Monday, May 3, 2010

If we catch the Name, we may not be able to hold on to it for ever, but when the Name catches us, it will never leave us.

 

Source: Vision

 

Question: Should the invocation of the holy Name be supported by meditation? We are living a very nervous existence, and concentration is extremely difficult.

 

Swami Papa Ramdas

 

Supposing you have a friend living far away from you and you suddenly remember him, what happens is that his figure comes before your mental vision. So also, when you remember God, the qualities of God will necessarily flash before your mind. When we repeat God's name and we know what God stands for, it is inevitable that these qualities come automatically to our mind. To think of milk is to think also of its qualities. We associate with the Name the qualities of the object. So it follows that when we repeat the Name of God we cannot but meditate on Him.

 

Although in the beginning we might find it difficult to chant the Name continuously or catch it permanently, ultimately we would be able to do so. If we catch the Name, we may not be able to hold on to it for ever, but when the Name catches us, it will never leave us. A piece of sugarcandy lying on the ground attracts ants. The ants draw near it, taste it and go. But they cannot entirely give up sugarcandy and go away. The sweetness of the sugarcandy again attracts them back to it. That is how the Name also attracts us by the bliss that it gives.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare 
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

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