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Unique Practice to Enhance Sadhana

From: "Shantatma Kerketta" To: am-global@earthlink.net Subject: Unique Practice to Enhance Sadhana Date: Tue 22 Dec 2009 07:13:55 +0530 Baba "Tumi a'cho, a'mio a'chi, a'r keu nei e tribhuvane..." (P.S. 2027) Purport: Baba, You are my dearest One; by Your grace I love You so much. For me, in this entire universe-- tribhuvan*-- only You and I exist. There is nothing else in this whole creation except You and I. Baba, by Your grace You have brought me here. And with Your love and compassion You are nourishing me, always keeping me under Your shelter. Baba, by Your divine grace I always receive Your tender love and care-- both in times of great joy and as well as during times of intense suffering. Always, in each and every circumstance, I feel Your sweet and loving presence. Baba, by Your grace You bless me with Your blissful touch in the effulgence of the new dawn. Baba, Your charming smile gets expressed in the blossom of the lily and in the flowering of the lotus. Baba, in the dry, burning desert You are the soothing balm. By Your grace in that unbearable heat You provide a cool oasis and lush verdant leaves. You are ever gracious. Baba, You saturate my dreams with Your divine love. Baba, in the form and fragrance of the sweet flowers, You dance and emanate in the vast blue sky. Baba, You always manifest Your divine Self in each and every cell of my being-- as well as in the most distant corner of my mind. Baba, by Your grace Your magnanimous effulgent smile shines like a blissful lightening bolt throughout my entire existence-- inside and out, as well as in each and every pore of this vast, infinite cosmos. Baba, You are that most effulgent and loving Personality-- I surrender at Your alter... *Tribhuvan: The prefix "Tri" means 'three' and the term "bhuvan" means 'world'. And here Baba further clarifies what He exactly means by tribhuvan, or the three worlds: Baba says, "Tribhuvana means the expressed world, the psychic world and the astral world or, you may say, Causal World." (AV-2)
== KIIRTAN IS OUR UNIQUE PRACTICE TO ENHANCE SADHANA ==
Namaskar, In the life of each and every sadhaka-- in the life of each and every A'nanda Ma'rgii-- there is an inherent desire to make sadhana better and better. This is the common feeling amongst all devotees. To that end we follow Baba's various do's and don'ts. Before sadhana we do half-bath, find a quiet place, do sastaunga pranam, and then sing and dance kiirtan before sitting for meditation. However in this ultra-modern and technological era, where machines and gadgets often dominate our lives, there is the tendency just to listen to kiirtan via a stereo etc-- and not sing ourselves. This can happen. Because that reliance upon technology can enter into every sector of our existence, including our devotional practices like kiirtan. So while living in this modern era we should be aware. Because Baba's guideline is that to get the real benefit of kiirtan then one must sing-- loudly. Baba says, "To proclaim the glories of Parama purus'a, the Supreme Consciousness, in a loud voice is termed 'kiirtana'. The Sam'skrta root verb kirtt means to 'utter something loudly so that others may also hear it'; thus kiirtana means to proclaim the glories of the Lord loudly for all to hear." (AFPS-4) And here again Baba delivers the same message, in slightly different language. Baba says, "Kiirtana means to utter good words loudly; not mentally, nor in a whisper, but loud enough for everyone to hear. It is never done secretly, but always openly...So devotees will openly sing praises to Parama Purus'a. Kiirtana means, as I said a little earlier, to sing the Lord's glory in a loud voice." (AV-7, p.36) As Baba explains above, part and parcel of "doing kiirtan" means singing kiirtan-- not just listening to kiirtan. And best is to dance as well. And then in this way one can get 100% benefit: A unique devotional feeling overcomes one's entire existence and one feels a deep sense of peace within. This we have all surely experienced.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND SINGING
As we know there is an underlying science behind all our spiritual-cum-devotional practices. And in this respect Baba guides us that by singing kiirtan we are engaging more of the body's organs than if we just simply listen. By singing the mouth, throat, tongue, and vocal chords are also involved. And this enhances one's ability to focus on the kiirtan. Baba says, "At the time of kiirtana, the vocal cord sings, the ears hear, and the hands and feet dance, and thus all the organs are kept preoccupied with the divine. They are not allowed to move wherever they want but are kept engaged. There is a popular Indian superstition that when ghosts are not kept busy they break the necks of their prey. Similarly, if the sensory and motor organs are not kept engaged in the attainment of the divine, they may lead one astray. Kiirtana is therefore most beneficial as it keeps all the organs fully engaged in a spiritual pursuit." (AV-8, p.13) Thus by singing kiirtan the mind is more engaged in the devotional practice of kiirtan than if one is just listening. And best is to dance also. And by this way our sadhana will be improved.
DOES NOT TAKE EXTRA TIME
Some may say or think that they do not have time to stop and sing kiirtan. But the reply is that singing kiirtan itself need not take any extra time. One can sing kiirtan while doing their mundane duties such as when cleaning the kitchen or when bathing etc. So singing kiirtan itself can be done frequently throughout the day. It is a way to spiritualise all our daily activities and then when we sit for sadhana we will automatically feel the difference. So while driving or walking or when preparing lunch, we can sing kiiran. Actually, if we look carefully, we will come across some many moments in our day where we can sing kiirtan in a loud voice-- thereby enhancing our devotional life.
NO SHYNESS OR COMPLEX
And last but not least none should consider whether they have a "beautiful voice" or not. Doing proper kiirtan is not a matter of singing in tune or in a particular pitch. That is the important characteristic of kiirtan. Because when we sing kiirtan Parama Purusa only thinks about the sweetness and sincerity of the devotee's heart-- not the tune or melody. So no one should suffer from any type of complex about whether they have a good voice or not. That is not the point. Rather we should always remember that we are only singing to please Parama Purusa. And for this we simply need to awaken that devotional feeling that is naturally inside us all. Ultimately between Parama Purusa and the bhakta there is an inherent relation of love-- that is based solely on the heart. And with this feeling we should sing and sing our kiirtan.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace singing and dancing kiirtan brings tremendous bliss in the life and enhances our sadhana. We should always remember that no matter what circumstance we may find ourselves in, always He is listening to our kiirtan. This is His unfathomable blessing upon us. Baba says, "Everywhere you are with Parama Purus'a, and never in this universe, nowhere in this universe, are you alone. So you are never helpless. Wherever you may be, do your Kiirtana, 'Ba'ba' Na'ma Kevalam.' He is with you. You are never alone. Your are never weak. You are never helpless." (AV-12) Namaskar, Shantatma
**************************************** Process of Channlisation
Baba says, "If people have a healthy body and mind their glandular system will remain balanced and they can easily channelise their physical energy into psychic and spiritual activities. This process of channelisation is the only way to check the mental flow towards crude propensities." (AFPS-9, p. 35)
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