Dear All
During the last week of July this year, amidst one of my usual "mood out" phase when I became totally numb and paralyzed (I fondly call my this state as "INERTNESS"), I started off Rama Japam.
I was actually in a mental state which was resembling the famous tamil usage / proverb.... "Ethai thinna pitham theliyum" & when I visited my (usual) astrologer, he spoke few dirty words on my uncanny ability of getting into such depression spells - which I would prefer not to post in AGANDAM - and suggested me bit unexpectedly about trying "Rama Japam". He told this quite matter of factedly but quite unexpectedly; I was slightly taken aback as I never could imagine myself doing JAPAM for more than one reason !!
Of course the primary reason for my repulsion towards RAMA JAPAM was the sarcasm that we (not just me) for this particular Japam in the manner my own dear Daddy at home performs it for most part of the day. He literally lives Rama Japam for more than a decade....getting up as close as 3 AM in the morning and doing it for close to 3 - 4 hours and then following it up with for double such duration ... dont smile !! - when he sits in front of his favourite TV serials...!!
I also had my Guru speaking with a slight malice (If I am not mistaken) about Japam when he was elucidating on TAPAS in a different context where he tried to explain (hopeless) disciples like me the importance of "intensity" in any thing that we do in our life.
To sum up, I started off Rama Japam at roughly around 8.30 PM after falling flat at my own daddy's feet (yeah...got formally initiated to his delight and giving more food to his ever kiddish enthusiasm) on 24th July 2011....Shubha Arambam....!!!
After chanting for 15 minutes on the first day (roughly 2000 chants ... Are you wondering the time span....Try just "ram ram" yaar....its possible to cover at a "particular speed" he he he), I some how manage to do it a minimum of the same number on most of the days until today. The morning bus travel in the company bus is quite handy for this new habit which puts me in a beautiful meditative and serene state instead of becoming sleepy and dull which used to my case before this new habit....
There were days - I mean few sundays - I had made it at a bigger number too but still cannot forget the last sunday (2nd Nov) when I touched the golden number of 5 Lacs.....!!
I am putting below few pearls of wisdom that I derived out of this little self experiment to close this loooong musing....
1. Yes, it is bit a paradox but such things meant for intangible aspects of life has been coined with tangible "counting" (Can you visualise those days RISHIs having Japa maala in their hands which keep rolling steadily); but the bottom line is to be aware and alert during the process.
In the nutshell, .
IT IS NOT THE ACTUAL NUMBER THAT MATTERS BUT THE ABILITY TO KEEP OURSELVES LIVE AND INTENSE DURING THE PROCESS OF COUNTING THAT REALLY MATTERS.
2. I had a suggestion from one of my well wisher / friend / Hare Ram Devotee to try "Hare Rama Hare Rama....." INSTEAD of just "Ram" with obvious sincere intentions from his side....which of course I too tried with same level of seriousness it just did not continue for long time for me.
DOING JAPAM IS LIKE USING A TOOL. USE THE MOST APPROPRIATE AND CONVENIENT ONE FOR YOU AND BECOME A MASTER IN THE USAGE.
NO POINT IN SHUFFLING / EXPERIMENTING EVERY THING. THE WHOLE ASPECT IS TO "SETTLE DOWN" IN A SUBTLE WAY.....!!
3. I could clearly see the tranquility of mind at the end of a "session" as I would prefer to call it - which is an enormous discovery as far as I am concerned !!
Having never tried any thing with so much sincerity for close to 120 days now - I am really happy at the discovery. The more important discovery happened yesterday - as I watched the Ballet Ramayan by Smt.Anita Guha's Dance school at Vani Mahal yesterday.
It was a wonderful (dance) drama of this great teacher covering the Sundara Kandam of our ancient Epic which enthralled us for close to 3 hours !! There were some really moving scenes showing Hanuman's reverence towards Rama...and as He jumps and dances around the screen chanting RAM RAM, I had few "extra" drops of tears in my eyes than usual....!!!
WE ARE ABLE TO FEEL MORE ABOUT ANY THING ONLY WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO RELATE OURSELVES TOWARDS IT. BE IT IN LIVING CREATIONS OR BE IT ANY OTHER ASPECT OF OUR LIFE, WE EXIST ONLY BASED ON WHAT WE ARE AND OUR INTERESTS ARE....!!
(incidentally yesterday I skipped the Japam in the morning as I got up very late - but I did not really feel bad about it after this Dance Drama as I felt part of "Hanuman" !!!
(5) Last but not the least, have I become TRANSFORMED completely with this new experiment.....? With all honesty, a big NO NO....In spite of tasting bliss here and there, I clearly (and most HUMBLY) realize I have to go a very long way in this and realize the potency of great people who chanted for whole of their life. This is in a way of life like YOGA...there is no point in talking / writing about it, no need to keep thinking about it...and not even about doing it all the time. Its about HOW intensely and sincerely we become THAT....!!
WHEN WE SEEK MOMENTARY SOLACE FROM OUR MOOD SWINGS, ESCAPE ROUTES (LIKE JAPAM) HELP A BIT BUT NEVER RELIEVES / TRANSFORMS US COMPLETELY. NEVERTHELESS, IT CLEARLY SHOWS A WAY......!! IT IS UP TO US TO WALK THE PATH OR CHANGE THE COURSE...
For that matter, I have decided to walk the path.....!! Ram....Ram......Ram....
Love // Suren
"WE ARE ABLE TO FEEL MORE ABOUT ANY THING ONLY WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO RELATE OURSELVES TOWARDS IT" - nice one.. (when we are following it.. we can see the real meaning of it)
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