Question: Could You please speak about the use of mantras in spiritual exercises?
Babaji:
Recitation of mantras is a preliminary exercise to help control the mind. They were composed by great sages and have beautiful meanings. Reciting mantras can help to channel the emotional energies. When reciting the mantra, the mind should be focused there, and then this focusing of the mind will help to control it.
Question: Does chanting mantras also help to settle the mind?
Babaji:
Yes. They can help very beautifully. They should be chanted rhythmically and melodiously. Then the mind becomes relaxed. If you start slowly, the mind settles. Then, when you go to the second and third speeds, the mind should be kept settled still, and this helps go into meditation.
Question: Can You please speak about reciting mantras, while we are working, or while we are meditating.
Babaji:
It is fine to recite the mantra while one is working - that is good. During meditation however it is better if no mantra is recited at that time. It can be recited before the meditation, but not during the meditation. The aim of this technique of meditation is that the mind will not need a mantra to help it to quieten. The mind itself becomes quiet with this technique.
Question: Swamiji did not give a mantra at meditation initiation. However, he told me individually that it was okay to use a mantra. Could you please comment about the use of mantra during the practice of dhyana?
Babaji:
It is true; Shri Swamiji did not give mantra at meditation initiation. I have seen Swamiji saying okay for the mantra, seeing a particular temperament of the devotee, or when a devotee would repeatedly ask whether he or she could repeat a mantra. He would say "okay." Shri Swamiji generally said that if a person is in the habit of repeating a mantra or any other type of sadhana, they could do it before or after meditation. Repeating a mantra enables, helps or assists in mind's concentration and, eventually, you go to meditation. Meditation means "your attention." Your mind's concentration is towards mantra during its repetition. Without a mantra, gradually your attention gets turned to the real Self, knowingly or unknowingly. Here "knowingly" means, you try to concentrate your attention with the imagination of ignorance about the Self, its location or its formation and so on. "Unknowingly" means, you concentrate your attention on the Self, without any imagination. This is what was taught by Shri Swamiji, enabling the concentration of the mind to go back and settle into the real Self, which ultimately is the recommended goal. That, Shri Swamiji taught, is the highest way.
Question: I find meditating silently difficult but easier with our Shiva Bhramasmi CD. Is that okay to meditate with mantras as background?
Babaji:
Initially, for some time, it is definitely okay. You can take the help of these sound effects. But eventually after some time it is better if you practice in silence. For some time you can use any of the music that is dearer to you. Shiva Bhramasmi or any other CDs, any other bhajans. So that instead of running here and there at least if the mind is there at one place that is better. Something is better than nothing. But slowly and slowly try to remain silent in meditation and also try to practice in total silence. That is what is needed eventually.
Question: Babaji what is the purpose of us having to chant the mantra very slow and then fast after that?
Babaji:
The basic aim is to practice concentration first so there by your mind's attention is there at all times, gradually. And as you slowly go on practicing, into different speeds also you practice to remain composed mentally. You shall not allow the mind to get into an excitement, or jump into too much of bliss. That's why peace is the recommended goal. Like during bhajan singing if a high tempo, high pitch, high speed is created you are likely to become more excited and a lot of trembling can be happening. You might feel like jumping. Such blissfulness can create these things. But in deeper meditation, deeper sadhana, it is essential that your mind must become composed and peacefully it must settle down. That is why we always teach to go beyond bliss. That was how the title for our life was also given. Because bliss is such a thing which can create excitement and in that excitement the mind can jump back to this world. So that is why you must wait until the mind settles peacefully. Peace means totally composed. So that is what the recommended goal is. That's what needs to be practiced through the chanting of slow speed, medium speed all these essences are like that.
