Yesterday I was in a temple with Shruti (my granddaughter). A group of elderly women were seated there, reciting the Vishnu Sahasranamam. Shruti asked what they were doing and I told her. Then she asked why they should be doing it at the temple, in a group. I said it brought them joy and satisfaction. To which Shruti said: "But they do not look happy. They seem gloomy. They are a dreary lot" (all adjectives Shruti's).
Which made me wonder if we ever get really transported when we are praying, reciting slokas etc. Granted that it is extremely difficult to focus the mind on a single thing at a time to the exclusion of others, it is still something to think about.
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The transportation does not happen immediately. As Amma (Mata Amritanandamayi) says, this happens over a period of time. If we get thousand of thought waves when we do our japa or meditation, we should not stop that. This would only increase the distraction and would lead us nowhere. Instead, if we allow our thoughts to flow freely, after a point, there would be nothing to think of and the mind would realize what we are doing. Also, this would not come during one japa session. This might take ages. One of the ways that Amma suggests for better concentration is, imagine our favourite God sitting in front of us in a pedestal. While we do our pooja (or Japa), imagine that at each step we offer a flower from our heart at the feet of our Lord. Even at this time we might get distracted, but this definitely helps.
ReplyDeleteThe reply to the very apt comment made by Shruthi is that it is to get out of their gloominess and dreariness that the group chanting is done. The loud recitation of God's name , it is believed, produces vibrations that have beneficial effects. These reduce tensions and thereby remove the gloom in their hearts. It should!
ReplyDeleteAs for Akila's excellent comment, this is possible and should and could be practised in solitary meditation. In group activity, especially in a temple with all distractions, such concentration cannot be achieved. But it should be possible to think of the deity in front, without chatting with the mami by your side.
Rukku recalls the practice in Karpagambalnagar when in the evening all the children used to sit with PSC and recite slokas. It was followed by the group chanting namavalis. She says this was always a thrilling experience.
She adds that in the 15 minutes that VIshnu Sahasranama takes, if the mind thinks of the Lord even for a minute, it is enough.