A promise that I did not make...
Just the other day I was feeling spiritually curious again. So I went for a a little trip to a place I've known about for a time. Over of Railroad avenue where they hold First Friday here in Tallahassee there is a Temple ( I suppose that is what you call it). There a rather unassuming fellow going by the name of Yogi-G holds up his post. I drove up to it without much expectation but I knew that Garuda (Yogi-G) offers free Yoga lessons. Well me I'm in need of both free and yoga so I figured it was an easy sell. Not wanting to go completely empty handed I brought a vial of Champa oil - a fragrance that I happen to enjoy. I spoke with Yogi-G for a bit explaining that mostly I was looking to improve my health (spiritual and physical) and was interested in becoming a student for yoga. He immediately surprised me with a recommendation for a diet that will be very difficult for me. I must admit, I did not expect a challenge right away. But it was good advice and I plan to give it a try. After all - I did complain about being fat (which I am). I feel confident that his diet would work. I do not feel so confident about my resolve. But that is another matter altogether. We went back and forth getting to know each other a little all over again. We had met in the past but both of us had foggy memories. I gave him the Champa oil. He took it and put some on - then insisted that I do so as well. We when inside and he gave me a Copy of the Gita. For those that may be interested it is by far the version I have ever looked at. “Bhagavad-gita As it is” Translated by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. I would recommend cracking the cover with an open mind to anyone. It was around that time that I noticed several strings of beads that graced the wall just to the left of the door. They were holy beads strung up as malas. 108 count if I am correct (I did not count them). I have always wanted one but I wasnt sure where to get good ones. I would have been happy with any beads really as long as there were 108 of them and they had a good cord. But as he noticed my attention was drawn to them, Garuda began explaining as he looked through the beads: “I usually make my students take a vow before I give them these because they are very difficult to get. Each bead is prayed over and they come from India.” He selected a strand of beads and walked over to a sink in the right hand corner of the room. He told me that the vow was to recite a mantra of God names once daily for 7 days. I explained that I would love to have a mala but I prefer not to make promises. He went about the business of explaining the mantra. He copied the mantra for me and blessed the beads as I repeated the God name mantra once turning the and holding the beads correctly with freshly sprayed hands. Yogi - G explained that water is very important as well as cleanliness. He advised that I avoid letting the beads touch the ground. And then gave them to me as a gift - allowing me to get away without a vow. I believe that he understood my reluctance to make a promise and respected where I was coming from. So he seemed to conveniently forget. Perhaps in hopes that I would keep the vow anyway. I left shortly after with just that intent.
That day I went home proudly wearing my mala around my neck. I went room were I would have privacy and not feel too silly. I lit some white sage and some nag-champa incense - getting into the mood. I washed my hands and took up the beads. Remembering to keep my hands in the proper postion as instructed I began to recite as follows:
Allah Allah
Buddha Buddha
Jesus Jesus
Yaweh Yaweh
Wa Kan Tan Ka
Great Spirit
Hare Krishna
Radhe Radhe
One recitation for each bead, turning the beads with my right hand index finger extended and thumb pulling the beads towards the heart. As I did so I realized that 108 is a lot....after a few turns my hand began to cramp and my mind began to wander. But I continued - after all it is such a small thing and should only take a few minutes. Time began to slow down for me. I was only a quarter of the way through. And then as I was rolling the beads through my fingers while chanting the names of God, I began to think about what I was actually chanting. God. The rest of the chanting was not what I would call easy but I understood some of the purpose. How many of us spend even 5 minutes a day truly thinking much less meditating in devotion on God. I enjoyed it and had some revelation of sorts. When I was finally done with it I felt a peace that had escaped my life for so long. My hand was tired but it was well worth the price. Latter I considered that this is also a mental exercise as well as a spiritual devotion. Your scenes are emerged on several levels. And you must perform the Chanting - then your mind wanders in the direction of thoughts of God - or whatever you are so inspired to think about. I feel that the practice itself is both wholesome and good for the soul. I would recommend it to anyone to try as an experiment - believers or non-believers alike. I feel that from this one time I am far from an expert on the value of this practice but it couldn't hurt anyone. With that said - I fully intended to practice this everyday for 7 days at least. Funny thing is, it seems to me that whenever I try to dedicate my time to such a thing - other stuff comes up. I get distracted so easily. I distract myself. I procrastinate and then fail. This is the story so far... with the best of intent I have only managed to do this one time - the first time. Even with great results. I realize that I need discipline more than ever now. So making no promises I have every intention of completing 7 days of this chanting the mantra with the mala. Please wish me luck. I am left wondering only “Why am I so lazy?” “Does this come from me? Or is it an obstacle placed in my path?” Either way obstacles are for overcoming. Maybe I can accomplish this one small thing and move on to the next one.
That day I went home proudly wearing my mala around my neck. I went room were I would have privacy and not feel too silly. I lit some white sage and some nag-champa incense - getting into the mood. I washed my hands and took up the beads. Remembering to keep my hands in the proper postion as instructed I began to recite as follows:
Allah Allah
Buddha Buddha
Jesus Jesus
Yaweh Yaweh
Wa Kan Tan Ka
Great Spirit
Hare Krishna
Radhe Radhe
One recitation for each bead, turning the beads with my right hand index finger extended and thumb pulling the beads towards the heart. As I did so I realized that 108 is a lot....after a few turns my hand began to cramp and my mind began to wander. But I continued - after all it is such a small thing and should only take a few minutes. Time began to slow down for me. I was only a quarter of the way through. And then as I was rolling the beads through my fingers while chanting the names of God, I began to think about what I was actually chanting. God. The rest of the chanting was not what I would call easy but I understood some of the purpose. How many of us spend even 5 minutes a day truly thinking much less meditating in devotion on God. I enjoyed it and had some revelation of sorts. When I was finally done with it I felt a peace that had escaped my life for so long. My hand was tired but it was well worth the price. Latter I considered that this is also a mental exercise as well as a spiritual devotion. Your scenes are emerged on several levels. And you must perform the Chanting - then your mind wanders in the direction of thoughts of God - or whatever you are so inspired to think about. I feel that the practice itself is both wholesome and good for the soul. I would recommend it to anyone to try as an experiment - believers or non-believers alike. I feel that from this one time I am far from an expert on the value of this practice but it couldn't hurt anyone. With that said - I fully intended to practice this everyday for 7 days at least. Funny thing is, it seems to me that whenever I try to dedicate my time to such a thing - other stuff comes up. I get distracted so easily. I distract myself. I procrastinate and then fail. This is the story so far... with the best of intent I have only managed to do this one time - the first time. Even with great results. I realize that I need discipline more than ever now. So making no promises I have every intention of completing 7 days of this chanting the mantra with the mala. Please wish me luck. I am left wondering only “Why am I so lazy?” “Does this come from me? Or is it an obstacle placed in my path?” Either way obstacles are for overcoming. Maybe I can accomplish this one small thing and move on to the next one.