Japa

There is no 'diksha' (benediction) higher than sincere, honest and longing devotion to the Almighty. Everything falls in place and proceeds in the right direction further to 'Bhakthi' (pure devotion to the Almighty). What is Bhakthi? It is complete surrender to the Almighty through the means of trust and devotion. One should have the attitude " This thing called 'ME' (ego) is false and does not exist. Everything is filled with 'Brahman' (Almighty) and everything is HE alone, being conceived by HIM alone. My only job is to make myself fully receptive to the path shown by him and attain to the highest. I will follow a life governed by the eight tenets of Yoga to the best of my efforts and strive with devotion and love for the Lord"

Such an attitude will help one develop the ability to carve out the right path for himself in spiritual life. Since every person in reality is only the Âtman (pure soul no different from God), the greatest knowledge is obtainable right from within oneself. There is actually no need to look externally, for the Âtman himself is knowledge manifest. But to obtain this knowledge for correct progress, one should develop pure 'Bhakthi' or devotion to the Almighty. There is no need to visit a temple, hold japa malas, perform religious rites, apply holy marks on the forehead or indulge in other external signs of religion. These are only external signs and have little connection with one's inner state.

*** To the one engaged in constant mental contemplation of the Lord with devotion and surrender, the human body is itself the temple, the mind itself an endless Japa mala, every object of creation is the divine mark of the Lord ***

One's ego (lower self) will disappear by itself in the presence of Bhakthi (pure devotion). How can one think of himself or consider himself the doer of an action when the mind is filled with devotion to the Almighty and when one is shedding tears of devotion thinking of the Almighty? The ego will take to its heals as long as one is in contemplation of the Almighty with devotion and surrender. What is most important is a strong yearning for the Almighty. A strong desire and craving to constantly think, contemplate and meditate on HIM. To constantly remind oneself of the greatness and infinite nature of that Supreme being and that everything has sprung from HIM alone and will go back into HIM alone, following which HE alone remains as the eternal and final truth.

A life filled with such a train of thought will help one develop customized techniques to ward away Avidyâ (ignorance) wound round the soul. The greatest Guru is within oneself, in the Âtman. Out job is to surrender to the Lord and get in touch with him through the Âtman. This yearning for knowing him is the best 'Diksha' or benediction.

A japa mala (rosary of beads) is only an external device used to keep count of the number of repetitions of a mantra. In one constantly thinking and contemplating of the Lord, in one who strives to see God in all living beings from an insect to fellow beings without differentiation, where is the need to keep count? Why limit contemplation through a few hundreds or thousands of repetitions? Isn't it natural that when that Lord is infinite, our devotion and contemplation on him should also move towards infinity? This can be achieved by constantly seeing HIM in everything, every object and every act. By offering everything we do as actions carried out to please HIM. Then all our actions will always be right; for how can a man devoted to the Lord perform a wrong action and yet give it as an offering to the Lord? One will not get the mind to perform wrong actions. One will not get the mind to look lustfully. Even if one is overtaken by past habit and the mind & eyes start moving with a lustful intent, the thought of offering everything we do as a token of gratitude to the Almighty will prevent one from proceeding with such wrong thought and action. One will want to revert to the contemplative state at the earliest and so will displace such negative thoughts.

Mentally repeat the name of the Almighty, based on your inclination towards the God-form of your choice. It is even better if one can contemplate on the formless nature of God occupying all space and time and even beyond. The repetition must not simply be mechanical but should help one remind oneself of the purity, divinity and infinity of the concept called God. And then, one should think of himself to be no different from this concept of purity, divinity and infinity. One should constantly be in God thought to the best extent possible even in the course of one's day to day actions and duties. This is what leads to real spiritual progress. This is the meaning behind the Vedas saying "Sarvam Khalvidam Brahman" (Everything is verily the Brahman). And since everything is HIM, we dissolve our ego, the barrier between him and us and feel him continuously. We, as the ego are nothing, We as the Âtman are everything  . The aim is to inundate the body and mind with the positive and divine vibrations that come from such a thought and thereby dispel Avidyâ (ignorance).

ॐ तत् सत्
(That Supreme being is the absolute truth)