Bhajans-A Sadhana (Contd)

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Therefore when one chants a Kirtan, the attempt should not be only with the mouth; you should consider yourself like a big crowd singing together, the crowd being every cell in the body i.e. you should sing with your entire body. Thus when you attempt to sing with the entire body, this is only a bhavana, then you find that the entire mind is totally involved in the chanting and then there will be no possibility for the mind to wander anywhere because no part of the mind is kept idle.

In the Ramayana, it is said that when Hanuman was unconsciously lying down, every hair in his body was heard whispering the name of Rama. This mystical expression is only to indicate that the mind of Sree Hanuman was always totally involved in singing Rama's name. Modem psychiatrists have proved that when the mind is disturbed, the body's chemistry is also disturbed.

One who is able to chant with his total mind, is the one who, at that moment enters the state of ecstasy, like Chaitanya Maha Prabhu. Such a chanter anywhere in the community has a profound influence on all the individuals around him and every one in that community will tend to follow such a person.

Therefore one should always try and chant with the total mind; this is not easy. But try. Let all dumb mouths of your body chant. What you chant with the mouth,vibrations created in the atmospheric air, is only considered as your contribution for the benefit of the universe and society, all living creatures, but what you chant with every cell in your body is the only thing which will train your mind, discipline your body, spiritualise your mind and benefit your personality.

A mind that is thus soaked in the chanting is already the mind which has come under your control. To control such a mind is very easy and to transcend it is only one little step. Discussion of Upanishads or Scriptures etc are not the only paths; kirtan, bhajan, temple, rituals are all paths leading to the same goal. The secret is sincerity and total involvement. About the author

Swami Chinmayananda

Swami Chinmayananda the great master's lectures were an outpour of wisdom. He introduced the Geetha Gnana Yagna. He wrote a lot of books on spirituality, commentaries to Vedantic texts, children books etc. He then started spreading His teachings globally.....