1. The mind keeps well when engaged in work. And yet Japa, meditation, prayer also are specially needed. You must at least sit down once in the morning and again in the evening. That acts as a rudder to a boat. When one sits in meditation in the evening, one gets a chance to think of what one has done – good or bad- during the whole day. Next one should compare the states of one’s mind in the preceding day and the present. … Unless you meditate in the mornings and evenings along with work, how can you know what you are actually doing? 

2. It is very necessary to have a fixed time for these things. For it cannot be said when the auspicious moment will come. It arrives so suddenly. No one gets any hint of it beforehand. Therefore one should observe regularity, however busy one may be with duties. … Even in the midst of the most intense activity, one should at least remember God and salute him. 

3. May your body and mind become pure by repeating the name of God!

   4. The Mantra purifies the body. Man becomes pure by repeating the Mantra of God. … It is said, ‘The human teacher utters the Mantra into the ear; but God breathes the spirit into the soul.

   5. As wind removes the cloud, so the name of God destroys the cloud of worldliness. 

6. Do you know the significance of Japa and other spiritual practices? By these, the power of the sense organs is subdued. 

7. Just see the power of habit. By the law of habit man attains realization by continuous practice of Japa. 

8. One has to suffer the consequences of one’s deeds. But by repeating the name of God, you can lessen its intensity. If you were destined to have a wound as wide as a ploughshare, you will get a pinprick at least. The effect of karma can be counteracted to a great extent by Japa and austerities. 

9. The boys all come and solicit me earnestly for initiation. They get it and depart. But they don’t make their Japa regularly-why regularly, some do nothing at all. … They take the Mantra with so much sincerity; but why do they not practise at all? Not that it is very hard. If one but sticks to a little practice, how much joy comes to one! Ah! With that joy and for how long Jogen (Jogin-Ma) and myself used to make Japa at Vrindavan! 

10. How can one do without Japa and meditation? These have got to be done. 

11. The conjunction of day and night is the most auspicious time for calling on God. … The mind remains pure at this time. 

12. What a lot of work I did when I was of your age! And yet I could find time to repeat my Mantra a hundred thousand times everyday! 

13. True it is that there is no hard and fast rule about the time of Japa, yet morning and evening are the favorable periods. Whatever the time be, you must do Japa every day. It is not good to forgo it any day. 

14. (Once a devotee forgot how to count the repetitions of the Mantra on his fingers-) Mother: What does it matter? Repeating the Name of God a fixed number of times, telling the rosary or counting on fingers, is calculated to direct the mind to God. The natural tendency of the mind is to run this way and that way. Through these means it is attracted to God. While repeating the Name of God, if one sees His form and becomes absorbed in Him, one’s Japa stops. One gets everything when one succeeds in meditation. 

15. While performing Japa, take the Name of God with utmost love, sincerity, and self-surrender. Before commencing your meditation daily, first think of your utter helplessness in this world and then slowly begin the practice of Sadhana as directed by your Guru. 

16. One should meditate on one’s chosen Deity as one goes on making Japa. In meditation the face of the chosen Deity of course comes first; but one should meditate on the whole figure, starting from the feet upward.  

17. The mind is by nature restless. Therefore, at the outset, to make the mind steady, one may practise meditation by regulating the breathing a little. That helps to steady the mind. But one must not overdo it. That heats the brain. You may talk of the vision of God, or of meditation, but remember, the mind is everything. One gets everything when the mind becomes steady. 

18. In time the mind itself becomes the Guru. To pray to God and meditate on Him for two minutes with full concentration is better than doing so for long hours without it. 

19. Why should not one have concentration and mediation if the mind is pure? Why should not one have God-vision? When one sits down for Japa, God’s Name will continue rising up from the mind naturally and not with effort. 

20. The Kundalini will be gradually awakened. You will realize everything by the repetition of God’s Name. Even if the mind is not quiet, still you can sit and repeat the holy Name a million times. Before the awakening of the Kundalini, one hears the Anahata sound; but nothing can be achieved without the grace of the Divine Mother. 

21. If a person is steady in Meditation, he will clearly see the Lord in his heart and hear His voice. The moment an idea flashes in his mind, it will at once be fulfilled and he will be bathed in peace. 

22. One must cast aside indolence and put one’s mind to prayer and meditation at the proper time. 

23. Prayer and meditation, or pilgrimage, or even earning money, all these should be done during the earlier part of one’s life. 

24. Worship ends with absorption and meditation. 

25. Practise meditation and by and by your mind will be so calm and fixed that you will find it hard to keep away from meditation. 

26. Japa will eventually bring spiritual realization 

27. Pray to God with all your might. One has to work. Can anything be achieved without work? Even in the midst of household duties one must make time for prayer. 

28. Do not give up Japa even if the mind is unwilling and unsteady. You must go on with the repetition. And you will find that the mind is getting gradually steadier-like a flame in a windless corner. Any movement in the air disturbs the steady  burning of the flame; even so the presence of any thought or desire makes the mind unsteady. The Mantra must be correctly repeated. An incorrect utterance delays progress. 

29. Spiritual practices are meant to keep the mind steady at the feet of God, to keep it immersed in His thought. Repeat His Name. 

30. One who makes a habit of prayer will easily overcome all difficulties and remain calm and unruffled in the midst of the trials of life.

 

 

  

 

“Unselfishness is more paying, only people have not patience to practise it.”   —     Swami Vivekananda