THE CHANTING OF MANTRA
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SUTRA 20❤
SRADDHA-VIRYA-SMRTI SAMDHI-PRAJINA-PURVAKA
ITARESAM
THOSE WHO HAVE FAITH IN THE PRACTICE, ENERGY AND MINDFULNESS, MOVE TOWARDS THE SUPERCONSCIOUS STATE CALLED SAMADHI THAT CULMINATES IN WISDOM.
SUTRA 23❤
ISVARA-PRANIDHANAD-VA
THIS CAN HAPPEN (NOTE THE SYLLABLE VA, WHICH MEANS ALSO) ALSO BY DEDICATION TO ISHWARA.
SUTRA 25❤
TATRA NIRATISAYAM SARVAJNA-BIJAM
THERE THE SEED OF OMNISCIENCE IS UNSURPASSED.
AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED AT LENGTH THE CONCEPT OF ISHWARA ACCORDING TO PATANJALI IN THE FIRST CHAPTER ITSELF, THERE IS NO NEED TO GO INTO ELABORATE DETAILS. BUT A FEW POINTS ARE TO BE NOTED.
1. THAT DEDICATION TO ISHWARA IS ONLY CONSIDERED ONE OF THE WAYS OR PSYCHOLOGICAL PROCEDURES TO ATTAIN SAMADHI. ONCE MORE, NOTE THE WORD VA.
2. TO DISTINGUISH THE ISHWARA MENTIONED HERE FROM A CREATOR AND PROTECTOR GOD AKIN TO THE SEMITIC GOD OR THE GOD OF THE SEVERAL PURUNAS, PATANJALI HASTENS TO ADD THAT ISHWARA MEANS A DISTINCT PURUSHA UNTOUCHED BY AFFLICTIONS, ACTIONS, FRUITIONS OR THEIR RESUDUE, BUT BLESSED WITH THE SEED OF UNSURPASSED OMNISCIENCE.
THIS MAKES THE CONCEPT OF ISHWARA THE SAME AS THAT OF THE PRIMORDIAL PURUSHA OF SANKHYA, AN ATHEISTIC PHILOSOPHY, AS ALREADY MENTIONED. THE YOGI ULTIMATATELY REALISES THAT IN ESSENCE, HE IS INDEED THAT PURUSHA OR ISHWARA.
3. THEREFORE, IT COULD ALSO MEAN A YOGI WHO HAS TOUCHED THE HIGHEST SAMADHI AND ATTAINED THE EXALTED STATE OF ISHWARA.
4. ALTHOUGH PATANJALI EMPHASISES RELYING ONLY ON ONE'S OWN EFFORTS, THE SUGGESTION IS THAT A PERFECTED YOGI AS WELL AS DEVOTION OR SURRENDING TO THE SUPREME PURUSHA WOULD HELP.
SUTRA 26❤
SA ESA PURVESAM API-GURUH KALENA-ANAVACCHEDAT
DUE TO IT BEING UNLIMITED BY TIME, IT IS THE TEACHER OF THE ONES WHO CAME BEFORE.
WHICH MEANS THAT THIS TIMELESS ISHWARA, THE PURUSHA HAS BEEN CONSIDERED A TEACHER BY THE YOGIS OS YORE.
SUTRA 27❤
TASYA VACAKAH PRANAVAH
THE MANIFEST EXPANSION OF THIS SUBLIME ISHWARA IS THE PRANAVA (OM).
SUTRA 28❤
TAD JAPAS TAD-ARTHA-BHAVANAM
THEREFORE, REPETITION OF IT AND THE REALISATION OF ITS PURPOSE SHOULD BE MADE.
SUTRA 29❤
TATAH PRATYAK-CETANA-ADHIGAMO-PY-ANTARAYA-
ABHAVAS-CA
THIS INWARD CONSCIOUSNESS IS ATTAINED, AND OBSTACLES DO NOT ARISE.
SINCE THE MEANING OF THE WORD OM AND THE PROCEDURE INVOLVED IN THE REPETITION OF IT AND THE RESULTS NEED A GREAT DEAL OF ELABORATION, THIS IS DEALT WITH IN THE NEXT CHAPTER.
THE USES OF OM MANTRA
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HERE IS TECHNIQUE OF CHANTING AUM AS LEARNT BY ME, AN INITIATED KRIYA YOGI. MY TEACHER BELONGS TO THE NATH TRADITION.
SIT IN A COMFORTABLE POSTURE, PREFERABLY CROSS-LEGGED, ON A RUG OR FOLDED BLANKET. FACE ANY DIRECTION AND CLOSE YOUR EYES.
INHALE DEEPLY. OPEN YOUR MOUTH SLIGHTLY WHEN YOU EXHALE AND ALONG WITH YOUR EXHALATION, CHANT A LONG DRAWN "AUUUUUUUUMMM", AS LONG AS YOUR EXHALATION LASTS. THEN CLOSE YOUR MOUTH AND INHALE AGAIN DEEPLY THROUGH YOUR NOSE. REPEAT THIS EXERCISE FOR FIVE TO TEN MINUTES.
THEN LET GO OF ALL BREATH CONTRO AND SIMPY CHANT FOR TWO MINUTES OR SO. NOW STOP CHANTING AND ENJOY THE SILENCE WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED. REFLECT ON THE UPANISHADIC TEACHINGS THAT OM REPRESENTS YOUR INNERMOST, BLISSFUL SELF.
AUM SHOULD BE CHANTED AFTER PRACTISING ASANAS AND JUST BEFORE SHAVASANA. PHOTOGRAPHS OF A WHOLE SET OF ASANAS ARE GIVEN IN THE APPROPRIATE CHAPTER. FOR THOSE WHO DON'T DO ASANAS, ANYTIME IS GOOD AS LONG AS THE STOMACH IS NOT BLOATED WITH FOOD. A LIGHT SNACK IS OKAY, BUT THE BEST RESULTS ARE ACHIEVED ON AN EMPTY STOMACH, PREFERABLY EARLY IN THE MORNING.
ANOTHER AUM TECHNIQUE WILL BE DISCUSSED IN THE CHAPTER THAT DEALS WITH PRANAYAMA OR BREATHING TECHIQUE AND DHYANA OR MEDITATION.
HOW USEFUL THESE TECHNIQUES ARE AND WHAT OBSTACLES WILL BE OVERCOME IN MOVING FORWARD TOWARDS THE GOAL, WE WILL LOOK AT IN THE NEXT CHAPTER.
I AM TEMPTED TO USE A CLICHE, THE PROOF OF THE PUDDING IS IN THE EATING'. AND THIS IS WHAT PATANJALI SAYS IN A WAY, "NAIRANTARYA ABHYASENA' - THE RESULTS COME WITH CEASELESS PRACTICE.
