[Advaita-l] Asana Siddhi

[Sujal Upadhyay]

Pranams Swati ji,

There is a difference between reciting sahsranAma or dUrgAsaptaSati or
chaNDIpATha and chanting a mantra.
Mantra helps calm down mind and brings peace. If you are given a guru
mantra, it is always better to chant the mantra then recite chaNDIpATha as
the mantra includes grace of guru. A bIja mantra easily touches the heart.
If you can chant a mantra for 3 hours, it continues in the subconscious
mind throughout the day and also in the night. So the next morning the
first thought when you wake up is the mantra. When you are engrossed in
work, mantra goes to the back side, but as soon as you have finished the
work and you relax, take a breath, mantra automatically pops up. So mantra
continues for 24 hours even if you sit for 3 hours.

Silence is important than mantra. First the chanting happens in mind (place
where one find thoughts), then it begins to happen in heart and then it
continues by itself, thus making you a witness. You do not need to chant
mantra or make conscious effort to chant a mantra. It keeps chanting by
itself. If you have reached this state, just be aware of the source of the
mantra i.e. from where mantra is originating and where it terminates. Fully
surrender to this spot, which is the source of everything. If the surrender
is unconditional and strong, rest will happen by itself and you, as an
individual have no role in it. Meditation happens. Mantra drops or merges
or dissolves in source. Then only silence remains. Staying in this silence
more and more is beneficial. It brings deep peace and intense bliss. It
brings freshness. When this happens for the first time, you feel that you
are reborn. It is indescribable.

All the benefits i.e. fruits of reciting sahasranAma et all is also
fructified in this state. These recitations are there to prepare you for
this state. Silence is supreme. Maun is the only expression capable of
expressing Atmasthiti. If still you have doubt, when you are in dilema, at
that moment, pray to devi maa and leave everything on her. If she wants you
to chant sahasranAma, you will feel the impulse to chant it and mantra will
automatically fade away. On the other hand, if she gracefully and smoothly
shifts your focus on chanting mantra, sahasranAma will fade away. Since
your guru gave you mantra, it will show positive effect if you chant it
sincerely else for many people, they cannot get rid of thoughts. They
cannot go deep within even after practicing japa for many years.

Regarding focusing on AGYA chakra i.e. bruhamadhya, it is a personal
choice. However, too much focus on AGYA chakra may make you feel heaviness
in head or heavy eyes. AGYA chakra indirectly controls eye by controlling
eye (minor) chakras. It is also connected with pituitary gland, one of the
master gland. Sri Ramakrishna or any guru instructs in shishya accorrding
to mental makeup and temperament. To some he taught yoga, to some bhakti,
to some asked to do karma and to some like Swami Vivekananda, Sri
Ramakrishna chose advaita, though initially Narendranath (Swami
Vivekananda) used to make fun of advaita concept and Sri Ramakrishna gave
him Ashtavakra Gita to contemplate. So advice depends upon shishya.

Some even meditate on focusing on the sahasrAra chakra which is on top of
head, little back side where the soft spot is. It also may make head heavy.
Some meditate on heart i.e. anAhat chakra which is in center of chest. It
brings lightness in us. It helps smoothen japa and induces feeling of love
and bliss.  I personally prefer to meditate on heart (anAhat chakra), but
then finally one has to shift to the source.

You do not need to consciously connect or tune into kosha-s. It it happens
let it happen without getting attracted towards it. Always remember (and
never forget) - your only goal is to chant mantra and find it source, merge
in it (source). So if it does not happen or you are not able to tune into
kosha-s, just leave it, nothing to worry.

Keep praying, keep meditating. If you cannot meditate only on mantar, you
may also focus on the form of deva / devi associated with mantra. Here you
can image her face protruding out of AGYA chakra, you can even do mental
worship of devi and all the material like flowers, etc are formed mentally
by power of visualization or imagination. Do mental abhishekha. Always feel
that devi is always present with you every moment. She is live, not a stone
image or expressionless image or idol. She is alive.

Some do not do mental worship, but just visualize a form of devi and chant
mantra. It helps. Then form fades away and mantra remains. Later mantra too
drops and what remain is silence - you. Radha was Krishna from within. Only
outwardly she was a female, but inwardly she was Krishna. There is no
individuality, only Krishna exists for her. Rest all happens. Life is a
happening.

OM

Sujal