Abhyasa : Time with Vishnu.
Every morning I set some time aside for time with Vishnu. I sit in a swing, face north, with my Vishnu Sahasranamam book in hand.
But before I start my pArAyaNam, which means, in modern usage, chanting his names, I mentally dawdle for a bit.
I face north because that is where, in my head I have located Vishnu : Locating Purusha (Vishnu) : Using Purusha Suktham (Rig Veda).
And then I think happy Vishnu thoughts. I identify and let go of many unnecessary thoughts in my head. Then I try to become conscious of Vishnu with my mind. (Engaging your manas, dealing with pain and confusion, experiencing bliss). My manas picks on the various conflicts/dilemmas, desires, emotions and so on and examines them in the presence of Vishnu Consciousness, seeking resolutions, comfort and peace and slowly those important issues are also set to rest as I take the decisions that alter me as a human being.
As I sink further into a peaceful feeling with Vishnu in the North, in the blue sky, in the black clouds, in the bright sun, I do my sankalpa. My way of doing this is to reiterate mentally, the purpose for which I am chanting His names. (It is not the geography-time version of the sankalpa done in sanskrit before pujas. )
Once my manas is engaged Vishnu without distractions, I assume the Asana (easy posture) , in which I plan to read the Vishnu Sahasranamam and start reading paying attention to every word and its meanings, meaning each word I say. I know the meanings of many words and there are many new to me, whose meanings I become slowly aware of.
When I chant the phalas’ruti , I use that time to transfer the phalam (benefit) acquired from chanting to my loved ones, so that they are blessed, and I become reassured and confident on their behalf!
After blessing those who I feel like blessing on that day, I sit and feel the echoes of those holy, magical, mystical sounds reverberating in my trunk, purifying me internally, like a bath in the Ganga. And I dawdle in the swing a bit longer after that.
After this I offer Vishnu, Milk and Honey and drink it up remembering that it is He as Vais’vAnara who digests it for me. I feel glad that He as the doer has decided to give me all this wonderful honey and milk – amRtas.. it is very sweet of Him to care so much for me, for another day, another morning.
I wish I could keep this feeling all day.. but I really can’t and as the day goes by I lose my Vishnu Consciousness and regain my “Satya” consciousness…
I thought I would write about all this today, it feels great to write it and will be a good memory for me later. It may also help any young ‘uns, who want to try it my way! There are so many ways to Krishna!
- Completed Gita Parayana Yagnyam this Dhanurmasam., today
- Gita Parayanam : Bhagavad Gita Slokas (with Nyasa, Dhyana, Mahatmya , and sandhis) in Devanagari
- Gita Sravanam (Listening), Gita Parayanam (Chanting), Gita Adhyayanam (Studying), Gita Abhyasam (Practising)
- pArAyaNa or artha, Dvaita or Advaita, bhArat or India..?
- Chanting Soothes Anxiety : Health Benefit of Parayanam
- Sankalpa (Will) As an Astrological Remedy
- Abhyasa : Why giving the right blessings (aas’eervaadam) is important.
- Abhyasa : Between Memories and Dreams : Now!
- Abhyasa : na tvam socitum arhasi : You ought not grieve : Valmiki and Vyasa
- Abhyasa : Deha Balam (Physical Strength), Mano Balam (Mental Strength), Atma Balam (Self-Strength – spiritual strength)
- Abhyasa : Destroying “Everybody is an Idiot” Vritti
- Abhyasa : Giving importance to peoples’ status
- Abhyasa : Converters (Folks who try to convert you)
- Abhyasa : It’s only words! (Getting rid of words baggage)
- Abhyasa : Getting rid of people baggage.
- Mlecchas (foreigners) and Hinduism
- Abhyasa : Mlecchas, Students and me
