Put the Stick (Mind) Aside and Go by the Light of the Master

To a friend who believed that ajapa japacontinues to reverberate in her all the time but she still continues to be miserable

Japabears fruits when done with awareness. That is why they say that while doing Japa, one should visualize a deity and simultaneously maintain awareness of breath. That day, Swami Vrijeshawaraji told me to do so. I have since started doing it with wonderful results. One may get into joyous state with this method instantaneously. One may, however, not feel sufficiently motivated doing japa all the time. In addition, therefore, one may read spiritual texts and write god’s name – this involves simultaneous use of vani, body and mind – as Supejiprescribes.

The purpose of such multi tasking is to tie the mind down so that it does not wander into past and future and trigger emotions. If japa (repetition of Mantra) alone is done, mind can put the japa on auto mode and manage to wander everywhere. It is our every day experience that we can continue thinking while driving or doing any other activity. When japa is put by the mind on auto mode, one may mistake it with ajapa japa (nad) – the ultimate flowering of an individual and root cause of the entire existence. When through proper japa or other sadhana, one reaches a state when ajapa nad appears, the mind is sucked into it and is dissolved. The question of suffering in that state does not arise. If one still suffers, it is clear indication that the Mantra is put by the mind on the auto mode and it is a mechanical repetition – worth nothing. Shrimadbhagwat [Mahatmay.5– 73] says :

“Adraddham cha hatam gyanam pramaden hatam shrutam,

Sandigdho hi hato mantro vyagrachitto hato japah.”

[Knowledge which is not firm, listening without attention, mantra with a doubt and japa with wandering mind are dead, i.e., are of no help]

On the spiritual path, mind plays many tricks and words are often misleading.

When Christ or Buddha talks of love, they do not mean the same love which we feel towards our near and dear ones. This love is merely moha and is based on give and take which invariably leads to misery or indifference. That love is intrinsic quality of the existence manifesting through an evolved soul and is not directed towards a particular person or object.

The word sahaj is another such word. Sahaj karma means response of a person to a situation when sense of ‘I’ or‘doership’ is dissolved. It can arise only from a saint whose ego stands dissolved. But one may mistake one’s unconscious (mechanical or habitual) reaction to a situation as a sahaj karma which, in fact, is a compulsive action directed by one’s social conditioning and genetic coding. In the name of acting according to one’s sahaj swabhava one often avoids sadhana because of inertia (Tamas) or acts as per dictates of one’s conditioned likes and dislikes. Nityanandji says that breaking Tamasis 90% of Sadhana.

In fact, in everyday life we follow some discipline, like getting ready at a specified time, reach office and do whatever our job demands. This is so even if we do not actually want to do it. One has to be consistent and should not take a different view when it comes to one’s spiritual practices.

Comparison with others on the spiritual path is another trick of the mind to take one off the trek. Everybody is unique. But again, a sadhaka does not know where one is headed for and which is the right path? Therefore, one cannot really decide on what to do or what not to do.

Another common trick of the mind is to mistake encouraging words (meant for motivating one further on the path of sadhana) of the masters to strengthen one’s ego and become complacent. Initially, to introduce a person into sadhana, the guru allows him the freedom regarding the timing, manner and mode of sadhana. He or a different guru, slowly with utmost patience and in a subtle manner, suggests changes to bring about a discipline. For one’s growth, one needs to pick up subtle hints, seek guidance and show willingness to follow instructions because normally the gurus are non-intrusive. At this stage, to stick to what was said by a guru during the apprenticeship of a sadhaka and not implementing what is said by apparently another guru (guru tatwa being same, new direction is continuation of old one), will not help one on the spiritual path. A teacher in KG class teaches ‘A’ for‘Apple’, later teachers take you beyond in the use of ‘A’. ‘A’ for ‘Apple’ was correct at one stage. But to read texts later in that manner – reading ‘pea’ as ‘peacock, elephant and apple’ – will severely hamper understanding.

‘Raj Supe’ told you the truth – to take up sadhana from an established source in an authentic manner – but the mind, out of influence of tamas, played a trick by taking refuge into apparently lofty idea of sahaj karma to escape the discipline – though you may not have anything else meaningful to do.

To rely on one’s mind and consequent preferences for sadhana is a surest way for getting lost in the mental maze.

Then, whom to rely upon? Guru, of course! He is the remover of all darkness. No groping thereafter – follow the Guru – go by his light – without the stick (mind)!