Bluscout, practically I find this a really interesting thread. Thanks for taking the time to draw it out so nicely. I know for myself that it is useful to me to chant certain mantras. And by experience it is a good and fine use of time to chant some while driving long distance highway kind of driving. Saraswati settles the system, Gayatri makes a good chakra cleanser/tuner, and Mrtyanjaya Mantra for ensoulment refresh. Is each very useful spiritually. That's my experience. Then doing them while placing them in the chakras as driving along is awesomer. I'll use them also as I am out riding along on a long trail by myself too or just putting training miles on a horse going down a gravel road. It's very possible.
-Buck --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, blusc0ut <no_reply@...> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "authfriend" <jstein@> wrote: > > <snip> > > > G*M*AB. Breathing and heartbeat are controlled by the > > autonomic nervous system, not the thinking mind. > > Many routine activities are also controlled automatically, without the > involvement of the thinking mind. Take walking as an example: You move your > legs, but you are not concerned of how exactly you do it, unless you start > learning how to walk. In fact, if you try to be aware how you walk. you may > actually stumble. In a similar way many activities are automatized. Even Japa > itself, if done regularly is automatized. > > <snip> > > > Question is whether TM is japa. I don't think you can > > lump it in with most japa practices. > > It is a question of the definition. There are many forms of Japa, even > writing down a mantra on paper is a form of japa, and as it involves > repeating a mantra, it would be automatically Japa. > > <snip> > > > > > My argument is basically, if you can think any random > > > thought, not pertaining directly to a job at hand, you > > > can also do japa. > > > > But TM isn't japa except in the broadest definition of > > the term. > > Japa is a broad term. You may have a narrower idea of the term because of > things you read about it, but that's not necessary conclusive. > > <snip> > > > > Many people do japa with much success. Don't get ridiculous. > > > Its the experience of many people, just like in TM, nothing > > > more and nothing less. > > > > Look, we've been having what I thought were pretty cordial > > coversations, despite our disagreements. If you can't > > refrain from being insulting, let's quit right now, OK? > > Okay. I didn't mean to insult you, the *ridiculous* was about this particular > argument, not about you. I think we are on same footing wrt experience, as > japa during activity is nothing new and recommended by many saints and > religious scriptures. > > <snip> > > > Japa is about holding on to the mantra, no? > > No. I think you apply a rather narrow definition to japa here. The way I do > it, during activity is just as easy and leisurely, if not more so, as in TM. > You do it, if you think of it, during routine activities, just off and on. > Not all japa is ajapa japa. That would be if it was an automatic continuous > flow. > > > TM is about > > *losing* the mantra (either via transcending or stress > > release). > > But losing the mantra is not intentional, it happens automatically. Same in > any form of Japa. TM is also about coming back to the mantra, once you notice > that it's gone. With Japa in activity it is even more leisurely, because you > do it only when it is convenient, and you come to think of it. What is > different is just the *theory*. The practice is very much the same. > > Look, I suppose neither you, nor Lawson (don't know about Willy) have really > practised Japa outside of meditation. You just formed an idea about it, but > unless you practise, you don't really know what is going on. > > Part of your argument seems to be that japa, as I propose it is incompatible > with TM, since, as you think, the mantra in meditation has become so refined, > that, as you believe, you can't use it in another condition, because it would > be too gross. This I infer from what you said earlier on. There are to > possible answers to this (I am not trying to convince you here). > > First I note that this is a different argument than that given by Maharishi. > Second, one could do japa with a different mantra/word. This is actually how > I started out. Third, during activity, the mantra may just be as refined as > during meditation. It may be just a soft impulse that you notice like your > breath - by itself, without intention. > > I am reminding you again about the bliss technique, taught by Chopra under > the auspices of Maharishi, where such a soft form of japa could be done > during a passive kind of activity, like watching TV. I haven't done it > myself, and at the time I heard about it, when the techniques came out, I > didn't know that it involves repeating a mantra, but it does obviously. > > wrt to driving: I think everybody has to judge himself ho much attention one > needs. I am used to drive on highways, and I am used to drive very fast, I > can easily do japa while driving, quite frequently. (I hear Americans telling > me, that they couldn't drive on our streets, traffic is much faster) I may > be in the Sahasrada chakra as well, which, I found gives me an added > attention span, actually a higher ability to concentrate. I just mention it, > not for anyone to practise, but it is certainly possible. Maybe Vaj knows > what I am talking about, I am sure Rory would. >
