings to all around you.
Benefits of prayer
Prayer is a mighty spiritual force. It is spiritual food for the soul, a spiritual tonic. Prayer is a powerful spiritual current. There is nothing so purifying as prayer. If you pray regularly, your life will be gradually changed and moulded. Prayer must become habitual, and then you will feel as if you cannot live without it. It lightens the heart and fills the mind with peace, strength and purity. When the mind becomes pure through the power of prayer, the intellect becomes sharp and keen. Prayer elevates the mind. When you link yourself with the inexhaustible cosmic powerhouse of energy you draw power, light and strength from Him.
Prayer is a trusty companion along the weary path to liberation. It is the rock to which a man can cling when he is drowning in the ocean of births and deaths. It frees him from the fear of death and brings him near to God, making him feel the divine Consciousness and His essential immortal nature.
Prayer works wonders and moves mountains. Even when the medical board pronounces a case to be hopeless, prayer comes to the rescue, and the patient is miraculously cured. There have been many instances of this description. You may be aware of this. Healing by prayer is really miraculous and mysterious. Prayer is an unfailing remedy in all situations.
Many a time I have experienced its marvelous potency. You too, can experience it.
Pray and prosper
You cry when your house is burgled; you weep and wail when your child dies; you writhe in agony when your limbs are crushed. O man! Do you ever cry for God? Cry for Him always. He will avert all kinds of calamities. Twine yourself around Him for support. You will be free from the injuries of life. Follow this method and reap the harvest. Pray and prosper. None in this world will save you. It is God alone who loves you most. Call on Him and invoke His mercy. Pray fervently from this very second. You will attain eternal bliss.
Shakun Kimatrai 