Richard J. Williams > So, you're saying that in India, the effortless aspect > of mantra meditation practice is not widespread, as > explained by MMY. > Zoran Krneta wrote: > The point which I wanted to bring up was emphasis > on the devotional aspect of spiritual practice in > India in comparison with TM where devotional aspect > is excluded. > The devotional traditions of India are almost universally based on the idea of concentration. Here are two examples: for two years I lived in Venice Beach, Ca. and almost every day I would visit the world headquarters of ISKCON on Watseka Blvd. Several times I got to ask a question of Swami Bhaktivedanta Saraswati when he was visiting. I talked to numerous devotees and brahmacharayas over the course of two years. They all described meditation as concentration on the mahamantra. According to the Swami you should concentrate on the mantra and repeat it over and over again, to the exclusion of everything else; you should bear down.
For the past ten years I've been living next door to one of the largest Hindu temples outside India, at Barsana Dham, near Austin, Tx. The Swami there, a direct desciple of Swami Brhamanand Saraswati, describes meditation as the concentration on the devine form of Srimati Radharani, Lord Krishna's consort. Swami Prakashand Saraswati says that concentration on Radha's devine form is meditation. He further teaches that concentration is the most effective technique for attaining devotional ecstasy. He too teaches that student should bear down, concentrate. Both of these examples are from Upanishadic teachers and both of them teach transcendentalism and yoga. However, they do not emphasize the effortless nature of the transcending. According to Swami Brahmanand Saraswati, who taught effortless mantra meditation " Brahman is the Light; it needs no other light to illuminate it." There is no need for concentration - enlightenment just comes of itself. According to Marshy, it is NOT the technique of TM that brings enlightment - enlightenment is a an already established condition. All you have to do is *isolate* the Purusha; then the Self shines all by itself. In TM you should experience the mantra just like any other thought. Effort or bearing down is contra-indicated; a hindrance to the transcending.
