--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Rick Archer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > on 6/20/05 10:05 AM, Llundrub at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > > Yes, just OM! > >
> So I wonder whether meditating on OM by itself might make one a recluse > while meditating with a longer mantra that contains OM might not, as my > friend suggested in the comment I posted here yesterday. ************** Well, that's exactly what Guru Dev said, according to the info in Paul Mason's book: "Mantras [sometimes] contain a mixture [of sounds including] aum that are given for auspicious purposes. Another thing is this that women are prohibited from practising japa with a aumkara-yukta mantra (a mantra conjoined with aum). Wherever at the beginning there is the purushha [male] mantra 'aum' then instead women should apply the sound 'shree' . " http://www.paulmason.info/gurudev/gurudev.htm#lifestory But there must have been some problem even with males doing mantras containing OM (which were in some of the Age of Enlightenment techniques), since the A of E techniques were only taught for a short time, and presumably only to males. For both males and females, advanced TM techniques use "shri," not OM. http://minet.org/mantras.html lengthier quote from Mason's book: Repetition of the aum mantra -Many people have not done the work of consulting the Shastras in order to determine what is authorised and what is not, they look here and there and from this they understand what they should do to engage in worship. Some people set great measure by the magnificence of the japa of aum. In Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavan certainly said that I am the pranava. But if the purpose is to attain Bhagavan's special form, then why not use the method of grasping the lion as well, since he is also that too? Bhagavan Shri Krishna Chandra said that:- "mR^igaanaaM mR^igendro.ahaM" [Gita ch10 v30] (Amongst beasts I am the lion). What actually happens to those who proclaim the greatness of using only aumkara ka japa, our experience up until recently we are informing, listen; 2, 4, 10, 20 times constantly repeating aum then no particular effect there will be. But if 2, 4 thousand unceasing repetitions then in a short time [the connection with] the worldly surrounding will become weak. Arsenic is a destroyer, but taking a little then the effects will not be very rapid. If some excessive dose is taken then it actually kills. Those who use the method alone of aumkara ka japa taking it to be the special form find that their worldly discipline certainly weakens; working and regular meals go into decline; wife and son etc become unhealthy and also die. Five, six years ago, we had gone to Lucknow for the occasion of Laksha Chandi Yagya. On that occasion one old woman came to us and 2, 4 people came along also. These people did say that Mataji was a great devotee, all day long she would remain in prayer and worship, but only very recently her two sons who were in the prime of life had died. To this we asked; "Were you practicing aumkara ka japa?" She answered to Maharaj! The very same is our portion, all day long I did do japa. We said that; well done that for your samsara (worldly life) you have dropped (aum) japa, at this moment do not renounce [the world]. However, by adherence to the practise something very excellent she will destroy, right here is the effect of aumkara ke japa. This then is done somewhere without love and if love's work is being done then the meaning and the object of love will be be annihilated by the influence of aumkara ka japa. For this [reason] grihasthom (householders) are not authorised to do aumkara ke japa alone. Shastra with a view to grant good fortune do not give authority. If there was any benefit to be derived by grihasthom by using aumkara japa there would be no reason for the shastra to prohibit. Mantras [sometimes] contain a mixture [of sounds including] aum that are given for auspicious purposes. Another thing is this that women are prohibited from practising japa with a aumkara-yukta mantra (a mantra conjoined with aum). Wherever at the beginning there is the purushha [male] mantra 'aum' then instead women should apply the sound 'shree' . Bhagavan Shankar [Lord Shiva] giving instruction to Parvati on japa explained that for women aumkara-sahita mantra ka japa [aum connected mantra] can be like poison and for happiness they should only do japa without aumkara. Due consideration should be given that Shankarji gave this information to his own wife. If aumkara is beneficial for a woman to do, why would he instruct his own wife against the practise? ['Shri Shankaracharya UpadeshAmrita' kaNa 73 of 108 ] To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
