Sri Lakshmana Swamy
Q: You sometimes say that self-enquiry is for very few people, and that for most people it will be better if they do japa or pranayama. Am I to follow the path of self-enquiry or shall I carry on with my japa?
LS: It is better for most people to start with japa, pranayama or devotion. Or surrender without reservation to the Guru.
Q: Which is the best path for me to follow?
LS: First follow devotion or japa. In your case you can do japa. What has your Guru taught you?
Q: He told me to do japa.
LS: Who is doing japa? It is the mind. In the end you have to follow the quest 'Who am I?' and find the source of the mind. If you find it you will realize the Self. In the final stages of sadhana you have to follow the quest or surrender.
Q: Is japa the best method for me?
LS: It can lead you to Self-realization. It is enough if you do it constantly.
Q: Should I carry on saying my old mantra or does Swamy want to give me a new one?
LS: Which one are you repeating?
Q: Om Namah Sivaya.
LS: You can keep that name if it is suitable for you. It is enough. Siva means Self.
Q: Can Swamy give me some other hints for my sadhana?
LS: Siva is Self. He is within you on the right side of the chest. If you are earnest he will give you a vision in your Heart. The Self has no name and no form, but it can appear before you as a form if you are earnest. It can also give you an effortless thought-free state wherein the "I" dives into the Heart and feels the bliss of the Self.
Q: So I must always be doing japa?
Saradamma: Always doing japa is good for concentration, but sometimes there is no feeling of happiness when you are doing it. One should have love and devotion towards the name that one is repeating. When I was doing sadhana I found that when I looked at Swamy's face and thought of him, then I invariably felt happy and blissful.
LS: Guru means Self. He is not the body and he is not the mind. Looking at or thinking of the Guru means that you are being aware of the Self.
Saradamma: If you are looking at the Guru's face, or thinking of him, then do it. If you don't like doing it, then do japa. Looking at Swamy's face is very good. I know this from personal experience. Swamy says that some people don't like doing this, but I say look all the time.
Q: Which is the best path for me to follow?
LS: First follow devotion or japa. In your case you can do japa. What has your Guru taught you?
Q: He told me to do japa.
LS: Who is doing japa? It is the mind. In the end you have to follow the quest 'Who am I?' and find the source of the mind. If you find it you will realize the Self. In the final stages of sadhana you have to follow the quest or surrender.
Q: Is japa the best method for me?
LS: It can lead you to Self-realization. It is enough if you do it constantly.
Q: Should I carry on saying my old mantra or does Swamy want to give me a new one?
LS: Which one are you repeating?
Q: Om Namah Sivaya.
LS: You can keep that name if it is suitable for you. It is enough. Siva means Self.
Q: Can Swamy give me some other hints for my sadhana?
LS: Siva is Self. He is within you on the right side of the chest. If you are earnest he will give you a vision in your Heart. The Self has no name and no form, but it can appear before you as a form if you are earnest. It can also give you an effortless thought-free state wherein the "I" dives into the Heart and feels the bliss of the Self.
Q: So I must always be doing japa?
Saradamma: Always doing japa is good for concentration, but sometimes there is no feeling of happiness when you are doing it. One should have love and devotion towards the name that one is repeating. When I was doing sadhana I found that when I looked at Swamy's face and thought of him, then I invariably felt happy and blissful.
LS: Guru means Self. He is not the body and he is not the mind. Looking at or thinking of the Guru means that you are being aware of the Self.
Saradamma: If you are looking at the Guru's face, or thinking of him, then do it. If you don't like doing it, then do japa. Looking at Swamy's face is very good. I know this from personal experience. Swamy says that some people don't like doing this, but I say look all the time.
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