Mantra: A Living Practice
When I received initiation from my guru, Dhyanyogi Madhusudandas, my life was a whirlwind. Fresh out of law school, I was immersed in long hours as a lawyer in Los Angeles, a reality compounded by a daily 45-minute commute each way on the Santa Monica Freeway. A few years later, marriage and two children further reshaped my landscape. Amidst this, where was the time for quiet contemplation, for the dedicated practice of japa – the repetition of the mantra given at my initiation?
Japa traditionally involves repeating a mantra while counting beads on a mala, with the understanding that a specific number of repetitions can yield desired spiritual results. However, Guruji often shared the wisdom of the 15th/16th-century saint and poet Kabir, who beautifully wrote:
“You have been turning the beads of your japa mala for such a long time, but the tendencies of your mind have not changed. Put aside the beads in your hand; instead, turn the beads of your mind with the mantra from your heart.”
Kabir’s insight is profound: mindless, mechanical repetition of a mantra is of little use. It’s more fruitful to set aside the physical mala if necessary and carry the mantra lovingly within, repeating it from the heart throughout the day.
While the ideal is to sit and perform japa with focused concentration, I embraced the next best approach: I wove the mantra intimately into my day, turning to it whenever my mind was not otherwise engaged. The crucial lesson here is not to abandon spiritual practice when circumstances seem unaccommodating. Instead, adapt and do what you can within the realities of your life. As the Bhagavad Gita (2.40) reminds us, no sincere effort on the spiritual path is ever wasted; every step contributes to your journey.
Who Am I? The Direct Path to Self-Realization
My nature has always been goal-oriented. If my consciousness was fixed on an objective, I was invariably in a hurry to reach it. This applied even to the ultimate goal of life: self-realization.
During a satsang (spiritual gathering), when an opportunity arose to ask a question, I was burning with this inquiry: “What is the quickest and easiest way to self-realization?”
Guruji’s response was characteristically direct and simple: “Know yourself. It’s very simple. Just know yourself.”
His words pointed towards a branch of yoga known as Jnana Yoga, the path of knowledge, which deals precisely with this introspective approach. As it happened, I was already deeply drawn to this path, having encountered and been fascinated by the teachings of Ramana Maharshi, whose central teaching revolves around the inquiry, “Who Am I?”
In time, I came to understand Guruji’s response as an affirmation, a permission to pursue my deep interest in Jnana. Eventually, a significant spiritual experience validated this personal inclination.
Guruji’s own lineage is Kundalini Maha Yoga, which focuses on the awakening and utilization of spiritual energy (kundalini) to bring about enlightenment. I found that the combination of my Jnana studies and Guruji’s prescribed practices significantly quickened my own awakening. Regardless of the specific approach, spiritual awakening is invariably accompanied by energetic shifts in the physical and subtle bodies.
[For more information on Dhyanyogi Madhusudandas, visit Dhyanyoga Centers at dyc.org. His biography, “This House is on Fire” is brimming with spiritual energy.]
