JUST DO JAPA

13 December, 1974.

Swajan: Mota, Is it true that vibrations of the mantra is effective only if pronounced correctly?

Pujya Shree Mota: Yes, that is true because word touches three places umbilicus (નાભિ), throat (કંઠ) and top of the head (બ્રહ્મરંધ). Now umbilicus is the starting point, throat (while pointing at it) where it completely manifests and gives it a form and then at the top of the head it is expressed in formless manner. So the word touches all three places and passes through it.

If there is any one letter, it is ॐ that can be spoken in that manner. It starts at umbilicus, goes through throat and touches top of the head. So these letters અ, ઉ, મ touches all three places. All three letters meaning ॐ is symbolic. Whole universe is made up of these three. Divine consciousness is attached to these three letters (ॐ). You will not understand the complexities of all these presently. Divine consciousness is attached to ॐ and at the same time it is separate from it. Simultaneously it also represents nothingness. To explain all these there is ॐ and it is symbolic. We should understand it in this manner but many will not understand the meaning while pronouncing it. Once the nature of ॐ is understood, it is not necessary to keep reminding repeatedly. Otherwise japa cannot be done. It is good if it touches all three places and breath last longer. What happens next is that our mind stays with the breath and it keeps on analyzing the breath. I also felt like doing japa with the breath but then realized that japa gets to be spirited if done with the heartbeat. But the mind insisted that it needs to be done with breath. I then thought, this is not right and all these are hindrances. Just do the japa and accept whatever comes out of it. It is true that japa should be done with the breath and that japa is best when done with heartbeat. But our mind gets into the mechanics of it, at least in the initial stages. So just start doing the japa. At present do not try to see if it touches all three centers. When there is continuity in japa, it will always be right and appropriate since there is divine consciousness in continuity. Without divine consciousness there cannot be continuity; there will be a break or destruction even of the earth. So there is always divine consciousness where there is continuity without the break. Our aim should be to make our japa continuous. It is also true that when japa is done in certain way or with appropriate pronunciation is more beneficial.

Pujya Shree Mota
Pujya Shree Mota Sathe Satsang
Agrata - Akagrata
Edition 1; Pages 119 - 120.

ROOT CAUSES OF THE DIFFICULTIES -- (2)

Difficulties are for developing good qualities like pride, strength, courage, spirit of adventure and patience in people like us. We should accept the difficulties from that view point. When accepted like that we will never be buried by the difficulties. How can we develop such good qualities without it? How can we develop spirit of adventure and courage? Difficulties are for developing patience, pride and strength. Difficulty is our "sad-guru (સદગુરુ). True sadhak accepts the difficulties in this manner. It is not possible to progress for the soul if it gets buried by the difficulties. We should know that the presence of difficulty is there to express our good qualities and this is the time for it. We already have good qualities and talk of developing these qualities is not proper. This is the opportunity to express such good qualities. How can we let go this one opportunity to express pride, strength, steadiness, courage, spirit of adventure and patience? One who understands with devotion that this opportunity is essential for his development and the opportunity has presented on its own by the grace from God, gets ready with courage, alertness and being aware.

Pujya Shree Mota
Pujya Shree Mota Sathe Satsang
Agrata - Akagrata
Edition 1; Pages 115 - 116.

ROOT CAUSES OF THE DIFFICULTIES -- (1)

Swajan: There are different stages in life. Sometimes everything runs smoothly and at other times there are lots of difficulties. Are the difficulties result of our mistakes or from certain kind of works?

Pujya Shree Mota: Once we realize and understand the difficulty, it does not appear as difficulty. Solution also tends to come much sooner. Difficulty is also a result of karma (works, actions). Nothing can take size or shape without Karma (works, actions). Karma is essential in yoga of devotion and knowledge and other yogas too. I am not convinced that sadhana can be done separately from works. Performing karmas is the bases of all. Develop oneness while performing works. Oneness solidifies when it happens with bhava of Bhagawan. The results of the works done over many births can be good or bad. This is the result of different bad works done by us and it causes different kind of difficulties, pain, sorrows and calamities. For this reason it is wrong to believe that all these difficulties are because of God. This belief is due to lack of understanding. Whatever is created is the result of our own actions. The world around us is the result of our actions. Difficulties are also the result of our actions. This is only intellectual understanding. When the true understanding results from the experiences, there is knowledge of the solution of the difficulties as soon as difficulty arises, not that difficulty will not arise. One can act on the bases of this knowledge. So at this level of true understanding, difficulties do not remain as difficulties since it does not last long and action is taken to alleviate the difficulties. Actually action is taken automatically and difficulties do not feel like difficulties.

Pujya Shree Mota
Pujya Shree Mota Sathe Satsang,
Agrata -- akagrata
Edition 1; Page 113 - 114.

GOOD QUALITIES AND SENSE OF DISCRITION (વિવેક)

One has to be very careful in dealing with worldly affairs. It requires so much of sense of discretion. For example you are so soft and pliable and I appreciate this good quality in you. Someone may take advantage of it. Such softness is present in that other person also and he should be careful with sense of discretion so others may not take advantage of him in worldly affairs. Take an example of generosity. It is a good quality to possess. It is present in us naturally. There is no problem from this good quality in the field of spirituality. It is a lapse in the field of nature if there is not even awareness of someone misusing and cheating and taking advantage of us. We need to take measure of softness, generosity, openness, patience and endurance within us and decide the degree and extent it needs to be followed in the field of worldly affairs. It is ok and not needed in the higher field of spirituality and bhavana but it is very useful in the field of worldly affairs. We must have concrete sense of discretion so that nobody can take advantage of us and that we should realize automatically.

Pujya Shree Mota
Pujya Shree Mota Sathe Satsang
Tadrup - Sarvarup
Edition 1; Page 56.

ACCEPTING THE CIRCUMSTANCES

Swajan: Presently my circumstances are not favorable. I try to compromise grudgingly and accept the situation. Anyway what else can I do?

Pujya Shree Mota: There are variety of situations, circumstances and health of the human body during one's life. If one can compromise and adjust to given circumstances with grace of God, one can live in harmony. There are always worries, conflicts, concerns, difficulties and obstacles while passing through most difficult tests in life. Even during these situations there is always the possibility of compromise. This happens even after accepting the defeat. If one compromises with one's self internally with sincerity and understanding, one may be fortunate enough to feel the pleasant whiff of fresh air even during most unpleasant situations. I am happy to learn that you have accepted the given circumstances.

Pujya Shree Mota
Muktatma No Premsparsh
Edition 4; page 128.

Excerpts from page 129 :  One sacrifices many times but unwillingly. It is a mathemetical fact that there is always development of good qualities and energy when the sacrifice is done with heartfelt sincerity. I am telling you this from the viewpoint of understanding. We always have to sacrifice willingly or unwillingly for the acquaintances but such sacrifice fails to generate happy feelings about it. We have genuine happy feelings and peacefulness if sacrifice is done with heartfelt sincerity.  I am telling you this as it is worth understanding.

Pujya Shree Mota.