"The very first step in understanding what this is all about is giving up the concept of an active, volitional 'I' as a separate entity and accepting the passive role of perceiving and functioning as a process." - Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Is Nama-Japa Useful?

Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
November 29, 1980

By all means do it (naama-japam*) and its worth will be proved in due course. You have to abide in that japa; it is no use conceptualizing what benefits you are going to derive from it. Follow it and realize the benefits. Even if the one following nama-japa is like a donkey or dud, he will become a great Sage - that power is there in the recitation of a japa. When that person comes across a sat-guru, the Sage tells him, "You need not take care of yourself because you are that immanent principle "I Am". You need not take care of anything. You just be and everything will be taken care of for you."

It is a pity that you depend so much on hearsay and you don't try to investigate for yourself. Your knowledge  is confined to your body and borrowed knowledge. 

All the activities of the world are going on because of this "I Amness". It is the source which creates the world. Understand that "I Amness" first - only then can you transcend it. First of all, be that I Amness.
..................
*Naama-japam is repetition of Holy Name (or a mantra) either softly or within one's mind. It can be done anytime as a part of meditation or while performing some activity.

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सर्वभूताधिवासं यद्भूतेषु च वसत्यपि।
सर्वानुग्राहकत्वेन तद्स्म्यहं वासुदेवः॥

That in whom reside all beings and who resides in all beings,
who is the giver of grace to all, the Supreme Soul of the universe, the limitless being:
I AM THAT. -- Amritabindu Upanishad