Dedicated to Sri Sarada Devi

A Place where devotees gather to share inspiration.


"Holy Mother" painted by Swami Tadatmananda

Used courtesy of the Vedanta Society of Southern California

http://www.vedanta.org




Dedicated to Sri Sarada Devi
Start a New Topic 
Author
Comment
View Entire Thread
Re: Power of Mantra

Dear Anon,
Holy Mother has said, "Japat Siddhi, Japat Siddhi." Realization comes from the practice of Japa. As sister Rosemary has remarked, it slowly purifies the mind. The mantra coming from a realized soul has its own inherent power. Whether we realize it or not, Sri Fhanindra says that there is bound to be effect of Japa. There is a reaction somewhere in some form to the action of Japa. It doen't matter if the person is not moral. I am not but I have felt the effect of Japa, its ability to change one's personal environment, its calming effect, its reinvigorating powers and its saving aspect. Practice is required and patience. Gradually a groove will be etched in one's brain, the groove of a good habit that will, according to the books, (I being not yet old enough to practically experience it) stand one in good stead in old age which I hear can be lonely especially in western countries. Sustained practice of Japa gives one a personality of one's own and builds up again shattered confidence. Only one has to practice again and again and have patience. Holy Mother used to say that one is bound to have one's mind quieted by practising japa 10,000 times at a stretch at least. I have never done so. But practice of even one-third that number gives a feeling of well being and frankly speaking, one has the time for that. There is no question of lack of time but only of lack of will. I am a great lover of japa and even when I came to a state that I was not hearing what I was saying and I was chanting aloud the Guru mantra supposed to be not uttered at all but silently practiced without moving the tongue. It is said that the power of the japa declines on this rule being broken, I mean the tantric japa I was given, but I haven't found this to be true. Japa is almost like a beloved. One cannot be at ease without doing the minimum practice enjoined by the Guru. It is a divine addiction which I hope will in time free me from the baser addictions of sex, et al. I have only stated here some of my experiences and feeling after having practiced the Gayatri for almost 19 years and the Sri Ramakrishna mantra given by my gurudev for almost 12 years. I have no complaint against japa or questions about its efficacy though the results may not be as we desire. God always wills differently and for the greater good of all humanity.
Mantra used for selfish ends, which is used in Nalbari and Mayong in Assam especially, have their effects too but I think they ultimately boomerang on the person using them for low ends. Such mantras are of spirits and lower dieties generally, I feel. Japa of the Lord's Name is always productive of Good and helps one to die peacefully and with dignity, I have read and believe strongly.
A story in passing. There was a saint in North India. Once he gave his blood to a patient needing that particular blood group urgently. Afterwards, when the patient recovered he found that incessantly the chant of the name of the Lord was going on within him. That means the very marrow and blood of the saint's body was suffused with the mantra.
With regards and thanks,
Ankur

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Replying to:

I have read the the power of chanting the mantra is extremely powerful on its own accord. ie. If the mantra is chanted it will have effect.

However i wonder can this be true when the person chanting the mantra is not moral.Will it still have the same effect? will it have any effect?

Also at times people pray for something / someone they desire , even when it is not the right thing. For instance a man may pray to win a lawsuit even though he may not be in the right.

Does the mantra have effect in such cases?

Location: Guwahati, Assam, India