Hari Aum.
When I was in Kerala recently, I was discussing sadhana with a priest who had come to our home to perform a homam. I mentioned that I had taken on a commitment to do daily japa over a period of years (in the form of a purascharana-- a practice that involves completion of a certain number of mantra japa over a period of time).
The priest smiled saying that those who walk the spiritual path and perform extended japa sadhanas face many challenging karmas (debts from previous lifetimes that need to be paid off before attaining God). I agreed with him saying that this has certainly been my experience!
The first four purascharanas were relatively good. The last two have been filled with new experiences of all sorts-- both 'good' (spiritual experiences') and 'bad' (health issues and family karma!). The fifth purascharana (during the pandemic) was about major upheavals of all sorts. The sixth one, which has just ended, has been about finding solutions to the challenges generated in the fifth. It has been exhausting but good overall.
I am glad to say that the sixth purascharana finally ended this month-- it is a great relief. It has been challenging no doubt but I am grateful that, by the grace of the Divine Mother, I was able to carry on. During this purascharana, I have engaged more in Mother worship than in previous ones. (I have gone to Her to complain about the obstacles generated by worship of Her brother, Krishna/Narayana ! I feel She has been loving, kind and sympathetic).
I have performed many mini-sadhanas of Her during the past three years and felt relief at every step. It is She alone who has helped me survive the onslaught of various karmas (from this and likely past lifetimes). As I have said before, it is my Divine Mother (especially as Durga/ Lakshmi/Kali) who is my strength in spiritual life. Without Her, there would be no sadhana at all. As my Guru, Sivananda, says, the devotee finds comfort more easily in the arms of the Divine Mother than in the arms of the Father!
However, my lower mind is now in major rebellion mode! It says 'I never want to do a purascharana again! I do not want to wake up and have to do japa first thing in the morning every day for years. I do not want to do it last thing at night either. I also do not want to remember God regularly during the day. I cannot take it anymore!"
"No, I just want to have a 'do-nothing at all' spiritual holiday. A very long holiday!!! I want to lie on a beach and eat lots of ice cream! That's it. I want no discipline or sadhana at all! I'm done. Finito! Bye, bye sadhana, see you never!"
However, my higher mind has other ideas. It says to the lower mind:
"Let's have a rest for a few weeks and then start again. I know this can feel tiring and dull at times but we have felt some very significant benefits from doing mantra japa. This is simply a fact— therefore, it is very much worth continuing."
"We had a plan to complete eight purascharanas in a row, and we are sticking to this plan (as a minimum). We are not going to quit under any circumstances, God-willing."
"Let's reduce the japa to 1-3 malas per day for a few weeks. Then, when we feel refreshed and rejuvenated, we will start the next one."
"It is true that, when one has been walking the spiritual path for a while, it can be tough to stay motivated, especially when the karmas come at one thick and fast. Therefore, the next purascharana or extended mantra japa commitment will be a 'no-pressure purascharana'! This will help stay committed to the practice and complete it (instead of giving up altogether)."
"The commitment for the seventh purascharana will be to do somewhere between 5-9 malas per day (flexibility allowed for days when the obstacles feel more intense and motivation is lower). The aim will be to complete the purascharana in approximately three years (may be a little more or less)."
"This purascharana will also be made up of 4 mini-anushthananas (each purascharana involves 800,000 mantra recitations, therefore the mini-anushthanas will be made up of around 200,000 recitations each). There will be a brief pause after every 200,000 recitations, when just 1 mala can be done daily for 1-2 weeks before resuming the regular number malas. This will help stay motivated during the practice."
This approach is more acceptable to my lower mind. It says to the higher mind:
"Ok, I can consider this. I just cannot face another 2-3 years of non-stop purascharana—it is just too much! I cannot take it anymore, especially as we have been at this practice for over fourteen years! You may say it is working, but I do not want to work anymore. I just want to relax!
If you let me have a break after every 200,000 recitations, then I can probably agree to let you do the next purascharana. I'm not happy about this practice in general, but if you allow me some short breaks to breathe during it, it feels a bit more bearable!"
So, this is the current plan. Take a break from purascharana for a few weeks (doing 1 mala of the ashtakashara mantra minimum per day). And then sometime in the coming weeks or months, get started on purascharana seven—a commitment to continue daily japa at an increased rate of 5-9 malas until the required number of recitations is complete.
To those readers who are also doing extended mantra japa practices (anushthanas and purascharanas), I just want to say I hope your practice is going well.
To those who have not yet tried this, I would highly recommend it. We have to face our karmas, both positive and negative, one day. The mantra helps to cleanse our karmic account relatively rapidly so that we become eligible to acquire knowledge of our true nature as being one with the Divine. It may be tough but it is worth it. Because life on this planet is uncertain and ever-changing. It is not easy.
The material path is not easy and leads nowhere ultimately-- it leads only to dust. The soul is lost in the desert of samsara. The spiritual path is also not easy but it leads somewhere worthwhile-- it leads to an oasis, to the Guru, to God. This oasis provides much-needed relief in the midst of samsaric challenges. It allows us to attain everlasting peace and bliss as per our Gurus and the scriptures.
Sadhana is the main purpose of life. It should be continued in one way or another, no matter the karmas, no matter the obstacles. This is the golden key to success in life, both spiritual and material.
On that note, I am going to go off and take care of my lower mind and coax it (with ice-cream and chocolate-- in moderation of course!) to get ready for another purascharana. :)
I wish all readers the very best with your own sadhana. May our Gurus and God bless us all and the planet as a whole.
Om Namo Bhagavate Sivanandaya.
Om Sri Durgayai Namah.
Om Namo Narayanaya.
Hari Aum Tat Sat.
