[Advaita-l] Gayatri?

[Michael Shepherd]

Stephen,

You will get many answers to your question !
Every religion has its 'mantras' or its divine sayings, to help focus the
mind: the 'Jesus prayer' for instance; or the Greek Kyrie Eleison; or
Islamic sayings.

But the Hindu system of mantra -- which is a complex 'science' -- has
refined its practices in accordance with the wisdom of the seers, for
thousands of years.

Its tradition is that the mantra should only/is best/ given by one who has
inherited that tradition. It would be difficult to explain 'the added bonus'
of this. Ritual, small presents, tradition, atmosphere, solemnity, all go to
the presentation of it, which materialists would discount.. but who's in it
for materialism ? The great thing is that the mantra you have received
should be felt as your best and greatest friend, for life, and bring you
closer and closer to the experience of your real self...

I've glanced at the method you refer to, but can't see any virtue in
applying Hindu meditation to the English alphabet.. though any way of
focussing the mind must be good to a degree.

So I really would recommend that -- at the present time, when the West is
still learning from the East -- you seek out a Hindu teacher of meditation
who is recommended (important !) by someone who finds it successful. It's a
very personal, individual matter. I hope there is someone locally to advise
you on this.

I'll leave it now to the pandits on this site to answer you further on this.

And beyond all advice, and all teachers and all personal struggles, I
treasure the saying of Swami Muktananda, which I've found to be so good to
rely on in this personal adventure of life:

'Meditation will teach you meditation.'

Best wishes,
Michael







-----Original Message-----
From: advaita-l-bounces at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
[mailto:advaita-l-bounces at lists.advaita-vedanta.org]On Behalf Of Stephen
Satzinger
Sent: 19 July 2009 02:05
To: A discussion group for Advaita Vedanta
Subject: Re: [Advaita-l] Gayatri?



Michael,

Thank you for taking the time to write a note, as I am very interested in
doing what I can to learn correctly.  I do not have a meditation teacher at
this time.  I have located however a link to a form of meditation which had
an audio guidance.  Would something like this be appropriate to practice?
Any comments on meditation would be helpful.  I will post the link here>
http://www.meditation-methods.com/hindumeditation.html
I have practiced some meditation sporadically, but as I have said have not
incorporated a formal practice under a teacher.  Thank you again for your
comments.


On 7/18/09, Michael Shepherd <michael at shepherd87.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:
>
> Stephen,
>
> I hope you find a teacher of meditation in the Hindu tradition, if you
> haven't already.
>
> Eckhart Tolle's 'The Power of Now' is of the very essence of Advaita as
> non-duality, and can be relied on. Dennis Waite's study and scholarship is
> becoming more profound.
>
> But meditation is recommended by all the Hindu sages today as mankind's
> prime and sure support in this difficult (but challenging, by the Lord's
> will and grace..) age.
>
> 'Mantra' does not mean some dualistic magic voucher to receive favours
from
> a god; its prime meaning is 'that which protects the mind' -- not the
> meditator, but the mind of the meditator.. not quite the same !
>
> And because of that protection of mind, which we all need, you will find
> that the whole of Advaita-Vedanta opens up its truths to you.
>
> I can promise you a rich life, through what meditation reveals; you will
> even see your despair at the world and in your illusory 'self' as
blessings
> sent to strengthen your resolve...
>
> (Indeed, these days, the descent to a hell of mankind's own devising seems
> to be the routine 'American Way', as proved by many 'New Age' teachers of
> 'Advaita' or non-dualism !)
>
> Best wishes,
> Michael
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: advaita-l-bounces at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
> [mailto:advaita-l-bounces at lists.advaita-vedanta.org]On Behalf Of Stephen
> Satzinger
> Sent: 18 July 2009 02:31
> To: A discussion group for Advaita Vedanta
> Subject: Re: [Advaita-l] Gayatri?
>
>
>
> Group mates,
>
> I am very new to Advaita-Vedanta.  I became interested after a sister of
> mine sent me a book entitled the Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle.  At the
> time I was deeply depressed and suicidal, and found no respite via any
> avenue.  Neither medicine, nor psychiatry nor psychology nor my practice
of
> Christianity helped.  Tolle's book, however lent some peace.  Since
reading
> his book, I have read two books by Dennis Waite.  The second being The
Book
> of One.  I am very new, but at peace at various depths for longer lengths
> of
> clock time.  I no longer wish for annihilation, and have a general sense
> that all is well. I do not belong to any study groups, nor do I sit under
a
> teacher.  At present this is all I can say.  I am very pleased to have the
> opportunity to study this philosophy.
>
> Presently, I work and reside in Phoenix-Arizona-USA.  I am 58 years old
and
> widowed.
>
> I have no children.
>
> On Fri, Jul 17, 2009 at 10:20 AM, Bhadraiah Mallampalli
> <vaidix at hotmail.com>wrote:
>
> >
> > Dear Stephen,
> >
> >
> >
> > Protecting something/someone else is another form of duality, which will
> > eventually go away, but not before you understand all forms of
protection
> > that are out there.
> >
> >
> >
> > Regards
> >
> > Bhadraiah
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
> > Hotmail® has ever-growing storage! Don’t worry about storage limits.
> >
> >
>
>
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>
> --
> Stephen C. Satzinger
> (602)-299-6457
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--
Stephen C. Satzinger
(602)-299-6457
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