Chanting continuously in the mind, without a gap of even a microsecond – that is meditation.
JAPA
Amongst all the Names of God which is the greatest? Different people give different Namas.
Any Divine Nama is precious. According to Kali Santarana Upanishad, the ‘Hare Rama..’ Mahamantra is capable of giving deliverance in this Kali Yuga.
When I chant any Mantra, some thoughts run in the back of my mind simultaneously. The moment I realize this happening, the thoughts cease and Japa seems to resume. Now, who is chanting the Mantra and who gets the thoughts? Are both one and the same person?
When the force of air is mild, we call it breeze. When it blows with great force, we call it a storm. In the same way, when the mind imagines, it is called ‘manas’. When it thinks, it is called ‘intellect’.
It is the same person who chants the Mantra as well as gets those thoughts. The phenomenon that you experience is because of the fact that the mind operates at different levels.
It is also the same reason why people perform acts like ‘ashtavadanam’ (performing eight non-connected activities at the same time) etc.
Sri Swamiji initiated me into a Mantra. Which one should I chant? That Mantra or the Maha Mantra?
Chant both.
I have heard that it is necessary to have a Guru initiate one into the Mantra, without which chanting of any mantra is futile. How true is it?
For any mantra, a Guru is a must. For Rama Nama and the Mahamantra, you can start chanting even without a Guru. When you are accepted by a Guru, you can take formal initiation from him and continue. For all other mantras, one can recite it only after proper initiation.
I am writing ‘Ram Nam’ and it has solved many problems of mine and fulfilled many desires. But one crucial desire of mine alone is not getting fulfilled. Why is this happening?
That may be because Lord Rama feels that if this particular desire of yours gets fulfilled, it may create problems in the future. With a human mind, it is impossible to know what would happen in future, but one thing, you can be certain: Lord Rama is always right.
What are the do’s and don’ts to perform Japa of the mantra given by the Guru? Can it be chanted all times, irrespective of the location and dress code (i.e. in office attire wearing shoes etc.)?
The “Rama” Nama and Mahamantra have no rules. You can chant it any number of times, any place, any time of the day and in any state.
Other mantras may have their own restrictions and have to be chanted as instructed by the Guru.
How many times can the Moola Mantra be recited every day? Is there a restriction?
There is no limit on the number of times the Moola Mantra can be repeated everyday.
I performed ‘Girivalam’ at Tiruvannamalai this Sivaratri. I chanted Rama Nama all the while, though the fellow-devotees asked me to chant the Shiva mantra. Am I right in doing what I did?
You can chant the ‘Rama’ mantra to any deity. In fact, Lord Siva Himself chants the ‘Rama’ mantra all the time. Hence you are absolutely right in chanting the Rama mantra. Can anyone else be so gullible as Him?
Is “only chanting of a mantra (Guru mantra or Mahamantra ) sufficient for self realization?
Yes.
