In Jane Austen’s day, even if people were nearly as financially straightened as many are now, they certainly had a more developed awareness of the need for contemplation. 200 years ago, Jane chose the word, ‘meditation,’ or “the act of giving your attention to only one thing, either as a religious activity or as a way of becoming calm and relaxed”,[24 to describe her heroines’ strategy for mental balance. For Jane’s heroines, it was a way to find peace and a sense of balance. For everyone and at all times, it is the best support for a healthy psychology, rational perspective and freedom from anxiety
Meditation is a the only true panacea, clearing negativity and promoting an evolution from confusion to enlightenment, from negativity and The Dark Side of the Force to, you know, your better self. We can attain a whole lot of this peace of mind for the low low price of a few minutes of your time! It gradually purifies the mind and trains it to be nice–to you! No more raging mind is a blessing yet most of us live chaotically with the untrained mind. This practice turns the breaking-bad mind around because it has the power to pull the mind away from darkness. ‘Man‘ means mind and ‘tra‘ means to ‘free,’ so this mantra frees the mind from anxiety and ignorance. People have been practicing mantra meditation—or chanting the names of God—for thousands of years. Our “New age” friends, or those who are traumatized by the ‘God’ concept, can think of it as addressing the source of our existence. It works for those who ‘work’ it. Now we will explain a bit further. Those of us who practice this ‘bhakti-yoga’ approach sincerely appreciate all the holy names but yet the name of Krishna (a Sanskrit word meaning “All-attractive”) indicates the being who possesses, unlimited beauty, wealth, fame, knowledge, strength, power and renunciation. If an extraordinarily beautiful, famous or rich person walks into the room, it is natural to be attracted and if we hear about a billionaire giving a lot of money away in charity (an act of great renunciation), we are naturally impressed. As the possessor of every opulence in full, Krishna is naturally most attractive as well as being the very source of our existence.
It is a travesty that we are living in such an unbalanced world, one which contributes to our ignorant condition. By meditation, we reawaken our dormant spiritual consciousness and find relief from stress and anxiety because we reestablish our connection to the supreme being. As is stated in many scriptures, the supreme is present in the sound of His (and Her) divine names. Any holy names will do, yet there is a mantra that I prefer to chant which has been given as the perfect antidote to this crazy world, and it packs enough potency to break through the ignorance of this age. I want to share it with you, and hope you will share with others. Of course you will because your friends will ask you how you became so peaceful and content. You can tell them that by practicing self-knowledge (self-realization) the solution is achieved.
The founder and spiritual mentor of our society, who is affectionately called Prabhupada (pronounced “pra-boo-pa-da”), explains the way mantra meditation works:
Krishna Consciousness is not an artificial imposition on the mind; this consciousness is the original energy of the living entity. When we hear the transcendental vibration, this consciousness is revived…This chanting of Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, is directly enacted from the spiritual platform, and thus this sound vibration surpasses all lower strata of consciousness–namely sensual, mental and intellectual… As such anyone can take part in the chanting without any previous qualification…
To bring The Force into your life, try chanting the names of Krishna, Hare (the Feminine Divine) and Rama (the Supreme pleasure potency) every day, as a part of your normal operating procedure. Here is a link that further explains the mantra. A little chanting goes a long way. Think of it as a sort of mental hygiene. Even 20-30 minutes in the morning before your day starts will make a big difference in your peace of mind. It is so easy that you can chant anywhere and any time, while driving, taking a walk or cooking dinner. George Harrison of ‘The Beatles’ enjoyed chanting and wrote many songs that glorify Krishna. “My Sweet Lord” was one of his most popular tunes. I’ve been chanting for over 40 years and it only gets better. Here is a link explaining the mantra. It is interesting that Saint Theresa of Avila (pictured above) recommended 2 hours of mediation per day and that is what I do myself. It is wonderful. I hope that you will try it and experience a life of freedom and happiness.
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