Om
I am going to make an effort to repeat the Name more frequently. The goal is to attain a state of continuous rememberance of the Divine.
The first step is to have some times during the day that are dedicated to remembrance.To associate some activities with remembrance.
My plan is a 45 day sadhana where I try to integrate remembrance of my Guru mantra into my daily life. When I did the purascharana, a certain number of mantras had to be repeated daily. This was concentrated in to a few hours, leaving the potential for forgetfulness of the Name in between meditation sessions.
Now I will try a different approach where I have a shorter sit-down mantra meditation session (7 malas) and ensure that I repeat the mantra at specific times during the day.
The mantra needs to be repeated (mentally or verbally) three times in each of the following situations:
1. On waking, and before getting out of bed
2. Before eating a meal
3. Before bathing
4. Before starting work for the day
5. Before traveling/starting any journey
6. Before cooking
7. On getting into bed, before going to sleep
Before seeing any patient, "Om" or the Guru mantra needs to be repeated mentally at least once.
I also feel like taking inspiration from the Sufis- from their five times a day prayers. Their emphasis on dhikr (God remembrance) is very inspirational. The five prayer times are:
1. Fajr (Sunrise)
2. Zuhr (Noon)
3. Asr (Afternoon)
4. Maghrib (Sunset)
5. Isha (Night)
It will not be possible for me to pause at all these times to pray because I will be in the middle of seeing patients in clinic on working days. But I can certainly include prayers at least at sunrise and night, and hopefully briefly in the afternoon.
This routine of praying may be mechanical at times, but as Gurudev Sivananda says, even mechanical repetition of the Name has a very great purifying effect on the mind. After all, it is the Name of God.
I will keep a small notebook to record my progress in the above sadhana. Hopefully in 45 days, it will become natural to remember God at least in the above situations. I can gradually add more situations to the list and over time hopefully I will attain a state of constant remembrance.
Swami Sivananda on God remembrance:
"Remembrance of God also includes hearing stories pertaining to God at all times, talking of God, teaching to others what pertains to God, meditation on the attributes of God, etc. God is to be remembered at all times, without a break, as long as one has consciousness intact."
"Right from the time he gets up from sleep in the morning, until he is completely overpowered by sleep in the night, a person is to remember God. He has no other duty in the world but to remember God."
I am going to make an effort to repeat the Name more frequently. The goal is to attain a state of continuous rememberance of the Divine.
The first step is to have some times during the day that are dedicated to remembrance.To associate some activities with remembrance.
My plan is a 45 day sadhana where I try to integrate remembrance of my Guru mantra into my daily life. When I did the purascharana, a certain number of mantras had to be repeated daily. This was concentrated in to a few hours, leaving the potential for forgetfulness of the Name in between meditation sessions.
Now I will try a different approach where I have a shorter sit-down mantra meditation session (7 malas) and ensure that I repeat the mantra at specific times during the day.
The mantra needs to be repeated (mentally or verbally) three times in each of the following situations:
1. On waking, and before getting out of bed
2. Before eating a meal
3. Before bathing
4. Before starting work for the day
5. Before traveling/starting any journey
6. Before cooking
7. On getting into bed, before going to sleep
Before seeing any patient, "Om" or the Guru mantra needs to be repeated mentally at least once.
I also feel like taking inspiration from the Sufis- from their five times a day prayers. Their emphasis on dhikr (God remembrance) is very inspirational. The five prayer times are:
1. Fajr (Sunrise)
2. Zuhr (Noon)
3. Asr (Afternoon)
4. Maghrib (Sunset)
5. Isha (Night)
It will not be possible for me to pause at all these times to pray because I will be in the middle of seeing patients in clinic on working days. But I can certainly include prayers at least at sunrise and night, and hopefully briefly in the afternoon.
This routine of praying may be mechanical at times, but as Gurudev Sivananda says, even mechanical repetition of the Name has a very great purifying effect on the mind. After all, it is the Name of God.
I will keep a small notebook to record my progress in the above sadhana. Hopefully in 45 days, it will become natural to remember God at least in the above situations. I can gradually add more situations to the list and over time hopefully I will attain a state of constant remembrance.
Swami Sivananda on God remembrance:
"Remembrance of God also includes hearing stories pertaining to God at all times, talking of God, teaching to others what pertains to God, meditation on the attributes of God, etc. God is to be remembered at all times, without a break, as long as one has consciousness intact."
"Right from the time he gets up from sleep in the morning, until he is completely overpowered by sleep in the night, a person is to remember God. He has no other duty in the world but to remember God."
