[updated Nov. 20, 2005] 

   Recently, there has been a tremendous increase in the negative energies of the general, non-ancestral type. Negative energy is likely to affect the body (33%) the mind (33%) and the intellect (33%), as we use all these media to do spiritual practice. This reduces one's ability to do spiritual practice. Just as different medicines are prescribed for different types of ailments, one has to chant the Names of specific deities depending on the type of negative energy. This experiment will help diagnose the type of negative energy affecting one and its solution (the specific deity, whose Name should be chanted).

    Repeat (chant) each of the Names of deities listed below for 5 minutes each.

1.
	'Om Gan Ganapataye Namaha'  (Lord Ganesh's chant).
2.
	'Om Sri Rama Jai Rama Jai Jai Rama'  (Lord Rama's chant).
3.
	'Om Hum Hanumate Namaha'  (Lord Hanuman's chant).
4.
	'Om Namah Shivaya'  (Lord Shiva's chant).
5.
	'Om Sri Durgadevyai Namaha'  (Goddess Durga's chant).
6.
	'Om Sri Gurudev Datta'  (Lord Datta's chant).
7.
	'Om Namo Bhagawate Vasudevaya'  (Lord Krushna's chant).

Instructions for the experiment:

	Choose that time of day when you have least distractions, and feel most fresh for the experiment. This would help rule out the cause of any distress experienced during the experiment being physical or psychological.
	Each chant should be done aloud.
	Correct pronunciation is important. Audio of each of these chants can be downloaded from the Sanatan audio downloads page. The marak (destroyer) form of the chant should be used. (Note that the bold letters are emphasized. Also, a short delay should be added before 'namaha' when repeating (chanting) Sri Durga's chant. )
	If possible, do each chant in front of a picture of the respective deity. (Sattvik drawings of these deities can be downloaded from the respective Sanatan downloads page.
	While chanting 'Om', seekers, especially women seekers, should take care not to prolong the pronunciation of the 'Om'. Keeping its pronunciation short would reduce any distress caused by the energy generated by 'Om'.
	Keep an interval of 1 or 2 minutes while shifting from one chant to another.
	Before starting the next chant wait till the distress (if any) caused by the previous chant subsides.
	Make a table/chart to clearly record how one felt during each chant, whether there was any distress and if so, the time the distress started and the time it ended. Following are some manifestations of distress - extreme tiredness, thoughts interrupting the chant, headache, chest pain, the chant automatically switching to another chant, breathlessness, seeing negative or scary images, etc.
	If no distress is perceived in 5 minutes, one should continue doing the chant for another 5 minutes. If no distress is felt even after doing the chant for 10 minutes, one should continue increasing the time for that chant in multiples of 5 minutes, until one experiences some distress or one has done the chant for 45 minutes. Even after chanting a Name for 45 minutes at a stretch, if there is no distress then one can conclude that one need not chant that Name for negative energy problem.

Study of the results of the above experiment

	Verify that the distress caused while chanting is not due to the positive energy or radiance (tej) of the deity. Sometimes, due to one's inability to bear the positive energy of the deity, whose Name is being chanted, one may feel some discomfort. In such a case, the feeling, though distressing at first, is something one would like to continue. If that is the case, it is not necessary to chant the Name of that deity to overcome negative energies.
	If distress is experienced while chanting the Names of several deities: Compare the findings from chanting all the Names and select those Names that gave distress. Chant each of these Names for another 5 minutes to ascertain which chant gives maximum distress, so that one can eliminate that negative energy with top priority. After that one can go on to the next most distressing chant and so on, instead of commencing them all at once.
	One should chant Lord Krishna's Name - 'Om namo Bhagavatay Vasudevaaya' - if one could not determine the chant after performing the experiment.

Solution
    In order to overcome trouble from negative energies, one should chant the Name that causes maximum distress while chanting.
    Accordingly, once one has pinpointed the deities' Names (at the most two) that one needs to repeat (chant), one should initially chant that Name(s) for 5 minutes daily. Gradually, as one is able to bear Its energy (that causes distress while combating negative energies), one can increase the period of chanting that Name. Depending on the severity of distress (indicating negative energy trouble), one should increase the chanting the appropriate Name for 6 to 15 to 25 malas daily.

Notes 
     The above instructions are only for those facing distress from negative energies. All other seekers should continue with their regular spiritual practice, including the regular chanting and prescription chants, as usual.

    Kindly contact your guiding seeker for further clarifications or email us at the Weekly.

* Refer to Issue 109, Practical Guidance for detail on this chant.