Listening to God
If we are properly tuned through our active sadhana, then the intuitional mind perceives God’s guiding advice from within. His voice becomes audible. We have all, at one time or another experienced the surety and possibly the thrill of this concrete “human” contact that the Divine is making with us. The lower aspect of our mind immediately attempts to trivialize, and thus minimize, the wonder and supreme significance of these revelations by “suggestions” that they are merely “hunches”. God’s voice, though emanating from within the highest levels of our mind, resonates within the heart. The age-old enemy, the ego, makes further attempts to blind us to the reality of these mystical movements through both distracting thoughts and even actual bodily feelings that cover the truth. Though when in truth God is actually guiding our way through life, the mind diverts our perception of this by suggesting that it is only “ a gut feeling”; “I know in my gut that such and such is right!” There is a fragment of truth to this lie from the lower mind. But as always, our mind, by its very nature, goes too far and too fast! Being in a state of panic, the ego knows that we will not believe that such advents of Grace emanate from the mind, and the last thing it wants is for us to perceive that these are, in truth, movements of the heart. So our ego throws out the idea that we are having a “gut feeling”. This is a safe place for the ego to deposit this intuitional guiding Hand of God. Safe indeed, for the human “gut” is a veritable fortress for the ego.
QUESTION: Is it true that through my mediation my mind is developing clarity?
Without doubt, correct meditation, effectively (repeatedly) applied, does accentuate focus. By definition, clear and unobstructed focus does instill clarity of mind. Within the preliminary stages of a spiritual adepts practice, utilizing the ancient methods of Sanatana Dharma (the Eternal Religion), the most effective means of this mental development is achieved though the recitation of the Gayatri mantra. The final phrase of this mantra is the heart of our prayer, for it is essentially our supplication for God to grant us “eyes to see and ears to hear”. Gayatri mantra japa grants us not only clarity to discern right from wrong, but also most importantly attainment of vairagya (dispassion) towards the perishable and love towards the Eternal.
Om Bhoor Bhuvas Swah // Tat Savitur Varenyam Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi // Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat
“DHIYO YO NAH PRACHODAYAT! (The final concluding phrase of the Gayatri mantra)
“DHI-YO - Sanskrit for "intellect", this is the essence of this part of the Gayatri Mantra. Having firmly set God in our hearts, we now must try to emphasize His presence and influence on our mind and intellect. Material prosperity holds no true meaning for the person who is truly devoted to God. Pain and suffering are of no consequence to him as, touched by God, he is imbued with God's own Divine Bliss, and all worldly sorrows pale to nothingness in comparison. However, still the individual must live in the world. Thus, it is important that the person's intellect remains focused on serving God, and that it is able, through the medium of the body, to serve God to the best of its ability.
Physical objects can be obtained very easily, if one is intelligent enough to know how to go about it. Intellect however cannot be obtained, but must be there from the very first. It is by use of this intellect, in fact, that one is able to cultivate all other qualities (building of wealth, "success" in life (in material terms), physical fitness, etc.) Thus, intellect is the key to all else in life, and as such, it is the most important possession. We ask God in the Gayatri Mantra to gift us with the highest intellect, and to help us by showing us the way to use that intellect.
“YO - Meaning "Who" or "That", Yo signifies yet again that it is not to anyone else that we direct these prayers, but to God alone. Only God is worthy of the highest adoration, only God is perfect and free from all defects. It is That God to whom we offer these prayers “NAH - Nah means "Ours", and signifies the selflessness of the request we make of God in this part of the Gayatri Mantra. We offer this prayer, and make the request of God, not simply for ourselves, but for the whole of humanity. We seek the uplift of the whole of society. Hindu philosophy has since the beginning recognized the concept of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" - "The whole world is one big family". Thus, we pray not only for ourselves, but also for each and every member of that great family, that we may all benefit from the greatness and generosity of the All-loving God.
“PRA-CHO-DA-YAT - Prachodayat, the final word of the Gayatri Mantra, rounds off the whole mantra, and completes the request we make of God in this final part. This word is a request of God, in which we ask Him for Guidance, and Inspiration. We ask that, by showing us His Divine and Glorious Light
(cf. BHARGO), He remove the darkness of Maya from our paths, that we are able to see the way, and in this manner, we ask Him to direct our energies in the right way, guiding us through the chaos of this world, to find sanctuary in the tranquility and peace of God Himself, the root of all Happiness, and the source of true Bliss.”
Mantra japa of the Savitri (Goddess) Gayatri is much more than a prayer. The ability to see and be guided by the Divine Light (Bhargo) is woven within the Sanskrit matric sounds themselves. The vibration invoked by repetition of these sylables literally inebriates our consciousness with very special “super sensual” perception. Therefore, we have not at all developed clarity of thought; rather we have been gifted with special faculties of perception (Indriyas). We are now truly human! The word for “Human Being” within the religious context of the language used in Eastern Europe, especially Czechoslovakia, is “Chelovek”. It is translated to mean: “One who has their “third eye” open! Thus, a human is one who perceives the light of God! But alas, we are human. Therefore, though we “see the Light, and hear the still small voice of God”, it is a matter of our choice as to whether we “obey”!
Our obedience lies in our abhyasa (repeated spiritual practice). Within our abhyasa sounds the triple knock upon the door to the heart. Having attuned our minds to the Voice of God through right awareness and right concentration, and having been guided by That, the Blessing of Grace comes unto us. God hears our knock and responds. The door to the heart opens from the inside!
The word by word description of the Gayatri mantra is derived from: www.eaglespace.com/spirit/gayatribywords
Comments